Superman to the (i)Max

I’ve fallen behind on my Top 10 Can’t Miss Movies of Summer list so yesterday I tried to catch up by seeing #2 Superman Returns. Since I could still catch a late matinee I decided to go to Madison’s new IMAX Theater. The IMAX technology had previously been limited to amusement parks and museums but in the last few years more and more multiplexes are building IMAX screens to try and lure in a bigger audience. While I was excited that one had opened in my town the first films they were showing I’d either already seen or had no interest in so this was really my first opportunity. As an added bonus Superman has four scenes that utilize the new IMAX 3D technology.

Before I get to the 3D let me talk about the movie. Much like Batman Begins, Superman Returns is a perfect relaunch for one of the biggest movie franchises. It exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more…much more. The film overall is not quite at the level of the best comic movies from the last ten years which include Batman Begins, X Men 2, and Spiderman 2. However it easily falls into the second tier of good films like X Men, Spiderman, Blade 2, and Hellboy. Brian Singer hits all the right notes in the first hour of the film. He certainly knows how to handle the Man of Steel and shoots him in such an iconic way. Kate Bosworth really surprised me as Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey is Kevin Spacey. The problem with the film is villain’s plot. You never really feel like it’s something that; a) Makes sense, or b) Would really threaten Superman. That’s a problem Superman faces more then any other hero. Since he’s pretty much invulnerable you need an equally strong villain to work against him. I think that’s why Superman 2 worked best in terms of action and adventure. Like I said this is a solid starting point and maybe next time we can see Luthor team up with Brainiac or Darksied to give Supes a real run for his money.

Now, on to the technology side of the experience, which made an equally large impression on me. I’d been to IMAX theaters before as a kid and remembered them as being not quite as impressive as the OMNI theaters where the screen actually curves around you. That impression held true when I walked in the theater. Yes the screen was incredibly large but it did not seem to be much bigger than the Ultrascreen located at another local theater. After I walked in, the generic teenager from The Simpsons handed me my 3D glasses. These aren’t your Super Bowl halftime show 3D glasses. They look like tacky sunglasses complete with the little rope cord to keep them around your neck. As I took my seat a calming voice came over the speakers and told us that if we attempted to leave the theater with the glasses, an alarm would sound and the glasses would send an electrical shock to our brains that may or may not cause severe brain damage. Then we were “treated” to a delightful introduction to the theater by our local news team. They carefully instructed us to look for the flashing signs that indicated when to put on our glasses. Since only 4 scenes in Superman Returns are in 3D, you spend most of the time with your glasses on your lap being careful to avoid smudging them since your local weatherman just threatened you with castration if you do. Then the most amazing thing happened: no commercials appeared on the screen (well except the news people). Apparently the I in IMAX stands for integrity. I was still catching my breath when we rolled into the one and only preview which was for some kind of Pixar-like Ant movie. The whole preview was in 3D so I put my glasses on and whoa! It’s like I was in the shit back in ‘Nam as we followed the ants through the tall grass. Seriously I was utterly blown away. The theater dropped away and you felt like you were in the film. Then Superman started. Just like that no “let’s got the lobby ads” or anything. The 3D experience for Superman was not as effective as the preview but it was still impressive. I don’t know if it made the film better but it definitely made the experience better, at least until I suffered seizures when I ran to the bathroom with the glasses still on my person.