No doubt it will go above 70% at RT but I dont think it will be as well praised as say Spiderman, Batman Begins or X-2. Critics wont really help the opening that much as illustrated by the mixed reviews for X-3 and the low multiplier for the critically acclaimed X-2. The only thing I see is maybe the long hr being long drawn having the same affect on the kid demographic like Hulk and Batman Begins did. The first time I saw Superman in the theaters I was about 4 years old and I did fall asleep in the first hour. I saw it again like 4-5 years later and enjoyed it more

Good but not great, June 5, 2006
Reviewer: Ronald Martin II "betterJedi" (Columbus, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This book is easy to read. I finished it in a day and overall I enjoyed the story, though there were a few things that I didn't think worked too well. I really enjoyed the history pieces about Krypton. That'd make a fascinating story in itself.

Here are my initial reactions: (WARNING! Spoilers ahead...)

1. I was surprised that Superman and Lex Luthor have so few scenes together - and that all of their time together was clumped in just a couple of chapters near the very end. I thought it was obvious that Luthor planted the fake story about Krypton still having life in an effort to divert Superman away from Earth.

2. There were a lot of pieces of dialogue that appear as direct quotes from the 1978 movie. This is not bad. In fact, it's a nice touch in a lot of ways but after a while I started wondering if the writers were afraid to create new "classic" lines instead reusing the old ones. I don't know how many of those lines will make it into the final release of the movie.

3. I expected some closure with Superman and Lois Lane but the story really only progresses their relationship a small bit. The stuff with Jason (where I think it's pretty obvious that he's really Superman's son) goes unresolved - though they hint at something that should be continued in the sequel. I'm referring here to the scene where Lois visits Superman in the hospital and tells him something private but we as an audience don't get to read what she tells him.

4. I was surprised at how little there was of Superman actually in action. Sure, there are a few great action scenes, but for the most part Superman/Clark Kent is a bystander, watching the story unfold. The story seems to be more of a soap opera about the world he lives in and not so much a character-driven piece.

With that being said, I'm looking very forward to the movie. I'm sure that the few action pieces described in the novel will look fantastic on the big screen. I know not to expect very much from the "love story" now. When Bryan Singer was making the movie he described it as a love story but after reading it, I found very little love in it. I would describe it as more of a story about Superman wanting to reclaim his life after going off on a mission to find where he fits in with the universe. I think my wife will be disappointed that it's not a love story when she sees it next month.

So overall I'd say it was a good story but not great. Nothing really surprising happened in the story for me but it felt great to return to that 1978 feeling. In a lot of ways the story felt like you just finished watching SUPERMAN 1 and 2 and then picked up with this. More than anything, this movie feels like it's setting up a lot of plot lines that will be resolved in the next movie.

I hope with future stories they take some chances and throw some surprises. This story feels like a transition piece - serving to bridge the old movies with the sequels that will come out in a few years.

Fun . . . But Can't Escape the "Been There, Done That" Feeling, May 31, 2006
Reviewer: Budd Yuhasz "Budd" (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews
I'm a comic book fan. I have always dug Superman. The first two Superman films stand high in my list of comic films done right.

I also have a great deal of respect for the accomplishments of Marv Wolfman, a veritable legend of the comic book industry.

I read this book in about 3.5 hours. Some maybe/minor (not really) SPOILERS are to follow:

Even with all the narrative help that was provided, I didn't really buy Superman's reasons for leaving Earth and, especially, not telling Lois.

Given how the relationship's progressed in the comic and in televised media, it seems kind of weak seeing Lois react to Clark in the "Oh hi" fashion.

Gene Hackman's Luthor worked for it's time, but is not nearly as interesting (or scary) as Clancy Brown's interpretation in the Superman/JLA animated series. The writing of Lex Luthor in this novel seems to portray him as a crackpot guy that's all id and ego, but very little underneath. He doesn't really seem to measure up as a legitimate villian, when his main ambition seem to be to swindle real estate, even if on a grand scale.

There were some thrilling moments that I can imagine will play wonderfully on the screen, but the character interaction, Lois loves her son, loves the new man in her life and still loves Superman . . . Superman loves Lois and can't believe she *gasp* moved on without him . . . gets tedious just reading it and unless handled very well -- will likely be more tedious to watch.

Overall, while I enjoyed the novelization and stand ready to plunk down the coin to see it in theaters (and am still eternally greatful they got Jon Peters off of the project and trashed the JJ Abrams script), I think they should have tried telling a new story rather than revisit all the landmarks (as someone else astutely listed) from the first film.

Superman Returns... to 1978, May 31, 2006
Reviewer: Delzuma (Fort Pierce, FL USA) - See all my reviews
So far as the story goes if you loved Superman (1978) you'll love this one as well. It's almost the exact same movie. Having just read the book I can't judge the intangibles (how well the acting was, if Routh is as super as Reeve, if it still has that feeling of happening in the real world) that's all going to have to be seen to be judged. The story though is a very odd blend of Superman 1 and something new. Honestly it's like they're redoing the first one with a larger budget just so they can.

How's it like the original Superman you say?

Travels from Krypton to Kansas -Check

Leaves Kansas after change in family situation -Check

Outed to world saving Lois in a aircraft disaster - Check

Lex involved in Land as the method of his dastardly deeds -Check

Superman travels all over in a night fixing stuff shortly after going public -Check

Lex has girlfriend in car crash to distract Person of Authority and further his goals -Check

Lex steals Meteorite that landed in Addis Ababa in 1978 -Check

Superman wounded by Kryptonite in such a manner as can't to be fixed by himself -Check

Superman left to drown -Check

Woman jumps in to water to save him -Check

Lois knocked unconscious/dead -Check

Female henchman joins Superman at last minute -Check

It's all packaged well, the book is well written, and there's other stuff going on that fill out the story and make it worth reading/seeing but I can't help but feel let down by this remake/homage/lazy script.

Superman Novel Fails to Soar, June 5, 2006
Reviewer: Wantz Upon A Time Reviews "www.wantzuponatime.com" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
The Man of Steel, Clark Kent/Superman, has disappeared from sight as this novelization of the new movie Superman Returns opens. When NASA astronomers discover Krypton still exists and believe the planet may still support life, Superman makes the 2 ½ year journey to discover if his parents and his home planet still live. Sadly, Superman discovers Krypton is a wasteland and makes the long journey home only to discover that Lois Lane has a child and fiancé, and the people of Metropolis have learned to survive without him.

Clark wrestles with whether or not he should leave his Superman identity behind, but when Lois and a plane of reporters are poised for disaster, he puts on the suit. He makes his triumphant return in time to battle Lex Luthor and fight to save the planet.

Although lacking in action and weak in the scientific explanation of Lex Luthor's evil plot, Superman fans will find in this novel welcome details about Superman's parents and his home planet that movies and the comic book did not provide. We also are treated to an in-depth look into the minds of Superman and the Daily Planet staff. And while many questions raised in the book are not clearly answered by the last page, readers will probably be willing to forgive the plot holes and look toward the next installment of the Man of Steel for resolution.

After vieing the MTV spot I say is a guanteed 350m+ smash even in the face the the greatest film of them all.

Interesting pre review.... I like hearing that its emotional and about something. Personally for me. X-men was ok but lacked heart and emotion. I left feeling entertained but not satisfied. I am however definitly looking forward to seeing this flic in IMAx 3d. As far as a box office gross? Im waiting for more reviews. No I dont predict by a critic meter.. but I do like to read reactions about what type of film it was before making a prediction. This pre- review seems to be in the right direction.

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