Movie Review of "Superman Returns"
Rated PG-13
By CK Movie Kid Jonathan Lack

When astrologists find the remains of Superman's home planet, Krypton, Superman leaves earth to visit his home planet that was destroyed when he was only an infant. Nine years later, Superman returns to planet Earth to once again become the protector of Earth's citizens. At the same time, Superman's old nemesis, Lex Luther, is up to his old tricks again, not only with a plan that will kill billions, and a plan to finally destroy Superman.

It may have been nine years for the people of Superman's earth to go without the man of steel, but it's been eighteen years since moviegoers have seen Superman on the big screen. Luckily, "Superman Returns" is not the horrible mess that it easily could have been. In fact, it's a faithful recreation of the Superman universe, with a great cast to fill it.

Unknown actor Brandon Routh fills Christopher Reeve's shoes as Superman, and does a good job. It was a good decision to go with an unknown rather than use some big-name star simply for the sake of getting a big name in the title role. It's safe to say that we have a new Superman for this generation, who does a great job playing the man of steel.

It's interesting to note that it was 2005's "Batman Begins" that finally launched the Superman Returns project to release. The studio wanted another hit like "Begins." However, Superman Returns is not a restart to a movie franchise; it is a revival. "Returns" could have easily been called "Superman V," as it continues the story of the Superman and the other characters we've known from the original four movies. While it is newcomer friendly, it also doesn't have huge chunks devoted to filling in newcomers to the world of Superman. However, Moviegoers do need a basic understanding of the characters and of Superman's history to fully enjoy the movie.

But that doesn't mean that you have to know who Lex Luther is to understand that he's obviously a very evil man. Kevin Spacey places Luther this time around, filling in the role Gene Hackman played in the original movies, and Spacey plays a very believable, very evil villain. Kate Bosworth also does a very good job of playing Superman's love interest, Lois Lane.

The movie is a very enjoyable experience, for both superhero lovers and people who don't like superheroes. "Superman Returns" is very different from all superhero movies in the last five years. For once, here's a superhero who actually wants to be a superhero. We don't have two and a half hours of the superhero whining about not wanting to be a hero. This lets us simply enjoy the action (and humor) of the movie, without all the emotional "soul-searching" going on throughout. Superman is an interesting and unique superhero because he has one thought on his mind. "Protect the people." His motive is not constantly conflicted with other things going on in his life.

Surprisingly enough, one of the best scenes in the movie might be the opening scene, in which we get a brief recap of Superman's origins, and then watch the opening credits, complete with John Williams original and heroic Superman theme, blaring at you from all corners of the theater. This is a good scene because it gives you a feel of what you are about to see: two and a half hours of heroic action.

My only complaint with the movie would be that the "giant metal item falling on somebody only to be stopped in the last minute by some unknown force" is used way too many times. This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that each time they try to hide how the item stopped from making contact with the human. After the first time, we know that no matter what the giant item is, it is always stopped by the man of steel. It isn't surprising on the thirtieth time we see it.

But despite this small redundancy, the movie is great, and I'd recommend it to all over the age of eight. There's no blood or language, but it does have some intense and brutal sequences.

So go see this movie, preferably on the big screen, where it'll have the most impact. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone, but I'll just say this. Judging by one of the final scenes, Superman VI could easily be called "Son of Steel." (July, 2006)