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-   -   "Superman Returns"...the reviews thread. (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/468316-superman-returns-reviews-thread.html)

toddly6666 07-09-06 07:22 PM

Why can't superman be with Lois Lane? Isn't it the same theme as a cop, soldier, spy avoiding a relationship because he has a dangerous job, which can get him or his loved one physically/emotionally hurt or because he is so busy that he won't see her that often? Superman is avoiding having a relationship so that he doesn't want to get in a situation that will make it possible to be emotionally hurt? If that's so, that's an adolescent look at love.

Why oh why can't Superman have a relationship, even if it may be complex, with Lois?

clemente 07-09-06 07:42 PM

A small thing that occured to me when I saw the movie and haven't seen addressed. It doesn't ruin the movie, but one of those things that makes you wonder.

If Superman got to Krypton, wouldn't he just have been a normal man and not been able to leave dead Krypton ever again. Since Superman's entire Krypton visit was axed, it might be answered there, just thought it was weird that he was able to return.

Patman 07-09-06 07:47 PM

Superman would have to have a clandestine relationship with Lois (even if she weren't with Richard, since Superman is no homewrecker) because Superman's enemies would use her as bait, or to get at Superman by trying to hurt/murder her. It's the same with Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 when he doesn't want his enemies to hurt his family/MJ because he is Spider-Man, and his powers went on the fritz because of his concern for his family/MJ.

Patman 07-09-06 07:51 PM

Even if Superman reached Krypton, he still had his spaceship, which could navigate him through that red star system.

majorjoe23 07-09-06 07:58 PM

That and it looked like the red sun blew up (at least from the intro), so there probably wouldn't have been anything there to rob him of his powers.

toddly6666 07-09-06 08:07 PM

Bill Clinton is a superhero and a homewrecker, and his enemies haven't threatened or killed Hillary and Monica - those two women probably don't even have bodyguards. I'm so sick of this theme of protagonists that sacrifice having relationships because they fear them getting hurt. There are tons of superheroes in real life every day, from massive scale such as Bill Clinton to small scale such as policemen who deal with all sorts of criminals. They don't sacrifice their love lives. This re-occuring theme found in Superman, Spidermans, Batman Begins are an annoying theme that pulls down these movies - a lot of people don't like Bosworth, Holmes, or Dunst in these films - I think the negativity towards them has to do with the screenwriting of those female love interests and not due to their acting skills which people think is the problem in those films. Thankfully, it's not in Fantastic Four and X-men. If they can't deal with love while battling villains, then cut the Lois Lanes or Mary Janes from the films and just focus on kicking ass. I personally don't mind it. I just didn't buy the chemistry in Superman Returns.

majorjoe23 07-09-06 08:40 PM

Hillary certainly does have bodyguards. Politics probably isn't a good example: it's something most people go into by choice, and the wives of many politicians become as well known as their husbands.

We also don't hear about every threat made against sitting and former presidents. Those kind of things are usually kept under wraps if the investigation is ongoing.

Patman 07-09-06 08:47 PM

Yeah, someone is really reaching with the politicos. Bill Clinton = super-hero? Bwah-hahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

RogueScribner 07-10-06 04:45 AM


Originally Posted by Superman07
If you haven't seen the film, then don't read what's below...

The two scenes that really get me everytime (well the two that I have seen) are when Lois first sees a red and blue streak go past the window of the airplane. You can just see her heart skip a beat and the shock and realization in her eyes. Truely. And second, when Superman gets ready to leave the sea-plane and tells her goodbye. You can tell she wants to say more and yet can't, for obvious reasons. You can tell she does not want to lose him again, and you can tell he knows what's coming - and that part right there is what Superman is about. Honestly, those people that keep saying the '78 version is better, there is not one scene in there, I don't think, that gets to the heart of what Superman is more than what he prepares himself to do in that moment when he leaves the plane.


That scene flew by the first time I saw it (the movie was stopped for 20 minutes so I was completely detached watching the final act), but it really hit me the second time. When he said "Goodbye, Lois," I about lost it! :)



Originally Posted by toddly6666
Why can't superman be with Lois Lane? Isn't it the same theme as a cop, soldier, spy avoiding a relationship because he has a dangerous job, which can get him or his loved one physically/emotionally hurt or because he is so busy that he won't see her that often? Superman is avoiding having a relationship so that he doesn't want to get in a situation that will make it possible to be emotionally hurt? If that's so, that's an adolescent look at love.

Why oh why can't Superman have a relationship, even if it may be complex, with Lois?

Is it Superman avoiding Lois or Lois avoiding Superman?

Hint: it's the latter!

Chew 07-10-06 08:43 AM

On the negative side: it's a virtual remake of the first movie, it gets pretty boring in parts, it made me wish for Christopher Reeve.

On the positive side: I still really enjoyed it. Incredible action/FX and plenty of references to the original movies and comics.

I got to see it in 3D Imax. It was fairly annoying putting on and taking off glasses throughout the movie, but it was the first 3D movie I've seen in a long time. Very cool.

Imax did, however, give me motion sickness. :lol:

Kal-El 07-10-06 09:59 AM


Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
Don't know what the novelization is like, but has anyone read the comic book version? It's actually BETTER than the movie, in that it does the following:

Spoiler:

1. Jason is never revealed to be Superman's son. There's no piano incident, no Superman talking to him in bed at the end. ONLY Lois whispering something in Superman's ear in the hosiptal. The comic book makes it nicely ambiguous, which is what Singer SHOULD have done.

2. It's revealed that it was Lex Luthor who was behind sending Superman off searching for Krypton.

3. There's some text about "New Krypton" (after Superman throws it into space) taking orbit around the sun and CONTINUING TO GROW.


The comic also covers some of the scenes that Singer edited out from the final print.

Yeah that's how the novelization was as well.

Joe Molotov 07-10-06 10:26 AM

I saw Superman Returns over the weekend (in IMAX 3D), and I really enjoyed it. It's easily my favorite movie of the summer so far. My friend hated it, though. It started out being his "Worst Movie of the Summer", then it jumped up to "Worst Movie of the Year", now I think it's made its way to "Worst Movie Ever".

Patman 07-10-06 12:28 PM

Of course the novelization doesn't have the stuff that Singer wanted to keep for the film (in order to protect the surprises).

bboisvert 07-10-06 12:34 PM

I finally saw this yesterday, after a few failed attempts to get to the theater.

I had high expectations and I matched all of them, and bested more than a few. It not only provided a great bridge between I+II and this one... but it also set down a strong foundation for any future films. It was everything it should have been -- emotional, exciting, dramatic...


I'm really surprised at the mixed reaction this seems to be getting. Is it because people were expecting non-stop action?

Kal-El 07-10-06 01:08 PM


Originally Posted by bboisvert
I'm really surprised at the mixed reaction this seems to be getting. Is it because people were expecting non-stop action?

I think a lot were. It was the main complaint I heard from non-comic book/geek/nerd people that I know. (Friends, relatives, co-workers). That there wasn't enough action. Everyone seemed to be fine with the whole Jason situation.

Rogue588 07-10-06 01:09 PM

After watching the 1978 "trailer" that someone posted earlier, I just realized that his cape was much darker. IIRC, back in the old Supes thread, once the initial promo shot was dissected and someone complained about how dark the red of his cap was, someone stated that they read that it would be "lightened" in post.

Guess not.

RichC2 07-10-06 01:11 PM

I enjoyed the hell out of the movie, but as this and PotC2 are proving, everybody has a different idea of entertainment.

devilshalo 07-10-06 01:14 PM


Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
Don't know what the novelization is like, but has anyone read the comic book version? It's actually BETTER than the movie, in that it does the following:

Spoiler:

1. Jason is never revealed to be Superman's son. There's no piano incident, no Superman talking to him in bed at the end. ONLY Lois whispering something in Superman's ear in the hosiptal. The comic book makes it nicely ambiguous, which is what Singer SHOULD have done.

2. It's revealed that it was Lex Luthor who was behind sending Superman off searching for Krypton.

3. There's some text about "New Krypton" (after Superman throws it into space) taking orbit around the sun and CONTINUING TO GROW.


The comic also covers some of the scenes that Singer edited out from the final print.

I think I would have enjoyed it more had this been the case.

LivingINClip 07-11-06 06:44 AM


I think a lot were. It was the main complaint I heard from non-comic book/geek/nerd people that I know. (Friends, relatives, co-workers). That there wasn't enough action. Everyone seemed to be fine with the whole Jason situation.
I didn't want non-stop action, I wanted something new. I don't feel as though Singer brought anything NEW to the franchise other than a kid, which to me, was just a terrible move in general.

For what it's worth, Routh makes a great Kal-El / Clark / Superman. Bosworth is still useless though.

DieselsDen 07-11-06 11:03 PM

For those of you who disliked SUPERMAN RETURNS, will you give it a second shot on DVD? Will you just rent it or give it a blind buy?

chess 07-12-06 07:59 AM


Originally Posted by DieselsDen
For those of you who disliked SUPERMAN RETURNS, will you give it a second shot on DVD? Will you just rent it or give it a blind buy?

I'm not sure that I can say that I "disliked" it...though I did find it stiff/boring/silly in spots...and I definitely spent some time looking at my watch.

That said, it's absolutely without question a release day purchase on DVD. I'd buy it for the plane rescue alone.

dadaluholla 07-12-06 08:40 AM

Yeah I think I will probably give it another chance on dvd (especially for the plane scene like Chess said). However I will probably just get it free from Columbia House or something instead of paying regular store prices. It's nothing i would want to spend much cash on.

darkside 07-12-06 05:07 PM

Finally got to watch this today and the movie really struck a cord with me. The John Williams music and the opening really got to me as well. I thought it was a very good film and the length didn't bother me other than the ending dragging a bit. Director's really have lost touch with how to end a film. Once the final battle is over do not drag on and on with the wrapup. Every one of the major action sequences really worked for me and really had me on the edge of my seat. I thought they got so much right with the perfect casting of superman and the solid performances of Spacey and Posey.

I give this one a very high rating and I enjoyed it more than even Batman Begins which was also very good. They just nailed so much right in this movie and its really a major tribute to the original. I have one minor rant I will get over with quickly.

The anorexic lame ass they had playing Lois Lane flat out sucked. Not enough to ruin the picture, but she didn't seem anythng like Lois Lane to me and really added nothing. Also, I'm the biggest fan in the world of people trying to stay in shape, but 85 pound (thats with the camera adding 10 pounds) women are disgusting and I don't want them on my movie screen. Rant over.

Great film and I can't wait to have it on HD DVD. I'm dying to rewatch Superman I and II after seeing it.

Patman 07-12-06 08:53 PM

Anyone else see "The Science of Superman" (aired on Sky Three) in England? It featured footage from the early stuff, to SR (since Bryan Singer was one of the exec producers for this show, that was a given). It was kinda fun to watch.

SuprVgeta 07-12-06 09:51 PM

Yeah I caught the science of superman special. It was a pretty entertaining hour but for most of Superman's powers you basically just have to say hey, it's fiction...


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