SUPERMAN RETURNS

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Should you bring the kids? There's a lot of peril, action violence, and one disturbing scene where Superman gets beat up. That said, I think it's ok for kids 8 and up, because it's very clearly make-believe. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.

THE STORY: Hard to believe it's been 19 years since the last Superman movie graced theaters (Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, 1987). We've gotten our fix with The WB's "Smallville" in recent years, but what a thrill to see our beloved hero on the big screen again.

This time, the Man of Steel is played by 26-year-old Brandon Routh, an Iowa native who bears a striking resemblance to Christopher Reeve, who first donned the famed blue tights for theaters in 1978's "Superman".

Directed by Bryan Singer, this movie picks up with Superman returning to Earth after a long absence. And what a return! I won't give away too much, but let's just say it involves a Mission Control space flight, a jet airliner, and a baseball stadium.

The story continues with Superman going about his business of saving the world -- rescuing mountain climbers, putting out fires, stopping a bank robbery -- intertwined with bits and pieces of Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), who has a child now and is in a relationship. The reporter has apparently moved on with her life.

Or…has she? Sure, she's quick to tell Superman, "The world doesn't need a savior, and neither do I." But when her boss, Perry White (Frank Langella), forces her to give Superman an interview for the Daily Planet, it's clear that she still has feelings for him. Some of their scenes together are really touching and magical.

Meanwhile, the world is dying to know where Superman has been. And his nemesis, Lex Luthor (played to the hilt by a bald Kevin Spacey), is still scheming to kill him once and for all so he can take over the world. Again, I don't want to give away too much, but his evil plan involves kidnapping and, of course, Kryptonite.

THE WRAP-UP: This movie is a big, fun blockbuster with just the right mix of thrills, special effects, romance, comedy and drama. Our hearts break when Superman laments that he once had Lois but doesn't anymore, but we also relate to him on a human level. Sometimes you lose love; sometimes you get it back.

Brandon Routh is perfect in the role, playing Clark Kent as a clumsy, bumbling reporter and Superman as a strong and powerful hero (and yes, we DO need a hero). Spacey rocks the house as Lex, and Kate Bosworth makes you fall in love with her. Eva Marie Saint plays Superman's human mother, Martha Kent, and how cool to see archival footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El!

I have to admit, I was a little ticked off when I heard that director Bryan Singer nixed X-Men 3 to do Superman, but what can I say? It's Superman. And the trade-off is well worth it. This movie is awesome, and Singer renews our faith that maybe there's a little Superman in all of us.

PARENTS NEED TO KNOW: There's no secret to Superman – he's here to help people, and his compassion for humanity shows. However, this movie contains scenes of intense violence, including gunshots, beatings, backstabbings, drownings, and people falling from heights. One of the most intense scenes is where Superman is brutally beaten by Lex's henchmen. While thwarting bullets meant for someone else, Superman is shot repeatedly in the chest and eye (but the bullets bounce off). Lois and her son are kidnapped by Lex, and Lois is kicked and hit by one of her captors. A burning plane falls from the sky, slamming passengers and luggage around inside. Massive tremors cause power outages, building damage, and mass panic. During a bank robbery, cops are gunned down with a high-powered machine gun. Characters are shown drinking, but the movie has a strong anti-smoking theme (Superman keeps blowing Lois' lighter out). The script includes a few mild profanities, and in one scene, it appears that a dog has eaten another dog.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): The action scenes and drama in this movie are way too intense for little ones. But it's ok to have heroes! Disney's "Higglytown Heroes" are available on DVD and TV, and feature the best kind of heroes – the firefighters, zookeepers, and plumbers right in our own town. This thoughtful series shows that even kids can be heroes by raking leaves or picking up trash in their own community.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): There is a LOT of action violence in this movie, much of it intense, edge-of-your-seat stuff. For that reason, I think this movie is a little too intense for very young grade-schoolers. For 6- and 7-year-olds, check out the animated Teen Titans, Justice League, and Batman, currently running on the Cartoon Network and also on DVD. These shows deliver messages of friendship, camaraderie, and working together to achieve a goal.

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): This movie isn't wall-to-wall action where you can't catch your breath, which is why I think it's ok for kids 8 and up. Also, it's clearly make-believe, whereas other PG-13 movies like "Mission Impossible 3" are not. For older teens, it's just a really great movie that's very entertaining. And adults who can remember the old George Reeves TV series will be glad to see that the concept and characters really haven't changed all that much in the last 50 years.

SCORE: 4 out of 4 Reels.

Read Matt Berkheiser's review of Superman Returns here.

Jane's Reel Rating System:
One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.
Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels: Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

Read my other reviews here.