The Lesson Plan

I’m a big fan of DC Comics. I’m an even bigger fan of Superman. I have also grown cynical of Hollywood movies as of late. And I have incredibly high expectations for this movie. All these factors may make me impossible to please. Well, the movie doesn’t disappoint, ladies and gentlemen. It doesn’t. It has surpassed me.

Superman Returns is worth the wait and it cannot be in more capable hands than Bryan Singer’s. The director has a clear love for the character and the classic Donner films (Superman: The Movie and Superman II) and it shows in every single scene. The film may be rather long — two and a half hours — but no minute is wasted since everything is done with care. It might seem slow for the MTV Generation to which Spider-man strongly played to, but the film as a whole will definitely bring Superman to an entirely new generation of fans and win back old ones.

So it doesn’t matter what your experience of Superman is. Whether you’ve read all the comics or just one; whether you’ve seen Smallville or Justice League or none; or whether you’ve seen the classic films or not. Even if your concept of superheroes revolve around Batman, Spider-man or the X-Men. And even if you find Superman too campy that you hate him. Whatever your experience is, you’ll find something to like in this film if not fall in love with all of it.

As a follower of the comics, what pleased me most was how well Superman has been translated to the big screen. There are a lot of moments that clearly draw from some famous panel or cover, but it’s a real treat to see Superman moving and alive. Like outrunning gattling gun rounds. Listening in to the sounds of the city from high above. And don’t forget that homage to the cover of Action Comics #1. The visual effects carry everything nicely and Brandon Routh, just like Christopher Reever before him, fills wonderfully into the role. But the real treat of course would be in seeing panels and sequences not possible on the drawn page. The movie is just so kinetic, especially when he tries to keep Metropolis from falling apart, thanks in part to the best special effects I’ve seen in a long time.

When it comes to the plot, it becomes clear that it is a love story at heart and a commentary on heroism at its core. There are no complicated subplots to follow and while this film is a spiritual successor to the Donner films, it carries none of the baggage a sequel could have. The story is nothing complex and the title of the film captures everything that happens. Superman returns to a world that has moved on without him, so where will he find his place? This is the main hook for me, to be honest, and all the reason I needed to see the film. So does it end with our hero having a sense of belonging? The film is very rich with symbolism, and you don’t have to dig too deep to know what the film is trying to say. That scene at the end where we see him “saving the day” tells us exactly why we need a Superman. And well, the movie ends leaving me wondering how we have gotten by without him in the first place.

The story is reinforced by a brilliant script which I would describe as natural, intelligent and real. These comicbook characters do not monologue at all and even Lex Luthor’s declarations shine thanks to the excellent timing of Kevin Spacey. The actors have been able to internalize the characters really well since each line in the script is delivered the way it should be. While the script won’t win any awards for best screenplay since it doesn’t go for any literary acrobatics, it only reinforces the honesty, simplicity and impact of the film.

From the point of view of a comic reader, I would say that I don’t really care how liberal the writing team has been with Superman’s mythology. I have always been of the opinion that since he is myth, he is really beyond any of us; and that there is no truly definitive version of his story as long as a writer keeps true to the essence of the character. Nonetheless, I love the treatment of this film and am already pining that it become canon (which I’m sure won’t happen). They were able to make one of the most often avoided twists in the relationship of Superman and Lois work, and I really want to see the comicbook stories that would stem from this.

I would comment on other aspects of the movie such as direction and casting, but there are a lot of people who are more knowledgable than me in these. Surf the internet and bloghop and I’m sure you’ll find comments worthy of your time. But suffice to say, I love everything I saw. As I’ve mentioned, director Bryan Singer’s love for the material shows. In addition, his casting choices are superb and I don’t mind seeing every single one of them again. In the next film though, I hope Frank Langella (Perry White) gets more screen time. He’s one of my favorite characters in Superman’s supporting cast and I’d love to see more of his rendition.

In the end, I leave the theatre having experienced one of the best things in my life. My first movie memory is Superman: The Movie and that film introduced me to a larger world, fueled my imagination, and taught me right and wrong. People know that I’m such a big Superman fan, but they really don’t know why. (That will be the subject of a future post.) Superman Returns is a movie I was so excited and afraid to watch because it may not meet my insanely high expectations. Thus, it is rather unbelievable and comforting that it has.

Superman Returns hits theatres on Wednesday, June 28. I’ll be there again on opening day, just because.