I finally saw Superman Returns as it was released on DVD this week. While I didn’t find the superhero film revolutionary in any sort of way like its previously released sister film, Batman Begins, it was a treat for the eyes to see Superman fly around the world, rescue crashing planes, and lift entire continents out of the water. Brandon Routh comes on the scene looking eerily like his late super-predecessor Christopher Reeve. The film explored Superman’s return to Metropolis (and Earth for that matter) after a five year absence when he left to see what life was left in the universe from his home planet Krypton.

What I did find interesting was the stark spiritual references that were repeatedly made throughout the film. As someone in church ministry, I am of course always looking for neat spiritual clips and soundbites in movies or television shows to create discussion points or lesson illustrations. But I always find it interesting that if one simply opens his/her eyes and looks for it, one can find much of the supernatural hidden - and maybe not so hard - in the arts. And this is nothing new. Artists - painters, sculptors, poets, and songwriters - have been artistically describing the supernatural in their art since the beginning of civilization. Why should filmmakers be any different? (Despite the fact that the payscale has a huge impact on the major motion picture and television industry.)

In the film, Superman’s alter-ego Clark Kent returns to his job at The Daily Planet to find that his longtime crush Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has won a Pulitzer for her article, “Why The World Doesn’t Need Superman.” Obviously angry at Superman for leaving without saying goodbye, she tells him on the roof of the Daily Planet that “the world doesn’t need a savior, and neither do I.” Sounds a lot like the culture in which we live, doesn’t it?

Superman’s response? He takes her above the city to a mesmorizing view and asks her, “Do you hear anything?” When she says no, he replies, “I hear everything. You say that the world doesn’t need a savior, but everyday, I hear thousands of people crying out for one.” That line sent chills up my spine.

While I imagine director Bryan Singer (also the director of the first two X-Men films) thought of the line (though perhaps not) as simply good writing in a good superhero story, it’s not hard to see that Holy Spirit was deeply involved in the writing process - whether the writers realized it or not. God has a way of speaking to people and planting questions in the minds of people in ways most people wouldn’t expect - particularly in the arts.

I doubt Superman Returns will win much in the way of Academy Awards - it will probably rack up one or two in costume design or special effects (maybe cinematography) - but it’s worth checking out. And the film leaves us with the question: Does the world need a savior?