Went to see this last night with my family.I could see this film being equally liked and being seen as a drag. For me it is the best of the Superman films.
Historically while I enjoyed Christopher Reeves I always thought his performance of Clark Kent was OTT. Who would employ him? Who would bother to have any sort of meaningful conversation with him? In this new film the geekiness is dialed down to realistic proportions, and as a result I could invest in him far more.
I would take the principal of dailing back on caricatures and say that ALL the characters have been portrayed far more realistically. Langella's Perry White is not a shouting, pouting monstrousity but comes over as in charge but empathetic; you could imagine people wanting to go the extra mile for him!
I especially like that Lex Luther has NO comic elements in him. Personally I need major characters to be played straight. Nudge nudge wink wink has ruined many films for me, including the later Indiana Jones films and many of the Roger Moore Bond movies.
So what will let the film down for some movie goers? I fear that some will find it slow. It has a similar set piece ratio to the first Superman movie, but thay are better spread over the film. The time is used to introduce you to the players, and to sympathise with them - to care.
There are some nice twists that will no doubt be developed in the future.
The only change I would have made would have been to have ended the film five minutes earlier - if you go and see it you'll know what I mean!
Martin
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Topic - Superman Returns - Mr Underhill 11:41:35 07/17/06 (16)
- First movie I might have dozed off in. - oscar 14:05:07 07/19/06 (1)
- Re: First movie I might have dozed off in. - Vinylized 08:23:51 07/20/06 (0)
- Saw it yesterday in 3D at the Bose Imax Theatre. Sure wish I could have had a go at the script... - clarkjohnsen 08:49:18 07/19/06 (7)
- Come on, it's based on a comic book...(nt) - mkuller 21:06:20 07/19/06 (0)
- Re: Saw it yesterday in 3D at the Bose Imax Theatre. Sure wish I could have had a go at the script... - Wendell Narrod 14:31:23 07/19/06 (2)
- Add that to the list. And yes, I've always thought of Lois as somewhat older than Clark. nt - clarkjohnsen 14:42:27 07/19/06 (1)
- Terry Hatcher was too old... - RGA 08:41:11 07/20/06 (0)
- Sure wish I could have had a go at the script... - Mr Underhill 14:23:22 07/19/06 (2)
- Ah! I had not seen S II. But physics doesn't *have* to be disregarded. - clarkjohnsen 14:45:24 07/19/06 (1)
- You should see Superman II - RGA 08:47:52 07/20/06 (0)
- Well I found it to be just about the worst Superman movie... - RGA 07:15:43 07/19/06 (5)
- the worst Superman movie... - Mr Underhill 14:06:11 07/19/06 (2)
- Re: the worst Superman movie... - RGA 08:18:02 07/20/06 (1)
- Best Superman Film? - Mr Underhill 09:51:25 07/20/06 (0)
- Funny...I liked Superman Returns better than the new Pirates movie... - TWB 09:58:58 07/19/06 (1)
- Incompetant script... - RGA 08:35:53 07/20/06 (0)