Superman Returns review
Despite what I’ve heard and read, I went to see Superman Returns (IMDB) the past weekend. Being a fan of the older Superman movies I’ve dreaded this for some time, especially since Batman Begins left me with mixed feelings.
Brandon Routh is the new Superman (and Clark Kent of course), not much of a match for Christopher Reeve though. Routh feels pretty uncharismatic and I’m not impressed. Lois Lane is portrayed by Kate Bosworth, and she’s doing a pretty good job I guess. However, the relationship between Superman, Lane and James Marsden’s Jerry White feels a bit, well, soapy.
The one actor who really stands out is the (almost) always brilliant Kevin Spacey. He’s doing a Lex Luthor on par with Gene Hackman’s version from the past. There’s a brutal and down right gritty scene in the later part of the movie that is just marvelous.
Besides Spacey’s performance I feel that Superman Returns is a pretty thin piece of work. The romantic part of the movie feels awkward, while the action parts work out a lot better. Luthor’s plot is great however, completely on the right track.
I’ll rent the sequel, and I wish I hade rented this two and a half hour long movie as well. It wasn’t time wasted, it just wasn’t well spent.
[rate 2]