Superman Returns "Critics wowed by Superman return" - bbc.co.uk

[Kevin Roegele]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5095436.stm

"The first reviews for Superman Returns have given the new movie, which stars newcomer Brandon Routh as the legendary superhero, a resounding thumbs up.

Variety magazine's critic said it was "grandly conceived, sensitively drawn [and] never self-consciously hip".

"It is sincere, with an artistic elegance and a genuine emotional investment in the material," he wrote.

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, saluted "a heartfelt Superman movie that plays to a broad audience".

Routh, it continued, plays the comic book character "with honesty [and] winning fortitude".

And Newsweek's David Ansen wrote: "From the start of this gorgeously crafted epic, you can feel that Singer has real love and respect for the most foursquare comics superhero of them all.


The film I was hoping and dreaming for
Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool News
"Newcomer Routh may or may not be a real actor, but he effortlessly lays claim to the iconic role."

His comments were echoed by Harry Knowles on the Ain't It Cool News website, who described Superman Returns as "the film I was hoping and dreaming for".

"Just as Batman Begins relaunched an ailing Batman, it sends Superman into the stratosphere," he wrote.

The film - which stars Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane - is released in the US on 28 June and in the UK on 14 July.

It is the Man of Steel's first big-screen appearance since 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace starring the late Christopher Reeve.

Singer's previous films have included The Usual Suspects and the first two instalments in the X-Men franchise."

 

[StarvingArtist]

I'm happy

 

[Pittman4Two]

That's wonderful news!

I wish I was a reporter and got to screen these new movies. Talk about a wonderful job. Wow!

 

[Cinemaman]

I am on 9th heaven

If box office is like their reviews, then I will go higher to the 10th heaven

 

[Tony Stark]

I'm still a skeptic of this film, dispite the early positive reviews. Having read the novelization, and seeing the preview clips and some of the effects, there's nothing that "wowed" me.

Personally I think alot of the positive things about this movie are going to be nostalgic. I think the movie will do very well with people my age who were fans of the original movies.

Overall, I just feel this movie tries to ride on the coat tails of it's predecessors too much than trying to create something new. One thing you can say about Batman Begins, it doesn't owe any of it's success to any of the other Batman films, even the first one. This film depends on the success of the Donner films.

As much as that Abrams script sucked, at least they were trying to do something new. I think someone could have started from there, taken out the objectionable material and made a great movie. Or taken another approach but a different one.

Having Krypton being a crystal planet is a neat idea, but that's not the only concept of Krypton that's been done. Why not do something new?

In the end, I'm sure I'll enjoy this movie, but I don't think it's going to be the timeless classic that the first Superman movie was. It will just be a mindless sequal forgotten in time.

 

[Emrys]

Having Krypton being a crystal planet is a neat idea, but that's not the only concept of Krypton that's been done. Why not do something new?

Because the crystal Krypton had something I'd like to call a "unique voice" Has there ever been a movie that painted alien technology in a light like that? This uniqueness is what makes it near impossible to come up with something that would leave as much impact as the crystal Krypton. I'd say that most attempts would come off as bland, mudane... generic in comparison to Donner's approach. It would look like a cheap Star Wars rip off.

 

[Superman \S/]

Damn these reviews make me happy.

 

[retconned]

I'm still a skeptic of this film, dispite the early positive reviews. Having read the novelization, and seeing the preview clips and some of the effects, there's nothing that "wowed" me.

Personally I think alot of the positive things about this movie are going to be nostalgic. I think the movie will do very well with people my age who were fans of the original movies.

Overall, I just feel this movie tries to ride on the coat tails of it's predecessors too much than trying to create something new. One thing you can say about Batman Begins, it doesn't owe any of it's success to any of the other Batman films, even the first one. This film depends on the success of the Donner films.

As much as that Abrams script sucked, at least they were trying to do something new. I think someone could have started from there, taken out the objectionable material and made a great movie. Or taken another approach but a different one.

Having Krypton being a crystal planet is a neat idea, but that's not the only concept of Krypton that's been done. Why not do something new?

In the end, I'm sure I'll enjoy this movie, but I don't think it's going to be the timeless classic that the first Superman movie was. It will just be a mindless sequal forgotten in time.

They went the safe route with this film, not that there is anything wrong with that, but they went the safe route. This film will be successful, I know that already, but Im really interested in how Singer will approach a sequel. Make no mistake, Bryan Singer has had this film in his mind since becoming a director, so it's the next film that will define this franchise.

 

[Nerial]

I have to agree with Emrys on the Krypton-fashion. For me, Krypton should look and feel completely alien, and yet be beautiful at the same time. It represents what Superman is--alien and yet beautiful (in looks and spirit).

That's a hard combination to pull off, but the Donner films did it.

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Tony, why even do something new when the old will do fine? As recounted a little short of a billion times, we already know the origin of Superman as Donner told it so well, so no need to repeat it, especially when there's practically no chance of surpassing the original.

Also, you say that BB is good because it has no ties to the old Batman movies. Well, that really kinda makes the old Batman movies...obsolete? Useless? Not that they were that great, but still. At least Superman Returns can sit beside the first two Reeve Superman movies and be part of an already established storyline. Conservation is our friend.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Overall, I just feel this movie tries to ride on the coat tails of it's predecessors too much than trying to create something new. One thing you can say about Batman Begins, it doesn't owe any of it's success to any of the other Batman films, even the first one. This film depends on the success of the Donner films.

I agree to a certain extent. Just watching the clips, there are numerous elements, big and small, taken from the original movie.

Having said that, I think Returns is going to be wonderful.

 

[Super_Child]

OH NO! Do we really have to wait until the 14th of July in the uk thats so unfair!!!

*edit* oh dear god its true *shoots self in eye ( resulting in very different outcome to my avatar)*

 

[retconned]

Tony, why even do something new when the old will do fine? As recounted a little short of a billion times, we already know the origin of Superman as Donner told it so well, so no need to repeat it, especially when there's practically no chance of surpassing the original.

Also, you say that BB is good because it has no ties to the old Batman movies. Well, that really kinda makes the old Batman movies...obsolete? Useless? Not that they were that great, but still. At least Superman Returns can sit beside the first two Reeve Superman movies and be part of an already established storyline. Conservation is our friend.

Im not trying to start a fight so don't think that, and I think Superman Returns will be a great movie without doubt.

But, I feel that this generation deserved it's own take on Superman from the very beginning. And, about surpassing the Donner film, oh yea, it would have been possible, atleast not as impossible as you think.

 

[Tony Stark]

I think SR will be a fine movie, I'm sure it will do well, which will bode well for a sequal. I just feel a reboot frees the movie for more creativity.

To me after reading the novelization, it seemed like fan fiction, not a great story for a fresh Superman reboot. Little things like reminicing about the "can you read my mind" flight, just come off as corny and boring.

 

[ultimatefan]

I think SR will be a fine movie, I'm sure it will do well, which will bode well for a sequal. I just feel a reboot frees the movie for more creativity.

To me after reading the novelization, it seemed like fan fiction, not a great story for a fresh Superman reboot. Little things like reminicing about the "can you read my mind" flight, just come off as corny and boring.

To me it´s the other way around, no matter what take would be, a restart would feel repetitive and boring to me. Even with all the similar elements and homages, it´s telling a new story and, yes, with its own take on Superman. The bullet to the eye shot wowed me... The airplane fall clip wowed me... The daily planet shot wowed me...

 

[Cinemaman]

SR is more new movie than you think

 

[Kurosawa]

Because the crystal Krypton had something I'd like to call a "unique voice" Has there ever been a movie that painted alien technology in a light like that? This uniqueness is what makes it near impossible to come up with something that would leave as much impact as the crystal Krypton. I'd say that most attempts would come off as bland, mudane... generic in comparison to Donner's approach. It would look like a cheap Star Wars rip off.

I can live with Crystal Krypton and it is pretty cool, but there's a big part of me that would love nothing more than to see Jor-El with a green tunic with Rao on it, a cape, and a headband. Flash Gordan Krypton will always be my favorite, and it'll always be what Shuster intended for Krypton to be.

But that won't stop me from loving the movie. And I do like the Crystal Krypton as well.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I think SR will be a fine movie, I'm sure it will do well, which will bode well for a sequal. I just feel a reboot frees the movie for more creativity.

Here's the thing;

After almost fifty years of Superman on the screen, both big and small, animation, live-action, radio, and so on - one version has stood out, head and shoulders above the rest.

One actor, on theme tune, one movie. To the majoroty of the general public, this is the definitive Superman.

So why not use that? It's the greatest, most beloved version of Superman, so why try and replace it? Why not expand on it?

 

[halfapple]

Those reviews are a nice read.

Sounds like Supermans Return is going to rock every corner of the planet!

I hope this film is as the quality of what those reviews say and more.

Looking forward to the SR experience -Yeah!

 

[Emrys]

I can live with Crystal Krypton and it is pretty cool, but there's a big part of me that would love nothing more than to see Jor-El with a green tunic with Rao on it, a cape, and a headband. Flash Gordan Krypton will always be my favorite, and it'll always be what Shuster intended for Krypton to be.

But that won't stop me from loving the movie. And I do like the Crystal Krypton as well.

Quite honestly, I think what you describe would be enough reason for me to not see the movie ever, not even on dvd or tv ^^

 

[Pickle-El]

I'm still a skeptic of this film, dispite the early positive reviews. Having read the novelization, and seeing the preview clips and some of the effects, there's nothing that "wowed" me.

Personally I think alot of the positive things about this movie are going to be nostalgic. I think the movie will do very well with people my age who were fans of the original movies.

Overall, I just feel this movie tries to ride on the coat tails of it's predecessors too much than trying to create something new. One thing you can say about Batman Begins, it doesn't owe any of it's success to any of the other Batman films, even the first one. This film depends on the success of the Donner films.

As much as that Abrams script sucked, at least they were trying to do something new. I think someone could have started from there, taken out the objectionable material and made a great movie. Or taken another approach but a different one.

Having Krypton being a crystal planet is a neat idea, but that's not the only concept of Krypton that's been done. Why not do something new?

In the end, I'm sure I'll enjoy this movie, but I don't think it's going to be the timeless classic that the first Superman movie was. It will just be a mindless sequal forgotten in time.

Can you say Star Wars 1-3?

 

[Benstamania]

Sounds great, the WB knocked one out of the ball park with Batman Begins, seem to be setting up for another home run with Superman Returns. Let's just hope they don't foul out with Green Lantern.

I never used so many baseball puns in my life.

 

[user123456789]

I am on 9th heaven

If box office is like their reviews, then I will go higher to the 10th heaven

I've never heard of those expressions...

"9th heaven"

"10th heaven"

Usually it's "i'm on cloud nine."

Where are you from cinemaman?

 

[Agnarr]

7th heaven? I'll be there next tuesday!

 

[MR. MOVIEMAN]

critics also said the same thing about Hulk and Fantastic Four , they said those movies were awesome and great and blah and blah and we all know how those turned out.

Hulk ended up being the most underwelming boring time at the movies i had and Fantastic four was just alright.

Superman is an Action icon heck his first comic was ACTION COMICS , and The new generation Are fans of the Smallville crowd they want High Octaine Action with incerdible action pieces. As far as the trailers , novelization and story go this will be a slower , love romantic story type thing.