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| Superman Returns | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 8 2006, 08:32 PM (458 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Jul 8 2006, 08:32 PM Post #1 |
Revered in the UK
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Saw this today. Darker than the old Chris Reeves films; I liked Kevin Spacey's Luthor a lot, and Sam Huntington's Jimmy Olsen was terrific. Brandon Routh looks and sounds like Christopher Reeve, but can't act and his Superman and Clark Kent rivaled each other for sheer dullness. I thought Kate Bosworth was adequate at best as Lois Lane, and I wish Parker Posey -- one of my favorite actresses -- had had more to do than be Luthor's arm candy. The special effects range from spectacular to embarrassing, typical with CGI. It was great to see Eva Marie Saint, Jack Larson, and Noel Neill again, and not in meaningless cameos, either. After five years away from Earth visiting the ruins of Krypton, Superman returns home to find Lois settled down with a boyfriend and their young son. Meanwhile, Luthor has stolen the crystals from the Fortress of Solitude and has a diabolical plan to make himself dictator of a great part of the world using Kryptonian technology. That's it for more than two and a half hours folks, but the final showdown between Superman and Luthor is exciting. Much moreso than the ongoing drama between Superman, Lois, her son, and her lover. Saying it's the best Superman film since the first Reeve film isn't saying much, but hopefully the sequel will be better. |
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| The Batman | Jul 8 2006, 08:56 PM Post #2 |
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I dunno, LG, for me this felt more like SUPERMAN REPEATS, than returns. As in the first film, Luthor has a land scheme and his plan looks to be foolproof until his moll, yet again, gets cold feet about mass murder and aids Superman at the last minute. Gee, that was lucky. The performances ranged from good imitations of the original (Spacey) to boring (Routh) to completely miscast (Bosworth). And don't even get me started on the child of Superman angle that will be a definite albatross for future sequels. This is what we waited all these years for? I do agree with you about one thing, hopefully the next one will be better. |
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| marlin lee | Jul 9 2006, 03:34 AM Post #3 |
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Certainly having Lex Luthor as the villian again is getting old. And this film lacks the charm of the Christopher Reeve films. Brandon Routh comes off as playing Christopher Reeve playing Clark Kent/Superman. I don't have a problem with Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. But I'm not a huge fan of Margot Kidder in the role. So perhaps I'm setting the bar a little low there. Still with those complaints it is reasonably well done and reasonably entertaining. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. One other complaint is killing off Noel Neill's character. It was a good role and she was good in it. But it leaves no way to bring her back. Jack Larson's character could easily be brought back. Shame a similar role couldn't be found for Noel. |
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| Rogmeister | Jul 9 2006, 11:53 AM Post #4 |
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I'm getting to the point where I really don't like going to the movies anymore...I'd rather watch things in the comfort of my own home. I figure I'd be buying this at any rate so I've now decided I'll just wait for the DVD. Perhaps my movie-going days are finally over...unless they come out withn a really great western...shot in Monument Valley, perhaps? |
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| Laughing Gravy | Jul 10 2006, 07:56 AM Post #5 |
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Revered in the UK
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The audience -- which was nearly full -- was very well-behaved for Superman. Lex Luthor getting old?!?!? He and Superman are the yin to each other's yang... mind vs. muscle. You may as well leave Lois Lane out of the movie! I mean, who is going to replace Luthor as a villain? Brainiac? Another brilliant but warped scientific genius, but without Lex's humanity. Whom does that leave? Terra-Man? The Toyman? Titano the Super Ape? No... Luthor is here to stay, I hope. |
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| JazzGuyy | Jul 10 2006, 09:42 AM Post #6 |
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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I'm with Rogmeister, I'll wait for the DVD. I have a nice big, wide screen at home and better sound than the theaters. I enjoy a movie more sitting on my couch than in an uncomfortable theater seat. |
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| rodney | Jul 10 2006, 02:01 PM Post #7 |
Charter Member
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There's nothing like seeing a movie on film in the theater. NOTHING. |
| Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer! | |
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| The Batman | Jul 10 2006, 02:31 PM Post #8 |
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Yes, Luthor is getting old, LG. He is only human, after all. SUPERMAN RETURNS marks his fourth appearance in five movies. Would you want to watch four of five Batman movies starring the Joker? Or 4 or 5 Spider-man movies starring the Green Goblin? Nope. Well, maybe you would, but not me. Luthor may be the yang to Superman's ying, or the creamy filling to his dark cookie, for all I care. The fact of the matter is Luthor has been done to death. Now, you asked about other villains, with Brainiac your shining example of why none of the others will work. But, in fact, Brainiac would be a perfect follow up villain, because of the fact he is an inhuman machine; bent on destroying all natural life. The film could be used to highlight Superman's own humanity, when compared to that of another god-like being with a cold heart. As for other villains, there is Doomsday and any movie with him in it would include the mother of all slugfests. This would be an opponent who could give Supes a run for his money, without resorting to that old chestnut: Kryptonite. Then there is Mongul, who is as tough as Superman (or nearly) and is highly intelligent. And if you must have Kryptonite in your movie, there is always Metallo, who has a heart made of the glowing green stuff that gives Superman fits. So, without resorting to Toyman (who could still be used in a more lighthearted adventure), I have given you four enemies of the Man of Steel who could give the Big Boy Scout a run for his money. This is enough fodder for years of sequels, easily enough to carry Brandon Routh through his career as Superman. And you could always have Luthor as an accomplice to one of these villains, as it is not like he hasn’t worked with others before (Superman II). |
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| Laughing Gravy | Jul 10 2006, 02:46 PM Post #9 |
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Revered in the UK
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Well, I gave you the wrong impression. I have nothing against Superman battling other villains in the movies, and I always liked Brainiac. (Well, the green guy from outer space, not the whiskered carnival mentalist; what was THAT all about?) But Luthor is part of the Superman mythos, and I'd hate to see him jettisoned, especially when -- like Superman himself -- he's been off the big screen for nearly 20 years. If there is an Atom Man or a Metallo or a Bizarro to battle Superman, let Luthor create them. And since Kevin Spacey's Luthor was the most interesting person (and acting) in the latest film, I'd especially hate to dump him. And Superman, despite being around longer than either Batman or Spider-Man, simply doesn't have the array of interesting villains they have. And Rod, I agree -- when the audience is behaving, seeing a movie with dozens of film fans is a treat you can't match at home, and is less distracting. P.S. And as a long-time Superman fan, I can't think of two villains that would interest me less than Doomday and Mongul. Muscle vs. muscle is fine for the WWF, I guess, but not for a Superman movie. |
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| The Batman | Jul 10 2006, 04:23 PM Post #10 |
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Good to hear you don't mind other villains, LG; to be honest I wasn't sure. I would have no problem with Luthor being involved in the creation of some of the characters I mentioned. I just want to see Superman in a real fight, not just lying prone on the floor from a Kryptonite necklace, while some middle-aged guy kicks him in the ribs. As for Doomsday and Mongul, well, Doomsday would be a perfect creation for Luthor to devise; and Mongul is as strong as Superman and as smart as Luthor, so there is twice the bang for the buck. |
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| Jerry Blake | Jul 11 2006, 05:29 AM Post #11 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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"Meanwhile, Luthor has stolen the crystals from the Fortress of Solitude and has a diabolical plan to make himself dictator of a great part of the world using Kryptonian technology." Hmmm...I can't help but think that some of the writers for this movie may have read "Kenneth Robeson's" (Lester Dent's) Doc Savage book FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, in which villainous John Sunlight locates and enters Doc's Fortress and uses the stored technology he finds there as part of his plan to conquer the world. It could be a coincidence, though. |
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| Laughing Gravy | Sep 13 2006, 09:04 AM Post #12 |
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Revered in the UK
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Warners has announced that Superman Returns will be available on Nov. 28 (the same day the serials, final seasons of the George Reeves TV show, and other Super-titles go on sale). The film will be available in widescreen or fool-screen and in a single or a double set; the single disc will have no extra features, while the double set will have a 3-hour documentary(!) on the making of the film, plus deleted scenes and other material. Cost is $29 for the single, $35 for the double. |
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| Rogmeister | Sep 13 2006, 09:55 AM Post #13 |
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Charter Member
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They're making a video game based on the movie. I thought it would have been out when the movie debuted but it wasn't...instead, it will now be out about a week or so before the DVD comes out. |
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| ilive4mycats | Sep 15 2006, 02:21 PM Post #14 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Maybe its the fact that I am a geezers, but this film in the words of John Fogarty was deja vu all over again. It was nice to see Jack Larson and Noel Niell, but Brandon Routh has no charisma. Hes like Curly Joe De Rita compared to the original Curly. Hes not close to either Mr Reeve or Mr Reeves. |
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| Rogmeister | Sep 16 2006, 07:43 AM Post #15 |
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Charter Member
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I pulled out my 2nd season Superman set a few nights ago and watched the episode that had Hugh Beamont as a guest-star...he's better known as Ward, the father on "Leave It To Beaver". Then I watched another episode...with Dabbs Greer. He was in about at least 3 episodes...maybe a fourth I'm forgetting... I will definitely get Superman Returns on DVD...I'm kind of surprised myself that I never went to it while it was playing in the theater. Brandon Routh may be no Christopher Reeve...but it's a Superman movie, for crying out loud! And as for future movies, I actually wouldn't mind at all if Terra-Man were used as a villain! |
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