Bryan Singer’s arrival of Superman Returns is finally here. The Man Of Steel is back in a new Christopher Reeve look a like body with a brand new cast to support him. Superman (Brandon Routh) has left Metropolis to go back to his home planet of Krypton, which is no more. Upon his return home, his arch nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has been freed from prison and is already deep into a diabolical plan to weaken Superman and in his weakened state and absence reek havoc on the world.
However, when incognito Clark Kent style, it becomes apparent Lex Luthor’s release is not the only thing that has changed in Superman’s absence, it seems Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has been busy. Not only has she won a Pulitzer Prize for an article she wrote about why the world doesn’t need Superman, she has a new boyfriend, (James Mardsen) and a young five year son named Jason. (Tristan Leabu) Curiosity sparks, and one begins to ask who Jason’s father is.
In this version we get to see Superman as more or less a “God”, sent to Earth by his father to protect it. This point is emphasized later in the film by a brilliantly played Lex Luthor who complains about “A God who wears a cape and won’t share his powers”. This particular mission is personal on so many levels that it separates itself entirely from the Superman’s before it, and shows a deeper more ambitious side of Superman and all of Metropolis.
It’s this power, this prowess, the fact that he is not human that separates him from Lois and all other humans, and though he can connect, he will never be one of them. This almost sadness of solidarity keeps us solely in his world and looking from his perspective. But being the ultimate being he is, he never once does stray from his path of righteousness and makes all the sacrifices necessary to keep Earth safe.
The special effects, the brilliant scenery, the scene with the bullets, the flight of Lois and Superman, not to mention the opening scene with an Air Force Jet heading straight for a ball park field is a never-ending supply of pure visual joy when mixed with such a great element of story-telling and a superb cast. Kevin Spacey IS Lex Luthor, just as Brandon Routh IS Superman.
This zealous new version of Superman has enormous pants to fill, but does so with the greatest of ease. It remains true to it’s predecessors while bringing a new spark of youth and modern myth to the tale, only adding to an already beloved character. Superman Returns, and hopefully does again and again. Three and a Half out of Four stars.
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