After an absence of several years, the Man of Steel is back on the big screen in Superman Returns. There are some reasons to see this movie and some reasons not to. Before we discuss the pros and cons, however, a bit of plot summary might be appropriate. Superman (aka Clark Kent) has been away from Metropolis for several years, during which time his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor, was put on trial and set free because Superman did not appear to testify at his trial. Meanwhile, Lois Lane has had a son, who is now about eight or nine. Lois and her son are living with Richard, the nephew of Perry White, editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet. From all appearances, the boy is Richard’s son, but he and Lois have never bothered to marry.
Why You Might Want to See It
For me the big question about Superman, both comic book and movie, has long been whether the Man of Steel is supposed to symbolize Jesus. One of the key moments in the film is father Jor-El’s speech, via crystal, to son Kal-El: “Even though you’ve been raised as a human being you’re not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all — their capacity for good —I have sent them you, my only son.”
Sounds almost Biblical, doesn’t it? Since the word “el” is one of the Hebrew words for “God,” it seems pretty obvious that Superman is intended to represent Jesus in some way. This is all the more likely given the fact that Lois Lane has just written a prize-winning article entitled “Why the World Does Not Need a Savior.” The theological connection is certainly there, but how accurate is it? The focus here is on Superman’s teaching and improving us, rather than on the conforming of our image to that of Christ. I’ll leave this basic question for you to decide, but the film at least asks a provocative question.
Besides its compelling theme, Superman Returns has impressive production values and acting. Superman’s flying looks smooth and natural. Kate Bosworth is a believable Lois Lane, and while Brandon Routh might not be as excellent a Superman as Christopher Reeve was, he does well overall, and his physical resemblance to Reeve is uncanny. Kevin Spacey does a creditable job as Lex Luthor, despite the basic silliness of his character.
Why You Might Want to Skip It
Try as it might, Superman Returns cannot seem to rise past the comic book level. The middle section, about three-fifths of the entire picture, is essentially a cartoon with human actors. Lex Luthor (Spacey), Superman’s arch-nemesis, has concocted an evil plot to create a new continent in the Atlantic Ocean and in so doing to render Superman weak and helpless by exposing him to — what else — radioactive kryptonite. This plot device plays out in predictably tedious fashion. Another flaw, to my mind, involves Lois Lane’s basically immoral lifestyle. In today’s politically correct society, it is fine for a couple to live together out of wedlock; in fact, hardly anything is made of it at all. Add to that the questionable parentage of Lois’s son and you get moral turpitude, all the more offensive given the fact that Superman is perhaps intended to represent Jesus.
The Bottom Line
Superman Returns has already earned a great deal of money, as did the previous four Superman movies. I believe that their popularity stems from the fact that Superman is a Christ figure, and that’s what we yearn for. See it and draw your own conclusions.
Rated PG-13 for “intense action violence.”
My Rating: 2 ½ stars
No comments:
Post a Comment