eep! squee! dance!

New Superman movie dazzles critics in first reviews - Yahoo! News

Tue Jun 20, 2:54 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Superman Returns," which opens in the United States next week, is receiving knock-out first reviews from critics, with newcomer
Brandon Routh tipped to win over audiences as the latest crime-fighting "Man of Steel."


Hollywood's two trade newspapers, Daily Variety and Hollywood Reporter, gave the movie strong reviews, with The Reporter describing it as "a heartfelt Superman movie that plays to a broad audience thanks to an emotionally troubled Man of Steel."

Daily Variety critic Todd McCarthy said director
Bryan Singer had imprinted the Warner Bros. movie with its own personality. "'Superman Returns' is never self-consciously hip, ironic, post-modern or camp. To the contrary, it's quite sincere, with an artistic elegance," he said.

Routh won praise for his apparent effortlessness -- with his resemblance to Superman predecessor, the late Christopher Reeve, not going unnoticed.

The movie's plot has Superman returning to Earth following a mysterious absence of several years. Back home, an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all while the superhero's great love, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), has moved on -- or has she?

Newsweek said Singer, who left the popular "X-Men" franchise to make "Superman Returns," did the right thing from the start of "this gorgeously crafted epic" by showing respect for the most foursquare comic superheroes of them all.

The magazine added that "Routh may or may not be a real actor, but he effortlessly lays claim to the iconic role, just as Reeve did. Indeed, he virtually duplicates Reeve in the way he plays Kent as a diffident, awkward Midwestern colt."

"Next to Singer's champagne, most recent superhero adventure movies are barely sparkling cider."

Time magazine said Singer and writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris had revived and revised the story's premise. "The result is an action adventure that's as thrilling for what it means as for what is shows," Time said.

The film is Superman's first big-screen appearance since the 1987 movie "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" starring Reeve.

PSA

How you know you have a boy crush:

When the recent Australia theme on audiography has you searching for pictures like this one.

How you know you're a big old dyke:

When the pictures of him shirtless leave you cold, but the pictures of him singing and dancing in Boy from Oz make you squeal with girlish delight.

Quick! Where's my cape (or red wings....)?

Humorscope.com Superhero Identifier:

Your Superhero Identity For Today Is:

Name: Red Gal
Secret Identity: Sarah
Special Power: Electric Stick
Transportation: Turbo Tricycle
Weapon: Electron Bolt
Costume: Chain Leotard
Sidekick: Clarence
Nemesis: Jasmine the Evil
Tragic Flaw: Narcolepsy
Favorite Food: Fried Chicken

CONFIDENTIAL TO THE ENGLISH

Um kay, haven't been commenting much on World Cup because SO.MUCH.SPORTS.OMG. Doesn't mean I haven't been following. (Actually, my whole company is in the throes of World Cup fever right now. The sports page is a hot commodity, trading for at least 3 packs of smokes on the blackmarket. Seriously.)

So. Here's the thing.

Sweden.
England.
Tie??

What the hell, people? You give up an early lead and let the Swedes tie the game in the last minute. Oh for shame! Your boys had better shape up; at this rate, I'll be putting money on the Germans to take the whole thing.

I haven't seen the Argentina-Netherlands match yet, so comments there. As for Mexico, they advanced and I'm happy. I'll be curious to see the Argentina-Mexico and Portugal-Netherlands matches, though.

Don't get me started about US-Ghana. Oy!

On that note...