What a surprise this movie was! I had read quite a few stories about this movie, its tortured past, how Singer came and pitched the movie as a continuation of the first Superman movie instead of trying to make it edgier or darker, but I really wasn't ready for the movie to be such a sweepingly romantic movie. Its heart really lies in the love story between Superman and Lois Lane, and the movie really shines during the parts that are devoted to the two of them. The movie is also unabashedly lacking in the cynicism that has become de rigeur in the action movie genre. Superman still stands for truth, justice, (and the American way?), and he exists in a world where these things are still to be sought out and cherished. Indeed, the film answers the question "Why do we still need Superman?" by having Superman return truth and justice to a cynical world where people had given up on such ideals.
Singer really reveals new sides to his storytelling capabilities with this film. He has really never made a film that was so romantic before, and despite all the globe-trotting and special effects involved in the X-Men movies, it is in this movie that he displays an ability to tell an epic story, centered around the growth of several characters. The movie has the effects and budget of a loud summer action film and yet Singer really directs it like a character-driven drama, where the journey of the various principal characters is given the main focus. And, with a few darker scenes, he confirms his ability to build suspense and agitation into a film. This movie is truly a showcase for the blossoming of Singer's numerous talents as a storyteller and director.
That's not to say that the movie itself is perfect. Far from it, unfortunately. There are numerous instances of jerky editing, where parallel plot lines are interwoven in a seemingly arbitrary manner. At several points this causes the movie to lose its flow. The movie is overly long as well, with the last fifteen minutes and some unnecessary plot developments leaving a bad taste in the audiences mouth as they leave the theater. This is probably the reason why some people are giving this movie less than stellar reviews. The movie simply isn't as tight as it could be, and languishes at the end.
One thing that can't be faulted is the acting of the principle characters though. Kate Bosworth in particular is quite notable in this movie for being able to slip nicely into the role of a mature single mother who is struggling with her simultaneous love and distrust of Superman. She feels very authentic and unforced in the role. Brandon Routh similarly plays Superman with a purity of purpose that plays to the movie's theme of why the world still needs him. Some have compared him unfavorably to Christopher Reeve by pointing out that Reeve's Superman was more of a man, whereas Routh's Superman is more of a boy, but I think Routh brings more innocence to the role, more youthful earnestness. Superman is not as much the pillar of solid strength that Reeve was, but more the young man, still trying to find his place and live according to his ideals. Spacey's Lex Luthor is, by contrast, much more dark and evil than Hackman's Luthor was, perhaps shining greater contrast between him and Routh's more innocent Superman. I did feel as though Lex's character was the least developed of all the main principals though, something didn't quite click with his character's motivation. His idea for making money is a little bit hair-brained, and sounds like something the goofy Luthor of Gene Hackman would have been more likely to come up with, rather than the more sinister Luthor of Spacey.
So overall, I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it. There are a few negative points, but in the end I found it entertaining and interesting. I'd give it an 8 out of 10.
