fter a nearly 19-year absence, the emotionally troubled Man of Steel is back, and he’s on a soul search of epic proportions. Director Bryan Singer ("X-Men") along with a great cast pay homage to the past and aim our superhero to a bold new future.

Along with a cast that includes a former model from Iowa (Brandon Routh), Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane (much too young to be a credible Lois), Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Parker Posey as Luthor's hilarious girlfriend Kitty.

Singer and his writing team of Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, ("X2: X-Men United") bring the Man of Steel back to the big screen with unstoppable energy. At two-hours and 40-minutes, this sequel to Richard Donner's film is a lengthy one; it's even longer than last summer's already-too-long Batman Begins.

Singer, who shone through with his "The Usual Suspects," certainly has his own vision, but he was smart enough to retain needed elements from the original movie. The $260 million budget has bought cool superhero special effects and set pieces that are jaw dropping elaborate, especially a near-plane crash near the beginning that will leave you breathless. The flying sequences alone are seamless, whether Superman is guiding that crashing plane back to Earth in the aforementioned stunt or merely floating down with a terrified woman in his arms.