Surperman Returns- oh well!

I saw this movie on opening night. Amazingly, the theater was not over filled.

I have a bias about super-hero movies. I recognize that they are largely based on comic books and am easily ready to suspend my disbelief. But giving over to that I am less patient when the movie violates the genre.

One of the ways this happens is when the hero reveals his secret identity - something that is unthinkable in the comics- especially in the "first" installment and never without reason that is clear. All the Batman movies did this, Spiderman did this, too.

The latest version of Superman does not do this, even though it amusingly plays with the idea of a child figuring it out when he sees Clark without his glasses.

If one thinks of this as a first installment- which is the fairest way to approach the film - it does a respectable job of gaining our interest to see what may happen to these characters in the future.

I loved Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. I thought Bradon Routh was also credible in the role- he particularly nailed the Clark Kent half of things.

This film did not have the feel-good attitude of Spiderman and there were more than a few instances that could cause deeper reflection. There were a few scenes that paid fitting homage to the comic book world. I didn't care for one effect that tended to make Superman look like the "man of plastic".

I enjoyed the film but found it to depend on special effects and familiar characters over actual plot - like any comic book should.