Posted on 06/28/2006 4:41:44 PM PDT by Para-Ord.45
So Lois Lane is a single mother . . . and a slut. That's the most disturbing part of "Superman Returns," heavily marketed to kids and in theaters tonight.
Or is that "Lois and Her Feelings," co-starring Supe? That's what this dull, 2-hour 33-minute long latest rendition in the Superman series seemed like.
A better version would have been more relevant. It's great that new Superman Brandon Routh saluted America's troops as "the real Super Heroes," a tie-in with Warner Brothers Pictures' effort to send a million plus postcards of support to troops overseas.
But put your money where your mouth is. In World War II, Superman's comic book inventors had him fighting the Nazis. Today, they won't dare show him fighting contemporary Nazis--Islamofascists. Lex Luthor working with Al-Qaeda terrorists, with both evil forces getting defeated--that would have been dynamic and exciting, a great plot. But, unfortunately, too politically incorrect, current, and exciting for the Hollywood culturatti.
Some have asked whether Superman is still relevant post-9/11. He would be . . . if he was fighting the post-9/11 enemy and being a man while doing so.
Instead, we got a dumbed down, girlie-man version of Superman in "Superman Returns." Like every sensitive, slacker metrosexual, Supe's gone off for five years to "discover himself." In the meantime, the dullest Lois Lane ever has a child out of wedlock. Nice message to send to your kids who will be begging to see this. No smoking lectures by Superman and plugs for tofu sandwiches got a lot of play though. Script-writers were more concerned with that kind of health than the splendid problems single motherhood brings.
In what is more reminiscent of a Maury Povich "Who's the Daddy?" show than a Superman plot, Lois apparently slept around and thinks the cutesy kid--very annoying and distracting in the film--is her fiance's child, not that of the other guy she was simultaneously sleeping with--the Man of Steel.
Hard to still call him that, because in this film he's far less muscular. Even the formerly bright red of his cape is now a muted, dingy brownish-burgundy. All masculinity is toned down, in favor of the testosterone of career woman Lois, who doesn't believe in marriage. Too busy riding the space shuttle.
That hardly makes her spectacular. Kate Bosworth has nothing on Margot Kidder (aside from her far-left wackoism) or even Terry Hatcher. Their renditions of Ms. Lane were far superior. Bosworth's is as ho-hum as the lady at the supermarket looking for her Clairol fix. The only thing that seems apropos is Lane's Pulitzer Prize for her "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." It's the work of unethical journalism--a "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" by a jilted lover against her boyfriend.
In the real world's Daily Planet a/k/a The New York Times, the "Pulitzer-level" stuff is "Why Al-Qaeda is Less Dangerous to the World Than President Bush."
And by the way, there's no Internet in this movie--a glaring absence when Lois' editor is lecturing about what sells newspapers. Uh, nothing sells newspapers these days. They're in rapid decline.
There are no memorable lines like the ones Margot Kidder's Lois uttered to Christopher Reeve's Supe: "You've got me? Who's got you?"
More like, who's got this movie?
With a $300 million budget, Warner Brothers must have a hit with this film. There's so much marketing hype and so many product tie-ins, it will be hard for it to fail. And with newcomer Brandon Routh's spot on impersonation of Christopher Reeve playing Clark Kent/Supe, he's not as difficult to adjust to as Bosworth's Lois. His imitation invites the comparison, and he doesn't live up to it. Christopher Reeve can smile from the grave that he died undefeated champion of Superman portrayals.
"Supe Returns" writers also paid too much attention to the accuracy of minute and unimportant details, such as the fact that Kryptonite was found in Addis Ababa. But who cares about those things?
Is that more important than the messages projected to America's kids--especially girls who may want to emulate Lois Lane? And is it more important than an exciting, believable, and relevant plot? Hardly.
Still, aside from it's dullness and the poor examples it sets for kids, "Superman Returns" is a fun, escapist film.
But nothing to write home--or even, Krypton--about.
And I thought Christopher Reeves was a sorry superman. Yikes!
It's "Sssuperman".
bttt
Insert Jack Bauer comment here.
"Thooperman"?
Saw the movie this morning. It is well worth the ticket price.
Come to think of it, I like George Reeves even better, now that I am an adult.
And Lois Lane was NOT a hooor . . .
Maybe DC Comics is finally learning that what made Marvel Comic characters so great was the "human" effect. Marvel characters all had real weaknesses, and "real life" issues to deal with especially with their alter egos. They were just more "believable" as people than Superman or Batman.
Hollywood is in a rut. I guess it's hard for these guys to act out of their persona, though.
Faster than a speeding bullet? I think not.
What's your thoughts on the movie?
This is the same director who made Magneto a "good" guy fighting against homophobes.
New tagline?
"You will believe a man can cry."
Ah, Phyllis Coates! The ONLY Lois Lane for me - spunky and cute. And George Reeve's version of Supes looks beter all the time. . .
I thought he was great when he was Superman, but terrible when he was Clark Kent.
"I'm here to fight for Truth, and Justice, and the American Way." - Superman (1978)
"I'm here to fight for Truth, and Justice, and all of that stuff." - Superman (2006)
They changed it to make it more marketable outside the US. So the ultimate American super hero has been watered down by the idiots in Hollywood. I for one wont be seeing this movie.
http://movies.go.com/jeannewolf?columnid=837103
I won't expose the plot. Incredibe special effects and sound. Routh presents a Superman that is in the vein of Reeve. Bosworth makes a more believable Lois than Kidder.
Perry and Olsen are well acted, especially Olsen.
Great storyline. Tear-jerky close to the finale.
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