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 Just as the character of Superman's arrival in the 1930s changed the face of comic books forever, Christopher Reeve in the titular role in 1978's Superman, set a new standard for comic-based movies. The story involves the standard plot of Superman battling evil and also stars Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper and Valerie Perrine.
In earlier films the attitude towards depicting superheroes onscreen was very much on the hokey side; one only has to look at any episode of the old Batman TV show for evidence of this. Superman proved to viewers that a superhero movie could be about more than just showing amazing feats of derring-do. Characters could also possess a soul and essence that truly helped them jump off of the printed page. The popular Man of Steel is no exception.
Most everyone is familiar with the basics of Superman lore. Born on the
Marlon Brandon
planet Krypton, little Kal-El was sent off to build a new life on Earth by his father (Marlon Brando) mere moments before the entire planet perished for good. Discovered and taken in by the kindly Kent family, Kal-El attempts to lead as normal of an existence as a boy with burgeoning superpowers could. But the time comes when Kal-El hears a calling from his home world, establishing a fortress of solitude in the Arctic where he tames and develops his fantastic abilities, eventually emerging before the world as the defender of truth, justice, and the American way that we all know as Superman.
As the Man of Steel attempts to adjust to life as nerdy reporter Clark
Margot Kidder &
Christopher Reeve
Kent, and awkwardly romance the spunky Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), he finds his powers put to the test. He must race against time to stop the latest nefarious scheme of criminal mastermind Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman).
Superhero movies have been dominating the box office in the last few years, and I think all of them owe a little bit of their success to Superman. Not only did it establish the "origin" formula that most such flicks follow (as opposed to plunking viewers down in the middle of the action), its storytelling opened the doors for comic characters to be explored deeper than before.
The most vital aspect of Superman is that Superman himself isn't depicted as a flawless do-gooder. As both a gawky teen and an even nerdier adult, Superman struggles with the idea of being alone in the world, living amongst human beings but, thanks to his powers, never fully becoming one of them. His eagerness to put his abilities to use and try to take on all the world's problems by himself lead our hero into a number of scrapes he has to find a way out of. But more importantly, the makers of Superman manage to combine this introspective look at ol' Supes almost perfectly with a blockbuster mentality.
Director Richard Donner realizes the opportunity to create a hybrid of spectacle and thoughtful storytelling and seizes it, sparing no expense in creating as well-rounded of an experience as possible. Matching more tender scenes such as when Superman takes Lois on an aerial tour of Metropolis, are exhilarating sequences in which Superman shows off what he's got. From rescuing Lois from a falling helicopter to averting various disasters when the San Andreas Fault becomes the target of Lex's evil plans, we're glued.
For their time, the effects are pretty solid, although it's Christopher Reeve's iconic performance, not just as the dedicated Superman but also as the clumsy Clark Kent, that really hammers the movie home. Fine performances are also pitched in by Brando and Hackman, who plays a less sinister Lex Luthor than Kevin Spacey did in 2006's Superman Returns. Kidder bestows the role of Lois with just the right amount of charm.
Superman isn't without its share of hang-ups. Some of the story's comedy feels incredibly misplaced, and as cool as the climactic twist sounds in concept, it feels like a mighty big cop-out, even in Superman's universe. But as far as superhero movies go, they hardly get any more enriching, exciting, or entertaining as this one.
Director: Richard Donner
Writers: Mario Puzo and David Newman & Leslie Newman and Robert Benton (story by Mario Puzo)
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Valerie Perrine
Rating: PG (fantasy violence)
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Run Time: 151 minutes (restored version)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Format: Color, widescreen
Photo credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
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