Superman II was released in 1981, and it was a real miracle that it got made all together. There were a lot of problems behind the scenes with the director, Richard Donner, and the producing team of the Salkinds. Donner was fired from the movie and Richard Lester was brought on to complete the project. Lester came from a comedic background while Donner took a more serious tone with Superman. Some of Donner’s footage ended up in the film however. But how is the movie as a whole? Let’s find out.
The film begins with a recap of part one. Then it takes us to the present time and Superman has to prevent a terrorist attack in Paris and of course save Lois Lane. He throws their bomb into space and it sends a wave that breaks General Zod and his crew from being banished into the Phantom Zone. It paid off that these characters were introduced in the first movie so that we as an audience would know who they are. Could this have possibly been an introduction to how cinematic universes were started?
The three villains are known as Zod, Ursa, and Non. Their powers are as equal if not greater than that of Superman’s. But they want to use their powers for evil rather than good. And if that isn’t crazy enough, Superman decides to tell Lois that he and Clark Kent are one in the same. He takes her to the Fortress of Solitude, gives up his powers, and they go all the way literally.
I have to say this movie was a bit more of a mixed bag when I re watched it again for this review. I know that may seem like an unpopular opinion, but it just didn’t leave much of an impression as when I first watched it fifteen years ago. But the pros did outweigh the cons.
First, Christopher Reeve once again does a great job as Superman and Clark Kent. I could tell he was slowly getting into the role and evolving as a character much like the audience was evolving watching him. Terrence Stamp is perfection as General Zod. I like the approach his character was given by not being so over the top. Instead, he shows no sympathy for the damage he and his crew have done to Earth. Also, the action scenes were good despite some of the effects being a little dated. It was nice to see Superman fight someone in a movie at that time.
There are however some parts that make the movie stick out and heavily edited. First, Lex Luthor is back again, and there really is no need for him to be in this movie. He breaks out of jail, goes to the Fortress of Solitude, tries to make a deal with Zod, and that’s it. That is not to say Gene Hackman does a good job once again, it is just there was no need for Lex to be in this movie.
Also, some scenes just make the background characters in this world look stupid. There’s a scene in the movie where Clark and Lois are at Niagara Falls, and there is this kid who is hanging on to the railing trying not to hold onto it. His mother isn’t even paying attention. Like an idiot, he falls and of course Superman saves the day. Then during the big action scene in Metropolis, there is a woman who is trying to use her body as a shield to protect her baby from flying debris. Why she didn’t run away is a mystery to me.
Despite my problems with this movie, I still thought Superman II was an okay movie. I have to say the last part with Superman carrying the American Flag back to the White House made me feel really patriotic. Who would have thought three months after seeing it, the collapse of the World Trade Center would occur. It was one of the first things that popped into my head and comforted me during that tragic day. Always reminds me how the Man of Steel is part of American culture and always be.
The film begins with a recap of part one. Then it takes us to the present time and Superman has to prevent a terrorist attack in Paris and of course save Lois Lane. He throws their bomb into space and it sends a wave that breaks General Zod and his crew from being banished into the Phantom Zone. It paid off that these characters were introduced in the first movie so that we as an audience would know who they are. Could this have possibly been an introduction to how cinematic universes were started?
The three villains are known as Zod, Ursa, and Non. Their powers are as equal if not greater than that of Superman’s. But they want to use their powers for evil rather than good. And if that isn’t crazy enough, Superman decides to tell Lois that he and Clark Kent are one in the same. He takes her to the Fortress of Solitude, gives up his powers, and they go all the way literally.
I have to say this movie was a bit more of a mixed bag when I re watched it again for this review. I know that may seem like an unpopular opinion, but it just didn’t leave much of an impression as when I first watched it fifteen years ago. But the pros did outweigh the cons.
First, Christopher Reeve once again does a great job as Superman and Clark Kent. I could tell he was slowly getting into the role and evolving as a character much like the audience was evolving watching him. Terrence Stamp is perfection as General Zod. I like the approach his character was given by not being so over the top. Instead, he shows no sympathy for the damage he and his crew have done to Earth. Also, the action scenes were good despite some of the effects being a little dated. It was nice to see Superman fight someone in a movie at that time.
There are however some parts that make the movie stick out and heavily edited. First, Lex Luthor is back again, and there really is no need for him to be in this movie. He breaks out of jail, goes to the Fortress of Solitude, tries to make a deal with Zod, and that’s it. That is not to say Gene Hackman does a good job once again, it is just there was no need for Lex to be in this movie.
Also, some scenes just make the background characters in this world look stupid. There’s a scene in the movie where Clark and Lois are at Niagara Falls, and there is this kid who is hanging on to the railing trying not to hold onto it. His mother isn’t even paying attention. Like an idiot, he falls and of course Superman saves the day. Then during the big action scene in Metropolis, there is a woman who is trying to use her body as a shield to protect her baby from flying debris. Why she didn’t run away is a mystery to me.
Despite my problems with this movie, I still thought Superman II was an okay movie. I have to say the last part with Superman carrying the American Flag back to the White House made me feel really patriotic. Who would have thought three months after seeing it, the collapse of the World Trade Center would occur. It was one of the first things that popped into my head and comforted me during that tragic day. Always reminds me how the Man of Steel is part of American culture and always be.
RSS Feed
