Superman Returns (2006)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2006
	Director: Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-men 1-2-5-6, Bohemian Rhapsody)
	Actors: Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects, House of Cards TV-series), Kate Bosworth
	Country: USA
	Genre: Fantasy
	Conditions of visioning: 11.09.2020, VOD, 10" tablet screen.

Synopsis: After five years of absence which he used to explore the remains of his home planet Krypton, Superman (Routh) is back on Earth where people hesitate between welcoming him back and continuing a life they have learnt to life without him. Review: I just wanted to watch a super-hero movie from the years 2000, easy to watch like an X-men, Fantastic 4 or Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and one that I haven't watched recently (the first three X-men are probably next on my list). I remembered it was an OK movie with an exciting and well-done re-introduction scene for Superman (the plane accident) but I had issues with watching a character without his origin story, and also issues with Luthor's plans involving boring crystals. Watching it this time I found even less issues, but what really pays off is to watch it back-to-back with the 1978 Superman to which it is in fact an Homage Sequel. If you do that you will realize that many things have been fixed and improved with respect to the original and that many other things make more sense: Kevin Spacey acts like Gene Hackman but less extravagant, Kate Bosworth plays a better Lois Lane than Margot Kidder and we understand better her relationship with Superman, the special effects are of course better and in fact pretty good. Luthor's plan also makes more sense as it is based on one of his quote from the 1978 movie and his motivation is the same. We also get placed here and there references to past events that we have seen in that other movie. I love what Superman says abot Father and Son, a direct quote from what his father (played by Marlon Brando) tells him in the first movie. Concidences are still an issue in the franchise but this time it is less off-putting, except the one of Clark and Superman both returning at the same time ... Superman Returns will not attain the cult level which its predecessor did but honestly, it is a good sequel and more easy to watch that the original without requiring a large dose of nostalgia.   Rating: 6 /10