History Awesome / SupermanReturns

* On a filmmaking level, the way the film handles SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome with Superman's powers, most notably the airplane rescue and saving Perry from the falling Daily Planet globe. If he just used his powers straight he'd plow right through the plane (which he almost does). Instead, the film shows Superman actively and carefully slowing the plane, and later, carefully guiding the globe safely to the ground. The filmmakers understood the rules of inertia.

* The film manages to pull off a [=CMoA=] in the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W-XtWob9wo opening credits]]''. The epicness of the [[ShootTheMoney eye]] [[SceneryPorn candy]] plus Music/JohnWilliams' rousing [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic theme]] is awesome.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThemeMusicPowerUp Dah-da-da-da-da...]]''[[ThemeMusicPowerUp Dun-da-da!]]'']]

* Although he has had many, many awesome moments before, Franchise/{{Superman}} had been off the big screen for 19 years before he returned in, well, ''Film/SupermanReturns''. It was of crucial importance that Superman did something spectacularly awesome, and he did not disappoint: he is shot with [[ShootingSuperman several hundred bullets]] from a minigun by a psychotic bank robber, with no effect. Enraged, the robber jumps off the minigun, pulls out a pistol, and fires point-blank into his face. ''The bullet bounces off Superman's '''[[EyeScream eye]]'''''. The robber looks[[OhCrap horrified]]. Superman smiles. And the crowd cheers as Superman wins the fight merely by ''showing up''.

* Although he has had many, many awesome moments before, Franchise/{{Superman}} had been off the big screen for 19 years before he returned in, well, ''Film/SupermanReturns''. It was of crucial importance that Superman did something spectacularly awesome, and he did not disappoint: he is shot with [[ShootingSuperman several hundred bullets]] from a minigun by a psychotic bank robber, followed by the robber getting off the minigun, pulling out a pistol and firing point-blank into his face. ''The bullet bounces off Superman's '''[[EyeScream eye]]'''''. The robber looks [[OhCrap horrified]]. Superman smiles. And the crowd cheers as Superman wins the fight merely by ''showing up''.

* On a filmmaking level, the way the film handles RealityEnsues with Superman's powers, most notably the airplane rescue and saving Perry from the falling Daily Planet globe. If he just used his powers straight he'd plow right through the plane (which he almost does). Instead, the film shows Superman actively and carefully slowing the plane, and later, carefully guiding the globe safely to the ground. The filmmakers understood the rules of inertia.

* ''Superman Returns'' manages to pull off a [=CMoA=] in the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W-XtWob9wo opening credits]]''. The epicness of the [[ShootTheMoney eye]] [[SceneryPorn candy]] plus John Williams' rousing [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic theme]] is awesome.

** Routh sadly isn't given much to do acting-wise, but he manages to convey his history with Lex very concisely through his acting. When he finds out Lex is out of jail, his one-word response conveys both anger but also regret that he wasn't around to stop it.

** Routh and Spacey also don't share much screen-time together, but when they finally meet on the Kryptonite continent we ''feel'' the history between this legendary hero and this legendary villain.

* The airplane rescue was good, yes, but [[spoiler: Superman lifting an entire friggin' ISLAND that's laced with Kryptonite]] takes the "awesome" crown. The epic mix of the ''Superman'' theme, Luthor's OhCrap moment, and the DeathGlare Superman gives him as he flees.
* ComicBook/LoisLane's [[spoiler:tiny, smol, adorably cute five-year-old son sees his mother is in danger from a mook. How does he save her? Does he cry? Does he try and use his cuteness? Nope. ''He '''throws a piano at said mook''''' and thus reveals his ''true'' parentage]].

** [[spoiler:[[NotSoHarmlessVillain Luthor shanking Superman with a jagged piece of Kryptonite]]]].
--->'''[[spoiler:Lex]]''': Now ''fly''.

* When ComicBook/LoisLane's [[spoiler:five-year-old son saves her from a mook BY THROWING A PIANO AT HIM. Thereby revealing who his real dad is]].

* Although he has had many, many awesome moments before, Franchise/{{Superman}} had been off the big screen for 19 years before he returned in, well, ''Film/SupermanReturns''. It was of crucial importance that Superman did something spectacularly awesome, and he did not disappoint: he is shot with [[ShootingSuperman several hundred bullets]] from a minigun by a {{Mook}}, followed by the Mook getting off the minigun, pulling out a pistol and firing point-blank into his face. ''The bullet bounces off Superman's '''[[EyeScream eye]]'''''. The Mook looks [[OhCrap horrified]]. Superman smiles. And the crowd cheers as Superman wins the fight merely by ''showing up''.

* There's also the scene where Richard, Lois and Jason are trapped in the pantry of a sinking ship, with a mournful dirge playing. You see Richard's despairing face through the porthole as he struggles to keep his son and unconscious fiancee above water, while the light through the porthole grows dimmer and they sink deeper. And ''that'' is when you see two red boots land on the window as the Superman March starts into full thunder and Superman saves the day.

* There's also the scene where Richard, Lois and Jason are trapped in the pantry of a sinking ship, with a mournful dirge playing. You see Richard's despairing face through the porthole as he struggles to keep his son and unconscious wife above water, while the light through the porthole grows dimmer and they sink deeper. And ''that'' is when you see two red boots land on the window as the Superman March starts into full thunder and Superman saves the day.

* There's also the scene where Lois and her family are trapped in the galley of a sinking ship, with a mournful dirge playing. You see their despairing faces through the portal as they struggle hopelessly against an inescapable doom. And ''that'' is when you see two red boots land on the window as the Superman March starts into full thunder and Superman saves the day!

* ''Superman Returns'' manages to pull off a [=CMoA=] in the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W-XtWob9wo opening credits]]''. The epicness of the [[ShootTheMoney eye]] [[SceneryPorn candy]] plus John Williams' rousing [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome theme]] is awesome.