Interesting fact.
WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKUP OF THE VOTES I REALISED THAT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY WAS ABSOLUETELY TRUE. WOMEN HAVE VOTED FAR HIGHER FOR THIS FILM THEN MEN. THE HIGHEST VOTE COMES FROM WOMEN UNDER 18. NOT YOUR STANDARD AUDIENCE FOR SUPERHERO FILMS.... BUT THIS WILL ILLUSTRATE WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY.
For starters let me say that this is exactly what I expected........ in the quest for wider audiences and a better demographics. Movie makers are increasingly making so called action movies more and more emotional, dramatic and romantic they have blurred the line between all genres of films in the quest for better returns.
Thus I automatically lowered my expectations and went into this movie expecting the same melodrama that I have come to expect from all action films.
HOWEVER I HAD TO SEE THIS FILM THANKS TO MY OWN Curiosity AND THE HYPE SURROUNDING IT.
This movie may have focused to much on the drama but other than that and a couple of other things this movie had a lot of things going right for it.
The Airplane rescue scene was brilliant it had all the elements of suspense, action, technical wizardry and a dash of humour all of which make for a perfect beginning this for me was the best scene in the film.
Other than that the show was mostly stolen by the brilliant Kevin Spacey and ABSOLUETELY SPECTACULAR PARKER POSEY. Much has been said about Kevin Spacey but Parker Posey for me was pure serendipity even the scenes with histrionics was carried out with élan. No overacting or over dramatization here, kitty has traditionally had a soft corner for superman, somehow she was able to play down even that, for me the villainous duo and their chemistry as also their henchmen stole the show.
This may have been the only movie where the henchmen have spent so much time on screen yet have hardly uttered any words, deliberate or not the henchmen yet stood out especially the one with the tattoo. Indias own Kal Penn unfortunately was also at the receiving end although he is present throughout the movie his dialogues (which he claimed were many ) were cut.
Compare to that the chemistry between superman and Lois lane was shoddy. This may have been the most romantic superman ever but even then either the casting (FOR ME THE DEMOGRAPHICALLY CORRECT KATE BOSWORTH WAS A MISTAKE SHE Neither HOT NOR PRETTY ENOUGH TO BE LOIS LANE) or the acting talents of Brandon Routh are to blame.
This is by far the most unidimensional superman he feels only 2 emotions love and his sense of duty. Save for a couple of scenes the humour is non-existent. Superman takes himself way to seriously. Where is the comic book humor and bravado that we learned to love. Superman with issues is not superman hes batman. Hell even batman went through a phase where he was full of humour.
Save for the airplane scene the action scenes are entertaining but nothing exceeds expectations for a movie where you expect at least the action scenes to be world class there is but one genuinely exciting scene. The rest of the movie is crammed full of good action scenes but none worth mentioning.
The movie feels like a regular soap opera it even ends on a note of drama. A brilliant scene with Kevin and Posey towards the end would have been far more apt. Its filled with twists and turns and scenes that seem straight out of bold and the beautiful or EKTA KAPOORS K SERIALS. I couldn’t help but laugh at implications of it and I’m sure other will see the humour in it too.
The movie regularly hints at these and even though I always get them right I’m sure other to will see the early signs of it. THANKS TO MY FRIEND EVEN WON A BET. (THANKS FOR THE MONEY ABHISHEK)
I am not a supporter of the Same old fashioned treatment to superhero movies but neither would I like to see a super sensitive superman instead of making every superhero vulnerable and emotional how about showing us scenes where he fails or needs help.
The promotions for the mobile phone and digicam were far from subtle but sublime compare to Indian movies.
SORRY BUT I WILL NOW STOP CRIBBING ABOUT THE SAD STATE OF MODERN DAY ACTION FILMS.
Thankfully although superman has the worst disguise (hahah) unlike hulk and spider-man at least he still has his secret identity.
Special mention for James Marsden , Frank Langella and Sam Huntingtonwho played their supporting roles with panache. Frank and Sam especially gave us some much needed comic relief.
In all an ordinary film that just about meets expectations thanks mainly due to great performances from the villains and the supporting cast and a couple of memorable scenes.
Curiosity and hype are major reason for watching films and if you want to watch this film for these reasons then please lower your expectations and go and enjoy this film.
+S great acting from the villains and supporting cast especially Posey. Couple of memorable scenes. top of the line special effects.
+/- s Brandon Routh (looks like superman but has yet to display any acting talent), interesting but melodramatic twist
-s Kate Bosworth, overly romantic and melodramatic, unidimensional superman.
total 6/10 ( thanks to lowered expectations in absolute terms more of a 5)
PS IN RETROSPECT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT THIS MOVIE HAS At least A DOZEN LOGICAL AND SIMPLE PLOT HOLES SOME OF WHICH ARE PRETTY EVIDENT IN THE FILM HOWEVER THIS HARDLY AFFECTED THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF THE FILM.