Update 2025: AND THEN....
We have Superman (2025) which satisfies BOTH critics and viewing audiences! I enjoyed the movie a lot and feel it's the best take on Superman yet!
But aside from that, I must say that for all the derision that Superman Returns has received over the years since it was released, it actually has some admirable qualities. It's well-written and paced. The special effects were decent and it payed proper homage to the earlier Superman movies starring Christopher Reeves as it used the same Fortress of Solitude design and even grafted in footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El from the earlier films. Superman Returns' nod to the earlier "classic" Superman movies was something that many people complained that the Man of Steel was missing. Although I, personally, was glad to see that Man of Steel made a clean break with the past depictions of Superman.
Superman Returns is an introspective movie that raises the question of why Superman matters. In fact, one of the best quotes from the movie is given as Superman takes Lois Lane on a flight above the Earth and tells her, "I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one."
Speaking of the Savior, the way that Superman takes a beating by Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey in a respectable performance) and his henchmen made me think of Mel Gibson's Passion of The Christ movie (2004). I felt that, during certain scenes in Superman Returns, I was watching "The Passion of the Superman". But in The Man of Steel the allusion to Superman as a Christ figure is surprisingly much more overt.
I liked both movies. They each have complimentary strengths and weaknesses. It's too bad there can't be a movie that combines the strengths of both. But I think Warner Bros. would rather have the high regard (and higher ticket sales) of the movie-going public they garnered with Man of Steel than the high critical praise they achieved with Superman Returns.
My MAN OF STEEL review from an earlier post.
But aside from that, I must say that for all the derision that Superman Returns has received over the years since it was released, it actually has some admirable qualities. It's well-written and paced. The special effects were decent and it payed proper homage to the earlier Superman movies starring Christopher Reeves as it used the same Fortress of Solitude design and even grafted in footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El from the earlier films. Superman Returns' nod to the earlier "classic" Superman movies was something that many people complained that the Man of Steel was missing. Although I, personally, was glad to see that Man of Steel made a clean break with the past depictions of Superman.
Superman Returns is an introspective movie that raises the question of why Superman matters. In fact, one of the best quotes from the movie is given as Superman takes Lois Lane on a flight above the Earth and tells her, "I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one."
Speaking of the Savior, the way that Superman takes a beating by Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey in a respectable performance) and his henchmen made me think of Mel Gibson's Passion of The Christ movie (2004). I felt that, during certain scenes in Superman Returns, I was watching "The Passion of the Superman". But in The Man of Steel the allusion to Superman as a Christ figure is surprisingly much more overt.
I liked both movies. They each have complimentary strengths and weaknesses. It's too bad there can't be a movie that combines the strengths of both. But I think Warner Bros. would rather have the high regard (and higher ticket sales) of the movie-going public they garnered with Man of Steel than the high critical praise they achieved with Superman Returns.
My MAN OF STEEL review from an earlier post.
Trailers for Superman Returns and Man of Steel (both are epic!):
Update: Here is a post with an incredible sequence that was cut from Superman Returns that I learned about years after the movie debuted:
I rewatched SUPERMAN RETURNS last night. I'm in the minority of people that genuinely enjoy this film, but I still think it was a mistake cutting the "Return to Krypton" sequence. I honestly think the first 35 minutes could be re-edited and it would be a much stronger film. pic.twitter.com/2Y1RCeUl1M
— Dan Marcus (@Danimalish) July 12, 2025
BRANDON ROUTH’S thoughts on ‘SUPERMAN’
— DCU Updates (@DCU_Updates) July 22, 2025
Via @NerdReactor • https://t.co/NrFV0Wfru4 pic.twitter.com/9h1wBj7mXo
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