I saw the movie twice in two days and *loved* it. I grew up on the original Chris Reeve movies and loved them, but never became a real fan of Superman until Lois and Clark came along. I thought I could never love any other incarnation of Superman after LnC, but this movie just made it happen.
Loved it to pieces. Brandon Routh was *perfect* as Superman/Clark, and made me fall in love with the hero all over again. Before this movie came out, I thought that he was too young for the part, blah, blah, but he managed to fill some pretty big shoes pretty darn well. I take back everything bad I ever said about him -- he *is* Superman to me now, and I totally get what CC means by "Dean in the suit". Dean's still the best Clark Kent, but Routh *is* Superman!
Loved the poignancy of the love triangle -- Superman's pain when he thinks that Lois never loved him, and realises that she has moved on with her life in his absence. Richard's pain when he realises that Lois was always in love with Superman -- that scene where he drives her to the hospital and says that he'll wait for her just broke my heart! He would have stayed with her, even knowing that she didn't love him. *sob!*
Loved how the movie leaves you in doubt about Jason's paternity at the beginning -- when he comes in and has asthma and all, I'm thinking, oh well, he has to be human -- but then, as Lois says, "he's gonna grow up to be big and strong like his daddy," and the camera pans up to Clark standing there -- Wow!
Loved the way Lois and Richard actually consider the idea that Clark is Superman -- then laugh it off!
Loved the way Supes stops halfway out to sea when he sees the earthquake coming, and the decision he makes to go back to Metropolis before going to rescue Lois. This, to me, is quintessential Superman -- the hero for our *world*, who would die to save us all, if he had to. Of course, his decision is also influenced by his recent experience in Superman II, when he chose being with Lois over his responsibilities to the world, and Metropolis suffered for it.
(The "father-son" talk was actually filmed for SM II but got edited out due to legal problems with Marlon Brando. When Clark goes back to the FOS to ask for his superpowers back, he apologises to his father for "giving up his birthright" out of selfishness. His loneliness is painful, and reminiscent of the end of Spiderman I.)
Loved how Richard rescues Lois -- if you look carefully, in the scene where Jimmy shows them the fax, *both* Clark and Richard run out of the newsroom tugging at their neckties! And when Lois asks Richard how he got to her, and he answers, "I flew." As if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Loved it.
Loved the fact that when Supes flew back to the island after being rescued by Lois and co, he *knew* that he was going to his death. And this time he does say goodbye, and I love the way he looks at the people in the plane -- Lois, Richard and Jason -- before he flies off, sort of coming to terms with the fact that Lois has a family now, as he leaves to do his duty.
Loved the bullet bouncing off his eye. Loved the airplane rescue. Loved the private little "You okay?" to Lois after that rescue. Loved how he watches her through walls.
Loved that he subconsciously wanted her to find out that CK=S. I agree with CC, about the part when his glasses fall off and he just pauses, and you can tell that he *wants* Lois to look up and see his face. And again on the roof, when Superman tells her that her tape recorder is in her pocket, which is something only Clark would have known -- he seems to do it on purpose, and seems a bit disappointed when Lois doesn't guess it.
Loved the way Brandon Routh manages to convey those subtle emotions with his expressions -- the hurt and disappointment when he realises Lois has moved on, the decision-making set of his jaw when he realises that it's time for Superman to reappear; the secret smile he has when he's watching Lois from afar. The way his eyes just shine with love for her -- when he first returns to the newsroom and asks where Lois is, and then sees her on the TV screen.
Sigh! I want to marry Brandon Routh. And, CC, we take turns to mow Bryan Singer's lawn, ok?
