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Superman Returns (2006) – 6.0

A two-and-a-half-hour mixed bag of clever moments and dunderheaded ideas. As with his X-Men films, director Bryan Singer tempers his fanboy idolatry of superheroes with a light-hearted wit, but he can’t resist amping up the Superman/Christ imagery to an embarrassing, Mel-Gibson degree; I nearly lost it when Lex Luther’s cronies, led by Kal Penn (Kumar, for Chrissakes!), beat up on a staggering, Kryptonite-weakened Superman like a gang of Roman thugs. Impossibly good-looking newcomer Brendan Routh puts in a decent performance as Superman and a slightly better one as Clark Kent, but Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane proves that Rachel McAdams needs to make more movies. And then there’s Kevin Spacey. Maybe Singer hasn’t kept tabs on Spacey since The Usual Suspects, but there is no actor whose ego has become more unjustifiably bloated than Mr. K-Pax himself. Given Spacey’s incredibly consistent string of awful movies, it’s some credit to the filmmakers that Superman succeeds at all. With James Marsden (ever the losing suitor) as Superman’s rival, Richard White, and Parker Posey as Lex’s airheaded sidekick, Kitty Kowalski.

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Published:: 7.4.06 / 1pm

Category:: reviews

Hello love.

I liked this movie more than you did.

I may have things out of order, but, as far as I remember, after Superman is beaten by Luther’s thugs he ascends into space and floats back down with his arms spread out in the image of the crucifix. As he reenters the atmosphere, he curls up into a fetal position (2001?) and speeds in like a meteorite. So, there you have two Stations of the Cross in quick succession. I don’t think they have a religious connotation, though. I think they work the same way as the image of Superman holding the Daily Planet globe on his shoulders. “Christ” is just one of the mythic archetypes Singer piles onto Superman, along with “Atlas” and a few others. It may be heavy-handed, but there isn’t any 700 Club fundamentalism behind it.

I do agree, though, that Kumar was ridiculous, and that Rachel MacAdams would’ve made a much better Lois Lane. (Though I think I’d prefer a sassier and less cute Lois, like we got in the 1978 version. Can’t think of anybody right off…)

By the way, have you seen my (previous) favorite film blog? The House Next Door Think you’d enjoy it.

This is a fun way to continue our movie talks

Hanny Hindi 7.6.06 / 3pm

jasmine 7.6.06 / 8pm

hey hanny! so, Singer certainly does mix the heroic metaphors, but the Christ imagery was clearly the winner. i also rolled my eyes at the Brando voiceover samples about sending my only son to Earth, blah blah blah. maybe i just missed all of the same in the original Superman b/c i was, what, too busy learning how to walk?, but then, Singer’s the one who decided to resurrect (inexcusable pun) Superman at this particular moment, when Christians are apparently so in need of affirmation that they’re looking to Hollywood to provide it.

i’m cool w/ a cute Lois, just b/c Brendan Routh deserves someone equally, retardedly gorgeous. unfortunately, Kate Bosworth is neither cute nor sassy.

i’ll definitely keep tabs on The House Next Door – thanks for the rec! & you’re right – this’ll be a great way to keep up our movie chats.

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Superman Returns (2006) – 6.0

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