Following a mysterious absence of several years, away from the heroics of saving lives and the city of Metropolis, Superman returns to Earth, after searching for other survivors from his home planet of Krypton. Of course, this means his alter ego, Clark Kent, news guy, is back on the scene as well, since the two are, after all, one person. The actor taking on the mantle of Superman is Brandon Routh, a relative newcomer to the big screen.

Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth of "Bee Season" and "Beyond the Sea"), Superman’s confidante, and onetime girlfriend, a reporter at the Daily Planet, is on a special assignment when Superman drops back into her life again. He rescues her and a planeload of press from a totally implausible, special effects tailspin. Lois still has a soft spot for The Man of Steel but she has not been waiting in the shadows for him to return.

When Clark Kent shows up at the paper looking for his old job back he discovers what Lois has been up to. She’s just won a Pulitzer Prize for her article titled "Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman." How’s that? In addition, she has a six-year-old son and a talented, handsome live-in boyfriend, who is anxious to marry her.

Superman’s archenemy is Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey), who has just been released from prison. Luthor wants to annihilate Superman and rule the Earth. His plan is to set off volcanic eruptions so expansive that energy crystals will grow from the ocean floor, and flood most of the USA, killing millions of people. Luthor is just thrilled by the prospect of owning so much beachfront property. His mind is truly twisted.

"Superman Returns" is elevated by the combination of good writing, fine acting and some mind-boggling special effects. Bryan Singer’s experience as director of the first two "X-Men" features serves him well. A strong supporting cast boasts Parker Posey ("A Mighty Wind," and "Blade: Trinity"), as Luthor’s airhead girlfriend, Frank Langella and Eva Marie Saint.

We enjoyed the film but ironically we wondered why it was not as gratifying as "X-Men: The Last Stand" or "Spiderman 2". It’s probably because Superman is so, well, super human.

"X-Men" and "Spiderman" have been around awhile just like Superman but with one key difference. Their powers are special while Superman is almost god-like. He can fly faster than a speeding bullet and is strong enough to hold a 747 jetliner by the nose straight up into the air and gently put it down if he wishes. Only when he is around Kryptonite are his powers drained. Those that liked Superman from the 1950’s and 1960’s will appreciate the almost retro feel of the film. The question is will those in their teens and twenties make the same connection?