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July 03, 2006
Superman Returns...but is it any good?
I've been pondering this question all day. I really can't make up my mind. I feel like my experience was severely limited, because I was sitting in the Third Row of a Giant Theater (you know the kind; the kind that should never include the first five rows of seats). So, during the (many) quiet, close-up shots in the film, I was staring up people's noses.
I also couldn't decide if my antsy-ness was due to my desperate need to use the facilities (damn those over-sized medium soft drinks!), the kids tapping their feet in front of me, the person kicking my seat behind me, or the fact that the movie needed to be edited. I've decided the movie needed better editing. Plus, it needed more dialogue, especially for Brandon Routh (previously of One Life to Live "fame"). I'm also glad to know I wasn't the only one who wasn't drawn to Kate Bosworth. First of all, her hair is so obviously dyed! Were there absolutely no true brunettes available for the frickin casting call????? Second, she can't act. I know this isn't always a prerequisite for doing well in an action movie, but come ON. Wasn't Terri Hatcher's Lois your favorite part of Lois & Clark?
I think Spacey's getting a bum rap for his Lex Luther. While he definitely doesn't have the sex appeal of Michael Rosenbaum (but seriously, how many men can look that hot bald?), he has a good blend of camp and evilness. My only problem is that his Lex seems to be chained to his henchmen; I'm not convinced he could pull any of his tricks off without the people around him.
Parker Posey was definitely the most engaging actor. Perhaps because I was so damn close to the screen, I focused too much on how small her eyelashes are (seriously, I was that close), but nevertheless, she managed to outplay her one-sided character with more panache than Bosworth did with a four dimensional character.
Ooh ooh ooh. And did you notice the cameo by La Femme Nikita?!?! I'm of course, speaking of none other than Peta Wilson as Bobbie-Faye (the self-assured, Operations-type character explaining the airplane / spaceship set up).
They could've used a much better editor; someone to say "after the two hour mark, do we really need to draw out all this crap?" Especially since the end lacks oomph. It would've been better to end it 20 minutes earlier...but I'll spare you the exact point I think it should've ended in case you haven't seen it.
All in all, I expected more from the director of X-Men and X2. I still enjoyed the film and would be willing to see it a second time in theaters - if only to move farther away from the screen...but there are so many other movies out there vying for my time (how excited are you that we're mere days away from the next Pirates movie?), that I'm not rushing out to give this movie a second try.
The most difficult to navigate to review aka the LA Times review by Kenneth Turan (whom I despise)
Roger Ebert's skewering cum plot summary. I don't think it was that bad.
Manohla Dargis' NYT Review. This is my absolute favorite writing about this film, including how obnoxious the Jesus imagery was. More importantly, it explains how this movie fits into the current homosocial film trend:
Intentionally or not, the Jesus angle also helps deflect speculation about just how straight this Superman flies. Given how securely Lois remains out of the romantic picture in "Superman Returns," now saddled with both a kid and a fiancé (James Marsden), it's no surprise that some have speculated that Superman is gay. The speculation speaks more to our social panic than anything in the film, which, much like the overwhelming majority of American action movies produced since the 1980's, mostly involves what academics call homosocial relations. In other words, when it comes to Hollywood, boys will be boys and play with their toys, whether they're sleeping with one another or not, leaving women to weep, worry and wait to be rescued.Emphasis added. Perhaps I was so enthralled by Peta's cameo because it was the slightest of nods to the fact that Women Can Kick Ass. Too bad this flick's Lois has no spine.
Rotten Tomatoes entry
Posted by cj at July 3, 2006 08:45 PM
Comments
So, should we see it?
Posted by: theaardvark at July 6, 2006 07:10 AM
If you're looking for popcorn entertainment - sure, see it on the big screen. If you're sick of giving your money to less than stellar Hollywood entertainment, than go see something else.
Sorry it took me awhile to sift through the spam comments and post your's.
Posted by: c.j. at July 23, 2006 11:09 PM