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Superman Returns - Single Disc [2006]
from Warner Home Video
starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey, Frank Langella
directed by Bryan Singer

Features:

• PAL

Editorial Review:

It's fair to say that Superman Returns probably wasn't quite the blockbuster many were expecting. It concentrates its action on a handful of dazzling, audacious sequences, it spends time working with its characters, and it deliberately pays homage to the heritage of the source material. Knitted together by Bryan Singer, the man behind the camera for the first two X-Men features, it's some distance away from the last time the Man of Steel appeared on the big screen.

But that's very much a good thing. Whilst it doesn't quite, and nor did it need to, perform the major surgery that Batman Begins had to undertake on the Dark Knight's adventures, Singer nonetheless leaves distance between his film and some of its predecessors (although there are respectful tips of the hat to the first two films, not least the nostalgia-inducing credits sequence).

The plot finds Superman returning to Earth after several years away, to discover that the world has moved on in his absence. It's not as safe, Lex Luthor is out of prison, and Lois Lane now has a family. Which is the cue for a lot of soul searching, slower, tender moments and character development that divided some sections of the cinema audience.

Yet, thanks to a stirring cast, led by newcomer Brandon Routh, the end product gels extremely well. Routh's performance is a fitting tribute to the late Christopher Reeve, while Kevin Spacey chews up anything he's allowed to as key villain Lex Luthor. Further, credible, support comes in the form of Parker Posey, James Marsden and Kate Bosworth.

It'd be remiss to call Superman Returns a flawless film. After all, the running time could use fifteen minutes taking off, there's not enough Kevin Spacey and there are occasional moments when the pacing feels a little off. But it is a superb return to form for the classic superhero, with the modern day blockbuster ingredients of some meat to go with the action firmly in place. Further instalments, Mr Singer, will be more than welcome. --Simon Brew

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

• Superbland
  This only just merits 3 stars. At 2.5 hours it really is far too long, and loses a star for that. It loses another star for the frequent and painfully obvious use of CGI and if I was being unkind it would lose more for its over sentimental and sugary styling. How much music with heavenily choirs and strings are we expected to take?
  I wasn't especially impressed by Brandon Routh, who was clearly copying the Christopher Reeve formula but he was wooden by comparison. The best by far was Kevin Spacey, but... more info

• Huge disappointment
  Superman is possibly my favourite superhero and Superman: The Movie was really the first of the superhero movies that had special effects that didn't grate (though of course it doesn't look so hot by today's standards). So I was really looking forward to a return to form after the disasters of Superman 3 and 4. But Superman Returns was a massive disappointment.
  I thought Brandon Routh was OK but here are the main problems.
  1. It was a sort of rehash of the first movie but not as good.
  2. The... more info

• Super Bore
  While Brandon Routh does a passable impression of Christopher Reeve, this is truly one of the most boring films I have ever seen - 150 minutes of nothing happening (ok you see him catch an airplane but that really is it). It takes a full 90 minutes of Superman floating about full of Lois angst before Lex Luther's evil plot kicks in and that is resolved remarkably quickly and easily, before the film returns to Boresville. The film lacks charm, humour, or anything interesting. It is so tedious that I was the... more info

• THE WELCOME RETURN OF THE CAPED WONDER.
  Most people seem to think this movie was a big dissapointment , and story wise there is nothing new her. Instead it's a well balanced homage to the Reeve movies and newcomer Routh plays Superman just like Reeve. Lex played by Kevin Spacey plays the evil villian as was played in the old movies. Lex as ever is after world power and manages to steal some Kryptonite from a museum. He then finds Superman's ice lair and talks with the image of Superman's long dead father played by Marlon Brando (again a clip from... more info

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