Superman: The Movie

Superman: The Movie

See also:
Superman II (Uncle Cliff)
Superman Returns (Uncle Cliff)
Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman (Uncle Cliff)

Yup, this film is deeply flaw-ridden and goofy as hell at times, but there’s something undeniably magical about it. Firstly, it can be regarded alongside Jurassic Park, Terminator 2 and the Star Wars films as films that set a new benchmark for special effects (even if they haven’t exactly retained their sheen). Will you believe a man can fly? Probably not, but it still thrilled me as a kid, and looks pretty damn cool for its time. Secondly, it’s Superman. It’s an icon brought to life in a somewhat epic fashion. For all its missteps it is still, in my opinion, one of the best comic book adaptations in existence (although, let’s be honest, the competition is pretty fucking limp). Thirdly, Christopher Reeve. Even if you didn’t find the man’s plight touching or inspiring (heartless fuck!), his accident has undoubtedly given this film a new layer, even if to you it’s only one of slight irony (in the Alanis meaning of the word).

But let’s forget the historical and sentimental significance for a moment.

Starting off on Krypton is a cool idea, but I remember as a kid always turning on the tele half an hour late cuz that shit bored the fuck out of me. Then there’s Gene Hackman, who as comical as he is, stubbornly refused to play Lex Luthor bald except for a single scene. What a tool. And even as a kid I thought the part where Superman spins the world backwards to reverse time and save Lois was one of the stupidest things ever thought up. How are you meant to take anything after this seriously when in the back of your head you are always like ‘Oh well, if he screws up here he can always just reverse time and try again.’

It’s obvious to say Christopher Reeve is pretty great as Superman/Clark Kent, since his was the performance imprinted on my young mind, to which all others would inevitably be compared to, but I still think he’s great. Superman in the comics and cartoons bores me. He’s too goody-goody, too invincible, too righteous. In this movie he may not have been given a Batman like darkness, or even the dramatic weight of isolation that he gets in Superman Returns, but in Reeve he is made flesh and blood, and something about the absurd blue-and-red costume absolutely mesmerises me every time he appears. I know this is not a great film, but I don’t care. When that theme gets pumping and he starts flying I’m a little kid again, and all my critical faculties vacate me.