Superman Returns

Theatrical Release Date: 2006 06 28 (USA) / 2006 06 28 (USA - IMAX)

UPC: 012569829657

Studio: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Violence]

Summary: The Man of Steel returns to the big screen with this continuation of the icon's film legacy that picks up after the events of the first two Christopher Reeve films. Some time has passed since the events of Superman II and the world has gotten used to life without Superman (Brandon Routh) ever since his puzzling disappearance years earlier. Upon his return, he finds a Metropolis that doesn't need him anymore, while Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with another young suitor Richard White (James Marsden) in the meantime. As the hero begins to tackle the fact that life on Earth has continued without him, he is forced to face his old arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) and restore the life that was once his. Directed by Bryan Singer from a script by the writing team of X-Men 2, Superman Returns marks a return to the screen for the man in tights, whose production history has seen many failed attempts including a famous near-miss from Tim Burton and Kevin Smith with Nicolas Cage in the lead role, along with another from director McG and writer J.J. Abrams (Lost). Singer eventually won the prestigious gig when he pitched the idea to not tackle the origin story again, but continue with director Richard Donner's original vision. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Category: Science Fiction

Awards: Best Visual Effects – Phoenix Film Critics Association Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film – Art Directors Guild Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Nearly 3 hours of exclusive in-depth documentaries including: Making Superman Returns: From script to screen
Designing Superman: From art and costume design to set construction
The Joy of Lex: Behind the scenes with Kevin Spacey
How filmmakers recreated Jor-El, Superman's father, Played by Marlon Brando
Over 10 additional scenes in 1080p High Definition

Superman Returns

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 11/28/2006

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 2.40:1

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 154 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Superman Returns
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
27. Chapter 27
28. Chapter 28
29. Chapter 29
30. Chapter 30
31. Chapter 31
32. Chapter 32
33. Chapter 33
34. Chapter 34
35. Chapter 35
3. Chapter 36
37. Chapter 37
38. Chapter 38
39. Chapter 39
40. Chapter 40
41. Chapter 41

Jeremy Wheeler

Does the world really need a Superman? Bryan Singer tackles this intriguing question with grand and sincere strokes in Superman Returns, a mega-budget kick-start to a dormant franchise that represented some of the best and worst that big-screen superhero films have had to offer. Here, the director whole-heartedly tries to honor Richard Donner's original vision of the DC Comics hero while lending new emotional complexity to the world of this adopted alien savior. The result is an ambitious picture full of fervent emotion and nobility, yet missing the charming spark and energy that its predecessors had in spades. Of the things that work is the surprisingly wonderful new Man of Steel, Brandon Routh, who embodies the role in an uncanny performance that adds the right amount of depth for the direction that Singer and his young writing team laid out for the picture. As his nemesis Lex Luthor, Kevin Spacey has a ball delivering his own dry take on Gene Hackman's humorous antics that turns exceedingly more and more evil as the film progresses. Most notable is the supporting cast, starting with Sam Huntington, whose Jimmy Olsen nearly steals every scene he pops up in, as well as James Marsden as a human hero of high proportions who easily dwarfs all of his work in the X-Men series. Special mention goes out to Parker Posey, who would have made an incredible Lois Lane herself, which leads to the one contentious casting issue -- Kate Bosworth. Her fresh-faced 23-year-old visage would be more troubling if not for her lackluster portrayal that's filled not with spunk, but a cold frigidness that prevents her from having fun with the role, never mind embodying a nurturing, motherly model for her cute little five-year old tyke (who ends up being a pushover despite his questionable inclusion). If anything, it's the story that dictates much of the character's detriments. By playing up the scorned romance and alienation, the filmmakers lose the sense of whimsy inherent in their beloved film series. Plus, no matter how thrilling the action or sumptuous the look of the picture, Superman Returns falls dead flat in its finale and epilogue, giving added weight to the undue two-and-a-half-hour running time. Add in the Christ-like imagery plus the heavy, late dramatics and viewers are stuck with a false artificiality that uses John Williams' returning rousing score to accentuate what is essentially a downbeat ending for a superhero picture. The world does indeed need a Superman, as Singer has proven -- now it's time to let him soar and do what he does best. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Gilbert Adler  Producer 
William Fay  Executive Producer 
Jon Peters  Producer 
John Ottman  Composer (Music Score) 
Bryan Singer  Director 
Bryan Singer  Producer 
Chris Lee  Executive Producer 
Dan Harris  Screenwriter 
Michael Dougherty  Screenwriter 
Thomas Tull  Executive Producer 
Scott Mednick  Executive Producer 
Brandon Routh  Actor 
Kate Bosworth  Actor 
James Marsden  Actor 
Frank Langella  Actor 
Eva Marie Saint  Actor 
Parker Posey  Actor 
Kal Penn  Actor 
Sam Huntington  Actor 
Kevin Spacey  Actor 
Marlon Brando  Actor 
Tristan Lake Leabu  Actor 
David Fabrizio  Actor 
Ian Roberts  Actor 
Vincent Stone  Actor 
Jack Larson  Actor 
Noel Neill  Actor 
James Karen  Actor 
Stephan Bender  Actor 
Peta Wilson  Actor 
Jeff Truman  Actor 
Barbara Angell  Actor 
Ian Bliss  Actor 
Ansuya Nathan  Actor 
Richard Branson  Actor 
Warwick Young  Actor 
Bradd Buckley  Actor 
Bill Young  Actor 
Thomas W. Stewart  Actor 
Patricia Howson  Actor 
Mirren Lee  Actor 
Stephen Ostrow  Actor 
Hank Roberts  Actor 
Karina Bracken  Actor 
Raelee Hill  Actor 
Lee James  Actor 
Michael Duggan  Actor 
Keegan Joyce  Actor 
Frederique Fouche  Actor 
Julian Pulvermacher  Actor 
ReBecca Barratt  Actor 
Penelope Heath  Actor 
Ted Maynard  Actor 
Ed Wightman  Actor 
Prue Lewarne  Actor 
Paul Shedlowich  Actor 
Barry Quin  Actor 
Francine Bell  Actor 
Genevieve Davis  Actor 
Robert Meyer Burnett  Actor 
Terrell Dixon  Actor 
Kevin Fisher  Actor 
John Lucantonio  Actor 
Robert Flanagan  Actor 
Phillip Henry  Actor 
Henry Browne  Actor 
Darin Rossi  Actor 

Country: USA