Superman Returns review

v0n said:
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The film is set after the first two films as far as i knew, why he goes back was explained in the film anyway.

Also there were 4 original films, so a description of "trilogy" isnt accurate.

I thought it was a fairly decent film, bit dragged out in places, and i would have like more of explination behind the "twist" for those who have seen it - certainly leaves it open for more films anyway.

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I think to many people are seeing this as a remake, or a restart of the superman franchise (much like what Batman Begins did) - this is not however, its Superman "Returns" its not meant to explain the origins of superman, not that most need to know anyway - its a continuation set after the first 2 (maybe 3) films, granted though it doesnt exactly follow straight on - but a few years down the line.
 
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McDaniel said:
The film is set after the first two films as far as i knew, why he goes back was explained in the film anyway.

Also there were 4 original films, so a description of "trilogy" isnt accurate.
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There you go - what a flipping mess, it's a follow up to Reeve superman movies, but only two, out of four (heck, I didn't even know there were 4 of them, never seen the fourth one).

Imagine a sequel to Rocky - let's call it Rocky VI with Freddie Prince Jr as Rocky. Then we discover the plot - Rocky is facing Apollo Creed again (now played by Busta Rhymes). Everyone would be like - wtf - wasn't Apollo Creed killed by Ivan Drago in Rocky IV? No, no, you see, it's continuation of Rocky III, you gotta ignore IV and V.

Sometimes you ought to start from the beginning or don't start at all.
 
The 4th was awful yea, i think there arguement is that the continued after the 2nd movie cos the third and forth where utter pants :) so its like they have scrapped there existance.
 
I didn't think it was amazing but it is good. How can you complain it doesn't follow smallville. Suerly that was way off the original by miles. the New adentures was a bit closer but suerly as it contines from the perious films you cannot complain.

It is a bit confusing at the start but it does expalin where everyones has been etc.

but without giving away any spoilers, how are they going to do the next 1. 2 supermans????
 
iamgud said:
I didn't think it was amazing but it is good. How can you complain it doesn't follow smallville. Suerly that was way off the original by miles. the New adentures was a bit closer but suerly as it contines from the perious films you cannot complain.

It is a bit confusing at the start but it does expalin where everyones has been etc.

but without giving away any spoilers, how are they going to do the next 1. 2 supermans????
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Was very shocked at this decision myself :p - who knows how they will *play* this twist
 
I had high hopes for this film and gotta agree with the general disappointment. It was nothing special, maybe I was just WANTING it to be more than it was. I had prepared myself by watching the previous 4 films on DVD beforehand (and yes I'm aware that this film is set after Superman II).

I won't put spoilers in but all I could say at the end was wth?!? They shouldn't mess around with audience's heads like they did (is he, isn't he, etc) as that has totally (IMO) ruined future story arcs - I can never watch Superman in the same light again.

I was really hoping more for a fresh start like Batman Begins and was gutted with what we ended up with this drollness. I found the actors surprisingly good (especially our man Kev as Lex) except for lois lane who I felt was the weakest link out of them all.

I know what I like and this wasn't it.

Alty says..... 2.5/5 Decidedly Average :(
 
i loved it myself :D but im bias cos i love the franchise.

The whole is he isnt he think if its about what i think it is - its he is, how else could he off .... to kill the guy who was going for ......
 
I saw this last week and enjoyed it. I did feel the plot was a bit weak and the film threw up a few oddities. Namely the ending. It wasn't a great film but enjoyable. I thought the acting was pretty good. My main gripe is the way they play the face off scenarios. Lex Luthur with Kryptonite is not greater than Superman yet it always comes down to the wire. The big problem ,is knowing that Superman will pull though, thus without some really good action fight scenes (which there arn't) it is ultimately a boring one sided showdown.

This weakness has always been overplayed in the superman franchise tv series and films. The extreme of Superman uber ass kicking of average criminals to an ass whoping by Lex with a bit of kryptonite.

What it needed is a bad guy or two on par with Superman in the film because they had some real powers not just an overplayed IQ and deviosity. As with the Spiderman and Bataman films.

I guess I would sum it up along these lines: I enjoy the batman/xmen/spiderman etc cartoons of recent (the joys of NTL family pack)and the film is no better than a live action version of a Marvel/DC bassed cartoon plot/episode. Enjoyable for what it is, if your a fan of the franchise then perfectly watchable but not an all out standalone film like spiderman, X1 and batman begins. I watched Hulk last night (can't believe its 4 years old now) and have the same opinion of that. Its more of a live action cartoon story than a decent film.

I think, considering how long the film was they could/should have started from the beginning and do what they did with batman.

It always seems a bit hit and miss with the Marvel/DC films as some are just dire (electra) some are no better than a cartoon and others are really good.
 
I loved it! Then again, always been a superman fan. As soon as that music started at the beginning, it was like I was 5 again!
Thought Brandon was a pretty decent superman, nobody will ever really replace Chris Reeves, but they can't be expected to.
Only person I didn't like in the film was Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. Just didn't seem like Lois to me.
The story was cool, the actors (With the exception above) were cast brilliantly and it was easily the best super hero film since the original superman films!
I'm definately going to see it again at the cinema (which is something I never do!).
 
Acathla said:
I loved it! Then again, always been a superman fan. As soon as that music started at the beginning, it was like I was 5 again!
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Not just the Music... But the "Sweepey-Swooshey" Opening Credits just like the other Superman Films!... The Best Homage ever!!..

And the rest of the film was great IMHO!...

The Twist at the end!.. Made me think Hard to how could it be?!... Then I remembered in 'Superman 2' after Lois found out Clark was Superman He took her to his Fortress of Solitude and, before he became human, I remembered what they did!... ;)
 
mrk1@1 said:
I saw this last week and enjoyed it. I did feel the plot was a bit weak and the film threw up a few oddities. Namely the ending. It wasn't a great film but enjoyable. I thought the acting was pretty good. My main gripe is the way they play the face off scenarios. Lex Luthur with Kryptonite is not greater than Superman yet it always comes down to the wire. The big problem ,is knowing that Superman will pull though, thus without some really good action fight scenes (which there arn't) it is ultimately a boring one sided showdown.

This weakness has always been overplayed in the superman franchise tv series and films. The extreme of Superman uber ass kicking of average criminals to an ass whoping by Lex with a bit of kryptonite.

What it needed is a bad guy or two on par with Superman in the film because they had some real powers not just an overplayed IQ and deviosity. As with the Spiderman and Bataman films.

I guess I would sum it up along these lines: I enjoy the batman/xmen/spiderman etc cartoons of recent (the joys of NTL family pack)and the film is no better than a live action version of a Marvel/DC bassed cartoon plot/episode. Enjoyable for what it is, if your a fan of the franchise then perfectly watchable but not an all out standalone film like spiderman, X1 and batman begins. I watched Hulk last night (can't believe its 4 years old now) and have the same opinion of that. Its more of a live action cartoon story than a decent film.

I think, considering how long the film was they could/should have started from the beginning and do what they did with batman.

It always seems a bit hit and miss with the Marvel/DC films as some are just dire (electra) some are no better than a cartoon and others are really good.
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The problem is that you really need to start things with Lex Luthor and then you can introduce other enemies for Superman in later films that will be more of a challenge.
The problem with Superman is that his vulnerabilities are so few that you can only write so many comics or make so many films where they are played on before things get boring.
Kryptonite of course being one and the other "lack of yellow sun radiation" and there you have it.
What the comics tried to do was give Superman a more vulnerable feel and a lot of his stories in recent times he hasn't neccessarily looked like the automatic winner.
If this film proves popular (which so far it certainly appears to be) then I think we'll see Superman face other "Super Villians" in later films.
Lex Luthor/other humans with Kryptonite will get boring.

Batman is different because although trained to the peak of human perfection, under it all he is still human with all of the vulnerabilities of one.

I've not seen the new Superman movie yet - I'm off on Wednesday and I'm sure I'm going to love it.
It is how they follow it up that will be interesting.

Batman Begins was an excellent re-telling of the origins - so close to Year I but not quite.
The teaser at the end where we see his next case is The Joker (as per Year I) was excellent.
Batman Begins only real issue (as far as I'm concerned) is that there shouldn't have been any costumed villians in it as there weren't in the comic origins.
As has been discussed - the costumed defender is what attracts the costumed villian and it's almost as if Scarecrow was waiting for him rather than him attracting Scarecrow (this was my only slight complaint).
 
I went to go and see POTC2 on Saturday but that was sold out until a silly time, so I went to watch Superman instead. I didn't really want to watch it in the first place, even though I knew it had a lot of good reviews. I am of the same opinion that other people in here have, it was ok but nothing special. There were a few parts that made me laugh aloud, but the plot was just too predictable.

Having seen bits of the original Superman on Five the other day, I think that the new one borrows some jokes from it. That’s ok but I’d prefer something more original, especially when it comes to the plot/script.
 
HAving now seen the movie, it was indeed a homage to the originals, if you have seen the older films the begining credits and the music will make you melt with memories.

The twist did my head in as both parties involved seem to have no idea how it happened, maybe it will be explained in a later film, but I was annoyed that they did this to the audience, if they started from fresh and not made it a continuation from the previous films then it could have worked. Its hard to explain without giving the twist away which I don't want to do :)

Good film over all with some excellent scenes the bullet to the face is a great scene and had me cheering aloud, was done very well.

Spacey as Lex was a great casting idea, he is perfect for the job and performs to his normally high standard. The new superman is nothing special, but does an excellent job considering he has to live up to a film legend.

My score would be 82% not perfect, but lets see what the sequels bring.
 
This was a big let down for me. Two hours 30 mins, and virtually nothing happened aside from the plane rescue. The Lex Luthor plot had no sense of threat throughout the entire movie. They kept emphasising that billions of people would die, except the only consequence of the 'new land' were a few broken windows. It actually felt like an extended episode of Lois & Clark rather than a full blown Superman movie.

Best part was probably the opening credits :)
 
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