28 of 37

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 5

ignored. This Metropolis is somehow timeless, and a mix of 70s and present-day motifs in costume and set acceptably take care of that problem.

The film picks up very well from where the series supposedly left off. In the time Superman has been gone, things have changed a great deal. Lois has won a Pulitzer Prize for an article called "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman," because, apparently, in the intervening time, it didn't.

His enemy Lex Luthor, now played by Kevin Spacey(who appears to have returned to his "nasty, snide" persona, a welcome change from the irritating messianic thing he became after his Oscar), has spent the past five years, not in jail(because Superman didn't make his court date), but making sure, in ways that can only be inferred to be arduous, a rich old widow puts him in her will. After her death, her money goes to fund his latest devious scheme, which, once again, is a land scam. You may recall that in the first film, he wanted to knock California into the sea to bring up Nevada and Arizona real estate prices. In the second, he sold out the human race in exchange for Australia. His ambitions have escalated since. His plan this time is to create a new continent, and to once again burglarize Superman's Fortress of Solitude, which once again Superman has inexplicably left just lying open, and get the magical Kryptonian crystals which, we find out in this film, can be used to grow anything, and are just lying around for anyone to steal. Of course, most people wouldn't be smart enough to know what they were for. So how come Superman keeps leaving this place unguarded against the one guy who is?

And, oh yeah, Lois now has a child, and is engaged to Perry White's nephew, played by James Marsden(Cyclops from the X-MEN films).

Singer builds on what was already a very strong foundation to create an almost poetic film, whose flaws are many but not ultimately ruinous to the film. It's certainly, just visually, a joy to watch, and the action sequences are sometimes breathtaking, showing a taste with CGI that usually only the LORD OF THE RINGS films have exhibited. One particular sequence I found to be a lot of fun is what might be considered a formula move. Superman reintroduces himself to Lois by saving her from an aircraft in trouble, this time a 747 rather than a helicopter. It's meant to echo that sequence which was, after all, the first time they met, all the way down to his concluding it with the same corny statement about the relative safety

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: Superman Returns?
We want to hear your view. Write now!