Superman - The Movie
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Movie Reviews of Superman - The Movie
Movie Review: One of the Best DVD's ever!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
For a film made in 1978, this movie looks brand new on DVD, I was really impressed, this is by far the best comic-book adaption ever, director Richard Donner really brought human emotion to th character of Superman, the film begins on Krypton where three villians are cast into space for crimes(villians of "Superman II), Marlon Brando stars as Jor-El,a scientist who knows Krypton's fate is at hand, knowing this he dispatches his son to outer space for his journey to earth just before Krypton's destruction, once there his son Ka-el is found by a childless couple who take him as their own, the film the proceeds with Ka-el better known as Clark Kent as a teenager who discovers he has unlimited powers, after his adopted father dies, he is lured into the family barn where a mystical crystal has called to him, a crystal that echoes his roots, he soon leaves & delivers it to an isolated area in an iced region, where it builds his fortress & where he discovers his true identity, the film soon takes us to Metropolis where Kent is a reporter, we soon meet Lex Luthor(Gene Hackman) who has a plan for California that involves earthquakes, a freak accident involving Lois Lane brings out the hero in Clark Kent where Superman is revealed for the first time, aware of his existence Luthor attempts to destroy Superman so he can proceed with his plan, but his plan fails, & soon after Superman is chasing missles that Luthor has rigged to hit California, the missle chase is awesome where you see determination in Reeve's eyes, who does a wonderful job as Superman, the earthquake in California is intense as Superman attempts to stop its destruction, this was a well made film that had a very good sequel & is one of the best DVD's around, with added scenes such as Luthor's lair that Reeve enters, as he tries to take out Superman with machine guns, fire, & snow & ice, which have no effect, a great scene that is somewhat comical, the best Superman period!!!Movie Review: Super entertainment!
Summary: 5 Stars
The late 70s and early 80s was such a fantastic time to be a kid at the movies - the experience of seeing of "Star Wars", "Close Encounters", "E.T." and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on the big screen was exciting beyond words. For me, though, one movie from that period stands a head and (broad) shoulders above the rest: Richard Donner's "Superman: The Movie".Warner Brothers deserves applause for their TLC lavished on this previously-neglected classic. Begone with the murky, faded pan & scan abominations - we now have a pristine, colorful transfer that finally restores Geoffrey Unsworth's gorgeous widescreen cinematography. And if that wasn't enough, we also have 9 extra minutes of (quality) footage, trailers, deleted scenes, screen tests (yeah!) and three new documentaries to boot.
And for Superman fans like me, the documentaries and screen tests are a treasure to behold. Thank God for Richard Donner - it's scary to think what "Superman: The Movie" could've been without his reverent, loving vision of the comic-book legend. The new interviews with Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder are insightful and often hilarious... Ms. Kidder, in particular, is a delight. It's impossible to imagine anyone else as the Daily Planet's intrepid reporter. Three cheers to Lynn Stalmaster for his dead-on casting!
Although it would've been nice to see a special edition of "Superman II" as a companion, I certainly won't complain. I'm just happy that 20+ years later, "Superman: The Movie" is just as entertaining as it was the first time I saw it in theaters. From the destruction of Krypton, to the famous helicopter rescue, to the earthquake-disaster climax, "Superman" is a marvelous piece of cinema (and American pop culture, for that matter). I don't think I'll ever outgrow it. Add "Superman: The Movie" to your DVD collection today!!
Movie Review: Someone to love
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the late seventies, it was very easy to be derisive of Superman. Brando's outlandish fee, the sledgehammer marketing and the film's own pompousness- not least in delaying the appearance of its title character for a whole hour- made it stick in the craw for many people. But for children, innocent of such things, it was a tremendous, uplifting experience. I remember leaving the cinema and instantly punching the air in the full belief that I too could streak into the sky. And I know I'm not the only one.
Seeing the film now, it's possible to make sense of both responses. Now that it has dated badly, its commercial exigencies are all too apparent, and more than once come close to knackering the narrative (see any scene with Brando in it).
However, the film is still bursting with charm. The cornfield Smallville sequence and yappy Metropolis are extremely well realised, and take life from a raft of quality performances.
Central is the casting masterstroke of Christopher Reeve, whose sensitive reading of the role is about as perfectly judged as they get. His Clark Kent is a klutzy fish out of water, but it's the way he lets that vulnerability seep into his Man of Steel that makes it a performance to cherish. The effect is this: Superman has the looks and powers of a god, but he's also an outsider who just wants to be loved.
Honours also go to John Williams for one of his most inspired scores, one that fully justifies its lengthy showcase during the bombastic title sequence.
The new release is excellent, with a much-improved soundtrack and supplementary materials that enrich the experience rather than just prolong it. Like the best DVDs, the documentaries and lively commentary provide an illuminating insight into the passions and struggles involved in making films, and recommend it as an essential buy, not only for fans of this film, but for everybody who loves the movies.
Movie Review: 'Superman' on DVD...THE one to buy!
Summary: 5 Stars
At last, Superman is presented the way it was meant to be! The master print for the 1978 classic had deteriorated so badly that the film, particularly the white-on-white Krypton opening scenes, was almost unwatchable. (I had even gone so far as to write a critique on Amazon.com demanding a 'Director's Cut' DVD edition, digitally transferred and remastered, be made!)Somebody was listening! While this isn't a 'Director's Cut' (Donner has said that the version that premiered in 1978 was the version he preferred), the movie has been expanded, to include a couple of brief scenes with Brando, and the famous Superman Gauntlet sequence at Luthor's underground lair (the remaining unused sequences can be seen in the 'Deleted Scenes' Chapter, on Side 2).
Technically, the DVD is fabulous; the Krypton sequences are now clean and sharp, a couple of shots where, previously, color balancing problems had turned Superman's costume green have been corrected, and, best of all, the soundtrack has been digitally remastered and sounds even better than it did in 1978!
Three fabulous documentaries are included on Side 2 about the making of the film, and how the flying effects were achieved. This was an incredibly expensive and difficult film to make (so much so that Donner, after 'Superman' was released to rave reviews, was fired, and replaced by Richard Lester, for 'Superman 2'), and through interviews with Donner, Christopher Reeve (who is honored for his work in the film, and his courage since his crippling accident), Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, and several of the creative team, you can appreciate what a unique and wonderful film this is!
Two other 'pluses'; a full-length audio commentary track with Richard Donner, and a 'music only' option, where you can admire one of composer John Williams' greatest scores!
This Special Edition DVD should be an essential part of any film lover's collection!
Movie Review: 23 Years Later, You'll Still Believe A Man Can Fly...
Summary: 5 Stars
The moment you hear John Williams opening score, you'll be engrossed in this film. Arguably, SUPERMAN is the greatest superhero movie ever made (and coincidentally the first movie I ever saw), and definitely one of the last epics to ever hit the silver screen. Making people take Superman seriously is the hardest task anyone making a comic-related film has ever encountered. However, director Richard Donner succeeded where eveyone else would've failed by taking the road less travelled, and focused on the mythos of the Last Son of Krypton, and all the empathic human emotions contained within. Consequently, he set the standard by which all comic-related movies were to be judged for the next 23 years (and beyond)!Few recognize, however, that the movie itself helped force the special effects genre into overdrive. Before SUPERMAN, no one had attempted to truly integrate blue screen effects (even Lucas)with traditional prop special effects. More importantly, they had never dared to do blue screen in daylight images (due to the black outline and unsteady color caused by the film of the time). Most importantly, utilizing a person in these images meant movement, something space ships didn't offer up as a problem. By the time SUPERMAN II came along, the challenges were even greater, including creating an entire city street to destroy!
From beginning to end, SUPERMAN is a legendary fantasy-epic, wherein the Man of Steel ultimately turns his back upon the knowledge of his ancestors in order to save the life of his love, Lois Lane, by turning back time. Created in an age of art & innocence, SUPERMAN ignores the depressing scientific jargon-babble of today's trekky movies, and refuses to drag you down with over-complicated premises. Instead, it engages you in a fairy tale come to life (more fantasy than sci-fi). Simply put: SUPERMAN may very well be the most FUN movie of all time.