What I liked about
Brandon Routh as Superman...well let's start with basics first, mainly looks.
Brandon, IMO, has the Superman look naturally more than any other person I have ever seen. He is tall, dark haired, squared-jaw, handsome, and well-built like Superman. It's scary how much he looks like him. Not to mention his voice is how I think Superman should talk. Deep and commanding, yet confident and assuring.
Now onto the details of
Brandon's portrayal of Superman that I enjoyed so much...
Next to Christopher Reeve, who in my mind is still the definitive Superman, no one has given such an terrific performance as the Man of Steel.
Brandon Routh was everything Superman should be. Majestic, a symbol of strength and justice, and a man who inspires hope to all of mankind. He really felt like a savior, just as the film portrayed him to be.
A scene I thought was a great example of when
Routh switches from Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter to Superman was when he was in the bar and he hears the news of the plane. You see him slouched, looking down and unintimidating to suddenly straightening his posture and knowing what he has to do. When he walks out that door onto the street he is carrying himself totally different. Tall, powerful and walking with a purpose. I also loved the way he was looking around while he was walking a when he ran into that alley, to make sure know one saw him. Great stuff!
Of course the after the plane rescue when
Routh goes into full Superman mode asking everyone if they are ok and a nice homage to Reeve's "safest way to
travel" line was totally what the character is.
I loved how reassuring
Routh could be in film. Like when he saved Kitty and put the
car down and she saw him in the mirror he just smiled at her like "don't worry everything is alright."
Soemthing I felt
Routh did exceptionally well, even better than Reeve, was his body language. Everything from the way he walked, to when he was hovering down with the one
leg bent in that classic Superman pose, to putting down the car and globe. I think I appreciated
Routh physical performance even more after seeing the SR DVD feature on his coaching. He really put a lot into it and it showed. Superman should always have this God-like way about him and his movements and
Routh did just that.
Another thing
Routh did that no other Superman has done for me is show despite all his powers and strength, Superman is just as vulnerable as anyone else emotionally. The biggest complaint many people have is about Superman is he so powerful and can do so many things, how do you make him relatable. Well you do that showing his human side.
The way
Routh delivered his lines to Lois on the rooftop got to me, right to my heart. Here he is, the strongest man in the world, yet the woman he loves and feels closest to no longer wants him and has moved on and it's killing him. All he wants to do his show her how sorry he is. When he asks Lois to come with him and she hesitates and he then says "please" man I knew where he was coming from. I've said those exact words to the woman I love, trying to get just a few moments of her time.
Then of course this led to probably my favorite scene in the movie. When they are hovering over Metropolis and Superman tell her the world is crying for a savior and he's sorry he left her it hits you that Superman knows the responsibility he has and what he means to the world and that he regrets it and hurting Lois. You know that he's here to stay. And you also know that despite all those people crying for him, Lois is the one whose voice he wants to hear the most. Man the way
Routh looked over the city lights and told Lois sorry was beautiful!
A pivotal part in the film that displayed
Routh's handle on the character was when Lois pulls the kryptonite from his back and he decides to go back. He knows what he has to do and that going back will probably kill him but it's a sacrifice he must make. It's this scene that show the kind of hero Superman is. The look he gave to Lois and they way he said goodbye, you felt as if this was his last time with her and in the way he said goodbye were the words "I love you!" The love between the two characters was on full display here. Once he flies out and absorbs the suns energy you then saw that Superman was about to go all out and he was pissed and going to use all his might to stop Luthor's plan. That fist tighten makes me scream "YEAH!!" everytime.
One last scene, the Jor-El speech, damn great stuff by
Routh! Nuff said!
For someone who had never starred in a major motion picture before, I was amazed at how well
Routh conveyed certain emotions. One of the biggest details I think actors should have is to be able to speak with out saying a word. This is where I think
Routh did a wonderful job, on top of everything else!
I for one don't think
Routh is Marlon Brando or the second coming of Christ. However as far as how he did with Superman,
well he nailed it!
) here from a thread I posted in long ago about Brandon's performance in SR. You can find this actually in the Rate and Review Brandon Routh's performance thread. Here's what I had to say...
Wonderful post, Superark. I also love all those scenes you described (and many more). Another scene I totally loved is when he exits the plane and faces the people in the studium; Brandon's facial expressions as Superman was feeling uncertain if the people still wanted him back were spot on! He then realizes that the people still love him very much and are very happy to see him back! Just pure movie magic. It makes me feel like a child on Christmas eve. 
