by Fran Eaton
Superman Returns is the religious movie you can't miss this summer.
With all the anti-religious hype surrounding this spring's controversial movie The DaVinci Code, it's disappointing that Christians haven't understood and expressed appreciation to Hollywood for the clear Gospel message director Bryan Singer conveys in Superman Returns. Superman has remained in the shadows of this summer's sensation, Johnny Depps' Pirates of the Caribbean.
Most moviegoers will focus on the movie's superficial features such as breathtaking graphics, the handsomeness of the new Superman Brandon Couth or the beauty of Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane. They are sure to be fascinated with a new character, Lois Lane's young son, born shortly after Superman's mysterious departure.
But apparently those same Christians who complained about Hollywood's DaVinci Codes are missing our culture's powerful, desperate cry for supernatural salvation as expressed in Lane's Pulitzer-prize winning essay title, "Why the World Doesn't Need a Superman."
Although we never learn the actual contents of the essay, Lois expresses in her first private conversation with her beloved Superman what many "Metropolisites" believe, "The world doesn't need a savior, and neither do I."
The rest of the movie explains why Lois is wrong.
In fact, the director makes a compelling argument as to why the world and Lois both need Superman, er, eh . . . in reality, a savior. And in this episode, viewers will find that Superman needs the world just as much as it needs him to accomplish what he was sent to Earth to do.
Superman Returns' gospel message is obvious and those who may be offended by Daily Planet editor Perry White's "all that stuff" adaptation of Superman's original "Truth, Justice and the American Way" motto should understand that indeed, Superman's messianic return ultimately saves the whole world, not just America.
Bryan Singer's Superman is not the rip-roaring, action-packed movie we've all seen before, although there are several exciting earth-saving scenes. Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor is disappointedly never intimidating, just evil. But perhaps that's exactly the way Evil should be portrayed -- troubling, but ultimately beatable.
To say much more will give away the movie's plot and that would be a mistake. You need to spend the nine dollars and go see Superman Returns for yourself -- before it leaves theatres this summer.
Go see it and fly away with the IMAX-like special graphics. The experience won't be as much fun if you watch it on a TV screen next fall. And most importantly, Hollywood won't know that you and I appreciate a movie chocked full of the Good News.
I think after seeing Superman Returns, you'll agree that the world does need Superman . . . er, eh, a Savior. . .
I look forward to hearing what you think.
