This morning the 1978 version of Superman arrived through my letter box (obviously I was aware it was coming, it didn’t come unexpectedly). It stars the late Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent and Gene Hackman as his enemy Lex Luthor. If you don’t know the story of Superman you have lived a very sheltered life and need to go research it on wikipedia.
Being a film student (of 3 years) you’d think I would’ve seen this film at least once, but no like Seven a couple of days ago watching Superman today was a new experience for me. As everybody knows Superman is undoubtedly the biggest super hero of all time and is in the biggest comic book of all time. There are two TV Series I can think of (Smallville and The New Adventures of Superman) both about Superman.
When you watch the 1978 version of Superman you have to put into context that when it was released there had really been no other big superhero film. Also the visual effects and techniques so that Superman could fly had not been tried before. So although it can look a little bit amateurish compared to today’s high standards it still is pretty impressive.
The film has just about everything a great blockbuster would need: a villain, a love interest and of course someone we can idolise (Superman). Whilst I’m more of a Batman type of guy you cannot deny that Superman is the greatest hero of all time. This film sets out to prove it and it does just that, the film follows Superman from his birth on the planet Krypton to saving the world from the evil Lex Luthor.
Christopher Reeve IS Superman; there is no way anybody else in the history of the world of cinema could play Superman in this film. Obviously actors have gone on to play the great hero since but nobody comes close to Christopher Reeve as Superman. Gene Hackman is also superb as the evil witty genius that is Lex Luthor and Margot Kidder plays Lois Lane how she should be played: annoyingly. There is even a fantastic appearance from the late great Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Clark Kent’s real father.
If you was to watch one Superhero film in your life time I’d recommend this one over any other. It broke boundaries for it’s time, it has everything the perfect film requires and it remains the greatest fictional hero story of all time.
* * * * * * * * * *
Being a film student (of 3 years) you’d think I would’ve seen this film at least once, but no like Seven a couple of days ago watching Superman today was a new experience for me. As everybody knows Superman is undoubtedly the biggest super hero of all time and is in the biggest comic book of all time. There are two TV Series I can think of (Smallville and The New Adventures of Superman) both about Superman.
When you watch the 1978 version of Superman you have to put into context that when it was released there had really been no other big superhero film. Also the visual effects and techniques so that Superman could fly had not been tried before. So although it can look a little bit amateurish compared to today’s high standards it still is pretty impressive.
The film has just about everything a great blockbuster would need: a villain, a love interest and of course someone we can idolise (Superman). Whilst I’m more of a Batman type of guy you cannot deny that Superman is the greatest hero of all time. This film sets out to prove it and it does just that, the film follows Superman from his birth on the planet Krypton to saving the world from the evil Lex Luthor.
Christopher Reeve IS Superman; there is no way anybody else in the history of the world of cinema could play Superman in this film. Obviously actors have gone on to play the great hero since but nobody comes close to Christopher Reeve as Superman. Gene Hackman is also superb as the evil witty genius that is Lex Luthor and Margot Kidder plays Lois Lane how she should be played: annoyingly. There is even a fantastic appearance from the late great Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Clark Kent’s real father.
If you was to watch one Superhero film in your life time I’d recommend this one over any other. It broke boundaries for it’s time, it has everything the perfect film requires and it remains the greatest fictional hero story of all time.
* * * * * * * * * *
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