Superman Returns

Rating: M – Contains Medium Level Violence.
Duration: 148 mins.
Genre: Action & Adventure.
Actors: Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey, James Marsden, Brandon Routh.
Director: Bryan Singer.
Release Date: Available Now.

Superman Returns is an interesting movie. It’s pretty much promoted as an action packed special effects spectacular. But it isn’t. Nor was it meant to be.

But that’s the problem with movies these days – we expect more than we need, and the big marketing machine doesn’t know what to do with old-fashioned movies.

That’s right, Superman Returns is an old fashioned movie. It’s almost as if Bryan Singer wanted to pay homage to Christopher Reeves (and he does in the end credits) and the original Superman.

Superman Returns doesn’t deviate from the original concept, except in this; that Superman has been gone for five years, in search for some evidence that his race still exists. He returns to earth the same way he arrived as a baby, and gets his old job back at the Daily Planet.

Things have changed however and Lois has a baby and a boyfriend.

But Lex Luther is up to no good again, and theirs only one person who can stop him. But what about the kryptonite that Lex has?

It’s all familiar, and it would have worked well, if only I hadn’t been expecting an action packed movie along the lines of Mission Impossible 3 or X Men 3.

Sure, Superman Returns has some great special effects set pieces, and some admirable action scenes, but at the heart of it, Superman is and will always be a human drama.

As a human drama Superman Returns excels, as Clark finds himself even more alone (though seemingly more egotistical as Superman in some crowd admiration scenes) and love seems out of reach for him. But the movie has a few interesting turns for Superman and presents and few modern challenges, that could open the way to a sequel, depending on how much money this re-telling made.

Religious overtones and plot spoilers.
A lot has been said in Christian circles about the Jesus parallels in Superman Returns, and for a Christian these are easy to see. These parallels even follow very closely the parallels in the original Superman movie.

Jesus was sent to earth by his (heavenly) Father, to save mankind. He comes to earth in an unlikely spaceship shaped like a star. Superman often seeks solitude to gain perspective, does battle with Lex Luther (Lucifer) is killed and descends into Hades, only to save the world through his death, and then to rise three days later without anyone seeing him leave the Hospital room.

Rent or buy?
Buy. Rather than an action movie, Superman Returns has a lot of depth that will require multiple viewings.