SUPERMAN, WHERE ART THOU?

I went to see Superman Returns this past week, and while I liked the film in general, I was a little divided over certain aspects of the picture. I defy anyone who sees this movie to not think of the first two original Superman films and not miss them terribly, for I sure did!

Without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't seen it:

Pros: Brandon Routh is a good choice; adorable, handsome, and eerily reminiscent of the late amazing Chris Reeves. Kevin Spacey is also decent as Lex Luthor. Some of the action scenes are pretty clever and well done too.

Cons: Kate Bosworth makes a terrible Lois Lane. Pretty to look at, but she ain't got much of an attitude or heart in the role. The little boy in the film seemed like an emotional added-on feature which was okay I guess, but left me kinda...eh. The CGI effects were way too glossy and noticeable at times, but this is a common complaint I have about many movies nowadays. And the plot holes and story itself left me unconvinced many times over.

Which brings me to Superman: The Movie and Superman II. The 1978 and 1980 film are now true classics, and when watching the new version, one cannot help but be nostalgic and really miss what the cast and crew of those two original flicks did. Christopher Reeve is forever and undeniably immortalized as Clark Kent and his alter ego. I say, what a legacy this brave and courageous soul left: to actually command a role so thoroughly that subsequent generations cannot actually let go of the character he so brilliantly played! Margot Kidder as Lois Lane? Phenomenal! True heart, soul, and attitude baby! Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor was just plain hilarious and the three super villains led by Terrence Stamp are knockouts. That this new 2006 version tries to connect itself to those first two is to be commended, but at the same time one cannot help but resent it for perhaps trying too hard and falling short. Maybe I'm being too critical, for how can one recapture greatness that is long gone and past right?

Newer generations will probably like this version lots. It's got good looking new actors, expensive special effects, and can keep them entertained just fine for about two and a half hours. They've probably run across the first two films casually on cable or something and could care less about some of the outdated special effects and see them as old relics which desperately needed an update.

But for those of us old enough to remember (like the original Star Wars Trilogy), we cannot forget the magic, the chemistry of those fine actors, the forever embedded images, glorious John Williams score, and overall fun of the first two Superman films.

It makes ya wanna run out and get them on DVD for sure.