This is the movie that movie watchers have been speculating about since, well, the fourth Superman movie was made. Of course this epic tale of Clark Kent wouldn't end it's on screen life with so many new innovations. And, as we all knew would one day happen, Superman Returned.
Actually, that's kinda what the movie's plot starts with. It ignores the third and fourth movies (thank God), and uses the second movie as it's forerunner. Superman bails (to find Krypton, or it's remains at least) and is gone for 5 years. Everyone moves on, and then he shows back up, just as Lex Luthor is unveiling his plans to take over the world (with another genius ruse involving real estate, just like the first movie).
I won't go into plot detail's because there would be too many to cover and it would ruin the movie for those who haven't seen it yet, but it's a lot more like the original movie than the sequel (which is a very good thing). Clark/Superman is played by newcomer Brandon Routh, Lex Luthor is played by Kevin Spacey, and Lois Lane is played by Kate Bosworth. They all do a fairly decent job, but none of them did better than the original actors. I even missed Margot Kidder; sure, I didn't care for her in the original movies, but Kate Bosworth (as hot as she is) just doesn't fill the role well. She is meek, unjournalistic, and doesn't have the same "in control" aura that Kidder pulled off. And no matter how good Kevin Spacey is, no one will beat Gene Hackman's performance as Lex Luthor. He will forever be who I think of when Lex Luthor comes to mind.
Although it's a good movie, I couldn't believe that it made the same mistakes that the other Superman movies made before it. With Bryan Singer as director, I thought he could steer clear of the plot holes and stupid ways that Superman manages to do the impossible in order to destroy Lex's brilliant plans... but he didn't. Somehow, Superman lifts a small continent full of kryptonite out of the ocean floor and into space before his strength gives out. But, while standing on that same continent, he got the everloving crap beat out of him and then almost drowned in the water. I'm sorry, but something that full of kryptonite would be impossible for him to lift, no matter how tan he got.
The other thing that really bothered me, was that Clark Kent get's his job back at the Daily Planet, and the very same day, Superman returns... and Clark is nowhere to be found while Superman is off saving the day. How has no one noticed!? Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington, who plays an excellent Olsen) was with him in a bar when horrible news comes across the screen (involving Lois of course), and Clark dissapears. Then, bam! Superman saves the day. Sometime they have to put the pieces together. Olsen is a smart kid. He would have noticed it then. And not to mention when Superman is out of action, there's no Clark Kent around the office. It's just a little frustrating because it's so obvious (And I don't buy that crap about Superman being able to erase memories. That's bull).
There are hundreds of little things I could pick away at (the guy playing Perry White blows, Lois' husband is Cyclops (who I hate), Kumar (Kal Penn) is a henchman), but I'll just stop for now, and let you realize the rest on your own. Superman may have returned, but he definitly didn't kick as much ass as Batman's beginning. And you can quote me on that.