Superman Returns : But Should He Have Bothered ?

Finally got around to seeing this last night, just about 9 months after the rest of the world, and that was only because it finally appeared on Sky. To say I was unenthusiastic about it would be an understatement. Right from the moment they announced the film I thought it was a bad idea. However, then a proper director (Bryan Singer) got involved and my hopes rose a little. After all here was someone who is not a hack, and has made successful comic book films before. So, maybe it would be okay.

But then I saw the trailer, and that left me totally cold, with the exception of the references to the old films, i.e. the huge chunks borrowed from them. And this approach is sadly transferred to the movie itself.

Singer uses the original music, the same style of credits and plonks in Marlon Brando as Superman’s dad. This to me is a risk, because it may mean the audience is constantly reminded of the superior earlier films, of which this may only seem to be a pale imitation. Surely it would have been better to take the Batman Begins route of starting from scratch and re-inventing the whole thing ? But instead we have Brandon Routh doing a Christopher Reeve impression (quite well it must be said) and constant homages to the original Richard Donner film from 1978. This means the film falls uncomfortably between two stools, part tribute part update. And for me it just doesn’t work.

I actually found it unnerving in that I never really knew where I was, because in amongst the new ideas there’s always a moment nicked from the original, waiting just round the corner. Plus of course the script and central story is appalling. The way Superman saves the day is so far-fetched as to unbalance the whole film, in fact it’s an idea which wouldn’t even have made it into a fourth rate cash in like Superman 4 : Quest for Peace. The suspension of disbelief is a hard balancing act, how far do you push it before excitement becomes derision ? In Superman Returns it is pushed way over the edge and smashes into pieces. Plus the story leading up to all this is equally nonsensical.

Having said all that the performances are all good, especially from Brandon Routh who has the unenviable task of being Christopher Reeve, and yet also something different all at the same time. Other problems lie with the pacing, the film is too long and drags in the non action parts. But it must be said that the special effects are very good, and a sequence at the beginning of the film involving a plane is outstanding, in fact it’s the best thing in the whole movie, nothing else after that comes close.

So, in summary I think that it’s an interesting stab at reviving the franchise, by effectively ignoring the 25 years that have passed between instalments and just carrying on as if nothing has happened. It did alright at the box office, but not spectacularly well. Maybe audiences were as confused as me as to what was intended here ? There is a sequel planned for 2009, I only hope that Singer concentrates on crowd pleasing a bit more, because that’s what we want from Superman films isn’t it ?

Prince Live at the Superbowl

Anybody lucky enough to have watched Prince's half-time performance at the Superbowl yesterday was no doubt highly impressed. In fact 120 million people watched it on TV, and I was one of them. Indeed I taped the entire game in HD, taking up 30% of my disk space, in order to watch 18 minutes of the purple one, performing it seems in pouring rain.

That however didn't matter and he produced what is already being called the greatest ever half-time performance at the Superbowl. This comes as no shock to me because I've known that Prince was one of the best live acts in the world for 20 years. Just take a look at the 'Sign 'O The Times' movie if you're unsure. You soon will be. But I do find it odd that this is almost the best kept secret in the music business. This is probably due to the fact that Prince has always done things his own way, rather than chase the mainstream. And it has left him on the fringes for far too long. Well, hopefully after last night's performance he will get the recognition he deserves, because I'm sick of hearing how great the likes of cretins like Robbie Williams are live. Prince would blow him off the stage and into the next postcode area.

Oh and I believe there was some supporting act involving a game of bastardised rugby, but I didn't bother to watch that so I couldn't tell you who won.

'Humans are responsible for global warming'

This was the headline of the day, announced as if it may have been something of a surprise. Well hang on, given we're the ones with the fossil fuel power stations, is this really news ? After all, who else was on the shortlist of suspects, penguins ?