Superman: The Movie – Review

Viewing superhero movies of the past with today’s standards is not the ticket for best enjoyment and may lead to them appearing massively hokey. Instead, take them as a product of their time and reflections of an older point in cultural history.

Open curtain. Roll sound. Hit the projector. Enter Action Comics. The newspaper The Daily Planet has a stellar reputation for truth and takes it upon itself to be a beacon of hope for Metropolis. And in the skies above…

Superman: The Movie opens with a roar of whooshing credits and a classic John Williams composition to set the mood. Despite being from the late 70s, this effect still works today. But how is the story?

A grand crystal fortress on a far alien planet Krypton holds a domed building full of arguing elders, with Jor-El (Brando) asking them to pronounce judgement on violent criminals General Zod (Stamp), Ursa and Non.

The votes are guilty, with Jor-El having to cast the final strike. Zod vows revenge on him one day, and on his heirs. The sentencing forces the trio of villains into the negative zone, or in this case, a mirror like thingy that flies through space. They will definitely not be seen again. For sure. Ever. Bet on it.

Jor-El goes back to work at the council trying to warn them that they need to evacuate their dying planet immediately, which will explode imminently, and likely within 30 days. The glowing tin foil they wear will not save them. The council doesn’t do shit. Instead, they warn Jor-El not to start anything that will be considered insurrection.

Jor-El is like, “man, these people suck, we are all going to die and these bickering idiots don’t believe what is happening before their very eyes.” So, he stuffs his small child in a rocket and blasts him the fuck off into space, aimed at some shit hole primitive backwater planet years behind Krypton’s advanced technologies and attitudes.

The child will fit in, look like them, but his dense molecular structure will make him fast, and virtually invulnerable. Jor-El’s wife Lara worries he will be alone, odd, different, isolated. Jor-El says no, he will not be alone, and hooks him up with a Kryptonian crystal, holdings all sorts of information and messages for their child.

Then off goes the baby on a shuttle as the planet goes boom behind him, and it zooms along towards Earth and a new life. A classic origin. As the child is projected through space, he is basted by the words of his father and the principles of Krypton. Hopefully he will turn out as a beacon of hope for humanity, provided he doesn’t eat any kryptonite.

Christopher Reeves was the man, and plays the dual role Clark/Superman part very well. He does a great bumbling haphazard clown shoes Clark Kent, which people may actually have a tough time seeing through, despite Superman looking virtually identical. Oh, Gee Golly, I must have fainted!

Margot Kidder's Lois Lane proves it’s good to be hot, cause then you can be a bit of a rude ass and still have an alien fall in love with you and save your life repeatedly. The all-star cast bring their A-Game mostly, and the story is serviceable even if not all the humor lands. It is definitely a 70s flick for better or for worse.

This was the most expensive movie ever made at the time of release, and was the first time the hero hit the big screen in motion picture format. The movie is a bit long and has some slowish pacing, but there are some good lines and moments and overall, it is an enjoyable ride as well as a nice piece of Superman history.