Psychotronic Cinemavision: Superman Returns

Astronomers believe they have discovered the remnants of Krypton, Kal El’s home world and the Man of Steel leaves earth on a journey to find his past.  Gone for five years, Superman (Brandon Routh) returns to Metropolis only to discover that the world has learned to live without him, and that Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on, now engaged to Richard White (James Marsden) and raising a young son.  Lois resents that Superman left without saying goodbye.  Superman’s alter-ego, Clark Kent, gets his job back at the Daily Planet and begins to try to put his life back together as well as trying to reconnect with Lois. Meanwhile his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has devised a new plan to destroy Superman by using stolen Kryptonian crystals mixed with Kryptonite to create a new continent, threatening to sink North America killing billions of people. Torn between reclaiming his place as Earth’s savior and accepting his alienation, Superman must confront both emotional and physical challenges to save humanity once more.

Directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men), Superman Returns premiered on June 28, 2006, after much anticipation as the first big-screen Superman story in nearly two decades. The film is often described as both a sequel and homage to Richard Donner’s original Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). It uses John Williams’ iconic score and adopts a nostalgic tone, with production design and costume choices echoing Christopher Reeve’s era. Critics gave the movie generally favorable reviews, praising Routh’s sincere performance and the visual effects but critiquing its lack of action and overly reverential tone. It holds a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Superman Returns received recognition for its technical achievements, earning nominations for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and the BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, although it ultimately lost both to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. At the 33rd Saturn Awards, the film performed well, taking home Best Fantasy Film along with honors for Best Director (Bryan Singer), Best Actor (Brandon Routh), Best Writing (Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris), and Best Music (John Ottman). Several cast members, including Kate Bosworth, Tristan Lake Leabu, James Marsden, and Parker Posey, as well as the visual effects team, received nominations in additional categories. Notably, despite her Saturn nod, Bosworth was also singled out by the Golden Raspberry Awards with a nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. It is ranked at 496 on Empire’s “The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time” list, stating, “It may have been a slighter return than some people had hoped for, but Singer’s vision of the Man of Steel is a heroic effort. Plenty of spectacle and a lot of heart helps Kal-El soar.”  But the movie is often criticized with many feeling it struggled to balance a fresh take with its deep reverence for the past.

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I think this is an underrated film and is overly criticized, even by myself when it first came out.  The film offers beautiful visuals, an earnest lead, and heartfelt callbacks to the Christopher Reeve films.  It does underdeliver on the action, but the performances and storyline make up for it.  Having now re-watched the film several times, its heartfelt homage to the Donner films endears itself to the audience making me once again believe that a man can fly. The new costume is both fresh and yet has a retro feel.  Routh is splendid as both his own version of Superman and yet building on the iconic character that the late Christopher Reeves created and that many of us adore as our childhood Superman.  Kevin Spacey is one of the best portrayals of Lex Luther we have had in a film being diabolically evil mixed with just enough camp and humor (the movie was made before Spacey’s fall from grace).  Kate Bosworth is an okay Lois Lane but doesn’t capture the essence of Margot Kidder who originated the role in the Donner films. She doesn’t come across as the tough bulldog reporter she needed to be.  For casual viewers or those seeking high-stakes action, it may feel overlong and emotionally distant. However, as an affectionate love letter to the mythos of Superman, it’s worth a watch for its ambition and nostalgic charm