‘Superman’ is back on track

‘Superman’ is back on track
Bryan Singer resurrects the franchise with an inspiring story of a savior


Superman Reviews
By John Hartl
Film critic
MSNBC

Few big-screen franchises have fallen so far or so fast as Superman, who has been absent from multiplexes for nearly two decades. “Superman Returns” provides a most satisfying resurrection, especially for those who have always regarded the Superman story as a Christ allegory.

The first two Christopher Reeve films were big hits with critics and the public in 1978 and 1981. But it’s hard to find anyone with a kind word for “Superman III” (1983) or “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” (1987), both of which were so out to lunch that Superman retreated to television with “Smallville,” “Superboy,” an animated series, and “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”

Throughout the 1990s, and especially after Reeve had a paralyzing and ultimately lethal accident, it looked like television was where the franchise would stay. It certainly did in the 1950s, when George Reeves played the Man of Steel on a weekly basis.

Superman is Super or not-so Super?

The geeks at the montgomery advertiser were trying to answer this question. Here is what they say:
Source: mongomeryadvertiser.com

SUPER!
1. Considered perhaps the most recognizable superhero in the world.
2. Liked by millions even though he works for a newspaper.
3. Mentioned in several episodes of "Seinfeld."
4. He has super powers, but still doesn't smash the usually irritating Perry White and Jimmy Olsen into atoms.
5. Inspired songs by everyone from R.E.M. to Eminem.
6. He had his own musical, "It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman," and it
was a success.
7. Almost invulnerable, super strength, super speed, X-ray vision, the guy can fly, can see in the dark, heat vision, super hearing, super hypnotism, super breath, super intelligent, can create balloon animals that walk and talk (OK, I made that last one up.)
8. No superhero has had as much live-action success. That includes not just a couple of movie serials and four movies (OK, some of those were stinkers), but at least
three successful TV series

OR NOT SO SUPER

1. He's not exactly a master of disguise. ("No one will recognize me in
these glasses.")
2. He doesn't hang around with the brightest friends.("Clark looks like Superman, but he can't be. Superman doesn't wear glasses.")
3. Sure he's invulnerable to almost everything but kryptonite - but how great is that when there are like two zillion types of kryptonite (well, at least,11)?
4. Two of his arch villains are a foot-high guy whose name you can't pronounce and a guy working out his baldness issues.
5. Is it just coincidence that everyone he dates has the initials L.L., including Lana Lang, Lois Lane and a mermaid named Lori Lemaris, or he is some kind of freak(Actually, I think the whole mermaid thing and the fact that Lex Luthor also has the initials L.L. pretty much answers that one.)
6. Some sources list his middle name as Jerome.
7. How useful is a hero who needs to find a phone booth before going into action?
8. Fortress of Solitude - or great hiding place? (And does Doc Savage know you swiped his crib?)

Superman returns to celluloid after two decades

Superman returns to celluloid after two decades
by Indo-Asian News Service

After an absence of more than 20 years from the big screen, the beloved
superhero from Krypton is set to reconnect with his fans in Superman Returns
that releases all over India June 30.
Apart from English, the film will also
be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
Based on characters created by Jerry
Siegel and Joe Shuster, the new movie is directed by X-Men director Bryan Singer
who wanted to make the movie with a new face. It took him months to finalise
Brandon Routh for the title role.
The movie shows that Superman's return
challenges him to bridge the distance between his love interest Lois Lane,
played by Kate Bosworth, while finding a place in a society that has learned to
survive without him.
Meanwhile, his old enemy tries to render him powerless
once and for all.
The film also stars James Marsden, Frank Langella, Eva
Marie Saint, Parker Posey, Kal Penn, Sam Huntington and Kevin Spacey.

Superman and his girlfriend

Source: BBC News

Brandon Routh, who plays the titular superhero, was joined by girlfriend Courtney Ford. "He kind of personifies everything that people want in their Superman," said co-star Spacey.

Superman Returns Premiere Picture

Source: BBC News

Watch the Superman Returns trailer here.

Superman ReturnsCopyright © 2006 Warner Bros. Pictures


Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life.

In Theatres: June 28th, 2006
Action and AdventureRating: PG-13
Bryan Singer (dir.)Brandon RouthKevin SpaceyKate BosworthKal Penn
Trailer 1
Trailer 2
Trailer 3a
High DefinitionOfficial Movie site

Superman Returns!

Superman Returns! hoo hoo.
Interesting comments about How does the celluloid Man of Steel stack up to his comic book counterpart? by Hilary Goldstein of IGN comics:

June 23, 2006 - On June 28, Superman Returns hits theatres. The highly anticipated silver screen return was directed by X-Men vet, Bryan Singer, who appears to be making a career out of the superhero genre. No one complained when Singer took the job, but many have questioned his casting and story choices, as well as a budget rumored to top $200 million. There's been quite a bit of worry (and unexpected furor) from the Internet community. If you're worried Singer has screwed the franchise, relax. Rest assured, Superman Returns is a great movie.
Anyone who reads IGN comics regularly knows by now that I'm not a big fan of the Man of Steel. With rare exception, the best Superman stories are Elseworlds tales that place Superman outside the status quo. Even the current "Up,Up and Away" storyline, which is one of the best stories of the first half of the year, begins with Superman powerless and in an untypical situation. Until seeing Superman Returns, I was more or less convinced the character could only be great when placed outside his comfort zone.
Returns doesn't play games with the Man of Tomorrow in the way Superman II had him forsake his powers or Superman III had Supes battling a horrendous plot. This is a very even-handed tale that shows Superman as both savior and man. It's surprisingly light on action and emotionally powerful. I won't lie. Myself and my IGN cohort were both avoiding eye contact towards the end of the film to preserve our manhood. Who could ever live down shedding a tear during a Superman movie?