- Worth the Price of Admission 

I wanted to love this movie unreservedly, but I feared for over a year that I'd hate it. The actual experience was a mixed bag for me.

First - the hate: Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. Too young, not substantial enough, not smart enough. For me, she seemed like a young girl lost in a role way too big for her. She's pretty. She's not Lois Lane.

Lex Luthor as crazed mad scientist. Again. Why can't we have a Lex like the infinitely more interesting character on Smallville? Or the comics, for that matter. The stupid real estate plot resulted in a God-forsaken piece of land that nobody in his right mind would want to live on, much less pay top dollar for. And who would be left to spend for it, anyhow? Stupid.

WARNING - SPOILER IN THIS SECTION
The kid - interesting idea, but this child just seemed to stare somberly through most of the picture. Although I appreciated the fact that they didn't allow him to "save the ship" a la Star Trek's Wesley Crusher, I couldn't help feeling that it would have been so much nicer had Superman's child been bright, precocious. Instead he just seemed a little Damien/Omen creepy.
END SPOILER

And the stupid things: Why just open a door when you can lift the entire ship out of the water to rescue the White/Lane family? And the aforementioned land grab plot. >Groan< 

Now the Love - The way it looked was simply gorgeous all the way through, as if they had lifted each and every shot from an Alex Ross painting.

Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent. Fab. And Kevin Spacey as Luthor. I thought I would hate him, because I'm kind of over him, but he was just spectacular - he left teeth marks on every scene he chewed his way through, and I loved him. Brandon Routh - he channels Christopher Reeve a lot, especially as Clark Kent, but I did feel he lacked the humor and charm Reeve showed in this part of the role - Reeve's sly wink and nod at the audience was not to be missed. I loved his Superman, though; he radiated gentleness and strength, power and sincerity. He did have the right look and feel for a role I feared would dwarf his abilities. Next time around, however, I'd like to see him channel a different Superman actor when he plays Kent - George Reeves. This actor portrayed Clark Kent, not as a bumbling, timid, meek man, but rather as a mild-mannered (that does not mean timid or meek), almost dashing, intelligent, charming newsman. Reeves's Kent was smart, funny, strong and confident - all the qualities a great reporter needs, and was very different from his Superman - the personalities seemed so different from one another that he didn't need to resort to timid camouflage at all. A much more interesting portrayal than the one that seems almost necessary to many. But like I said, as Superman - mwah! Big kiss!

Superman's bleeding fingers. That was cool.

Those wacky Pomeranians.

Noelle Neill and Jack Larsen's (George Reeves's Lois and Jimmy from the 50's) cameos. Groovy.

Best. Flying. EVER.

Okay. So this movie had flaws - it wasn't perfect. To me, after all the trials, tribulations, false starts and near disasters, it's a miracle what we got was watchable at all. But it is watchable - and well worth the price of admission. It's a nice nod to the past, plus sets up the future well. Here's hoping that the next installment doesn't take 19 years to bring to the screen again. And that we get a villain worthy of Superman's considerable might - Luthor as evil businessman posing as a philanthropist is a lot more complex and interesting - and tougher to fight than this run of the mill evil genius. Or why not Braniac!?! That would be great!

Overall - not as great as it could have been, but definitely has now planted seed in fertile ground - just needs time to grow!

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