We all have unique reasons for loving a film. That's what makes cinema so magical. It's personal. You can love the meat of the movie, or you can love the trimmings.
There's a bunch of good stuff here. Most people my age will refer to "Superman" as THE definitive superhero film. None will ever take it's place. A position no doubt dictated by the age we were when first viewing it. As with films like "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark", WHEN you experience them is just as important as HOW you experience them.
As we age, youth's eyes fade. Cynicism creeps in. Experience leads us to see the many injustices this life offers and we become more critical... less likely to accept that which we would rather believe. After all, an adult who clings to the youthful ideals of wonder is simply naive... right?
To this day, the opening title sequence for "Superman" fills me with the same magical joy it did over twenty years ago. Never was a score so perfectly crafted around a film. John Williams and Richard Donner created such an indelible experience that over 25 yrs later, Bryan Synger will use the same music and theme to bring the magic to a new generation of wondrous eyes.
As for me though, this will always remain the best.
I watched the extended cut. It is long and a little slow but never boring. This doesn't have the same amount of action as superhero movies today does. Christopher Reeve is a good superman. He is charismatic but he does look a little funny in that suit. Gene Hackman is a great villain too. The music is really inspiring. The effects haven't aged the best.
Christopher Reeve was clearly amazing in the Superman role, I get the hype now.
I like the effects of the time; they did their best to make the sci-fi parts believable and it’s a shame the new marvel and DC films favour the digital plasticky looking CGI effects. In Superman you get the real thing plus romance, emotion, comedy. I just thought the villains weren’t credible enough although Gene Hackman was good in this.
Despite the criticism he seems to get at times, I've always liked Superman; his earnest goodness and clean-cut image have always appealed to me. After watching this, I can see why some people will only accept Christopher Reeve in the role; he did an amazing job. This was one of the earliest superhero movies, and it stands the test of time very well; despite the dated special effects, the story, performances, and sets drew me in. It's a shame this franchise eventually got ruined; from what I've heard, though the sequel to this flick was great, the third and fourth outings were such garbage, Superman Returns completely ignored their existence. Unfortunately, even back in the '70's, movie makers felt the need to add some unnecessary bits; in this case, it was several profanities and occasional crude references. I can see why the extended edition--aka the version I watched--was "PG-13" by modern standards. Still, those only slightly detract from what continues to be considered a true classic...and likely will be for many years to come.
The superhero film by which all those that followed are measured and rightly so. It is also no surprise that introducing a new Superman in the modern era has proved so difficult with such a perfect origin story already committed to film, as the split opinion over Man of Steel proves. From the opening moments, it is quite clear that this film is supremely confident in its story and characters and that the audience will invest their time in it too - hell, Superman doesn't even appear properly until well over an hour has passed. Pitch perfect casting throughout helps and whilst Reeve earns all the plaudits for his portrayal of Clark Kent and Superman, let's not forget some great work by Jeff East who plays Clark as a teenager. Both imbue Clark and Superman with such humanity and belief in what he represents that the audience is swept along with them. Verisimilitude was Donner's watchword when making the film, but he didn't just convince us that a man could fly, he convinced us that Superman's ideals and belief in humanity were possible and worth fighting for. There is a surprising lack of action sequences, which is worth noting given the clamour for action in the modern franchise and whilst the effects may have dated it really makes little difference as the audience is so invested in the characters. The helicopter rescue still thrills, the missile chase is still exciting and whilst the final resolution from a story point of view is a little cheap, it brings two key moments in Superman's story full circle as he refuses to accept a loss and Reeve's performance here is enough to render such quibbles moot. And then there is William's score...in the film it's enough to bring goosebumps at the mere anticipation of the anthem. Is it any wonder the filmmakers decided they needed a 5 minute opening credit sequence to show it off ? Still the best!!
Wish I could give this an 11.
Mannnnn I had so much fun watching this... dated special effects I dont care it was sooo good.
Best Superman ever... rip Christopher
There's no denying that this movie is a product of its time in terms of story, presentation and effects. But that's not to be meant as a negative, it's just a fact.
But this movie also has something that all modern superhero movies are dearly missing: heart & soul.
Christopher Reeve is Superman. This movie holds up!
For a 40-year-old movie, it doesn't look like it's having a midlife crisis. ;) Reeve played great his roles and Donner showed it well. A classic of superhero cinema.
I remember seeing this one for the first time in a Superman marathon on TV back when I was just a kid growing up in the late 80s through the 90s. I've always been familiar with the cartoon and comics prior, and after seeing the films I became even more a fan of the characters within the universe. Christopher Reeve was a fresh face and was perfect for the role of the hero. Most importantly, Superman's costume design matches how it looks in the action comics, simple and brightly colored, and his hair has the signature (what I like to call) S bang. What I like about this film is the way they portrayed Clark's love interest with Lois, and the date scene with the two is just so tender, dreamy, and heart-warming, with just a tiny bit of comedy. He's very loyal, honest, and would do anything for her. With majestic music score by John Williams, state of the art visual effects (at the time), and among the biggest budget film (at the time), remains a staple of superhero films for later generations to come. Thanks to Richard Donner for his vision. It was followed by 3 sequels.
I've loved this movie since seeing it as a kid,it's sad to hear that Margot Kidder passed away,she can be with her Superman now Christopher Reeve....
Sue me but I prefer what Richard Donnor did with Superman over what Zack Snyder is doing with Superman. I prefer my Superman films whimsical over dark and dreary.
i understand why people not very like it.for me everything just fine except for costume.
Superman is undoubtedly one of the best classic superhero films ever made. Its timeless charm, compelling storyline, and Christopher Reeve's iconic portrayal of the Man of Steel set a high bar for superhero cinema. The film's blend of action, heart, and adventure is a perfect homage to the comic book hero, making it much better than many of the newer versions of the franchise. With its uplifting spirit and unforgettable moments, Superman remains a beloved favorite that continues to define what a superhero film should be.
Perfect recreation of the classic comic book character.
I never cared for this movie as a kid so I feel no nostalgia for it. Watching it now as an adult and I enjoyed it. But the goofy humor in the scenes with Lex feels feels like more dated than the visual effects. The first act is the best.
Anomalous superhero movie, very different to what Marvel and others got us used to it today. Way better than contemporary iterations in terms of acting, cinematography, and especially the excellent and memorable soundtrack. The plot is really simplistic however, scientifically improbable even when Superman is not involved, and with some E.T.-like childish scenes which could have been avoided.
Theme- 8/10
Rewatchibility- 7/10
Acting- 9.5/10
Kinematography- 6.5/10
Time- 4.5/10
Total - 35.5/5 = 7.1
Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can watch Superman the Movie and unlock the secrets of the universe. In 1978 Richard Donner set forth to make history with Superman. The biggest credit towards this movie should be Lynn Stalmaster, the casting director who pushed for unknown Christopher Reeve for the titular role when no one else saw it. Also, a fun fact David Prowse trained Reeve to pack on muscle for the role (Vader trained Superman!). Reeve plays both roles perfectly, and nearly 50 years later he is still the bar. The rest of the cast are great as well, Hackman and Kidder especially. The SFX are good for their time though I believe they went further than they needed to. The plot's a bit goofy and ridiculous in the third act which is a weird clunky tonal shift. The runtime is my biggest problem in the movie. I know they paid Brando a lot to play Jor-El, but to spend nearly an hour with him phoning it in on "Krypten", as he liked to call it, is just too much for me. Regardless, it is a fun movie.
Superman is brought to the silver screen by Richard Donner in a groundbreaking film that gave birth to the modern superhero genre. Starring Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, and Margot Kidder, the film is well-cast and full of excellent performances. The story follows the origin of Superman, from his escape from a dying world as a child to his emergence as a superhero. However, Donner’s vision is too ambitious, and his directing isn’t able to keep up with the scope and depth of the story. There are also some script issues that add to the problems in pacing and character development. John Williams however, has crafted a powerful and brilliant score that ranks among the greatest of his career. While it doesn’t quite come together that well, Superman is a landmark film that changed science fiction/fantasy cinema.
It occurred to me while watching the opening credits that, at the time this first hit theaters, Action Comics #1 was forty years old. Today, that landmark is right around the corner for this film, and that led me to wonder if it had as much to do with shaping my generation's snapshot of the Man of Steel as the original issues did my grandparents'.
The world has changed in a lot of ways since the late seventies, particularly in its fashion sense - many civilians' getups are just as outlandish as Superman's - but despite his squeaky clean image and dated morals, there's still something familiar and relevant about this rendition of the big blue boy scout. He's naïve to a fault, but there's no questioning his motivations and it's still refreshing to see a nice guy who doesn't finish last.
Christopher Reeve is responsible for the majority of what works, and he buys into the role so completely that it's no surprise he'd be associated with the character for the rest of his life. Gene Hackman is disappointing in his first turn as Lex Luthor, but the rest of the supporting cast is spot-on and the script is impressive given its age. Although the much-maligned ending sequence is a total disaster, the rest of the story does a very good job of balancing a mature, serious tone with the lighter dalliances into fantasy that go hand-in-hand with the character.
The Five Emojis of Superman
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You know from that awesome title sequence and the majestic and iconic John Williams score that Superman was the big superhero movie of its era; the MCU spectacle of the Star Wars generation.
The typical John Williams film score perfectly captures the tone of the film and the emotional layers present throughout. It makes several moments truly magical and helps make this film stand out among its piers.
There's a proper back story with an ominous, almost theatrical atmosphere expertly held together by Marlon Brando's criminally underused Jor-El. We then see the young Clark Kent discover his abilities in a string of colorful scenes, changing the tone of the film significantly.
That first act is a truly harrowing and creative piece of comic book science fiction - the rest of the movie feels more ordinary in comparison.
The Martha and Jonathan of this version remind me a lot of May and Ben parker of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films; warm, caring and loving. They are the ultimate foster parients of the generation.
While much of Superman is grounded in emotional reality and majestic heroism, it stays true to to its colorful comic book origins from the skin tight suit to Superman showing off his amazing powers.
Surpringsly creative and vivid cinematography by the late Geoffrey Unsworth. It expertly hides some of the limitations of the visual effects and keeps the film alive even during its quieter moments.
Christopher Reeve is as iconic as Superman as Michael Keaton as Batman or Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. He is equally perfect as the goofy, yet charming Clark Kent and the seemingly unbeatable and sassy Superman.
I just have to love the energetic performance by Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, a fearless career-oriented woman who isn't afraid to throw herself into challenging situations. She is a perfect role model for the women of her era. Kidder also has a beautiful chemistry with Reeve, particularly during the rooftop interview scene and the legendary flying sequence.
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The visual side of the movie looks silly at times (such as the weird reflective costumes on Krypton), but thanks to insanse creativity and practical solutions most visual effects, sets and costumes still look convincingly good. The best visual effects and sets still look breathtakingly beautiful.
In an unusual move, at least by today's standards, the script puts a whole lot of focus on backstory and character development during its first hour. Superman, Lex Luthor and Lois Lane haven't even been introduced yet by that point. After this the film moves onto yet another origin story, this time setting up the villain and the Clark-Lois relationship.
Gene Hackman takes an iconic turn as arch enemy Lex Luthor and makes an all-around convincing perfromance in a very stereotypical villain role, pulled straight from a Bond movie. It's a shame really, because the character leaves a lot of room to experiment with.
The climax is hectic and high on adrenaline but it's also borderline unrealistic in a way that almost ruins the mundane atmosphere present throughout the rest of the film. The final solution also kind of ruins the tension and thrill of the the final act.
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The film spends so much time developing its characters and advertising the awesomeness of Supeman that the story forgets to develop a proper conflict or feature a deeper purpose. When it's time to wrap things up the script is forced to rush through things.
Luthor's two sidekicks are just as annoying and stupid as his nonsensical plot to kill Superman and commit the crime of the century with no apparent reason.
Luthor's masterplan not only lacks a motive, but its preparation goes from nothing to code red in a breeze, which furthers its nonsensical nature.
The age old problem with Superman is apparent in this movie as well; due to Superman's godlike powers nothing is really a challenge and everything is solved with speed, brawn and agility.
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The Final Emoji: :smiley:
I liked this movie as a kid but really...superman has the power to stop the earths rotation and reverse time?!?! Lol.
Shout by FauxLiegeBlockedParent2015-04-28T16:13:05Z
Special effects might look dated, but still fun to watch.