So if I’d seen this movie in the opening weekend, when everyone was all OMG BRYAN SINGER IS GOD PLUS JESUS PLUS JOHN LENNON, I’d’ve been all, “Um, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t all that.” But instead I’ve seen it after the critical consensus backlashed a bit, so I say, “Um, it wasn’t great, but hey, it was reasonably enjoyable.”

The movie is an elaborate, solemn ritual, and the director genuflects in the direction of every major icon, cliche, and legend that has accreted around Superman. The net effect is basically — and explicitly — the apotheosis of Superman. “Reverential in tone” doesn’t even begin to cover it as a descriptor.

So there are really no surprises at all in the movie, but it’s competent enough that we sat and watched a full 2:30 movie in one sitting, which is more than we can do with one of those ’70s era James Bond movies. Also, it looks gloriously gorgeous on HD-DVD, and the TrueHD soundtrack (which is losslessly compressed) was snazzy enough that I wished I actually had a full surround system, which is not a desire that I actually have that frequently.

Recommended, if you like competent superhero movies.