Just returned from a 10:30 showing of SUPERMAN RETURNS. Damn, that puppy is LOOOOOOONG. But then, SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE dragged on a bit, too.
I'll start with what doesn't work first: running time. The movie could've been 40 minutes shorter. I love Bryan Singer's movies, but he's gotta learn to snip here and there. Hell, they cut out the scenes with the guy taking care of Martha Kent.
Ok, Bryan. we get it: Kal-El = Christ. We don't need to be beaten over the head with it. And as much as I like John Ottman's score, it paled in comparison to John Williams' theme. Sorry, but there's just no contest. More of the old score and less of the angelic choirs and mournful strings. They just don't feel like "Superman." Not mythic enough.
Ok, that's out of the way, now on to what worked:
EVERY FREAKING THING ELSE. This movie brought Superman into the 21st century with a sonic boom, and I loved it. It's not BATMAN BEGINS, and it isn't supposed to be. This is a different world, and a different kind of hero. FINALLY, we get a movie about Superman that is just HUGE, EPIC, MYTHIC, and a worthy successor of both Superman 1 & 2.
I don't know what movie Roger Ebert was watching, but he gave Garfield 2 three stars. Clearly, he's not right in the head. This movie had humor, but not the cheesy 70s humor from the first one. It didn't feel forced.
And Kevin Spacey? Holeeeee shit. Finally we have a MENACING Lex Luthor, a guy who is just plain EVIL. And it works. He's human enough to evoke the Gene Hackman Luthor, but creepy and nasty enough to be someone new. And he sounds like the Lex from SMALLVILLE, or vice versa, so it really works.
Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane....eh. Any actress could've done this. Although I will say she has that porcelain china doll look Margot Kidder had. It's a study in contrasts. The big, bulky Superman and the tiny, delicate, all too-human Lois.
Was it perfect? Hell no. Was it a great popcorn flick? Definitely.
I would love to see a Batman/Superman film.
I'm going to bed now.
I'll start with what doesn't work first: running time. The movie could've been 40 minutes shorter. I love Bryan Singer's movies, but he's gotta learn to snip here and there. Hell, they cut out the scenes with the guy taking care of Martha Kent.
Ok, Bryan. we get it: Kal-El = Christ. We don't need to be beaten over the head with it. And as much as I like John Ottman's score, it paled in comparison to John Williams' theme. Sorry, but there's just no contest. More of the old score and less of the angelic choirs and mournful strings. They just don't feel like "Superman." Not mythic enough.
Ok, that's out of the way, now on to what worked:
EVERY FREAKING THING ELSE. This movie brought Superman into the 21st century with a sonic boom, and I loved it. It's not BATMAN BEGINS, and it isn't supposed to be. This is a different world, and a different kind of hero. FINALLY, we get a movie about Superman that is just HUGE, EPIC, MYTHIC, and a worthy successor of both Superman 1 & 2.
I don't know what movie Roger Ebert was watching, but he gave Garfield 2 three stars. Clearly, he's not right in the head. This movie had humor, but not the cheesy 70s humor from the first one. It didn't feel forced.
And Kevin Spacey? Holeeeee shit. Finally we have a MENACING Lex Luthor, a guy who is just plain EVIL. And it works. He's human enough to evoke the Gene Hackman Luthor, but creepy and nasty enough to be someone new. And he sounds like the Lex from SMALLVILLE, or vice versa, so it really works.
Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane....eh. Any actress could've done this. Although I will say she has that porcelain china doll look Margot Kidder had. It's a study in contrasts. The big, bulky Superman and the tiny, delicate, all too-human Lois.
Was it perfect? Hell no. Was it a great popcorn flick? Definitely.
I would love to see a Batman/Superman film.
I'm going to bed now.
This is one movie I'm curious about and want to see...But I haven't even seen X-Men 3 yet..aand so far, majority of non-critics' opinions tell me I should wait to rent it..or see it at the dollar theater..
Also want to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2 along with Superman Returns, but I'm just finding it hard to get pumped up enough to go see anything, lately.
Not sure why. Just not excited enough to go see anything on my own like I did with the first Spider-Man movie.
8pm, Quenchers