Superman - The Movie
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Movie Reviews of Superman - The Movie
Movie Review: Still flying high nearly thirty years later
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been a superhero fan all my life. I've especially loved superheroes in films and television shows. There was just one superhero film I'd never seen - the original superhero film, without which we would have no "Batman Begins", no "X-Men", no "Spider-Man". I needed to see "Superman".
The film begins on the planet of Krypton, where Jor-El (Marlon Brando) sentences three criminals to banishment. Jor-El is aware that Krypton is about to be destroyed, but the Kryptonian elders refuse to believe him. Moments before the planet is destroyed, Jor-El sends his one child, Kal-El, to Earth.
Kal-El's spaceship crashes in Smallville, Kansas, where he is adopted by the loving Kent family (Phyllis Thaxter and Glenn Ford). We flash forward to Kal-El - re-named Clark Kent - in his teenage years (played by Jeff East). After his adopted father's death, Clark travels north, where he discovers the Fortress of Solitude, an enormous ice fortress where the spirit of his deceased father, Jor-El, rests. After conferencing with his father for a long time, Clark Kent (now played by Christopher Reeve) travels to the city of Metropolis to aid humanity.
It's easy to see why this film is such a classic. It's spectacular. Director Richard Donner crafts a well-told, adventurous story that held my attention from beginning to end. Christopher Reeve was an absolutely perfect choice for Superman; the differences between his portrayals of Clark Kent and Superman are truly magnificent. Gene Hackman is at his best as the cheery, maniacal supervillan Lex Luthor, who is aided by an enjoyably foolish Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine as Mrs. Teschmacher. Margot Kidder does a great job of showing how head-over-heels Lois Lane is for Superman. And Marlon Brando is terrific in his nine or so minutes of screen time.
Another high point of the film is John Williams' fantastic score. It's easy to hear why Williams' score is so popular amongst fans of the film. It's everything the soundtrack to a Superman movie should be.
The script, by David & Leslie Newman, Robert Benton, and famous novelist Mario Puzo is, at times, epic. It's well-written, funny, and it never lets up. It also remains quite faithful to the comics which the film is based on.
I'm mightly glad to have finally seen "Superman". It's a fantastic film, still ranking amongst the very best superhero films nearly thirty years later. I can hardly wait for "Superman Returns"!
THE DVD: I don't normally talk about the DVD in my reviews, but I've got to this time. This DVD is spectacular. Along with a bunch of great special features, the film looks amazing - brand new at times! The Surround mix is really super, although the dialogue sounds a little dull and quiet at times. "Superman" fans are in for a major treat!
Movie Review: Buy this for the simple fact of improved sound alone!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a true classic. Incorporating everything audiences have come to love about superhero films, it simply takes you back to a place and time that can be so easily forgotten. After years of viewing films that just seem to miss the mark entirely when transferring a classic comic book hero to the big screen, this movie is the true master of the genre. From the opening credits I was blown away by the improvement of the sounds effects! It's unbelievable hearing this after having listened to my old VHS tape over the last 12 years! Scene after scene has been re-mastered and it's truly something to be appreciated after hearing everything in mono on my old TV and VCR. The scenes of planet Krypton being destroyed by the red sun is breathtaking!
Now onto the added scenes: I was a little confused by previous reviews saying the studio only added 8 minutes of footage. THIS IS NOT TRUE! This disc does have the coveted Superman saves Valerie Perrine scene, it's just not included with the finished movie. Having seen the ABC version of the film years ago, there really isn't anything missing unless I AM missing something. The scenes of Jor El and the counsel is engaging and gives the momentum of the disastrous destruction of Krypton a more emotional feel instead of just seeing a bunch of Kryptonians you don't even know fall into the abyss. One scene I had completely forgotten about, was the scene where they show Lois Lane as a child sitting next her mother on a train watching the teen aged Superman (Clark Kent) running faster than a locomotive. In the original movie, it just shows the girl as a "just a little girl" and not "Lois Lane." That scene is just so cool! I don't know why:) Another scene I completely forgot about was the scene where Clark Kent is standing outside a store watching a TV and the crowd is standing there in disbelief seeing a man fly through Metropolis and a man turns to Clark Kent and says something to the effect of how unbelievable it is and Clark says "It's not so unbelievable." or something like that;) The added scenes are great and effective, I think fans will especially love the scene with Lex Luthor trying to destroy Superman in his lair. Just too cool!
The commentaries are great, very effective and informative. I am not one to listen to the commentaries simply because I love watching "just the movie." But the commentary gives a lot of interesting information to the making of the film that film students would find real interesting. The documentaries are real cool! Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is covered from the genesis to the final completion of the film through three documentaries covering the beginning stages, special effects and the ongoing legacy which is and always will be the greatest super hero movie that all super hero movies are compared to!
Movie Review: This Is My Favorite Movie Of All Time
Summary: 5 Stars
This is, in my opinion, the best film ever made. Period.. OMG! The casting is PERFECT! The direction is PERFECT! The music is PERFECT! The cinematography is PERFECT(Geoffrey Unsworth had to shoot the film in soft focus so that all the cutting edge, state-of-the-art effects would meld together)! The acting is PERFECT! The writing is PERFECT! And as far as the theatrical cut is concerned the editing is PERFECT! This film is just plain magical in every way possible. Maybe you had to be there, well I was, therefore I know what I'm talking about, believe me. I had the Superman poster of him(Christopher Reeve) pointing up at the sky on my bedroom door, o.k.! I had the Superman doll from the movie that came with a Superman t-shirt, o.k.!
This movie was spectacular, realistic and a lot of hard work went into it by numbers of people. The hard work shows, as the result is better than anyone could have imagined.
This film brings to life, in the most PERFECT way possible at the time, the comic book character Superman. The casting of Christopher Reeve couldn't have been more PERFECT! The believable emotion and humanity that he brought to the role is immeasurable. Richard Donner knew what he was doing and it is remarkable that the film turned out as well as it did with the producers he had.
The film covers the origins of Superman up to his first adventure up against his arch nemesis Lex Luthor(brilliantly played by Gene Hackman). He starts his job at the Daily Planet as mild mannered reporter Clark Kent. Is introduced to Lois Lane and Jimmey Olsen by Perry White on his first day. The rest is history. The adventure began and it was wonderful, a glorious debut of a franchise. It also began my love affair with Margot Kidder(as Lois Lane). I so fell in love with her watching this film, and have been ever since. No woman can match up to what Margot is to me, did I forget to mention that she's PERFECT in the film?
I've often wondered what makes "Superman :The Movie" so credible and loved. I think I've figured it out. Any film, with a cameo by such a well known(then) film critic as Rex Reed, has to be good. Between Rex and John Williams' majestic score, Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz' vision, some(for the time) cutting edge effects, and some really great performances it had to be great, and it's even better than that. I just LOVE this film, it makes you feel so good when you watch it, most likely I feel this way for nostalgic reasons, but so be it. Avoid "Superman Returns" at all costs and stick with the REAL Superman, the ONLY Superman, Christopher Reeve. This is the best film based on a comic book EVER!
Movie Review: The hero of Superheros...
Summary: 5 Stars
As we all know, Superman is larger than life. He flies, he lifts battleships, he sees through walls, he protects the innocent. He is a true American hero. Created by immigrants in the early 20th century, Superman has been through countless recreations and revisions. Even today, with the TV show Smallville, we are constantly trying to update and dig deeper into this character, trying to relate to him more, and at the same time idolize him for his ideas and purity. When Richard Donner and the Producers of this movie started working on Superman, they knew bringing this character to the screen would require a great challenge just in the realm of believability. Getting a man to fly would be tough, and getting him to look real was going to be tougher. The amazing thing is, Donner brought him to life in so many other ways as well. Christopher Reeve plays the lead character with heart and purpose. Donner made sure we felt something as this boy becomes a man and then moves on to start saving the world. He does not stand as a chest-forward, pompous powerhouse that puts his ego or well being above anyone else. Reeve is superb as Clark Kent and Superman. No one could ever believe that a man who only wears glasses and slouches could hide the fact that he is the same man who dropped a boat full of bank robbers in front of the police station. But Reeve does it, unbelievably he does it. Donner is a great director, handling films after this such as all four Lethal Weapon movies, Conspiracy Theory and Maverick. He directed most of the second Superman movie, but you can tell someone else took over by the looser handling of the picture. This movie stands out above all the others though. The chemistry between Reeve and Margot Kidder, who plays Lois Lane, is incredible. Both of them have to switch gears in their characters, Reeve obviously between Kent and Superman, and Kidder between the tough reporter and the love sick woman who can't stand to be around Superman without blushing at everything he says. Both performances are pulled off expertly. Gene Hackman is brilliant as Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mind of our time. He portrays Luther as he should, a man of the mind, not a man of violence. This is why Luthor is Superman's arch enemy, he is brilliant. Superman on the other hand, although smart, cannot be stopped by physical means, but cannot stop Luthor if on some levels he chooses to use tactics that are too far reaching, as he does in this movie. The extra disk is full of good stuff, great behind the scenes documentaries and interviews. This DVD is highly recommended.Movie Review: A Unforgettable Comic Classic Adaption
Summary: 5 Stars
Superman is one the greatest comic book adaptions to date and now 23 years later it still is not mention this great DVD to. As the film opens we see Jor-El (Marlon Brando) banish three Kryptonite criminals out of Krypton because of what they did to endanger. Then a couple of new scenes are restored revolving the decision of the council to decide what penality Jor-El should face. Jor-El decides he must send Kal-El his only son to earth, and he does. After that the Krypton sun approaches Krypton even more and the planet expldes. When the small star like vessel is traveling he happens to pass by the Kryptonite criminals in the glass spining off (we'll see them again Superman II). He crash lands on earth somewhere in Kansas and is adopted by childless couple who offer him much love even though they knew his powers. He is raised as Clark Kent shy, dosen't talk to much, and dosen't have many friends. After his adoptive father dies he discovers the green crystal in the farm from which he Jor-El sent along with discovers he must leave and find out who he really is. He heads of somewhere cold and throws the crystal far out and somehow the crystals start to build and becomes what is known as Fortress of Soltitude. He discover's his real father and the his birth place as well. Soon enough the second half is what you'll never forgot. The much older Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) works at The Daily Planet and meets Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) his love interest. Whenever Superman reveals himself to the public he's a superhero and quite unbelievable. But he meets his most unforgettable foe to Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman). Its up to Superman to stop the madman and saves the people he cares about. This movie is Unforgettable never without the doubt Christopher Reeve made us believe Superman can fly, he make a perfect resemblance to Superman, and his acting is quite excellent he was made for this roll. Gene Hackman is great as the sadistic criminal mastermind Lex Luthor a performance sure to please. Thumbs up as well for Margot Kidder as Lois Lane she is quite the actress for her role. Marlon Brando's role as Jor-El was short but none the less he was great in the character. The DVD is marvelous its in Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1 the way it should be the picture is best watched when your in the dark you can see the bright color off of Superman's uniform. The sound is magnificent in 5.1 Surround espically the credits its awesome and truly unforgettable as well. Superman will always be remembered as A Unforgettable Classic and not to mention the DVD.Buy it!! You will always remember this movie.