I was delighted to see Superman Returns with my entire staff on its opening day. There were major problems with the film projector, so the film was delayed. When it finally began, the picture was blurry on the right one-third of the screen. This continued for the entire movie. I assume that they had to use an alternative projector that wasn’t quite up-to-par.

Anyway, that was the first big let down.

Watching the movie was my second big let down. My expectations were so high that I set myself up for a fall. At first, I didn’t think the movie did an adequate job in piecing together all its elements. On further reflection, I realized that the overarching story has to do with Superman’s sense of complete alienation as the “last son of Krypton” and his joy of discovering that he is not truly the “last son” (see the movie for the details). I also realized that another thread of the story is that the world truly does need a savior, even when it most bitterly denies it.

I could write more, but my good friend, Maurice Broaddus, has done an excellent piece on Superman Returns. Check it out!

Also, for those seeking extra credit, enjoy this fantastic piece by Anton Karl Kozlovic, Superman as Christ-Figure: The American Pop Culture Movie Messiah.