Superman (1978)Superman is one of the most recognizable pop culture icons around the world. Physically, he is tall, handsome, well-spoken, and appears in his iconic blue uniform, with a red cape and a large "S" emblazoned on is chest. His personality is virtually pure benevolence; he is kind to those in need, and courageous to save those who are in danger. He does not tolerate villainy or cruelty, and stands up to those who would subjugate the good people of Metropolis--and the world--with their evil. These traits are so universally emblematic of Superman, that the comic book superhero has been wholly absorbed into the human zeitgeist as a modern myth.
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Superman (1978) enticed its audiences prior to its debut with the claim, "you will believe a man can fly", referring of course to the eponymous Superman (Christopher Reeve). Along with the booming, majestic theme song by John Williams, and the ultra-stylized opening credits montage, this was a clarion call heralding the beginning of blockbuster superhero movies, a genre which thrives almost forty years later. Superman would prove to be a massive investment to produce, but proved to be a wild success, one which brought the heretofore niche realm of comic books into the foreground, with the "man of steel" leading the charge. Superman alludes to these origins with a humble scene at the beginning, in which a child reads an issue of the highly collectible "Action Comics #1", the first appearance of Superman, the "alpha" to the modern mythology of superheroes. The success of Superman is no mere "happy accident"; directed by Richard Donner, the film has heart and resonance, and gives humanity to Superman and his alias, Clark Kent, by devoting a significant part of the film to his upbringing in Kansas and the familial bond with his adoptive parents. When young Clark (Jeff East) tries to impress a cheerleader or shares a heart-to-heart with Jonathan Kent (Glenn Ford), it is as natural as if the film were a touching, human drama about growing up in the Midwest. Along with the background of the events that necessitated Superman's journey to Earth from his doomed home planet of Krypton, this set the tone for the origin story of superhero movies going forward. Although written by Mario Puzo (of The Godfather fame), don't expect any moral ambiguity or anti-heroes in Superman; the motives of Superman and his nemesis, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), are clear representations of generosity versus selfishness, humility versus ego. The absence of cynicism is not a shortcoming of Superman; rather it is a call to simpler times, a rare comfort in films of the 1970s, but a sentiment that grew more common in major motion pictures like Superman. It could be said that Superman contributed to movies being a form of "escape" from reality, with these bold and uncomplicated depictions of morality--a trend which included other watershed sci-fi films like Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Superman was still a risky gambit of a film all things considered; this is why even though the film stars the (at the time) relatively unknown Christopher Reeve, actors like Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando (who plays Jor-El, the father of Superman/Kal-El) get top billing. Superman manages to deftly walk the challenging line of appealing to both fans of the source material and filmgoers by embracing the legend of Superman in a warm yet classical way. Christopher Reeve so wholly commands the role in appearance and performance that many have said he is the quintessential Superman. And while tropes from the comics are abundant, Superman playfully toys with them, such as one involving Superman's penchant for changing into his costume within a phone booth by switching it up with a revolving door.
Superman was developed in conjunction with its eventual sequel, Superman II; this helps to make sense of the otherwise dissonant scene on Krypton where Jor-El condemns a trio of treasonous criminals--General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and otherwise unnamed "Non" (Jack O'Halloran)--to the mysterious "Phantom Zone". While these three villains would return in the follow up film, they also serve as a kind of parallel to Lex Luthor and his two underlings, the lovely, yet cynical, Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) and the bumbling Otis (Ned Beatty). Lex and his cronies, however, are intentionally portrayed in a farcical way with unmistakable comedy and levity, such as their humorous efforts to hijack a pair of nuclear missiles and Lex's outlandish plot to remake the west coast of the United States in his image. And other parallels exist between Krypton and Earth; Superman is very much like his father. Both men are essentially outsiders in their domains, with Superman being a literal alien and Jor-El dismissed in his efforts to evacuate Krypton prior to its destruction, only able to save his son in the process. Jor-El and his reluctant wife, Lara (Susannah York), ultimately send Kal-El to Earth, not only to capitalize on the powers he will possess to ensure his survival, but as Jor-El puts it, to gift "his only son" to the people of that planet. This draws a direct connection between the myth of Superman and that of Jesus Christ--both are saviors and both embody the best of qualities--both scions of goodness. The sense that Superman comes from a transcendent and highly advanced civilization is depicted in how his father imparts his wisdom and his memories to him, a process which takes him through the stars as he absorbs the knowledge of Krypton and the universe in a scene recalling the famous "stargate" sequence from 2001: A Space Odyssey. One of the most interesting things about Superman is that although he would become a famous beacon of "truth, justice, and the American way", prior to his rise to popularity, there is a sense of loneliness and isolation about him--that with all of his gifts and strength, he is different than the other kids in school, and must lie about his true self in order to live anything resembling a normal life. This inner conflict makes it clear why the "fortress of solitude" is his haven in the Arctic, a safe place which resembles the crystalline, icy architecture of his home world. This is his sanctum where he begins to understand himself, a process of introversion which gives him the inner strength to compliment his physical prowess.
Paradoxically, one of the commands Jor-El passes down to his son is that "it is forbidden for him to change human history", and yet he is in the best position to do so. Deep down, for all the doubts Clark Kent may have, it is this inner calling which drives him to adopt the persona of the mild-mannered reporter, prone to excessive clumsiness and even fainting spells in order to deflect any suspicion about his true self while in the city of Metropolis. At the Daily Planet, Clark becomes infatuated with the assertive star reporter, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), and finds himself torn with how to express himself to her. Ironically, this creates an intriguing kind of "love triangle" between himself, his alter-ego, and her. The blossoming romance between Lois and Superman is illustrated best in her awkward rooftop interview with him and their subsequent flight through the stars together. The underlying message here is that in truth, "Clark Kent" is the facade, the milquetoast artifice presented to the world to shield himself from unwanted attention. When Superman finds that he wants the attention of Lois, he goes out of his way to get it, but Lois is only drawn to the true personality, who is confident and natural, not the alter ego. Superman's love for Lois is the impetus to break out and present himself to the world, having saved her from a near-fatal accident involving a helicopter. From here, Superman proves himself as a constant for the city's welfare, with a busy first night, including everything from saving Air Force One to a cat stuck in a tree for a little girl. It's interesting that Clark Kent always wears his costume underneath his suit, suggesting that deep down, there was always this sense that this moment would come. Superman is committed to maintaining his alter ego, however, as it also serves as a kind of camouflage for him, while getting to experience the unique pageant of life in the city of Metropolis. So convincing is his performance, that if you walked into Superman late, at the point of Clark's first day at the Daily Planet, you might be surprised to find that Clark Kent is Superman since it isn't evident until Lois is nearly shot in a mugging when he quickly grabs the bullet from the air with literally superhuman speed. (This of course presumes you are one of the three people in the world who didn't know Clark Kent was Superman.) Even the climax of the film and Superman's metaphysical efforts to save Lois' life are a reflection of how his love for her is the fuel to his strength, what gives him purpose beyond his innate gifts.
Recommended for: Fans of superhero movies; arguably, the birth of the modern superhero movie. Superman is a great collection of talent and a film which has remained a commercial and critical success for decades with its message of goodness and wholesome values in the face of cynicism and greed. It is a shining example of what makes superheroes so appealing.
Superman was developed in conjunction with its eventual sequel, Superman II; this helps to make sense of the otherwise dissonant scene on Krypton where Jor-El condemns a trio of treasonous criminals--General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and otherwise unnamed "Non" (Jack O'Halloran)--to the mysterious "Phantom Zone". While these three villains would return in the follow up film, they also serve as a kind of parallel to Lex Luthor and his two underlings, the lovely, yet cynical, Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) and the bumbling Otis (Ned Beatty). Lex and his cronies, however, are intentionally portrayed in a farcical way with unmistakable comedy and levity, such as their humorous efforts to hijack a pair of nuclear missiles and Lex's outlandish plot to remake the west coast of the United States in his image. And other parallels exist between Krypton and Earth; Superman is very much like his father. Both men are essentially outsiders in their domains, with Superman being a literal alien and Jor-El dismissed in his efforts to evacuate Krypton prior to its destruction, only able to save his son in the process. Jor-El and his reluctant wife, Lara (Susannah York), ultimately send Kal-El to Earth, not only to capitalize on the powers he will possess to ensure his survival, but as Jor-El puts it, to gift "his only son" to the people of that planet. This draws a direct connection between the myth of Superman and that of Jesus Christ--both are saviors and both embody the best of qualities--both scions of goodness. The sense that Superman comes from a transcendent and highly advanced civilization is depicted in how his father imparts his wisdom and his memories to him, a process which takes him through the stars as he absorbs the knowledge of Krypton and the universe in a scene recalling the famous "stargate" sequence from 2001: A Space Odyssey. One of the most interesting things about Superman is that although he would become a famous beacon of "truth, justice, and the American way", prior to his rise to popularity, there is a sense of loneliness and isolation about him--that with all of his gifts and strength, he is different than the other kids in school, and must lie about his true self in order to live anything resembling a normal life. This inner conflict makes it clear why the "fortress of solitude" is his haven in the Arctic, a safe place which resembles the crystalline, icy architecture of his home world. This is his sanctum where he begins to understand himself, a process of introversion which gives him the inner strength to compliment his physical prowess.
Paradoxically, one of the commands Jor-El passes down to his son is that "it is forbidden for him to change human history", and yet he is in the best position to do so. Deep down, for all the doubts Clark Kent may have, it is this inner calling which drives him to adopt the persona of the mild-mannered reporter, prone to excessive clumsiness and even fainting spells in order to deflect any suspicion about his true self while in the city of Metropolis. At the Daily Planet, Clark becomes infatuated with the assertive star reporter, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), and finds himself torn with how to express himself to her. Ironically, this creates an intriguing kind of "love triangle" between himself, his alter-ego, and her. The blossoming romance between Lois and Superman is illustrated best in her awkward rooftop interview with him and their subsequent flight through the stars together. The underlying message here is that in truth, "Clark Kent" is the facade, the milquetoast artifice presented to the world to shield himself from unwanted attention. When Superman finds that he wants the attention of Lois, he goes out of his way to get it, but Lois is only drawn to the true personality, who is confident and natural, not the alter ego. Superman's love for Lois is the impetus to break out and present himself to the world, having saved her from a near-fatal accident involving a helicopter. From here, Superman proves himself as a constant for the city's welfare, with a busy first night, including everything from saving Air Force One to a cat stuck in a tree for a little girl. It's interesting that Clark Kent always wears his costume underneath his suit, suggesting that deep down, there was always this sense that this moment would come. Superman is committed to maintaining his alter ego, however, as it also serves as a kind of camouflage for him, while getting to experience the unique pageant of life in the city of Metropolis. So convincing is his performance, that if you walked into Superman late, at the point of Clark's first day at the Daily Planet, you might be surprised to find that Clark Kent is Superman since it isn't evident until Lois is nearly shot in a mugging when he quickly grabs the bullet from the air with literally superhuman speed. (This of course presumes you are one of the three people in the world who didn't know Clark Kent was Superman.) Even the climax of the film and Superman's metaphysical efforts to save Lois' life are a reflection of how his love for her is the fuel to his strength, what gives him purpose beyond his innate gifts.
Recommended for: Fans of superhero movies; arguably, the birth of the modern superhero movie. Superman is a great collection of talent and a film which has remained a commercial and critical success for decades with its message of goodness and wholesome values in the face of cynicism and greed. It is a shining example of what makes superheroes so appealing.