We saw Superman Returns in its six story tall 3D version yesterday at the IMAX theater in Palisades Center Mall, West Nyack, NY. It was definitely worth it to see the movie in full IMAX 3D glory. The lines actually started up an hour before the mall even fully opened and long before IMAX personnel showed up. I bet that was one of only a handful of times that IMAX in Palisades had such a deluge of customers. Of course only 20 minutes of the movie was actually in 3D so we had numerous instances of putting on and removing the glasses whenever the appropriate icon appeared on screen. Whether this is a limitation of the current technology, lack of time to convert the entire movie to 3D format, or just a way to give the viewers eyes/brains a rest (the 3D action got dizzying at times) is anyone's guess. I do suggest that if you have a 3D capable IMAX theater near you that is showing Superman Returns and you planned to see the movie anyway, you should definitely make it a point to go catch it in this format.

As for the movie itself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was a big fan of the first 2 Donner films and was among those that bemoaned what became of the series with Superman III and IV. I don't know what it is about superhero films and their propensity to "jump the shark" after the first sequel. Batman, Superman, Blade, and X-men have all fallen trap to this curse. Spider-Man's 3rd incarnation is coming soon and from what the trailer shows, it may or may not join the others. But recently superhero movie series have been saved by talented "reboots." Batman Begins and Superman Returns both successfully resurrect the carcasses left by previous campy scripts. Unlike Batman Begins which is a true "reboot" in every sense of the word, Superman Returns actually is a sequel to Superman I and Superman II retaining the good movies in the series while relegating Superman III with Richard Pryor and Superman IV: The Search for Peace (gag) to the dustbin (where many would agree, they really belong). The latest movie in the series includes dozens of references to the first two films, some rehashes of the old in-movie jokes, and many hints at events that occurred previously. It does all this without losing itself in an endless repetitive loop by adding fresh plot-lines and exciting action sequences that add to the story rather than exist for action sake. The visuals during these action sequences are so well done with the mix of CGI and Real now that you can't tell which is which anymore. Many bemoan the fact that Bryan Singer left the X-men series to do this film, and X-men 3: The Last Stand was the unfortunate result of that; but, I for one am glad he decided to do Superman Returns. He definitely went above and beyond to make this one of the best Superhero movies of all time while retaining the essence of Donner's Superman I and II.



Brandon Routh is a capable, though a bit more broodish, successor to the big red and yellow S. He not only apes Christopher Reeve's incarnation of Superman to a T, but adds a bit more gravitas to the role with a deeper sense of loss and emotive vulnerability than Reeve. Though he doesn't look like Reeve IMHO, his every intonation and movement, every nuance and vocal utterance is uncannily like Christopher Reeve in both the Superman and Clark Kent guise, almost as if donning the cape made Routh posessed by the spirit of Reeve. The rest of the cast excels as well. Kate Bosworth is a passable Lois Lane, though I always thought anyone would be better in the role than friggin Margot "Wacko" Kidder. James Marsden continues his modus operandi for playing a second fiddle love interest he established in X-men as Cyclops, here as Lois' new beau Richard White. But the best actor in the movie is definitely Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. Not only does he capably fill Gene Hackman's shoes as Luthor, he convincingly ups the ante by showing Luthor's more callous and ruthless traits.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, go see it. Better yet, see it at an IMAX 3D theater. Even if you hate the other Superman films or other superhero films, it's probably going to still be a fun ride.

Tags: Superman, Returns, Brandon Routh, superhero, xmen, Bryan Singer, imax3d