Superman Returns - is America Ready?

Superman is finally returning to the big screen in June and it's long overdue. After recent comic-to-film fiascos like The Punisher and Fantastic Four, America's favorite boy scout needs to show us again how it's done. Yes, the Spiderman films were good and Sin City translated beautifully onto film, but none of them had anything on Superman. It will be interesting so see if our modern, jaded America can once again embrace Superman with wholesome wonder.

The teaser trailer for Superman Returns looks very promising. John Williams' familiar score is played, as is archive sound of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Superman's Kryptonian father. Instantly we are taken back to the first time we saw Superman… what awe he inspired! That's what was so different about this kind of hero movie; people pointed up into the sky and were amazed, hopeful. They loved him. The original film was so innocent in that respect- can it translate to the 21st century?

Alas, we no longer have Christopher Reeve to take on the role he was born to play. Newcomer Brandon Routh has been cast and he has a tough job ahead of him. Such an iconic figure must be a very daunting role to undertake. It was wise for director Bryan Singer to cast an unknown for that reason. Nicholas Cage had been in talks years back and that would have been a disaster. Not because he's a bad actor, but because it would have just been "Nicholas Cage as Superman".

So, with an unknown actor as the title character, the film already has an advantage. Another advantage is the director. Bryan Singer has already given the X-Men a wonderful film adaptation and as we all know, comic book movies usually aren't very good. (Hulk, anyone?) Singer took on Superman Returns in lieu of X-Men 3 which is under production at the moment. It would have been interesting to have the two competing at the box office.

What else could make this film accessible to today's America? A villain we love to hate, of course. Lex Luthor is back as Superman's nemesis and in a brilliant casting decision, will be played by Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey. Production stills are available on the net and he looks awesome with Luthor's trademark baldhead and cigar. Another sign of a great comic film is the addition of an Oscar winning character actor- it adds credibility to something many wouldn't normally take seriously.

So, what will America think of Superman Returns? The original film was released nearly thirty years ago and much has changed in the world. Patriotism has changed; our faith in leaders has changed. Can the citizens of Metropolis once again stare up in the sky and know that everything will be alright in the hands of their favorite superhero? Or is the world's most famous alien too irrelevant in such a self-sufficient time? We'll know in June.