But that's very much a good thing. Whilst it doesn't quite, and nor did it need to, perform the major surgery that Batman Begins had to undertake on the Dark Knight's adventures, Singer nonetheless leaves distance between his film and some of its predecessors (although there are respectful tips of the hat to the first two films, not least the nostalgia-inducing credits sequence).

The plot finds Superman returning to Earth after several years away, to discover that the world has moved on in his absence. It's not as safe, Lex Luthor is out of prison, and Lois Lane now has a family. Which is the cue for a lot of soul searching, slower, tender moments and character development that divided some se...
The Greatest Superhero Film Ever Made, 2010-03-11
I know, a big statement to make. But from my perspective it is the best. Also, I'm not in the habit of handing five star reviews out frivolously. So sorry, I'm going to go overboard on the length of my review, but I feel this film deserves it, especially after some of the stick it gets.

Other reviews here have handled the plot, but needless to say Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is out of jail and up to his old tricks. Superman (Brandon Routh) meanwhile has been AWOL for the past few years and returns to a world that on the surface has learned to live without his watchful protection.

Bryan Singer crafted a truly astonishing film, one that is referential to the character in the extreme, but if there was one to be referential about, then Superman it is.
The one major criticism leveled at the film is that there isn't any action. Does there need to be? That is what Batman, the X-men, and Hulk are for. Superman is about being a hero, and no, that doesn't mean pounding your enemies into the ground the first opportunity you get. In fact if you look at it, Superman is the pretty much the only major superhero who doesn't need a nemesis to define him. His character is about being a saviour in times of crisis, not a punisher of evildoers. And that is what this film respects, he is a protector above all else, not an excuse to have some special effects leaden punch ups.

So no, there isn't much beat'em up action, as the criticism goes, "he doesn't throw a single punch". So what. He saves a falling jumbo jet, in one of most stunning set pieces of recent years, lifts run away cars to safety, catches falling people, rescues a sinking yacht and restores crumbling skyscrapers. What more do people want?

If you have a love of the character, then there are several moments that brought a tear to my eye. One of admiration at heroism, one of sorrow on for his suffering, and one of joy. All partly because this is a rare thing, a $200,000,000 film with a heart, and interest beyond making it's budget back at the box office. Very few films (especially in that budget range) can say that, and do you know what? Those are usually the best and most enduring.

I'll be fair and talk about the things wrong with it. Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane didn't work, people point to her being too young, but in all honesty I just didn't believe she was Lois Lane for a second. The same cannot be said of the rest of cast, all were very believable. Like pretty much every blockbuster of last ten years, it's far too long, but I'm not sure what they could cut without harming the film. For some reason Bryan Singer wanted to tie the film to Richard Donner's first two Superman films continuity and ignore the two, frankly dire, sequels to those. But it doesn't quite match up or make sense, they show some of origin story here anyway, and who doesn't know a little bit about Superman's origin? Certainly no one who is going bother to watch this film, so just make it a standalone and keep the basic Donner aesthetic, which the film does anyway. A few people have pointed out that Superman is a stalker in this film, I didn't see that until someone pointed that out to me, but yep, he does stalk Lois. But watching it, it felt more like they were trying to get across the loneliness that he feels on Earth, but it was a bit of a misstep, one of incredibly few here though.

I went for a special two disc edition, don't know why, I hardly ever watch special features. But the special features are plentiful, tons of interviews and behind the scenes docs. While stuff on the character of Superman himself is moderately interesting, if you didn't know much about him already.

I dare say anyone looking for an in your face action spectacular is going to be bitterly disappointed. If that is why you are looking at this film, turn and find another one. On the superhero end of spectrum Singer's first two X men, the first two Spider men and Nolan's Batman films, and the Hellboys are more action packed and are all great films in their own right.

The underlying narrative is an even more old-fashioned romantic pas de deux that is casually hooked to a newfangled device. The script, cowritten by the director and her sister, Delia Ephron, updates and relocates the Ernst Lubitsch classic, The Shop Around the Corner, to contemporary Manhattan, where Joe Fox (Hanks) is a cheerfully rapacious merchant whose chain of book superstores is gobbling up smaller, more specialized shops such as the children's bookstore owned by Kathleen Kelly (Ryan). Their lives run in close parallel in the same idealized neighbourhood yet they first meet anonymously, online, where...
A favourite, 2010-06-02
One of my favourite films. I have watched this many times and still enjoy it. A good old love story. I would recommend watching this film.

But that's very much a good thing. Whilst it doesn't quite, and nor did it need to, perform the major surgery that Batman Begins had to undertake on the Dark Knight's adventures, Singer nonetheless leaves distance between his film and some of its predecessors (although there are respectful tips of the hat to the first two films, not least the nostalgia-inducing credits sequence).

The plot finds Superman returning to Earth after several years away, to discover that the world has moved on in his absence. It's not as safe, Lex Luthor is out of prison, and Lois Lane now has a family. Which is the cue for a lot of soul searching, slower, tender moments and character development that divided some se...
Best Superman Movie By Far, 2010-08-27
I am so disappointed that the planned trilogy has been scrapped. Brandon Routh was fantastic in the lead role and I wanted to see so much more of Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. This movie had everything, action, romance, fantastic special effects and a great cast. What more could anyone ask for?