Superman Returns [WS] [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

The Man of Steel returns to the big screen with this continuation of the icon's film legacy that picks up after the events of the first two Christopher Reeve films. Some time has passed since the events of Superman II and the world has gotten used to life without Superman (Brandon Routh) ever since his puzzling disappearance years earlier. Upon his return, he finds a Metropolis that doesn't need him anymore, while Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with another young suitor Richard White (James Marsden) in the meantime. As the hero begins to tackle the fact that life on Earth has continued without him, he is forced to face his old arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) and restore the life that was once his. Directed by Bryan Singer from a script by the writing team of X-Men 2, Superman Returns marks a return to the screen for the man in tights, whose production history has seen many failed attempts including a famous near-miss from Tim Burton and Kevin Smith with Nicolas Cage in the lead role, along with another from director McG and writer J.J. Abrams (Lost). Singer eventually won the prestigious gig when he pitched the idea to not tackle the origin story again, but continue with director Richard Donner's original vision. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV, Color
• Subtitle: English, French, Spanish
• Features:
  • Disc 2 - Special Features:
  • Nearly 3 hours of exclusive in-depth documentaries including: Making Superman Returns: From script to screen
  • Designing Superman: From art and costume design to set construction
  • The Joy of Lex: Behind the scenes with Kevin Spacey
  • How filmmakers recreated Jor-El, Superman's Father, played by Marlon Brando
  • Over 10 additional scenes

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Visual Effects - 2006 (Mark Stetson, Jon Thum, Richard Hoover, Neil Corbould)

• Art Directors Guild

•     Nominated Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film - 2006 (Guy H. Dyas)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Nominated Best Visual Effects - 2006 (Mark Stetson)

• Phoenix Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Visual Effects - 2006

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Brandon Routh - Superman/Clark Kent
       Kate Bosworth - Lois Lane
       James Marsden - Richard White
       Frank Langella - Perry White
       Eva Marie Saint - Martha Kent

• Director:

  Bryan Singer

• Producer:

  Gilbert Adler, Jon Peters, Bryan Singer

• Screen Story:

  Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, Bryan Singer

• Screenwriter:

  Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris

• Cinematographer:

  Newton Thomas Sigel

• Composer (Music Score):

  John Ottman

• Songwriter:

  John Williams

• Editor:

  Elliot Graham, John Ottman

• Production Designer:

  Guy H. Dyas

• Art Director:

  Damien Drew, Larry Hubbs, David S. Lazan, Catherine Perez-Mansill, John Pryce-Jones, Charlie Revai

• Supervising Art Director:

  Hugh Bateup

• Co-producer:

  Stephen Jones

REVIEW:

• Does the world really need a Superman? Bryan Singer tackles this intriguing question with grand and sincere strokes in Superman Returns, a mega-budget kick-start to a dormant franchise that represented some of the best and worst that big-screen superhero films have had to offer. Here, the director whole-heartedly tries to honor Richard Donner's original vision of the DC Comics hero while lending new emotional complexity to the world of this adopted alien savior. The result is an ambitious picture full of fervent emotion and nobility, yet missing the charming spark and energy that its predecessors had in spades. Of the things that work is the surprisingly wonderful new Man of Steel, Brandon Routh, who embodies the role in an uncanny performance that adds the right amount of depth for the direction that Singer and his young writing team laid out for the picture. As his nemesis Lex Luthor, Kevin Spacey has a ball delivering his own dry take on Gene Hackman's humorous antics that turns exceedingly more and more evil as the film progresses. Most notable is the supporting cast, starting with Sam Huntington, whose Jimmy Olsen nearly steals every scene he pops up in, as well as James Marsden as a human hero of high proportions who easily dwarfs all of his work in the X-Men series. Special mention goes out to Parker Posey, who would have made an incredible Lois Lane herself, which leads to the one contentious casting issue -- Kate Bosworth. Her fresh-faced 23-year-old visage would be more troubling if not for her lackluster portrayal that's filled not with spunk, but a cold frigidness that prevents her from having fun with the role, never mind embodying a nurturing, motherly model for her cute little five-year old tyke (who ends up being a pushover despite his questionable inclusion). If anything, it's the story that dictates much of the character's detriments. By playing up the scorned romance and alienation, the filmmakers lose the sense of whimsy inherent in their beloved film series. Plus, no matter how thrilling the action or sumptuous the look of the picture, Superman Returns falls dead flat in its finale and epilogue, giving added weight to the undue two-and-a-half-hour running time. Add in the Christ-like imagery plus the heavy, late dramatics and viewers are stuck with a false artificiality that uses John Williams' returning rousing score to accentuate what is essentially a downbeat ending for a superhero picture. The world does indeed need a Superman, as Singer has proven -- now it's time to let him soar and do what he does best. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

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