Superman Returns, Not Begins

Over the 4th of July holiday, I saw my first summer movie, Superman Returns. I know, for an entertainment geared blog, that's pretty lame. But to be honest, despite the 'big blockbusters' to date- MI:3, X-Men 3, The DaVinci Code, and this week's Pirates of the Carribean 2, all have had mixed reviews, and in these fickle eyes, none has been worthy to be deemed this season's 'must see' summer blockbuster. Superman Returns unfortunately was no exception.

Although the film has some great moments, particularly in the special effects area, at 2 hours and 34 minutes, they're weren't enough of them to keep me from getting chronic 'numb-ass' during the movie. It was odd to see someone else besides Christopher Reeve don the blue suit and red crotch (I grew up before the time of the old school George Reeves suicidal Superman), and even odder to see not a remake of the original story, but strangest most of all was the very different storyline that was what I had not expected. Yes, it still comes down to the classic battle between the Man of Steel and his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor, played charmingly by bald, closet gay Kevin Spacey, but the manner that it reaches this final battle is a strange, nebular, and slightly anti-climactic one. I won't reveal any spoilers, but if you expected this film to bring it like Batman Begins brung it, don't get your hopes up. It plays true to the innocent, semi-campy charm of the Superman legacy, but it just doesn't feel as grounded in a believable earthly Metropolis where you feel emotionally drawn to the protagonists' human characteristics or for that matter, the people that surround him. The movie presumes you know some of the background of his powers, his weaknesses, his family, friends and enemies, but none of this is further developed to let you dive deeper into his world. For this reason, the movie lacks dimension.

One particular dissapointment to note was when I first saw Kumar from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle on screen, playing one of Luthor's henchmen. I was half expecting some random pot smoking comment, unlike those that made that 2004 flick an instant classic. But to my surprise, the dude (real name, Kal Penn) didn't say a damn thing throughout the entire movie. Now that I think of it, I think he was the only notable cast member without a single line of dialogue. A lost opportunity.

Hopefully next few comic book to screen adaptions hold up to their hype- some are looking blistering hot, others- cold as a penguin's turd in Antartica.

Here's a short list of those coming soon:

Spiderman 3- Summer '07; featuring Sandman and the alien suit... Wendy's baked potato hot


Ghost Rider- Feb. '07; balding Nick Cage with a hairpiece/turned skeleton driving biker nutjob... Penguin turd cold.

Wolverine- TBD '08?; X-Men spinoff with potential Weapon X storyline...add a solid villain and this'll be solid.

Iron Man- Summer '08; directed by Jon Favreau of Swingers and IFC's Dinner for Five...too early to tell; give the title role played by Ghostface Killah, aka Tony Stark = mui caliente.