a relic in primary colors
Superman Returns (2006)
I get it: Superman is a hugely valuable property. the logo is globally recognized, and the character generates a tremendous amount of revenue for its owners.
But success can be a tempting trap; enduring success even more so.
knowing all this made me that much more disappointed in the movie. taken on its own merits, it is a passable entry in the franchise. it never lags and it is internally consistent. the actors all do competent (or good) jobs, and the craft on display is top notch.
but its aims were modest. it never signalled its intention to remake the universe in which the characters lived. in fact, it slavishly aped the world and even some of the shots established by Richard Donner in the 1978 version. most disheartening. dystopia and moral ambiguity have no place in the psychic territory superman inhabits.
it's possible that I've outgrown the simplicity of good vs evil, and am more fascinated with subtlety. or maybe I just never really liked superman.
neat take on the costume, though.