Review of Superman Returns (2006) by James S — 13 Jun 2013

Director Bryan Singer uses Richard Donner's template for this sequel to the Christopher Reeve films. Picking up 5 years after part 2 (thus, acting like parts 3-4 did not occur), Superman returns to Earth from an extended trip to find Krypton.

By the end of the film, he finds Krypton on Earth in the form of a son. (That little roll in the hay in part 2 with Lois apparently did not include any super-sized condoms.) Singer clearly had deep affection for the material and myth.

While it's a little slow in its buildup, the final act is a huge payoff, showcasing sacrifices and heroism by Superman and several others. Kate Bosworth (as Lois) and Kevin Spacey (as Luthor) are nowhere near as mischievous (or fun) as Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman were, but Brandon Routh does a nice job of honoring Chris Reeve with a nice turn as a very human Superman.

Singer's photography is beautiful, as are his allegories to a certain religious figure and comments on disfunctional (albeit modern) families. A nice return to form for the franchise.