SUPERMAN RETURNS

*cue famous opening theme*




The son becomes the father, and the father the son.

How should I begin to describe this movie?

I really can't understand how so many critics tore apart this movie.
I personally had found it to be entertaining and amusing.
It was a great tribute to the Superman as portrayed by the late Christopher Reeves.
There were the 1980s cliches and the very arrogant self-righteousness, almost preaching attitude of the movie.








It all began with the father, JOR-EL...

"Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and power are needed - but always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. Your being is both separate and your own, but I have caused your earthly presence and must share responsibility for your actions.

They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all - their capacity for good - I have sent them you. My only son."

This is the Superman I remembered from my days as a nerdy lil' kid.
I would ride a damn few blocks from my Grandpa's place to the comic shop every other day after school.
There was the penny pinching during lunch so that I could afford the superheroes running around.
I used to read these comics and enjoyed the pride in being heroic.

This is the Superman who stood for Truth and Justice.

No crime is too big or too small for this Superman.

I really must say this...
The new Superman has a really amazing resemblance to the old Superman.
Even if you do not agree with the superficial similarities, let us agree on the spiritual.
Some say Brandon Routh looks and sounds too much like Christopher Reeve's Superman (in a bad way?).

I say, "Big hairy deal."

It's not distracting at all and early on it's easy to get into Routh as the new Man of Steel.

Brandon Routh, while a relative unknown, seamlessly switches between Superman and Clark Kent.
Clark is his usual awkward, bumbling self.
But, he is believable and not at all schticky.
Routh plays Superman with a romantic flair with the flowing cape and the flying. His emotion-filled facial expressions let you into exactly how he's feeling and dealing with everyone's reaction to his long absence.

Including his relationships with Lois and Lex.

This film is a departure from the previous movies in the series.
Superman is more developed as a character.
He's not just a costumed actor, reacting to other people.
He is seen in quiet, contemplative moments, and shown to be susceptible to pure human emotion.
Bullets may bounce off his skin, but Superman's heart can break just like anyone else's.

If Superman: The Movie succeeded by taking Superman seriously, Superman Returns succeeds by making Superman human.

Brian Singer (said director) directed a movie to do what Batman Begins did to the Caped Crusader franchise.
By bring a new dark, brooding vitality to the series, the stories told became more interesting.
Same character and the same story... just told at a different angle.

Superman Returns does the same by making superman feel human.
The superhero is not all steel, he feels pain, hurt, heartbreak.
He returns to a world that has moved on and forgotten him.
He has a son he will never truly have a hand in raising.
He feels love for a woman who will never, ever be truly his.








So it now falls to the son, KAL-EL...

You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you. Even in the face of our deaths, the richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I have learned, everything that I feel all this and more, I bequeath you my son. You will carry me inside you all the days of your life.

You will make my strength your own, see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine.

The son becomes the father, and the father the son.

This is all I can send you, Kal-El.