Travis Simpkins: Superman

Showing posts with label Superman. Show all posts

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Superman Returns (2006): DC Comics. The Man of Steel Enters the 21st Century

Superman Returns. 2006. DC Comics. The Man of Steel Enters the 21st Century

Superman Returns (2006), released some 28 years after the first Christopher Reeve Superman film, is in many ways just as good, if not better, than the original. The cinematography is stunning, with great shot composition and Crucifixion symbolism and imagery adding unique visual elements. Naturally, technological advances have increased the realism of the special effects, but Superman Returns is great in other areas as well... namely acting. Brandon Routh is an excellent Superman, bringing a bit of humanity to the superhuman role. Kate Beckinsale is a lovely Lois Lane. Even Kevin Spacey, who many doubted could fill Gene Hackman's shoes, is sadistically fun as Lex Luthor. Old Hollywood is present as well... with Eva Marie Saint making a nice appearance as Mrs. Kent, and Marlon Brando (who died two years prior, in 2004) reprising his role as Jor-El, Superman's father, via stock footage.

When astronomers thought they had discovered the remains of the Planet Krypton, Superman left Earth to go see what was left of his birthplace. He found nothing, was gone five years, and has now returned...

Superman Returns. 2006

Just in time, as it turns out, too. Lex Luthor is scheming once again. This time, he wants to use crystals to grow a new continent on Earth. A continent on which, naturally, he will be ruler. When the new land mass is formed, the sea will be displaced, killing billions of people...

Superman Returns. 2006

Meanwhile, Superman (as Clark Kent) has gotten his old job back at the Daily Planet newspaper. He is still awkwardly in love with Lois Lane...

Superman Returns. 2006

And Lois Lane is still in love with Superman...

Superman Returns. 2006

Superman still flies around, heroically saving people around the World...

Superman Returns. 2006

But, priorities must be had, and Lex Luthor must be stopped...

Superman Returns. 2006

Superman (1978): DC Comics. Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando

Superman. 1978. DC Comics. Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando

It was no easy task bringing DC Comics' most prized character to the big screen in the late 1970's. However, after acquiring the rights, changing the writers, director, stars and the production schedule numerous times, Superman (1978) was finally released to fanfare. For the time period (and even now) the special effects were breathtaking, the story was solid, the direction was exact, Gene Hackman became one of the screen's greatest villains, and the film's star... relatively unknown Christopher Reeve, owned the part that would define him for the rest of his life. Some Old Hollywood faces signed on as well... with Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Superman's father, Glenn Ford as Mr. Kent, and 1930's child star Jackie Cooper playing the editor of the Daily Planet. It was the prototype superhero movie, and by default, the template for many superhero films that followed... a true Classic of the genre.

Having sentenced three criminals to oblivion, Jor-El (Marlon Brando) is unable to convince the council that Krypton is about to be destroyed...

Superman. 1978: Marlon Brando

Fearful for the welfare of his son, Kil-El, Jor-El sends him off into space towards the distant planet Earth, where Kil-El will find a suitable environment and his dense-molecular structure will give him super-abilities. He also hopes that his son will use his powers to become a savior for Earth. Three years later, Kil-El crash lands near the rural town of Smallville, where he is found and adopted by the Kents. They name him Clark. The Kents soon discover that Clark is not like the other children...

Superman. 1978

Clark realizes it as well, and heads off to discover who he is. A crystal leads him to the Fortress of Solitude, where images of Jor-El inform him of everything he needs to know...

Superman. 1978

He is now comfortable with the powers that set him apart. He is now Superman...

Superman. 1978: Christopher Reeve

He gets a job at the Daily Planet newspaper, disguising himself as the bumbling Clark Kent...

Superman. 1978: Christopher Reeve

But when someone needs rescuing, Superman responds. He also catches the fancy of co-worker Lois Lane (Margot Kidder)...

Superman. 1978: Christopher Reeve

But while all this was going on, villain Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) has bought up a bunch of desert land, hoping to destroy California and be the owner of new valuable beachfront property. And he's just getting started...

Superman. 1978: Gene Hackman

Superman must save the world...

Superman. 1978: Christopher Reeve

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Justice League (2017): DC Comics. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman Battle Ancient Steppenwolf

Justice League. 2017. DC Comics. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman Battle Steppenwolf

Directed by Zack Snyder, based on the DC Comics characters, Justice League (2017) picks up where Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) left off. With a production cost of $300 Million, Justice League is one of the most expensive films ever made. The story finds Batman, inspired by the selfless death of Superman, enlisting the help of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg to battle the ancient Steppenwolf. The plot has nice mythological elements with Ancient Greek Gods and the fabled Lost City of Atlantis thrown in. The special effects are amazing and the cast does a great job, including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman.