Rakesh's movie talk
Superman (1978)













Home | Movie Reviews | Movie talk | Film Personalities | Misc Articles | Contact Me | Tamil Time





Directed by Richard Donner
Written by Mario Puzo, Robert Benton and David & Leslie Newman
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder
















superman.jpg
OK! Which wise guy said I have a good life?

I have seen the Superman movies, the first two in succession and the third after a deep contemplation, the reason will be explained soon.


Everyone knows this movie. Everyone must have seen it at least once in their lifetime, unless you cyrogenically frozen and the first thing you see when you wake up and see is this comment. Git-outta-here!


As a boy, this movie was a dream. I like cartoons and comics, naturally enough for a child, and watching a live-action version of them is a joy. Dammit, I even enjoyed the crappy TV movie of Captain America - where the dude wears a motorbike helmet instead of mask. How about the seventies TV series Spider-Man. I liked it, man, but am praying that I won't accidentally chance into it now. Especially after seeing the big screen version.


This is one movie I had watched countless number of times on TV and know all the scene by heart. All unforgettable, like the scene in the planet Krypton, where papa Jor-El (played by Brando, yesss) sends of baby Kal-El, the scene when the crystal towers that make up a version of Krypton on earth grow from the snow. And we see how the teen Clark Kent comes out of it (flies) and becomes the Superman we all loved. Those feats; running faster than a train and catching a bullet. And much, much more.


It is an 'origin' movie and comic fans will know what I am talking about. It traces Superman from his birth to his present self. He is given the best bad guy, Lex Luthor, played with a lot of fun by Gene Hackman. He is also given Lois Lane, and, surprisingly for me, the romance aspect between these two gave a lot of heart to the movie, which makes it very special.


And who can forget Christopher Reeves performance as both Clark Kent and Superman. It became the definitive portrayal like Connery's James Bond. I hear they are still attempting to updated version of Superman, and boy the new actor will have a tough time measuring up to Reeves' Supes. One moment, he is the mild mannered, inferiority-complexed news reporter; the next moment the confident, friendly and strong Superman. He is good, really good.


Of course, it would be unfair if I leave out John Williams. This guy just keeps on doing it, doesn't he? He keeps on creating identifiable theme in some of the greatest movie to come out of Hollywood since the seventies. Seventies alone belongs to him, musically. Can you remember the theme for Jaws, Star Wars and Superman? You would. And goddamit, he is still cranking out brilliant stuff. Long live Williams.


99 percent of critics and fan would confirm that this is the best realisation of comic book character on screen. I am amongst the one per-centers. Not that I deny it, but I would like to put Batman Returns with this movie as the best comic book character movies.


You got to see it to experience it. I can justify them in words in this commentary. I would just like to warn you that the flying effects may not look that good now. You know that there is blue screen at the back. But once you get past it, you will love it.

Some interesting news about this movie:

- Reeve was unknown and had to pump up to fit into the red and blues tights. You know who else were considered for the role? Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Warren Beatty and Robert Redford. Beatty even did the 'method' thing by wearing the costume and walking around the pool at his home. Oh, the horror!

- Brando's 15 minute appearance earned him $4 million. Not only that it was his name that was flashed first in the credit. Heh-heh! Good ol' Brando.

- The movie is supposed to be a back to back feature with Superman II. There are plenty of stuffs unresolved in this film. Some of it was even shot by the director Richard Donner, who left after some differences with the producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Richard Lester took over for the second film which was released almost four years later.
















Check out my comments on other Superman movies:

Superman II (1980)
Superman III (1983)
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)