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I was really hoping this movie would be like "Batman Begins" or "Casino Royale" and take the franchise back its roots. They should have structured the story around the character development of Cal-el/Clark Kent/Superman. He's consistently the most interesting part of this whole saga.

(Spoilers below) For me, the best decision the filmmakers made was hiring Brand Routh to play Superman. He does an outstanding job. My favorite scenes in the film are the early ones when he's in Smallville. Ironically, the best scene IMO is one they deleted! When Clark talks to his Mother about how reluctant he is to return to Metropolis because "its hard to live his life there being who he is." I wish the writers would have developed that idea further.

A very interesting if ultimately flawed scene in the film is when Luther and his thugs violently attack Superman on "New Krypton." The scene is very emotional (despite the constant unnecessary cutaways to Kitty) but seems so out of place with the tone of the rest of the film. However, Brandon's acting here is phenomenal. His tortures screams while being kicked and shoved around in the pouring rain are heartbreaking. Too bad his role was so underwritten. If they would have gone more into his internal conflict about being Superman the scene would have made more of an impact.

Unfortunately, other than Brandon Routh, I didn't care much for Superman Returns. It just seemed like a remake of Superman: The Movie with less likable actors in roles that were already cast perfectly in the original films. - I thought Clark's mother was overwritten. She's not that important in the Superman story! - Lex Luthor should have been left out this one. Include a new villain or have a "non-traditional" bad guy. (like Batman Begins). Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey just made me wish I was watching Gene Hackman and Valerie Perrine instead. - The guy that played Perry White was AWFUL. - The miscasting of Lois Lane sank the movie. With the first 2 Superman movies, Richard Donner told screenwriter Tom Mankewitz that the key to the film was making the love story between Lois & Superman work. If the audience didn't feel any emotional attachment to those 2 characters and their romance, the movie would fail.

Sadly, that's exactly what happened with Superman Returns. The romantic chemistry between Brandon & Kate Bosworth just wasn't there. They seemed more like just good friends and Kate's Lois & Brandon's Clark were like disgruntled siblings. The love story just didn't succeed and this will hurt future sequels. I don't think anyone's dying to find out what happens with the Lois/Richard/Superman love triangle.

When watching Kate Bosworth I thought of about a dozen young actresses who could have done that role so much better. Rachel McAdams would have been excellent Not sure why Bosworth got hired (was "Blue Crush" really that good??). Plus she turned Lois Lane into a totally unlikeable character. I read one review which said it was like Lois Lane took "nasty pills." Too true. She cops an attitude with the spokeswoman on the airplane, Perry, her fiancée, Superman and especially to Clark.

So Superman Returns was a dud. I'm not looking forward to future sequels with this cast. Unless they decide to have Lois & Richard get married and move to a different city. Lex stays on that desert island. Perry White gets fired. And the story focuses on Brandon Routhe and a new villains. That I would go see. The Batman writers finally figured out that audiences want to know more about Bruce Wayne/Batman, not a bunch of side characters. Focus on the character who's name in the titles!