Movies Of The Summer, Part 1
Look, up on the internet! It's a word! It's a plan! It's LetterMan!
Okay, if you're old, maybe you remember that. Meanwhile, I saw Superman the other night, and I'm sure you're all asking youselves, "Was it good?" Unless you saw it already, in which case... you already know.
Superman Returns
Is it Reinvention Time this new millennium? Batman Begins gave us a jumpstart to the whole Caped Crusader franchise; now Superman Returns brings back the Man of Steel. These kind of story reinventions are not total overhauls, as per Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka. They have taken their core storylines and expanded upon them, giving them a breath of fresh life and updating them for audiences that have not seen the original versions from many years hence. (As a side note, I'm usually against total overhauls; the upcoming live-action Charlotte's Web fills me with dread.) For those who might remember the 80's, the movies being referenced by the film would be the first two Superman movies. And no, no one says "Kneel before Zod" in this film, so don't ask.
Superman is an iconic figure- one of the oldest of comic book superheroes, an all-American hero, a "boy scout", the model of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Now he is a man for all people, a hero for the world, and the question that is often raised in the film is, "does the world need a superman?" Lex Luthor's mythological "quest for fire", while misguided, begs the question: should a superman do more? What has changed in the five years since Superman disappeared? And what will the future bring?
The plot: Superman returns, does some heroic stuff, gets beat down, and saves Lois Lane. Pretty much what you'd expect.
The pros: Brandon Routh does an excellent job of pretending to be Christopher Reeve. He took the style from the first two Superman films and really practiced Reeve's mannerisms so as to make a touch of continuity here. The main story, while simple and not unlike that of the first Superman film (actually, now that I think about it, it's extremely similar; Lex Luthor is clearly a slum lord at heart), keeps one focused on the villainy, while the side stories deal with Superman's absence from earth and what has happened during that time. The people he loved have moved on with their lives, for better or for worse. The world has changed, but it still is his home, and where he belongs. These are the feelings he deals with, and ultimately why he does everything he can to keep the world safe. The use of the classic themes was good, and Kevin Spacey played an excellently vicious Lex Luthor. The best pro of all is that they did not go cheesy with the little kid.
The cons: Lois Lane- played well by Kate Bosworth, but really, she was too... young and pretty for this role. Lois should be a bit older, rougher, tougher, stronger of presence. Lex Luthor's floozy was the most annoying character; if they really had wanted continuity, they could have just stuck Miss Tessmacher back in the role for something at least pleasant to watch. And if anything, the film proves that "Chopsticks" is the most addictive and yet annoying thing that can be done with a piano.
The verdict: A good resurrection of the Superman franchise. Not as good as Batman Begins, but better than X-Men 3 by far. Three cheers for superheroes.
Disclaimer: I'd like to see Skeletor, Cyclops, and Superman go at it. And yes, this has relevance.
Disclaimer: Perry White is gruff and tough, but he's no J. Jonah Jameson.
Okay, if you're old, maybe you remember that. Meanwhile, I saw Superman the other night, and I'm sure you're all asking youselves, "Was it good?" Unless you saw it already, in which case... you already know.
Superman Returns
Is it Reinvention Time this new millennium? Batman Begins gave us a jumpstart to the whole Caped Crusader franchise; now Superman Returns brings back the Man of Steel. These kind of story reinventions are not total overhauls, as per Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka. They have taken their core storylines and expanded upon them, giving them a breath of fresh life and updating them for audiences that have not seen the original versions from many years hence. (As a side note, I'm usually against total overhauls; the upcoming live-action Charlotte's Web fills me with dread.) For those who might remember the 80's, the movies being referenced by the film would be the first two Superman movies. And no, no one says "Kneel before Zod" in this film, so don't ask.
Superman is an iconic figure- one of the oldest of comic book superheroes, an all-American hero, a "boy scout", the model of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Now he is a man for all people, a hero for the world, and the question that is often raised in the film is, "does the world need a superman?" Lex Luthor's mythological "quest for fire", while misguided, begs the question: should a superman do more? What has changed in the five years since Superman disappeared? And what will the future bring?
The plot: Superman returns, does some heroic stuff, gets beat down, and saves Lois Lane. Pretty much what you'd expect.
The pros: Brandon Routh does an excellent job of pretending to be Christopher Reeve. He took the style from the first two Superman films and really practiced Reeve's mannerisms so as to make a touch of continuity here. The main story, while simple and not unlike that of the first Superman film (actually, now that I think about it, it's extremely similar; Lex Luthor is clearly a slum lord at heart), keeps one focused on the villainy, while the side stories deal with Superman's absence from earth and what has happened during that time. The people he loved have moved on with their lives, for better or for worse. The world has changed, but it still is his home, and where he belongs. These are the feelings he deals with, and ultimately why he does everything he can to keep the world safe. The use of the classic themes was good, and Kevin Spacey played an excellently vicious Lex Luthor. The best pro of all is that they did not go cheesy with the little kid.
The cons: Lois Lane- played well by Kate Bosworth, but really, she was too... young and pretty for this role. Lois should be a bit older, rougher, tougher, stronger of presence. Lex Luthor's floozy was the most annoying character; if they really had wanted continuity, they could have just stuck Miss Tessmacher back in the role for something at least pleasant to watch. And if anything, the film proves that "Chopsticks" is the most addictive and yet annoying thing that can be done with a piano.
The verdict: A good resurrection of the Superman franchise. Not as good as Batman Begins, but better than X-Men 3 by far. Three cheers for superheroes.
Disclaimer: I'd like to see Skeletor, Cyclops, and Superman go at it. And yes, this has relevance.
Disclaimer: Perry White is gruff and tough, but he's no J. Jonah Jameson.