July 15, 2006 -- “Superman Returns” is the latest in a long line of comic book heroes brought to the screen. This latest incarnation of Superman is one of the best ever seen on the silver screen. This film features a very rich characterization of the man of steel and shows that his heart, at least, is vulnerable. The film has certain similarities to the excellent “Spider-Man” series of movies, with strong characterizations, emotional depth, complex motivations and strong story lines. It is a bit short on action, but the strength of its characters makes it compelling.

A good story requires conflict, and you can't have a decent conflict without a strong villain. The villain, Superman's arch enemy, Lex Luthor, is played by Kevin Spacey (“American Beauty”) one of the finest actors working today. Superman is played by a relative unknown, Brandon Routh, who seems to fit the role perfectly. His love interest, Lois Lane, is played by Kate Bosworth “Blue Crush”). The Lois Lane character always seemed to a strong character in previous films. Here the Lois Lane character is weak, a character who merely reacts to situations rather than creating situations. Frank Langella (“Dave”) is an interesting choice to play Daily Planet editor Perry White, Lois Lane and Clark Kent's boss. His Perry White is more quiet and thoughtful than most other portrayals of this character. Usually it is played in a more over-the-top way, similar to J.K. Simmons' hilarious performance as the cigar-chomping editor in the Spider-Man movies.

There have been numerous portrayals of Superman in movies and on television over the years. The characters, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appeared in D.C. Comics publications in 1938 and they have been around in one form or another ever since. The best-known previous Superman movies were the four starring the late Christopher Reeve which ran from 1978 to 1987. The first two, shot at the same time, were far superior to the last two sequels. This latest Superman movie compares favorably with the two best Superman movies starring Reeve. Like those portrayals, this latest film focuses on Superman's humanity (even though he is not human). The story also has a bit of a surprise twist.

In “Superman Returns” we find that Superman has been away from earth for five years on a journey to the planet Krypton, where he had hoped to find other survivors of his race. Upon his return, he finds that his old flame, Lois Lane, has moved on. She has a relationship with another man, Richard White, and she has a son. She has also won the Pulitzer Prize for a column she wrote called “Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman,” ouch. When Superman gets back to work, catching criminals and rescuing people, Lois begins to rethink her position. Maybe the world needs superman after all, particularly once Lex Luthor begins his evil plan to destroy a sizable chunk of the world.

The acting is very good all around, but, as noted, Lois Lane's character seems very week in this particular story. I don't think that's Kate Bosworth's fault, rather it is the way the script was written. The film is ably directed by Bryan Singer (“X-Men”) who also contributed to the story used in the screenplay. Singer, who also directed “The Usual Suspects,” wanted to work with Kevin Spacey again and tailored the role of Lex Luthor to suit his favorite actor. Another plus for this film is that it brings back the soaring musical theme created by John Williams for the 1978 film. This film is a lovingly crafted homage to the greatest superhero of all time, and it is also a tribute to the real life hero who best embodied the character of Superman, Christopher Reeve. This is solidly in the best tradition of Hollywood films and it is one of those rare sequels that doesn't betray the original film. It rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2006 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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