I’m Back. Superman’s Back.
Wow, that was a smooth transition from the old timches design to the new one, but not for this blog. It was down for a while, had the default theme for another long while, then the comments weren’t working… What a mess.
But i’m finally back, and I have nothing else to write about but the new Superman movie. I saw it last week on the second day it was out with Chesney and our reactions were both the same: meh. Liked it, didn’t love it.
Reeve (left) and Routh (right) as Superman
Certain elements of the movie seemed to pay homage to the 80’s Superman movies. I just love the fact that they kept the theme. At the opening credits, as soon as I heard the classic theme start to play, all the memories of seeing the Superman movies of the 80’s for the first time came flooding back. Routh played Clark a little bit differently, but his Superman was a lot like Reeve’s in manner and speech. And they just looked strikingly similar at times. I’m just happy that Nicholas Cage didn’t end up playing Superman–he was the guy early on.
My favorite thing about the movie was the CG. Superman just looks much more awesome with today’s CG. The shots of him flying around are no longer obviously green/blue-screened. You can also get a sense of Superman’s powers now more than ever.
There were a few things that made me feel like the movie was good but not great. Whereas Reeve’s Clark was geeky, clutzy, and annoying, he was at least witty and interesting as a character. This movie’s Clark had no chemistry with Lois at all, and in fact didn’t have that many lines. Lois did all the talking and Clark stood there speechless for most of their encounters. The 80’s movies also explored the fun possibilities of Clark using his super powers covertly in everyday situations.
There also didn’t seem to be any resolution at the end of the movie. Superman never goes head to head with the bad guy and there’s no epic battle. Just seemed anti-climatic in my opinion. ‘Guess it’s leaving it open for a sequel. Then again, the first Spiderman movie had all of that AND left it open for a sequel.
The greatest Superman movie to date, for me is still Superman II. Three Krytonian criminals each with Super powers go on the rampage and destoy everything in their path. The whole question about whether or not Superman will come back, and the battle between super-beings, and the tearing up of metropolis… THAT’s epic.
I can’t complain too much though, because if Brett Ratner (who directed X3) was directing, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and maybe even Superman himself would’ve been killed off in meaningless deaths.
While it’s no revelation like Batman Begins, Superman Returns is still a good movie to go see on the big screen, whether you’re a Superman fan or not. I’m still bitter that Bryan Singer left X3, but I’m also glad he did Superman Returns!
More reviews:
Mostly I’m upset he left X3 to do this. I’ve never seen any Superman movies as far as I can remember, and I’ve heard mixed things about this movie.
I’ve grown to dislike movie reviews and critics because I disagree with them most of the time. I tend to stay away from any kind of review till I see the movie. Why go into a movie with an opinion about it that isn’t mine at all? I’d rather go in clueless and find out for myself: for better or for worse.
Anyway, this goes for Superman Returns. I really liked it, but critics say otherwise. I don’t know what I’d think if I read reviews first.
I do agree, though. Singer should have stayed with X3. Punk.
My reason for looking at reviews is that I don’t want to see every movie that comes out. I only want to see good movies. By being picky about what I see, I’ve managed to see pretty much only really good movies over the last year or two.
I liked this movie. Mainly cuz’ I watched all 4 old Superman movies this past May to prepare for this new one. And honestly, they were cool when I was a kid, but it doesn’t seem timeless to me. I just couldn’t stand them, special effects weren’t good enough until now to actually show Superman in his fullness of power. The 3rd and 4th Superman movies were just absolutely horrific. I never even finished the 3rd one cuz it was so bad.
Critics are critics - they’re suppossed to be critical. That’s why I only read reviews AFTER I see a movie. I still can’t believe most of these critics gave NACHO LIBRE a bad review - it was freakin’ hilarious!
Anyway, I loved SUPERMAN RETURNS! But, I’m biased because I grew up in the 80’s when Superman was the only hero that mattered. It’s just too bad that Routh’s Clark Kent was such a dud - zero personality. Otherwise, it would have been a perfect Superman movie.
I’m giving the new Superman movies some room because I know they had to set everything up again since it’s been so long. I’m hoping Routh’s Clark Kent and Bosworth’s Lois Lane will shine much more in the next movie.
Nacho Libre was awesome. I was dying of laughter at Jack Black’s song at the end.
My friend almost threw up when he took a bite out of the eagle egg.
I still have that song stuck in my head…”I am, I am…”