I feel the first movie locked itself in a corner with several elements. I have the DVD on order and once I've seen it again, I will be able to critique the movie in a more detailed way (though The Complete Shooting Script book is heartbreaking enough in showing what was cut and what was left in that should have been cut!!!)
1. The Krypton exploration was cut out - how can it easily be used in a sequel when it relates specifically to the events in the first movie? Won't it feel disjointed and out of context?
2. Jason and Richard - they won't kill off the kid, they can't just shove Richard out of the picture or kill him (poor old James Marsden if they do, he was shoved aside enough in X-Men)
3. Lois - since they can't just get rid of Jason and Richard now they've been established, Superman's love for Lois seems doomed. It would be wrong to show Superman destroying the Lois/Richard relationship, it would be too contrived to show some other force destroying that relationship. Does Superman need a new love interest? If so, how do Lois, Richard and Jason fit in?
4. The crystals - they are on NK, which means no more Jor-El, no more communication/control system in the Fortress. Plus, Lex now knows where the Fortress is and he knows there is no security around it.
5. Lex - he is still at large, stuck on an island. He has tried to destroy billions of people so the chances of him becoming a more respectable corporate tycoon are zero.
Can all those issues be resolved? How?
1. I agree that either someone followed Supes home, or he picked up some sort of kyrptonian virus/bacteria that will give those it infects Kryptonian powers.
CAVEAT: Don't get me wrong, I don't want a rehash of the Kryptonian villians from the previous movies, but everyone knows/expects some other Kyrptonian to appear at some point. Possibly the virus/bacteria could create Bizarro.
2. I dont see the kid being killed, but I don't rule it out either. Jason's death could be the catalyst for Supes to defeat someone Darkseid, assuming Darkseid was responsible for Jason's death. It would play nicely on Supes' statement to Jason, "I'll always be around" if he infact, either was not around to prevent Jason's death, OR, had to watch helplessly, for whatever reason.
3. Lois. I think a lot of Lois' anger in the movie stemmed not from Supes leaving, but Supes returning. Sure, she had a child by him, and he up and left, but I think her anger stemmed from the fact that she wanted Supes back, but had put forth the public image that she didn't like/want him around anymore. I think "Why the World Does Not Need Superman" was a Freudian way for her to say "Why I Don't Need Superman." She was trying to convince herself that she didn't love/like/want him around. It is something to be resolved, but I think it will be relatively easy to do. I think bringing Lana Lang into the picture could spur Lois to quit lying to herself, get her rear in gear, and re-establish a realtionship with Supes.
4. Did Luthor take
all the crystals? from the FOS? Maybe Supes could have brought some back from the "graveyard" that was Krypton? Dunno. Good one there.
Hoever, assuming Supes has a few or even one crystal left, the FOS could easily be moved, and this time, protected by 'rassling polar bears. ( If you don't know, don't ask.)
5. "At large" and "stuck on an island" seem to be mutually exclusive, but I understand what you mean. I could see Lex somehow realizing that Jason may be the only person on the planet that stands a chance of duking it out with Supes, and somehow making a plan out of that, but I see him (Lex) as no more than a minor character in the next movie.
Let's say Lex is somehow responsible for bringing either Doomsday, Bizarro, Jor-El, or a Oedipus-filled Jason to the movie. The bad guy should get out of his control, a'la Frankenstein's Monster, and should run amok without him.