This movie differs from the other comic book movies we've seen the past six years or so because it is a sequel from movies released in the late 70's and early 80's. Based on those movies we saw how the world was with and without Superman. Because this movie is a continuation of I & II, then we have to include those stories in with this one. We saw how the public fell in love with him in Superman I and how they felt betrayed and lost when he "disappeared" in Superman II.
Besides, I still fall back on the whole story being mostly about Superman and Lois. I felt that Lois' feelings reflected that of everyone else's. She felt abandoned/the world felt abandoned, but she continued on with her life when he left just as everyone else did. When Superman returned, no matter how betrayed or angry Lois might have felt, the feelings of adoration and hope returned with him and the same with the general public.
It appeared to me that Singer wanted to focus on the Superman and Lois relationship to humanize him a bit more to the audience. That's where he felt his money could be made with the audience so they could relate just a bit more to him instead of seeing him as this indestructible, mythic figure.
I think getting into a storyline about what the world's reaction was to Superman's departure and his return would've added on too much fluff for the average movie-goer and turned them off to a movie that was already at a 2:40 running time.
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