The sequence with the plane in Superman Returns is probably the most Superman thing ever filmed. I very much enjoyed the movie but felt that connecting it so strongly to the Reeve films was a bad idea, especially since it complicated things by being a sequel to a then 26 year old Superman II while ignoring III and IV. Would have been better to just wink and nod to the Reeve films for the fans.
I think it’s entirely possible to do a tragic Superman story but it has to be earned. Superman has to actually be a big goddamn hero before he falls. And he has to feel bad about it. His greatest enemy has to be his own inability to save everyone. I don’t even read DC comics and I know this. Also, Snyder and fanboys’ obsession with Frank Miller did no favors for Batman v Superman.
