We're more than halfway through summer 2006 and, for me, the movie season has peaked. Not really one for pirates or Johnny Depp, my anticipated blockbuster of the year has come and gone. "Superman Returns" had as much box office punch as a geriatric Rocky Balboa - which, by the way, is coming soon, don't you know. I've had about a month or so to ruminate on Supe's return and, in all, it made me happy. Director Bryan Singer made sure to keep all the elements from the Christopher Reeve era that gave moviegoers the warm fuzzies: a leading man in Brandon Routh that mirrored what we saw in the comic books, the John Williams score that made you believe you could fly, and the blocky-blue whoosh of the opening credits (which had me tearing up, I'm not afraid to admit).  Yeah, gone was the nasty fun Gene Hackman brought to Lex Luthor. Instead, Kevin Spacey played it thuggy. Kate Bosworth was plain Jane as Lois Lane, making you appreciate Margot Kidder so much more. But if nothing else, "Superman Returns" brought a ray of sunshine back into the darkened theater. I know, it's much cooler to like a brooder like Batman, but Superman is about hope and potential and our own capacity for good. Somethings that we can never have too much of. So welcome back, Superman - please don't leave us again.

 

Scott