After what seems like a millennium in development, the long awaited return of the Superman movie franchise occurred in 2006 when Bryan Singer helmed Superman Returns, the semi-sequel to Superman II.
And a sequel is pretty much what you get. The look, basic personalities of the characters, graphics, music and even many shots are lifted right out of Richard Donner's original 1978 movie. And why not, when it's still one of the most powerful and enjoyable interpretations of a comic book superhero on the big screen.
Much time has been spent on the excellent script, distilling the separate elements of Superman's back story/powers, the events of Superman 1 & 2, introducing new characters and new situations...while juggling a romantic love triangle and a plot rule the world. Just as he did with the X-men sequel, all the parts are woven and refined into a lean, seemingly simplistic tale.
The cast are mostly superb, especially Brandon Routh as The Man Of Steel, who spine-tingly manages to channel the spirit of the late Christopher Reeve into many a scene. Overall, Routh's performance (much like Singer's direction as a whole) is much more restrained from that of Reeve's interpretation of the character...but cut from the same cloth. Kevin Spacey provides a low key, but deliciously menacing turn as Lex Luthor while his sidekick, Parker Posey, is an unpredictable delight. Only Kate Bosworth, as intrepid reporter Lois Lane, seems miscast. Sure, she's suitably single-minded and undeniably gorgeous, but she lacks Lois's wise-cracking cynical edge. Here, she's just distracted and a little cold.
Typically, Singers direction is sure, steady and deliberate..perhaps more so here than in his previous efforts. The result is something of a 'still' movie, that doesn't quite have the urgency of most summer blockbusters. However, apart from the final reel which could have been tightened up, this slower pace only helps to highlight the subtleties in the movie; a Spacey one liner here, a smirk from Routh there, an under-stated effects shot everywhere.
The Space Shuttle sequence remains one of the best action set-pieces of the year. However, while always exciting, as Superman saves the worlds inhabitants from one disaster or another, it ends up being a movie about a strong bloke lifting things; a globe, a sign, an aeroplane, a small continent.
Still, this is beautifully crafted, romantic, character focused, mythic, epic stuff. It's just a damn shame Warners didn't allow Singer to progress with a sequel. Superman Returns made as much money as Batman Begins did...and look what happened to that sequel.
1 comment:
Yep, great movie - even if it is mostly about lifting things. I was never the greatest Superman fan but Singer manages to explore the Man of Steel's psyche and his impact on the world and the people around him extremely well. A graceful, considered, rather introverted superhero film. And all the better for it.
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