Has Superman really returned?
When they said that Superman was going to be filmed I was pretty speculative about it all. It wasn't because of the fact that I kept up with Superman Movie talks, the handovers, the passovers, the dozens of script rewrites and whatever God awful rumours would make any nominal geek's blood turn cold. It was because like everyone else in the world, this was Superman. This is the comic book movie project. You cannot fuck this up. I'm not implying that you can't possibly fuck this up no matter how badly you do say for instance...Doctor Who, but it's clear that it's a rule that in all your ability, you will never ever let this movie be fucked up. This isn't Daredevil, and Electra isn't even 1/16th of what Superman is in terms of stature. There is no second try. This needs to be a home-run hit, not for the hometeam, but for the game itself. If any validation of comic book movies was ever needed, it would be with Superman Returns.
As more information came out, along came the doubts, the speculation, even the backlash before the movie was even released. The costume, the actors, the ideas, the perceived possiblity that bastardization might come along. Me personally, hearing Bryan Singer was directing did not encourage my enthusiasim for the film. [i]That's[/i] how big the film is, that even a director who made possibly two of the best comic book films in film history didn't even change my mindto the possiblity that the franchise is in good hands. He was there to steer a Titanic in which I hope would not sink.
I didn't invest into it as some people might have either as a movie goer or a comic book fan. I didn't anticipate with the fury that the promotional campaign should have done, but clearly did not. If anything I was one of the most indifferent people to the film on the board without going into "I don't give a shit" territory. However I'm not entirely without emotion. There were slight information tidbits that piqued my interest. Brandon Routh most of all, the costume, the idea of Kevin Spacey and even the age difference between Luthor and Superman which should be actually quite small. The Gene Hackman take on Luthor shown in the trailer made my skin crawl and my minimal expecation for a good film almost crumbled. Even the references to Superman Returns being a sequel to Superman 2 boggled my mind.
And after watching it what could I possibly say? How about I just use the other comic book blockbuster of the summer X3 for a reference?
Great Caeser's Ghost > Oh my stars and garters
Yes...we have a homerun.
If Superman 1 and 2 was about showing Superman, his ability as a superhuman, showcasing his super powers and showing the people around him; then Superman Returns is a film where we don't just see Superman being the comic book character through action...we see him as a hero.
I had my doubts. The start of the film still didn't feel like Superman to me. It didn't even feel like a comic book movie at the time. But when the time came, when you see Lois and Supes have their first real talk it was like magic. Suddenly all the doubts, all the speculation, all the geek stupidity melted away and you saw Superman. You don't care that it's Brandon Routh who could have been mistaken for the 100 Justin Timberlake clones out there or that his hair is parted on the wrong side. The costume was right, the character was right and the hero appeared. Then you begin to realise that this is a film, this isn't an adaption. This wasn't a showcase-of-superpowers-just-to-fill-in-action-movie-quota #26, this was a film about Superman and even though it might not follow the comic 100%, sure Perry didn't feel like Perry. Jimmy was a tad more generic than the last time around. But it was a film that was adapted with the spirit of it's source material and directed with the quality of a legitimate piece of cinema.
Everything in here just shows much more style, much more substance than X3. It actually showed direction instead of the decaptiated chicken, film all you can feeling of X3. Don't believe me? When Lois was in serious danger for the second time, you actually felt that danger. Even with the knowledge that Superman will come, you are barely containing the urger to scream out, "SAVE HER SUPERMAN!" by the social graces not to disturb the person beside you. How will he come? When will he come? You even begin to question whether or not he will arrive or not.
It's that ability to illicit emotion from the audience that shows the power of the directing. When Jean basically AHVB'd Charles into next Wednesday, I didn't feel anything. In fact I was pretty much sighing as to when it will end. Even the comedy was better than most of X3 because it didn't feel like it was pandered to us, it was snuck in with grace.
It is a great film. It is a film to see, to enjoy and in the end it's a damn fine comic book movie. I wouldn't say the best, I definately wouldn't say my favorite, but I can clearly see how it can easily be a favorite of many who believe in Superman.
*****/***** stars despite some minor flaws, it deserves it after rising to the occasion so greatly.
As more information came out, along came the doubts, the speculation, even the backlash before the movie was even released. The costume, the actors, the ideas, the perceived possiblity that bastardization might come along. Me personally, hearing Bryan Singer was directing did not encourage my enthusiasim for the film. [i]That's[/i] how big the film is, that even a director who made possibly two of the best comic book films in film history didn't even change my mindto the possiblity that the franchise is in good hands. He was there to steer a Titanic in which I hope would not sink.
I didn't invest into it as some people might have either as a movie goer or a comic book fan. I didn't anticipate with the fury that the promotional campaign should have done, but clearly did not. If anything I was one of the most indifferent people to the film on the board without going into "I don't give a shit" territory. However I'm not entirely without emotion. There were slight information tidbits that piqued my interest. Brandon Routh most of all, the costume, the idea of Kevin Spacey and even the age difference between Luthor and Superman which should be actually quite small. The Gene Hackman take on Luthor shown in the trailer made my skin crawl and my minimal expecation for a good film almost crumbled. Even the references to Superman Returns being a sequel to Superman 2 boggled my mind.
And after watching it what could I possibly say? How about I just use the other comic book blockbuster of the summer X3 for a reference?
Great Caeser's Ghost > Oh my stars and garters
Yes...we have a homerun.
If Superman 1 and 2 was about showing Superman, his ability as a superhuman, showcasing his super powers and showing the people around him; then Superman Returns is a film where we don't just see Superman being the comic book character through action...we see him as a hero.
I had my doubts. The start of the film still didn't feel like Superman to me. It didn't even feel like a comic book movie at the time. But when the time came, when you see Lois and Supes have their first real talk it was like magic. Suddenly all the doubts, all the speculation, all the geek stupidity melted away and you saw Superman. You don't care that it's Brandon Routh who could have been mistaken for the 100 Justin Timberlake clones out there or that his hair is parted on the wrong side. The costume was right, the character was right and the hero appeared. Then you begin to realise that this is a film, this isn't an adaption. This wasn't a showcase-of-superpowers-just-to-fill-in-action-movie-quota #26, this was a film about Superman and even though it might not follow the comic 100%, sure Perry didn't feel like Perry. Jimmy was a tad more generic than the last time around. But it was a film that was adapted with the spirit of it's source material and directed with the quality of a legitimate piece of cinema.
Everything in here just shows much more style, much more substance than X3. It actually showed direction instead of the decaptiated chicken, film all you can feeling of X3. Don't believe me? When Lois was in serious danger for the second time, you actually felt that danger. Even with the knowledge that Superman will come, you are barely containing the urger to scream out, "SAVE HER SUPERMAN!" by the social graces not to disturb the person beside you. How will he come? When will he come? You even begin to question whether or not he will arrive or not.
It's that ability to illicit emotion from the audience that shows the power of the directing. When Jean basically AHVB'd Charles into next Wednesday, I didn't feel anything. In fact I was pretty much sighing as to when it will end. Even the comedy was better than most of X3 because it didn't feel like it was pandered to us, it was snuck in with grace.
It is a great film. It is a film to see, to enjoy and in the end it's a damn fine comic book movie. I wouldn't say the best, I definately wouldn't say my favorite, but I can clearly see how it can easily be a favorite of many who believe in Superman.
*****/***** stars despite some minor flaws, it deserves it after rising to the occasion so greatly.
1 Comments:
Hell's yes.
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