Superman Returns (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing Superman Returns
, the latest installment from the storied Superman franchise. This movie finds our hero returning from a long trip to visit his destroyed home world and finding that our world isn't the same as when he left.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: I loved it. I have been waiting years for Superman to Return. This is the perfect compliment to the first two Superman movies from the late '70s and early 80's.
How about you?
Scott: I loved parts of it. I would really like to have his power and whenever he showcased it, I was blown away. Otherwise, it was a bit slow. At 2:34, it was long.
Mike: If I have one complaint about the film that is it. It is too long. A number of things could have been cut out or shortened with no detriment to the film. I guess Hollywood is reluctant to edit successful directors. Just look at Peter Jackson, apparently he can't make a movie under 3 hours.
Scott: The end reminded me of A.I. , it just didn't want to end. There were several good opportunities, but it didn't happen.
Mike: Please don't compare this movie with A.I. in any way!
Scott: All of that aside, the action, when we had action, was really cool.
Mike: The movie looks great. The flying sequences are the ones I have always wanted.
It was nice to see a film by people who obviously loved and admired both the Superman character, and the Superman films.
Scott: I liked his displays of strength. The movie had some problems with perspective on his abilities, but you can look past those easily. Like when he can fly across the country in minutes, yet take many seconds to catch up to a plane.
Mike: The technology available allows them to make Superman in action scenes that look straight out of a comic book.
There are all kinds of great homage's to the previous films.
Scott: I picked up one at the end where the footage of him flying through 'metropolis' was similar to the first movie. To which references do you refer?
Mike: Some of the references are obvious. They use the John Williams musical theme and the same style opening titles.
Scott: I think that really is Superman's theme at this point. If I whistle that theme people recognize it. It was good then and I still think it's good now.
Mike: The music had great impact. They even snuck in the "Can you read my mind" theme, without the cheesy lyrics.
Scott: I didn't pick up on that one, when was that in the movie?
Mike: While Superman and Lois are flying together and he returns her to the roof of the Daily Planet.
Also, they made use of Marlon Brando footage from the previous movies as Jor El.
Scott: From what I had heard, I thought there was going to be more with him in it. He really didn't show up much, his voice did though.
Mike: You also see him reflected in the crystals of the Fortress of Solitude.
Did you notice that at the Kent farm, the picture of his father on the piano was of Glen Ford?
Scott: I didn't notice that, good eye Mike!
Mike: There are nice cameos by Noel Neill and Jack Larson who played Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen on the '50s TV series.
Scott: I kind of recognized Larson, but didn't pick up on Neill.
Mike: They even say things like "You act like you've been here before" to Lex Luthor when they are in the Fortress of Solitude. And if you've seen the first two movies, you know he has.
Most of the set design is very much in keeping with the other movies.
Scott: I read an article on director Bryan Singer and he said this takes place after the first and second Superman movies, and takes place as if the 3rd and 4th didn't happen.
Mike: Works for me!
I think I see things the same way as Singer, when it comes to Superman movies.
Scott: Funny thing about Superman 3 star Annette O'Toole, who played Lana Lang and currently plays Martha Kent on Smallville, is that she didn't know there was a Superman 4.
Mike: I guess you also watched Look Up in the Sky special on A&E. Very informative if you are interested in Superman.
Scott: Hmm, I guess you saw that too huh?
Mike: The plot is not deep, but would make a great graphic novel, so it will satisfy many Superman fans.
There are some great showcases for action, but I don't want to give away too may details, because there are some surprises.
Scott: Like I said earlier, all of the action got me excited. Growing up I really wanted to fly like Superman, watching this movie, I remember why that was.
Mike: I think the actors did a great job. Brandon Routh was a terrific choice for both Superman and Clark Kent.
Scott: In my memory, as in who I have seen as Superman, Christopher Reeve did the best Clark Kent. Routh was good as Superman (effects helped out for sure), but as Kent, he was merely ok.
Mike: I loved Christopher Reeve, but since we can't have him, I think this guy will work.
Kate Bosworth is a much more appealing Lois Lane than Margot Kidder ever thought of being.
Scott: You say that about Kidder and I have to agree, she never knocked my socks off, Bosworth does - at least in some scenes.
I actually thought I heard Margot Kidder's voice in the movie, but it turned out not to be her.
Mike: There were a couple of references to Kidder's Lois Lane, though. The smoking and the "how many k's in Catastrophe" crack to name a couple.
Remember I am a giant Superman nerd. I notice this stuff. Also, I just recently saw the first two movies with my nephews. Two new converts to the Superman movie legacy.
Scott: Frank Langella played Perry White. We didn't see very much of him in this movie and his character was very subdued. Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen was a source of comedic relief in the newsroom scenes.
I have some trivia, name the two other comic based movies Parker Posey (Kitty Kowalski) Lex's main squeeze, was in?
Mike: I have no idea.
Scott: Blade: Trinity and Josie and the Pussycats.
Mike: Josie and the Pussycats? You are reaching.
Her character was very reminiscent of Valerie Perine's Miss Tesmacher.
Scott: I was thinking the same thing. I believe Miss Tesmacher had a bit of a crush on Superman, and there was a hint of that here.
Mike: The other guy we have to mention is Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. What a great choice.
Scott: I like Posey, and I like Kevin Spacey. Both were well cast.
Mike: One other note. There is a brief appearance by Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent, Clark's mother. Unfortunately, she is barely in the movie, but I had to mention her. She was in the amazing North by Northwest, which is one of my favorite Hitchcock films.
Spacey was very good as Luthor and played the character darker than Gene Hackman's in the previous Superman movies.
Mike: Yes, but they shared the same visions of grandeur and borderline nutcase sense of humor.
Scott: True, his humor was just about non-existent. He was more funny from his behavior, then his language.
Speaking of favorite movies, Spacey was in The Usual Suspects, one of our favorite movies of all time.
Mike: The Usual Suspects was directed by a young genius named Bryan Singer.
Scott: I didn't know Singer directed that... wow!
Mike: Seriously? About Singer?
Scott: Seriously
Mike: Singer hasn't made a mistake yet, in my book. His X-Men movies kicked butt and he is one of the creators and producers of the excellent TV series House M.D.
His next project is supposed to be a retelling of Logan's Run. I'm already looking forward to that.
Scott: One more thing I wanted to see if you noticed.
Mike: Yes?
Scott: Did you recognize the hostess talking on the plane in the beginning of the movie from anywhere?
Mike: The lady talking? No.
Scott: She was Nikita in the TV series, La Femme Nikita. Her name is Peta Wilson. I liked that series.
Mike: Oh, very good.
The credits say the Shuttle engineer was billionaire Richard Branson-didn't notice him, though.
Scott: He looked familiar, but not familiar enough to recognize.
Mike: So what did you think?
Scott: I think Singer is a great director, but for this movie he could have used an editor. It is too long by 30-45 minutes. When it gets going it's a great flick, it just bogs down too much. I give it a 3 overall and a 3 for Comic Book movie.
Mike: It was worth the wait. Can you imagine if this had starred Nicholas Cage or been directed by Tim Burton? Those were two previous tries. I am curious as to what Kevin Smith would have done as scriptwriter, though. Even though it was long, I am ready to see it again. I give it a 4 overall and a 4 as a Comic Book movie. This movie should rightfully be Superman 3. Sorry Annette O'Toole.
Scott: S3 had some good stuff, just had a bunch of bad stuff too
Mike: Sorry I can't agree with you on that one. Richard Pryor was the man, but please....
Scott: I think that given all of the hype, this movie's should be up, up and away the biggest movie of the summer.
Mike: This movie will leap over the competition in a single bound.
