My first impression of Superman Returns (2006) during the theatrical run was that it was a remix of the Richard Donner version but at least it was great hearing the theme tune again. Since then I’ve been tiring of the increasingly generic Marvel Cinematic Universe (discounting Avengers) that Superman Returns is a breath of fresh air.

It’s mostly for the exhilaration of seeing a hopeful character saving the world again. The film is still incredibly hokey though. Even when a sense of wonder is returned to the character so too is the camp tone from the original Christopher Reeve movies. The worst case of this is in Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor following in Gene Hackman’s footsteps with an over the top villain. Is no one else inspired by Clancy Brown’s Lex in Superman the Animated Series (1996-2000)? Although Spacey brings a sense of menace his portrayal still lacks the intelligence the comics and the series produced. This is one of the main reasons Lex is Superman’s main rival. Lex’s brawn contrasts with Superman’s strength.

Another misstep is in Kate Bosworth’s casting as Lois Lane. She lacks the fire that Margot Kidder had. Maybe you could say it fits in with Lois’s storyline about settling down with a family but it’s not just a personality thing. Bosworth looks too baby faced for the role. There’s a reason why Superman falls in love with her and that’s her strength.

Which brings us to Brandon Routh’s portrayal as Superman/Clark Kent. He looks a little young to play an older Superman who’s apparently been on a pilgrimage in space for several years since the last movie. What he does have though is the sense he’s an alien with superpowers even though he has a slim frame (and lacks Reeve’s square jaw). He’s not as charming as Reeve in the way that Superman has always been a boy scout but he does make up for it in Clark Kent’s clumsy country boy persona.

Possibly the best thing Routh brings to the role is the sense of fun Superman has with his powers. There’s one scene were he takes a bullet to the eye without blinking and responds with a little smirk. It’s comics accurate. This is what Superman’s about. Superman has the ability to save the world but instead stands as a beacon of hope. It’s why he chose the Clark Kent journalist persona – a bumbling fool who has such mastery over his body he avoids destroying property and lives when he falls over and instead seeks to expose injustice in the world.

We can compare him to Captain America and Rocky Balboa who gets back up after being knocked down and continues to stand for something. The difference between Cap and Superman though is that Superman is the shield as his body’s invulnerable.

Of course Superman has his own shield in the form of an “S” he wears on his chest. Contrary to popular belief it doesn’t stand for his name but the Kryptonian symbol for hope.

The Jesus analogy is interesting but Krypton doesn’t represent Heaven nor Zor-El God. Although a father sends his only son to Earth it’s for the hope and survival of a dying species and then to serve mankind. Zod makes a strong Lucifer analogy with The Phantom Zone representing a limbo (from Hell too) when he’s imprisoned there sparing him from Krypton’s destruction.

When Superman was first conceived by Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in 1938 he was created as a response to the pulp science heroes of the time like Doc Savage. It’s why he has the moniker man of tomorrow. Lex Luthor’s interesting in that regard as he represents the scientist but in the villain role. Krypton also serves as a failed futuristic utopia. Furthermore in order to give Superman someone to fight his presence inspires criminals to further the pursuit of science to defeat him. From here we get the mad inventions of Toyman and the creation of the cyborg Metallo.

The Jesus analogy can be taken further in that Supergirl’s a character who’s struggled with her identity as a mortal, a Kryptonian; she’s even become an angel and the daughter of a trinity (Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman the main icons of the DC Universe).

All of this changes how we perceive Clark Kent too. He chooses to live a life of humility (his farmer identity) and then the fool (his journalist persona). All of this despite his powers. So why does he do it? Why is he more a symbol than a god who can shape the world to his will?

A lot of it has to do with his upbringing by modest farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. They represent the American Way and taught those qualities onto Clark helping him take responsibility for his powers. This is portrayed in the Smallville TV series grounding the godlike character into a teenage boy not unlike a young Spider-Man.

Nor is it an easy task. Superman has to maintain control at all times so that he doesn’t bump into things and destroy them. He has to keep his anger in control lest it activate his heat vision. He is nigh unstoppable.

His discipline goes beyond the physical too. As Superman Returns shows he has the ability to hear from great distances. That means he knows when people are in trouble. Despite his speed and strength he can’t save everyone. It’s this moral dilemma that shapes his reason for being a superhero. Superman is a symbol and example for others.

The task of saving humanity is not up to one person alone. It’s up to every individual to step up and make a difference in anyway they uniquely can. Humanity is made up of individuals not some collective gestalt.

A beacon of hope in this context is a light cast on darkness, a means for humanity to steer through. It still remains up to the individual to make the difference. Superman’s capability for destruction extends to how he could change the systems of order we’ve put in place. How easy it would be for Superman to cross borders and dispose dictators. What kind of an example and lesson would that set?

Force can be met but a good idea is hard to extinguish. It can be silenced but it can’t be wiped from people’s hearts and minds. This is why we need symbols like Superman. This is why he inspired an entire genre of superheroes.

In the end this what people miss in Superman. They see his so-called naivety and boy scout persona but not his idealism. They say he’s over-powered but don’t recognise his discipline. The world may indeed be mired by cynicism but this is why we need him.

Superman is powered by the light (Earth’s yellow sun) because he is the light.

There’s a scene that captures this in Superman Returns.

Superman Returns ranks at no 52. As a homage it lacks originality. It’s by no means a bad movie but it doesn’t excel or hit it’s points. In the right mood it’s exciting. It’s a shame it never got a follow up or allowed Warner Bros to begin building their cinematic universe. It would have pre-dated Marvel’s and started off on a hopeful note.

This is a review for a Top One Hundred Superhero Movies series. I’m not looking to watch every superhero movie so it’s by no means accurate. I’ll have to stop at some point even though there’s no sign of the genre stopping. The goal is to watch and review one superhero movie a fortnight, many I’ve seen before. This means it’ll take me just under four years to achieve, plenty of time for rewatches and a number of new releases.

My criteria is that it must clearly fall into the superhero and have a theatrical release. This means I’ll skip out on the straight to home video release to avoid the cheap and nasties. This also means I’ll miss out on nearly all of the DC animated releases with the exception of Batman: Mask of the Phantom. Batman: The Killing Joke applies as it had a limited theatrical showing. I may allow a movie like The Phantom even though he’s a pulp character he’s clearly proto-superhero the likes of which Superman was based on. The Matrix although takes many of the tropes is more of the sci-fi genre. The Spirit is a hyper-real pulp noir movie. I have no intentions of sitting through the comedies My Super Ex-Girlfriend and the spoof Superhero Movie (2008) again. I may come to regret that as I’ve chosen to watch Catwoman.

Having watched the majority of superhero movies I’ve a fair idea where they’ll rank. As I rewatch them positions will change so up until the last I’ll have to say they rank at number somethingish. I’m expecting the further I go with the reviews the more I can compare them to others and get better at reviewing too.