While the city is falling apart, the movie focuses on specific moments of Superman saving random citizens. The cracking fault line has shattered windows, burst gas mains, and generally led to the endangerment of multiple citizens. Upon arriving in Metropolis, Superman quickly learns he was right to return.
Despite what he desires, he chooses to turn away and fly towards people likely in need of help. This initial moment showcases part of what makes this depiction of Superman so on-point. He then zooms off for the city, knowing that there’s about to be trouble. After flying out over the ocean with the intention of saving Lois Lane, Superman instead notices that a massive fault line is breaking under Metropolis. One of the most impressive sequences comes when Lex Luthor begins enacting his plan. Superman Returns was released to mostly positive reviews, often citing the direction of the story as well as the excellent CGI. RELATED: The Next DCEU Superman: Who Is Val-Zod? Routh was praised by the wife of the late Christopher Reeve for his striking resemblance to her husband. This was approved and Brandon Routh was cast as the titular man-in-tights. While a different film had initially been planned to be directed by McG, Bryan Singer was eventually invited to pitch his idea for a story wherein Superman returns after a five-year absence. Released in 2004, Superman Returns is both a sequel and the final part in the original line of Superman films started in 1978 with Christopher Reeve. Man of Steel in their respective city destruction scenes. The clearest visual difference between these two can be seen with Superman Returns vs. If he cares too little, then he doesn’t quite feel like Superman. If he cares too much, then he can almost seem weak.
One of the more difficult aspects many directors have come across when attempting to bring Superman to the big screen is how to represent his human nature.