by Massie Twins

Created on: April 01, 2008

Every frame of Superman Returns' was more than I ever could have hoped for. Bryan Singer's latest opus is so much more than just another summer blockbuster, it is a moving piece of art, and like Superman: The Movie' before it, the Man of Steel is again at the forefront of the superhero extravaganzas.

While no one will replace Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh makes you not only believe that a man can fly, but that it is possible to capture the essence of Reeve's timeless performance. Routh is so perfect for the role that you never once stop to compare his performance to his predecessor; Routh, like the rest of the film, is a seamless transition in every sense of the word.

What the star and director Bryan Singer do bring to the film is a much needed update to the storyline which originated in the first two Superman' features. Though Returns' picks up where the others left off, ironically ignoring the lackluster third and fourth installments, Singer's film mirrors a great deal of the material found in Richard Donner's original film.

As a child growing up with the Superman' films it is hard not to deny their indelible impact on my life. I will never forget running around the house in my Superman pajamas, like every other red blooded kid, fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. Luckily, I wasn't the only one with this profound influence for the iconic comic book character; Bryan Singer has just as much respect and love for Superman as even the most rabid of the character's fans.

In fact Singer was set; he did not need to make a Superman' film, he didn't even need to make another comic book adaptation. After two successful rounds with a bunch of misfit mutants from another comic book franchise Singer left them and potentially millions of dollars behind to do what he felt was right, what he believed in. Together with his screenwriting partners Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, the trio rescued Superman from development Hell and not only paid brilliant homage to the original Donner picture, but resurrected the character of Superman for a whole new age.

To see Superman Returns' with a packed audience is quite simply one of the most exhilarating treats one could ask for at the movies. When Superman swooped down to save the day the roar of applause was so loud it literally gave me goose bumps. The cathartic release from the crowd was not without just cause, after all they had just seen one of the greatest rescue sequences ever put to film. After a space shuttle

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