Superman (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Superman' (based on the comic book from 1938, directed by Richard Donner, & adapted by 4 writers, including Mario Puzo) was a big critical & box office hit back in 1978 and, it is considered the grand-daddy of superhero flicks; the very genre that now clogs up today's movie screens in the 2020s. It is viewed, by many, as the best superhero movie of all-time and, I can certainly understand why people feel that way. The film opens in deep space, where the faraway planet Krypton is destroyed when it is pulled into the sun. Just before the catastrophe, respected elder Jor-El (Marlon Brando), with support from his wife, Lara (Susannah York), sends his infant son Kal-El in a small spacecraft to the much less evolved distant planet, Earth.
The trip takes years, during which Kal-El absorbs subliminal teachings. Once on Earth, the sun will grant Kal-El, Krypton's only remaining being, superpowers that he can & will use as a force for doing good. Once he crash-lands on Earth {in Kansas}, he is adopted by the Kents (Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter), who raise him with love. We follow Clark through his nerdy school years & see his discovery of his vast powers {X-ray vision, superhuman strength & speed, an ability to fly, etc.} put to the test. After his kindly adopted father dies of a heart attack, Clark goes on a journey to the arctic to find himself. There, in an ice Fortress of Solitude, he finds & listens to recorded messages from his real father; learning all about both Krypton & Earth.
After emerging from the fortress AS Superman (now Christopher Reeve), he heads to the city of Metropolis. An eventual arch enemy to Superman comes in the form of ruthless real-estate developer Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) who, aided by his sidekick, Otis (Ned Beatty) & his girlfriend, Eve (Valerie Perrine), hatches a plan that will make him the richest person in the world. By detonating missiles in the San Andreas Fault, Lex Luthor will cause California to sink into the sea; allowing his nearby Nevada desert property to then be the most valuable real estate spot in the world.
His only obstacle: noble Superman. So while Luthor maniacally schemes, Superman - using his secret identity as mild-mannered Clark Kent - begins working as a reporter for Metropolis' newspaper, The Daily Planet. Meanwhile, Clark crushes on co-worker, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Unfortunately for Clark ... she only has eyes for Superman; who had rescued her during one of his crime fighting sprees. Lois is so blinded by her love for Superman that she doesn't realize that he looks exactly like Clark; albeit without the huge glasses. Action plays out as Superman & Lex Luthor battle it out in a save-the-planet scenario. Can truth & justice prevail?
The climax - which ignores relaity in ways only a superhero-inspired movie can get away with - is great on several levels. 1) It is fun! 2) It shows how deeply Superman cares for Lois. And 3) it represents the moment he chooses both of his father's mandates: Jor-El taught to not interfere with human history, and Mr. Kent instilled in Clark that he came to Earth to make a difference. This movie pays homage to the Superman mythology & lore without ever downplaying Clark's essential humanity; a good balance is achieved, there. 'Superman' was lauded for its action + effectively capturing the essence of its characters & made great $$ back in '78. And its spectacle & grandeur puts it near the top of superhero film lists, in estimation.
I don't think you can accuse Christopher Reeve of being a superb thespian, but here, he perfectly portrays both the nerdy, high-pitched, bumbling Clark AND the strong, near-invincible Man of Steel; he absolutely put his mark on the role forever. Gene Hackman is fun a Hell as the delicious, charismatic, lunatic super villain, Lex Luthor. What he isn't: is scary -- that's the one knock. As written, Luthor is amusing, but not particularly menacing. Marlon Brando brings his enigmatic brand of gravitas to the opening 10-15 minutes. And Margot Kidder makes for an interesting Lois Lane. Not classically beautiful, her ditzy Lois comes across as more real-world believable amid the Clark/Superman love triangle. And her chemistry with Reeve is excellent.
Geoffrey Unsworth's cinematography is enhanced by the state-of-the-art Academy Award-winning special effects. In today's terms, the effects are dated & cheesy, but I think they bring goofy charm & legendary imagery to the proceedings. i.e., watching Superman 'flying' in the air; superimposed on a backdrop, haha. Production designer John Barry goes all-out with some wild sets {the Krypton sequence, the arctic Fortress of Solitude, Metropolis}. And how can ya go wrong with a classic, grandiose music score from John Williams; who was responsible for so many unforgettable movie anthems. This movie isn't perfect; with some suspect plot points & a too-long run time. But with the winning combo of adventure, romance, wit, joys, sorrows, heroes, villains, action, & fiery spirit ... 'Superman' is a quintessential beacon of early superhero movies that knew how to offer good 'ole escapist fun.
The trip takes years, during which Kal-El absorbs subliminal teachings. Once on Earth, the sun will grant Kal-El, Krypton's only remaining being, superpowers that he can & will use as a force for doing good. Once he crash-lands on Earth {in Kansas}, he is adopted by the Kents (Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter), who raise him with love. We follow Clark through his nerdy school years & see his discovery of his vast powers {X-ray vision, superhuman strength & speed, an ability to fly, etc.} put to the test. After his kindly adopted father dies of a heart attack, Clark goes on a journey to the arctic to find himself. There, in an ice Fortress of Solitude, he finds & listens to recorded messages from his real father; learning all about both Krypton & Earth.
After emerging from the fortress AS Superman (now Christopher Reeve), he heads to the city of Metropolis. An eventual arch enemy to Superman comes in the form of ruthless real-estate developer Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) who, aided by his sidekick, Otis (Ned Beatty) & his girlfriend, Eve (Valerie Perrine), hatches a plan that will make him the richest person in the world. By detonating missiles in the San Andreas Fault, Lex Luthor will cause California to sink into the sea; allowing his nearby Nevada desert property to then be the most valuable real estate spot in the world.
His only obstacle: noble Superman. So while Luthor maniacally schemes, Superman - using his secret identity as mild-mannered Clark Kent - begins working as a reporter for Metropolis' newspaper, The Daily Planet. Meanwhile, Clark crushes on co-worker, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Unfortunately for Clark ... she only has eyes for Superman; who had rescued her during one of his crime fighting sprees. Lois is so blinded by her love for Superman that she doesn't realize that he looks exactly like Clark; albeit without the huge glasses. Action plays out as Superman & Lex Luthor battle it out in a save-the-planet scenario. Can truth & justice prevail?
The climax - which ignores relaity in ways only a superhero-inspired movie can get away with - is great on several levels. 1) It is fun! 2) It shows how deeply Superman cares for Lois. And 3) it represents the moment he chooses both of his father's mandates: Jor-El taught to not interfere with human history, and Mr. Kent instilled in Clark that he came to Earth to make a difference. This movie pays homage to the Superman mythology & lore without ever downplaying Clark's essential humanity; a good balance is achieved, there. 'Superman' was lauded for its action + effectively capturing the essence of its characters & made great $$ back in '78. And its spectacle & grandeur puts it near the top of superhero film lists, in estimation.
I don't think you can accuse Christopher Reeve of being a superb thespian, but here, he perfectly portrays both the nerdy, high-pitched, bumbling Clark AND the strong, near-invincible Man of Steel; he absolutely put his mark on the role forever. Gene Hackman is fun a Hell as the delicious, charismatic, lunatic super villain, Lex Luthor. What he isn't: is scary -- that's the one knock. As written, Luthor is amusing, but not particularly menacing. Marlon Brando brings his enigmatic brand of gravitas to the opening 10-15 minutes. And Margot Kidder makes for an interesting Lois Lane. Not classically beautiful, her ditzy Lois comes across as more real-world believable amid the Clark/Superman love triangle. And her chemistry with Reeve is excellent.
Geoffrey Unsworth's cinematography is enhanced by the state-of-the-art Academy Award-winning special effects. In today's terms, the effects are dated & cheesy, but I think they bring goofy charm & legendary imagery to the proceedings. i.e., watching Superman 'flying' in the air; superimposed on a backdrop, haha. Production designer John Barry goes all-out with some wild sets {the Krypton sequence, the arctic Fortress of Solitude, Metropolis}. And how can ya go wrong with a classic, grandiose music score from John Williams; who was responsible for so many unforgettable movie anthems. This movie isn't perfect; with some suspect plot points & a too-long run time. But with the winning combo of adventure, romance, wit, joys, sorrows, heroes, villains, action, & fiery spirit ... 'Superman' is a quintessential beacon of early superhero movies that knew how to offer good 'ole escapist fun.