You're probably going to see a lot of personal reviews floating around the Internet for Superman Returns. This is one of them. I've only then walked back in the door after seeing Superman Returns for the first time. And this is my personal review...

First up... yes, it is a good movie. We expected nothing less from Bryan Singer (right), who did us proud with the first two X-Men movies. But is it a great movie? One that's worthy of the Superman franchise (ignoring movies three and four)?

Unfortunately, no. I could sum it up by saying: this movie is simply not clever or original enough, although it rides eloquently on the coat tails of the legend.

So what's the problem? Why didn't it hit the stratospheric highs I was expecting?

Casting is superb... Routh plays the Man of Steel to perfection, surpassing Christopher Reeve in the role (he has a deeper voice, better physique, and is a wonderful actor to boot). Bosworth as Lois Lane is surprisingly mature, and (my biggest surprise) Frank Langella as Perry White is wonderfully realised.

But the script... once again, Lex Luthor is a property mogul, looking to score big in the property boom with his own private island (ring any bells?). And the huge, gigantuan, seat-rumbling battle between Superman and something equally evil? It just isn't there. The worst it gets is Supes getting beaten up by three alleyway thugs... ho hum.

The script simply doesn't have the familiar three-act superhero plot we've grown to love and expect. You know... hero arrives, backstory ensues; hero falls from grace/cities fall in ruin/end of the world; hero saves world, world cheers, end of movie.

Instead... Superman dies!! (There goes the "Death of Superman" storyline for future films.) And he also finds out Lois Lane's child is his!! (Excuse me? Since when does Superman have a child?) The movie grinds to a sentimental halt 30 minutes before its end, and then peters out until the credits. Everyone leaves the theatre feeling ripped off.

If you haven't seen it, you should. I'm a confessed Superman nut, so I'm always going to find fault with some sort of interpretation. But just don't expect to be standing on your seats cheering... it's just not that type of movie.

Sad, but true.

There were a bunch of rumors floating around about the script years before Superman Returns hit the screens. This is the one I'd recorded as having the most credence. Fun to look back on!

The story goes way back to the roots of the Man of Steel, including his birth planet, Krypton. These events will probably occur as flashbacks, as the majority of the movie occurs after the events of Superman II (yes, there is a slight continuity, as director Bryan Singer didn't want to leap too far from convention).

Two villains are in the movie; Lex Luthor and another -- both are formidable opponents. A fan favourite, John Corben, will certainly feature in the movie (Corben becomes arguably Superman's greatest superfoe Metallo, the man with the kryptonite heart ).

There will also be appearances by some familar names from the comic books, although there's no definite word yet on who these are. They may include other DC heroes such as The Flash, although this is pure speculation (and somehow doubtful, given this is Superman, not the Justice League!).

The writers -- Bryan Singer, Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty -- are said to be very happy with the script as it now stands. From all reports, fans will be delighted with the story.

If you've been watching this site you'd have seen our tally of stars that have either auditioned or been suggested for the role of Superman. There have been some really left-field suggestions, and it's interesting to see who we could have ended up with...