Sure, Superman Returns is worth seeing on the big screen, but is it worth seeing on the really, really big screen? Not only has the movie been simultaneously released in IMAX format, but a few minutes have been converted to 3D. The movie’s publicists say there’s 20 minutes of 3D footage, but I saw the modified movie last night, and it feels like less; in any case, 20 minutes out of 157 amounts to just 1/8 of the movie.
There are four such visually enhanced sequences: a flashback to Clark Kent’s joyous early flying experiences in a Smallville cornfield; Superman’s midair rescue of a disintegrating jumbo jet (pictured); a shipwreck and rescue sequence; and some final moments of Superman flying solo. Of these, the plane wreck is the most impressive; you’ll feel like the jet is being dropped into your lap. Otherwise, Superman’s feats (and the FX behind them) are generally impressive enough that the 3D effect seems superfluous. I’d say that, if you’re just seeing the regular 2D version at the multiplex, you’re not missing much.
That said, the giant-screen IMAX format does suit Bryan Singer’s sprawling epic, with its grand vistas of the Metropolis cityscape, or Lex Luthor’s vast, black, desolate, crystalline island. You can see every vulcanized thread in Superman’s costume and every villainous pore in Kevin Spacey’s face. But the 3D aspect does give me a new appreciation for Clark Kent. Now I have an idea how it feels to be gifted with unusual visual powers — and to have to wear big, stupid glasses.
I’ll wear the big stupid glasses, just give me the powers that the big guy has…………Rotten Ron
YES! I Like on-screen plane crashes (Fightclub had a great one), but have always LOOOOVED the scene in Superman (from 1979) when Superman saves Air Force One from crashing. If the redone scene is one tenth as impressive as the previews lead me to believe it is, that scene with the jumbo jet alone should be worth the price of admission for the 3-d experience. But we still gotta wear the glasses? Dude! 1955 called and they want their gimmick back…
I saw Superman (aka the gay, messianic immigrant) in IMAX 3-D last night. It was not even remotely worth it. The 3-D was choppy, and except for the plane crash, you really didn’t that much out of it. The worst part was that they only did 3-D trailers, so we got Happy Feet, The Ant Bully and another one that I can’t remember. In short, no Spidey 3.
BTW, Owen got this one right – it’s a ‘B’, maybe a low ‘B+’. This will give you new appreciate for Christopher Reeve, because he was able to be a credible Clark and Superman. Routh doesn’t quite have the authority as Superman that he should, and he hardly anything. It’s as if someone said to Singer “For G-d’s sake, don’t let him speak!!” Plus, there were a few continuity errors that were just glaring. A good, but not great outing.
With an anemic $21 million opening day, this movie is gonna have an upill battle to be profitable, and will not be the huge hit Time Warner/Entertainment Weekly hoped for.
It’s King Kong all over again folks, and even worse for it, a certain Pirate movie opens up next week…
Saw it in this format yesterday, and I couldn’t agree more. The shuttle-plane crash sequence is awesome, but the rest of the 3-D parts weren’t as good — and definitely brought me out of the movie.
The IMAX format, however, was awesome. It really worked, especially as Superman flys nimbly through the towering cityscape of Metropolis. It was simply stunning.
But save the 3-D for more suitable cinema verite. Like Captain E-O.