Superman Returns (Bryan Singer, 2006)

[ben d banana]

Okay, Andre convinced me... I don't really care about the recasting of Superman as a Jesus figure, or if he's gay, all I could think when I saw the trailer was, "That's Lois Lane?" A mousy Kate Bosworth is not the soul crushing cougar in a power suit that I want to chew me up and spit me out. She looks like she'd faint at the sight of Clark taking off his glasses.

[Andre Jurieu]

The only reason I can think of as to why Singer chose Bosworth is that he's trying to evoke the nostalgia of the ol' Superman, when Lois was sweet, friendly, and idealistic. I guess the casting is understandable if he's hoping this film gets us all starry-eyed (which seems to be the tone of the trailer), but I prefer Lois as ruthless, sultry, and ambitious, even though I like Bosworth as a personality (all long as we are talking sports, is she related to Brian Bosworth? - shudder). Of course, that might just be because I saw a Jim Lee drawing of her (not always realistic).

[David Ehrenstein]

I prefer Lois as ruthless, sultry, and ambitious

In other words, Parker Posey.

[ben d banana]

Fuck yeah!

EDIT-Sorry, couldn't contain my initial surge of excitement over David's wonderfully absurd casting choice.

[Michael]

In other words, Parker Posey.

I would watch Superman just for Parker Posey. She's simply phenomenal. I just love her as a Dairy Queen employee in Waiting for Guffman and a neurotic yuppie in Best in Show.

[David Ehrenstein]

Parker Posey is an axion of the cinema.

[Andre Jurieu]

Posey's awesome in all her bitchiness, but she isn't really sultry in my mind. Lois wasn't really a bitch, so much as playfully snide with Clark, and Posey goes from 0 to bitch pretty fast. Besides, Posey is already in the film. I was thinking more Kate Beckinsale considering the role doesn't really need crazy acting chops. That might screw with my Beckinsale as Wonder Woman fantasy, but there's always Jennifer Connelly.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Posey's awesome in all her bitchiness, but she isn't really sultry in my mind. Lois wasn't really a bitch, so much as playfully snide with Clark, and Posey goes from 0 to bitch pretty fast. Besides, Posey is already in the film. I was thinking more Kate Beckinsale considering the role doesn't really need crazy acting chops. That might screw with my Beckinsale as Wonder Woman fantasy, but there's always Jennifer Connelly.

Yeah, Beckinsale would've been good. I enjoyed her in the Underworld films. Connelly too... and even though she's too old for the role, there's always Diane Lane! But I can see why Bosworth was cast... the studio wanted a youthful approach with the two leads to get even more people in the theaters. So that would've ruled out Posey as well.

Oh yeah, an article on the making of the film Down Under: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 47,00.html

[Antoine Doinel]

Fyi, Diane Lane is older than Jennifer Connelly.

Anyway, I think Bosworth is just fine as Lois Lane. I think casting her as a more timid version of Margot Kidder's Lane will bode well for the film's
supposedly "classic" feel. I think Parker Posey is more fitting for the villainess - she's much too interesting an actress to be boxed into a Lois Lane role.

[The Invunche]

Diane Lane is older than Andy Rooney.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Diane Lane is older than Andy Rooney.

Yeah, but not as curmudgeonly.

[Jeff]

I prefer Lois as ruthless, sultry, and ambitious

Me too. While I always enjoy Parker Posey, I don't find her remotely desirable. My choice for sultry would be Scarlett Johansson. I think she's got the chops to pull off the ruthless and ambitious bit too. She'd certainly have Clark wrapped around her little finger. She's already got me.

[stroszeck]

I just got through watching the latest trailer and I gotta say...I'm not all that familiar with Kate Bosworth, but her head shape is strange and the goddamn wig is SO OBVIOUS. Why the hell wouldn't they just dye her hair, or better yet cast someone else, like Neve Campbell. Now that would have been great casting.

[Anonymous]

Parker Posey is an axion of the cinema.

If by "axion" you mean "totally reprehensible" then I would agree.

[Andre Jurieu]

My choice for sultry would be Scarlett Johansson. I think she's got the chops to pull off the ruthless and ambitious bit too. She'd certainly have Clark wrapped around her little finger. She's already got me.

I would agree that Johansson is sultry, but she's kind of sexy because she is such a blank slate. She seems a bit weary and languid. Lois Lane seems more of a lively personality. I always think of her personality as similar to Betsy from Taxi Driver, in the way that she's very playful and flirty when she's in the office and constantly teases her co-workers. I couldn't really see Johansson doing that naturally, since her personality is so aloof and blasé. Though she would be a hell of a lot better than Neve Campbell (yeeee-uck).

Now that I'm thinking about it, I wouldn't have minded someone like Molly Parker (though she's a little fragile) or possible even Mia Kirshner. I could also probably support Rachel McAdams even though she's become really thin lately. Maybe even Eliza Dushku if I didn't think the part required acting.

[The Invunche]

or possible even Mia Kirshner.

Yes, and then Lois Lane could have her first lesbian experience.

[David Ehrenstein]

A very pleasant surprise. I went to a multi-million dollar special effects movie and found a love story instead. Quite a breakthrough for Bryan Singer in that he's always been able to handle hardware, but human emotions generally took a back seat. This time they're front and center. All this comes from the fact that Singer understands the essential squareness of Superman. He does good things. He likes people. And there's nothing cynical or "ironic" about him. He means what he says and does what he does because that's the way he was raised to be.

What complicates matters here is the fact that five years have passed (he's been off in the galaxies chasing remnants of Krypton that astronomers have sighted) and Lois has "moved on." She has a son -- but isn't married. She has a boyfriend (James Marsden -- thus Singer imports "Cyclops" as it were) but he's no villain. He's a very nice guy. Just mortal. No reason to turn on him whatsoever -- especially as he saves Supe's hash in the big finale. Lois is naturally conflicted in a manner suggestive of Monica Vitti in L'Avventura. Only in this movie she's not in love with a cad. Far from it.

Meanwhile as to the plot Lex Luthor -- apparently having taken heed of Al Gore -- wants to speed up the consequences of global warming by creating a new land mass that will displace the American continent -- drowning all on it. He struts and fumes as usual, but the whole show is stolen by she who plays his resentful girlfriend, Kitty Kowalski -- Parker Posey in a new career high.

Frankly I've never seen her better, and that's saying quite a lot. Skillful as he can be, Spacey is no match for Parker Posey. She wipes the floor with him.

All tech credits pro on the effects, with the flying being especially poetic. Supe is frequently seen hovering upright.

A number of nice suprises, including a plot twist that suggest the next installment will be called "Son of Superman."

And Jack Larson

http://ehrensteinland.com/htmls/g012/jacklarson.html

gets a nice cameo role.

[Zumpano]

A number of nice suprises, including a plot twist that suggest the next installment will be called "Son of Superman."

Uhhhh, spoiler warning?

[Lino]

A number of nice suprises, including a plot twist that suggest the next installment will be called "Son of Superman."

Uhhhh, spoiler warning?

He's saving us the trouble of seeing it.

[Greathinker]

Anyone planning on going to see the 3d Imax version? I'm not expecting the film to be anything more than another flash in the pan from singer but I don't want to miss a good chance to see if 3d is really a worthwhile new development

[hearthesilence]

Not much of a spoiler. I mean, the possibility is hinted in every damn article about this picture. At best, I would've been like "Oh, so it is/isn't his..." then moved on.

FWIW, when they explored this scenario in the comics, the baby ends up killing Lois. (She basically dies from massive internal bleeding and the baby dies with her.)

[Anonymous]

Does Superman save all the little children from R Kelly & Michael Jackson in this one? If so, I need to seek legal advice because that's the *exact* script treatment I submitted to the studio two years ago.

[Schkura]

(She basically dies from massive internal bleeding and the baby dies with her.)

"If Lois gets a tan the kid could kick right through her stomach."

[David Ehrenstein]

Does Superman save all the little children from R Kelly & Michael Jackson in this one? If so, I need to seek legal advice because that's the *exact* script treatment I submitted to the studio two years ago.

Nope. He just saves the world, as usual.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

An interview with Kevin Spacey, here, who says that he based his take on Luther on Enron chief Kenneth Lay. heh.