Comments on: ‘Superman Returns’ an Elegant, Epic Triumph

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:05:09 +0000

In reply to Derek 8-Track. I echo your disappointment in 'Man of Steel.' There's more to having a conscience than merely saying you have one...

By: Derek 8-Track

Derek 8-Track — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:14:17 +0000

I’ve always loved this movie, but this has never occurred to me until this weekend (check the significance of the comment date), I really love how Superman isn’t a murderer in this movie. I now think that’s the best part. In this movie his “S” truly does stand for Hope.

By: joroelcapo

joroelcapo — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:49:44 +0000

First of all sorry for my english
I think that the big mistake here is to try to continue the Cristopher reeves films. Why? because they have success? because i liked when i was a kid? all of the themes of this movie can be treaten in a new superman film. I wasnt a fan of the old movies and i only watch the first of them, for me returns wasnt a easy film to get into. I never understand why in 2006 i have to remember a franchise from the 80s to know where the characters where before the movie started. Without that the movie was good, visually stunning and with a very different pace for this kind of comic book movies. I think that Snyder is a brave director and i like what he do in watchmen so i had hope, also is a new movie so finally we are going to get something different. We have only 1 superman in 30 years in the cinema.!!! for an understimated comic book movie im go to the hulk from ang lee, for me that is a great film, far better than the last one with edward norton and those avengers crap

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:16:22 +0000

Hai- It will be interesting to see how Zack Snyder challenges himself to do something different with ‘Man of Steel.’ I’m not rooting for him to fail; I really want it to be great–but if there’s hyper-violence and tons of slo-mo, I’ll be very disappointed!

By: Hai

Hai — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:25:19 +0000

Totally agree. Thank you for writing down my thoughts for the past few years in this article. Still bummed it’s a one-off. Good article.

By: Eric Melin

Eric Melin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:41:45 +0000

Bosworth is complete milquetoast in this movie, I’ll give you that, and when has Spacey ever been subtle? Ha! I do adore this movie, and I agree its not a perfect film, but the overall perspective and POV that Singer gets across (almost all of what’s good in the film ties back to Superman’s own struggle) is the first Supes movie to really be successful at that. The scene where he’s listening to the planet, hovering high above it is amazing. He turns Superman into kind of a Lois stalker too, better than humans but not immune to their insecurities. The way he plays with those shades of his being is really what makes the film come alive. I know its hard not to be plot-focused, and I agree that the Luthor plot is silly, but its the magnitude of what he’s doing that I understand the need for. It ain’t a perfect film, but it deserves to be recognized for being way more than people usually give it credit for.

By: Reed

Reed — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:51:11 +0000

I still don’t get your adoration for this one, Eric. I’m way more aligned with JD’s point of view. There are a myriad of flaws in this film, from Spacey’s over-the-top acting, to the inane plot driven by dumb character decisions, to the lack of anything really super. But completely ruining everything is the casting of the film’s second most important character. Kate Bosworth was just 23 when this movie was released. Are we really to believe that she has (A) a five-year old son (B) a fully developed career journalist BEFORE Superman went away and (C) the experience and reputation to win a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing? Not to mention she’s not much of an actress. This made the whole movie fall apart. There are just too many ridiculous things going on here to believe, and the Lois Lane character trumps them all. This is a fantasy of a fantasy movie.

I get your point, and I think that there is a viable movie to make with that kind of premise. It’s just that this one has too many flaws to get to that good stuff. I simply couldn’t overlook them.