DVD Review: Superman Returns - BigScreen Journal: The BigScreen Cinema Guide

Front Cover Artwork Superman Returns
DVD - Two-disc Special Edition
Warner Home Video 82337 - Region 1
154 minutes

List Price: $34.98 (Check Price at Amazon.com)

Available on 11/28/2006

	Theatrical	This DVD
Aspect Ratio:	2.35:1	2.35:1
Audio:	Dolby Digital	Dolby Digital

Disc 1 Contents

Movie

Disc 2 Contents

Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns

Secret Origins and First Issues: Crystallizing Superman
The Crystal Method: Designing Superman
An Affiinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman
The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman
He's Always Around: Wrapping Superman

Resurrecting Jor-El
Deleted Scenes
Trailers

About the Movie

Superman comes back home after a long voyage to the remains of his home planet of Krypton. Unfortunately, it appears that Lois Lane has moved on with her life; engaged to be married, mother to a son, and Pulitzer prize winner for a piece titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Not a good homecoming for Clark Kent, indeed.

His return is well-timed, as Lex Luthor was just released from jail, with aspirations of nation-building the old fashioned way. Using crystals stolen from the crystal cave and a secret ingredient, he decides to form his own continent off the Eastern coast of the U.S. Its projected size will overcome much of the country, and many people may die unless Superman can stop him.

How Does it Look?

The CGI effects in the movie were very well done, but I was somewhat disappointed with a slight softness and muted tone to the picture. Some of this might be an artistic choice rather than a flaw with the transfer.

How Does it Sound?

I was more impressed by the sound than the picture in this movie. Right from the opening scene, your speakers are going to get a workout! The plane crash scene is active and really places you in the action. Surrounds are used well, your subwoofer will be kept busy, and the dialog is always easy to understand.

Extras

All the extras are located on disc 2. Requiem for Krypton is nearly 3 hours in length (longer than the movie). Resurrecting Jor-El is a short segment that shows the chronology of taking original footage of Marlon Brando that was shot for the 1978 movie and creating a 3-D model in which to animate using new lines for the crystal cave scene.

Conclusion

I have to admit that I'm not a big Superman fan. I've not seen all the other movies and I haven't read comic books in 30 years. My primary Superman experience is watching the TV show on Sunday mornings. That said, Superman Returns was a enjoyable movie. My personal preference of recent superhero movies would be Batman Begins, but if another Superman movie were made with the same principals, I'd look forward to seeing it.

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