Review of Superman Returns (2-Disc Edition)

Introduction

I picked this up as part of the Superman Ultimate Box Set, so the title has been fighting for my attention with the Richard Donner Cut of Superman II.

From the word go, it is obvious that director Brian Singer is an enormous fan of the 1978 Superman The Movie and its sequels. From the deafening title sequence which reproduces the swooping blue lettering of the original movie to tweaking little gags like the "I hope this little incident hasn`t put you off flying" line, there is a continuity with the Christopher Reeve pictures.

And that`s the magic of the movie. Expunge Superman III and IV from your mind. Superman Returns picks up the story from the end of Superman II and runs with it.

Following the battle for Metropolis, Superman learns that Krypton may not have been destroyed and sets out to find if he is really the only Kryptonian left. The movie picks up as he returns to Earth (hence the title, cool huh?), having been gone for several years. Miraculously he manages to step straight back into his old job at the Daily Planet in his alter-ego of Clark Kent whose own disappearance has been explained away by Kent`s going off to explore the world. On his return only gormless photojournalist Jimmy Olsen is really happy to see him. The world has moved on, not least Lois Lane who has penned a Pulitzer Prizewinning article "Why The World Doesn`t Need Superman" and dropped a sprog called Jason who bears a terrifying resemblance to the kid from Home Alone.

Lex Luthor is out of jail because Supie failed to turn up in court to testify against him, and plotting new mischief now that he has bilked a billionaire`s widow out of her fortunes.

At a whisker under two-and-a-half hours, Superman Returns fairly whistles by. Like the 1970s movies, it is largely a series of set-pieces, but there is also a feast of subplots and little things to spot that elevate the picture from being just a load of deafening show. For Superman aficionadoes, as well as plenty of references to other versions of the legend, there are physical appearances of past Superman alumni, with Bo the Bartender played by Jack Larson the Jimmy Olsen of the George Reeves Superman tv series, and Gertrude Vanderworth the source of Luthor`s new fortune played by Noel Neill who played Lois Lane opposite both Kirk Alyn in the theatrical serial and George Reeves on television. There`s also a blink-and-you`ll-miss-him cameo from everybody`s favourite self-publicist Sir Richard Branson as the flight engineer on the space shuttle.

Superman Returns has had a rough ride with reviews, especially on the web. Anybody who takes on an iconic character like Superman is basically asking for trouble as everybody has an opinion about the character, the storyline, the special effects and even the typeface the end titles are done in. Personally I loved it. I was chortling like a kid at the sheer outrageousness of the airliner rescue and clapping as the final titles rolled. The movie is a grand return to the childlike wonder of the 1978 movie, but with delicious touches that bring it up to date in both humour and depth.

In spite of his weird contact lenses (and don`t they make his brown eyes blue?), he has the charm of the late and sadly missed Christopher Reeve - to whom the movie is dedicated to. Roll on the sequel!

Video

The movie is presented in its original theatrical 2.35:1, as anamorphic widescreen. Although cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel initially wanted to shoot the movie in 65mm, ultimately Superman Returns was lensed in High Definition Video (except for some high-speed photography) using Panavision/Sony`s new Genesis HD 24p camera. As a result, the movie is absolutely spotless having skipped the film transfer stage both ways and with the whole capacity of the disc to play with, compression artefacts are non-existent.

Audio

A very beefy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that will have you alternately jumping out of your seat and ducking as effects assault you from all angles. Composer John Ottman`s impressive score rightly quotes chunks of John Williams` wonderfully bombastic original score (and for music nerds, the original orchestration not the concert version of the theme).

Features

These get a whole disc to themselves. Adding up to another three or so hours of Supermanly goodness, firstly there`s a set of featurettes - `Secret Origins And First Issues: Crystallizing Superman`; `The Crystal Method: Designing Superman`; `An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman - Superman on the Farm`; `An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman - Superman in the City`;
`An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman - Superman In Peril`; `The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman`; and `He`s Always Around: Wrapping Superman`. These featurettes are roughly half-an-hour apiece and add up to a nearly three hour behind-the-scenes experience that is exhausting as well as exhaustive. A second, short `Resurrecting Jor-El` featurette is a look behind the scenes at the 3D rendering of Marlon Brando`s face for the "Fortress of Solitude" sequence by Rhythm and Hues. There are also plenty of deleted scenes (mostly from the early part of the movie at the Kent farm) and a couple of trailers. There is also an Easter Egg of Kevin Spacey trying to nail the "Wrong!!!" line.

Conclusion

Now that`s more like it. After years of grim versions of DC and Marvel comicbook heroes, Brian Singer has treated us to a Superman movie which recaptures the sheer wonder and glee of the original 1978 Superman The Movie. Brandon Routh is a worthy successor to the sadly missed Christopher Reeve, and Kevin Spacey wipes the floor and his nose on Gene Hackman`s telephoned in performance from the 1970s as Lex Luthor. Cast, crew, special effects and music are absolutely spot on. This is one movie that will bear repeated viewings to catch all the little nuances and references. An instant classic and proof that Brian Singer is one of Hollywood`s hottest pop-culture directors.