Superman Returns - Comic to Movie #19 (2006)

"You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one."

Director

Brian Singer

Cast

Brandon Routh - Clark Kent/ Superman

Kevin Spacey - Lex Luthor

Kate Bosworth - Lois Lane

James Marsden - Richard White

Frank Langella - Perry White

Parker Posey - Kitty Kowalski

Sam Huntington - Jimmy Olsen

Eva Marie Saint - Martha Kent

Tristan Lake Leabu - Jason White

Potential spoilers ahead

"Superman Returns" was the first Superman film in almost 20 years. It's a continuation, and the last installment, of the film series beginning with "Superman" (1978) through "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" (1987). The 2013 movie "Man of Steel," starring Henry Cavill and directed by Zack Snyder, is a reboot of the series. That's another review for another time - maybe.

In "Superman Returns," it has been about five or six years since the world has seen Superman (Brandon Routh). He hasn't been around since astronomers think they discovered pieces of his home planet, Krypton, floating out in space.

The story opens with Superman's infamous foe, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) who has since been released from prison, married to an elderly rich widow who's on her deathbed. 

Moments before she passes on, she signs over her entire fortune and huge estate to him. 

Meanwhile, Superman returns to Earth after finding no signs of any surviving Kryptonians out in space. 

After crashlanding back on the Kent farm in Kansas, and visiting his Fortress of Solitude, Superman picks up as his alter ego Clark Kent and returns to his job at the Daily Planet. 

He finds that his old love interest, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), has hooked up with Daily Planet Editor Perry White's (Frank Langella) nephew, Richard White (James Marsden). The two are engaged to be married. She also has a young son named Jason (Tristan Lake Leabu). 

Also, much to Clark's chagrin, Lois previously won a Pulitzer Prize for an article she wrote entitled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Ouch!

While Clark is busy getting his old newspaper gig back, and getting reacquainted, Luthor uses the fortune the old lady left him to venture up to the Fortress of Solitude to steal some of the Kryptonian crystals that hold information regarding Superman's origins and instructions from his father, Jor-El.

He takes them back to the mansion, again left to him by the old lady, to conduct some experiments. 

It turns out when even the smallest specs of the crystals make contact with water, they grow into massive land formations. His initial experiment causes a huge power outage all over Metropolis. 

This power failure interrupts a space shuttle launch which is piggybacking on an airliner. Being that it is an initial launch, several members of the media are on board the plane covering the story, and Lois is one of them. 

Brandon Routh as Superman in "Superman Returns."

The engines and the unlocking mechanism fail after the shuttle rockets are dragging the plane into space. 

News quickly airs about both the unexplained power failure and the effected shuttle, catching Superman's attention. 

He rescues the plane, detaching it from the rocket and returning it safely to the ground placing right in the middle of a baseball stadium during a game. All the world sees that Superman is back. While the world rejoices, Lois probably feels like a major tool as she was just rescued by Superman. 

Luthor takes advantage of Superman's return. 

He stages a runaway car incident with his henchwoman, Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey) to distract Superman while he steals kryptonite from the Metropolis Natural History Museum. 

Meanwhile, Perry gives Lois an assignment to interview Superman in regard to where he's been, and why he's back. However, she's more interested in covering the mysterious blackout that affected all of Metropolis, and the space shuttle. She discreetly covers the blackout, with leads that take her to Luthor's boat.  

Of course, she heads over to the docs to try and talk to Luthor by sneaking onto his boat. And, for some reason, she takes her son with her and has him wait in the car. Of course, he doesn't wait in the car. He also makes his way onto Luthor's boat. The boat sets sail to the middle of the Atlantic before anyone, including Luthor, knows there's uninvited company onboard. 

Luthor finds the two on board and there's not much he nor they can do about it. He doesn't intend to turn around. She links the blackout with whatever Luthor is plotting. And he reveals his plans to create huge landmasses out in the middle of the Atlantic using a mix of Kryptonian crystals and kryptonite. "You can print money, manufacture diamonds, and people are a dime a dozen, but they'll always need land," he says to Kitty. "It's the one thing they're not making any more of."

This landmass will destroy parts of the United States and kill millions. Luthor intends to be head of this new land, and Superman will be powerless to do anything about it, or so he thinks.

One of the film's major selling points at the time of its release, after the return of Superman onto the big screen, was the post humous appearance of Marlon Brando as Kal-El's (i.e. Superman) father, Jor-El, thanks to the use of CGI. Brando plays Superman's father in the first film.  

This continuing Superman story, which was hugely anticipated back in the early 2000s, should have been much more action packed. If only producers utilized the capabilities to throw in a lot more eye popping affects and a Superman story unlike what audiences have seen before, it may have been a great and unforgettable movie. As special effects came a long way in the 20 years between "Superman IV" and this story, the potential was there but was missed.

Superman hardly does a thing in this return of his. He rescues an airplane in the beginning. In one scene, he takes down a guy blasting him with a gatling gun. It's a cool scene. So much so, I once saw a collectible statue depicting this one particular scene in a comic shop. Aside from that, Superman lifts a huge kryptonite-filled island and hurls it into space. There's a rescue here and there, and that's about it. He doesn't do much. He's not utilized as much as he should be. 

The plot is decent but doesn't stand well enough amid the disappointing writing and lack of anything interesting for Superman to impress the audience with. 

Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor.

Good writing and great new affects (for the time) could have gone so well together and taken the story to new heights (no pun intended). Instead, we got a boring story with nothing much new than before. This movie is a wasted opportunity. The only thing that's unique is that Superman has a son - a plot point that's intriguing but goes nowhere. 

A good story mixed with comic book action are what make "Superman" and "Superman II" enjoyable films. Those are the two best movies in the series, in my opinion. 

In part two for instance, the whole friggin' world is threatened by three outsiders with the same powers and strength as Superman. And Superman loses his powers before he's aware of what's happening. What'll happen next? It's a great story that holds up well.

The decision to cast Brandon Routh as the Man of Steel, following the legendary Christopher Reeve, is a great decision. Routh captures the character impressively well. He even resembles Reeve. But he isn't given a lot to work with for a chance to really be an unforgettable Superman. What a shame. 

Unfortunately, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane isn't such a good casting call. Her version of Lois is boring and void of emotion unlike the late, great Margot Kidder from the original flicks. Kidder is spunky and lively. Bosworth is the opposite. She's brooding and depressing. And there's no chemistry between her Lois and Superman, unlike Kidder and Reeve. 

Kevin Spacey, despite the bad news currently surrounding him, makes a decent Lex Luthor. He's more intimidating in the role than Gene Hackman from the original films. Gene Hackman is great as Lex Luthor, don't get me wrong. Spacey, though, makes the character his own.

Noel Neill, who plays Lois Lane in the classic television series "Superman" from the 1940s as well as in "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950) portrays the elderly rich widow whom Lex Luthor is swindling at the beginning of the film. 

Anyways, "Superman Returns" should have been a fantastic opportunity to bring Superman back to the big screen with a heroic bang strong enough to blow the audience away. Instead, Superman's return is an underwhelming one with a humdrum story that bores and certainly fails to impress. 

The Pirates of Penzance (1983)

"I can explain in two words: we propose to marry your daughters."

Director

Wilford Leach

Cast

Kevin Kline - The Pirate King

Rex Smith - Frederic

Angela Lansbury - Ruth

Linda Ronstadt - Mabel

George Rose - Major-General Stanley

Tony Azito - Police Sergeant 

I love satire! My cynical inside gets a grin when the more solemn parts of culture, formalities (the pointless ones especially), and today's social influencers receive a ribbing now and then. It doesn't need to be a hostile punch in the face or a hit below the belt (except maybe some thrown at today's social influencers out in the open on the intellectual wasteland that is Tik Tok). Just some playfully facetious humor told with innocent merriment is all it takes to get a laugh out of me. Satire is the sweet and sour candy of life. It's best when given in large doses while taken in small ones, with a grain of salt of course.
Some of the best in the art of satire comes from the comedic partnered minds of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.
Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a substantial number of comedic operettas, or short operas, back in the Victorian era of England. Unlike an opera, and operetta generally has light-hearted and/or humorous themes with spoken language alongside singing.
Some of their works are still rather mainstream today, with their most noteworthy plays being "H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Mikado," "Patience," and "The Pirates of Penzance."
Gilbert and Sullivan are unique for writing satirical plots that are completely awry, with round-about resolutions. And it's all decorated with catchy music and very creative comedic libretto. 

It's impossible to watch a Gilbert and Sullivan performance and not have a song or two stuck in your head for days. That's true, even if you find yourself bored with whatever play of theirs you might be watching. Their stories generally involve tongue-in-cheek jabs at such things as unqualified leadership in the British Royal Navy, British law and order, the whimsical nature of poets and the aesthetic movement, English bureaucracy, and class distinctions found in England back in the day.
"Stick close to your desks and never go to sea, and you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navee," Sir Joseph sings in "H.M.S. Pinafore" as he recounts his beginnings in the Queen's Navy despite having no naval qualifications.
There's no real disdain for these things in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. It's pure light-hearted satire for a hearty laugh. Never mind the why and wherefore. 

My introduction to Gilbert and Sullivan was the "Cape Fear" episode of "The Simpsons" from the show's fifth season which aired back in 1993. In that episode, Sideshow Bob (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) sends Bart threatening letters from prison. After he's released on parole, the Simpsons enter a witness protection program, and live in a houseboat.

Rex Smith, Kevin Kline and
Angela Lansbury in "The Pirates of Penzance."

Sideshow Bob manages to follow them, and then attempts to kill Bart, but not before granting him a final request. So, Bart asks if they can sing the entire score to the "H.M.S. Pinafore."
"Very well, Bart. I shall send you to Heaven before I send you to Hell," Sideshow Bob replies.
It wasn't until my high school music class that I learned more about these Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and the significance behind them. Of course, my initial thought that day in music class, when my teacher played the class portions from "H.M.S. Pinafore" was that episode of "The Simpsons."
I never knew there was an actual movie of "Pirates of Penzance" until a few days ago when I found a copy while shelving DVDs at the library I am employed with. At first, I assumed it was a filmed stage production. Nope. It's an actual feature film with Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, and Linda Ronstadt.
The story, set in the 1850s, centers on a young lad named Frederic (Rex Smith). Prior to the beginning, his youth was spent under the care of his nursemaid, Ruth, (Angela Lansbury). During his boyhood, Frederic was supposed to be sent to an apprenticeship with a pilot. However, as Ruth's hearing is less than adequate, she mistakenly sends him to an apprenticeship with the Pirate King (Kevin Kline) and his Pirates of Penzance.
The story begins with Frederic at age 21. His pirating apprenticeship has come to an end, and he wants to leave the dreaded Pirates of Penzance, all of whom were orphans in their youth.
On top of that, he wants to rid the world of pirates altogether. And Ruth, who also lives with the pirates, wants to go with him.
Within no time, Frederic runs into a group some gorgeous young maidens. Seeing them makes Frederic realize just how old, especially in her face, Ruth has become.
Mabel (Linda Ronstadt), on the maidens, wants to help Frederic free himself from the pirates and offers him her love. Frederic is smitten with her and accepts her assistance...and her love.
When his former fellow pirates catch up to him, they find him in the midst of all these young ladies. So, they take them into their custody with the intent to marry them.
Their father, Major-General Stanley (George Rose), arrives and isn't too keen on the situation.
"I object to pirates as sons-in-law," he says.
"We object to Major-Generals as fathers-in-law. But we waive that point. We do not press. We look over it," the Pirate King replies.
So, knowing full well that the pirates are orphans, he tricks them into thinking he, too, is an orphan as they certainly wouldn't attack one of their kind. And he's right. The Major-General fools them, and they let him and his daughters free.
Yet, the Major-General is a man of high morals and standards. He wrestles with his conscience for having told a lie, even to pirates.
Mabel and Frederic attempt to ease the pangs of his bad conscience. Frederic calls for the constabulary, along with their sergeant (Tony Azito) to assist in defeating the pirates. The police, however, are too timid and scared to be of any real use.
"When constabulary duty's to be done, a policeman's lot is not a happy one," they sing.
Both the Pirate King and Ruth discover within Frederic's apprenticeship indenture that as he was born on a leap year, he cannot be out of his indenture until he actually turns 21 sometime in the 1940s. With really no other option available, Mabel agrees to wait for him until then.
The police come back on scene as the pirates take the still guilt-ridden Major-General. Mabel encourages the police to take on the pirates once again.
Rather, the Police Sergeant persuades the pirates to surrender "in Queen Victoria's name." The pirates, filled with patriotic sentiment, do just that.
Ruth, meanwhile, is convinced that all the pirates are great men who have simply been led astray, So, the Major-General grants them all an official pardon and allows them to marry his daughters. And

Linda Ronstadt as Mabel.

everyone is happy in the end.
For a musical comedy from 1879, "The Pirates of Penzance" still entertains and remains catchy. 

The acting, singing, and energy in the movie are spot on. It's evident the actors are enjoying it presumably just as the audience is. They clearly put everything they have into creating something enjoyable. And the movie treats the source material with the respect it deserves. 
The orchestral soundtrack and set design, however, are a bit underwhelming. 

I was hoping to see a grander set, with a boisterous musical score. Maybe the bulk of the budget went towards the talented and big name cast, leaving little for the design and soundtrack. Neither are terrible. The music and atmosphere don't really pop out and grab the audience. And some of the lead singing is done by external singers off camera for the actors on camera.
Regardless, it's still an entertaining musical with actors who put forth a lot of energy and talent.
Director Wilford Leach had directed a made-for-TV production of "The Pirates of Penzance" in 1980. It, too, starred Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose and Rex Smith in the same roles as this movie. However, Patricia Routledge ("Keeping Up Appearances") stars as Ruth in the television production.
Gilbert and Sullivan's story "H.M.S. Pinafore" satirizes the unqualified leadership in English rule, particularly the Navy. This theme is touched upon in "The Pirates of Penzance," particularly with the character of the Major-General. The sense of duty and obligation when it comes to family and society is knocked around a tad, along with the education of the day, and the formalities one is expected to practice in proper society. It's stretched so far to the point where it simply doesn't make much sense. And that's the comedy. It's pulled off beautifully in the movie.
I highly recommend this movie, and Gilbert and Sullivan in general. If it's not your cup of tea, well, then what can I say? There's lot of other movies out there - terrible ones to punish yourself with.