Superman - Movie Review

Chris Stuckmann

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The reviewer opens by recognizing Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman as the blueprint for modern superhero cinema. He recounts how the first act patiently chronicles Krypton’s destruction, baby Kal-El’s arrival in Smallville, and Clark Kent’s formative years, emphasizing that this extended origin section still feels epic rather than slow because it builds emotional stakes and invests the audience in Clark’s wholesome character. The Smallville photography and John Williams’ sweeping theme are singled out as key ingredients that make viewers “believe a man can fly” before he ever puts on the cape.

Christopher Reeve’s dual performance dominates the discussion. The video highlights how Reeve shifts body language, voice, and even eye contact to separate bumbling Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent from the confident Superman, creating two distinct personas without special effects. The reviewer calls this portrayal the definitive live-action Superman, noting that later actors often copy Reeve’s template. Margot Kidder’s fast-talking Lois Lane is praised for chemistry with Reeve, particularly during the “Can You Read My Mind?” flight sequence, which the reviewer concedes is cheesy by today’s standards yet emotionally sincere.

Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor gets credit for balancing menace and camp. The reviewer appreciates Hackman’s comedic timing and the verbal sparring with Ned Beatty’s Otis, while also acknowledging that the real threat—hijacking nuclear missiles to trigger a catastrophic West Coast earthquake—feels bold for a late-’70s family blockbuster. Still, he admits Luthor’s scheme is more cartoonish than the modern incarnations audiences are used to.

Special effects earn respectful nostalgia. Optical composites and wire work occasionally show their age, but the reviewer argues they retain charm because they were executed with craftsmanship and practical ingenuity. Donner’s insistence on shooting real helicopter footage for the iconic rooftop rescue is given as an example of why certain scenes remain thrilling. John Williams’ score is labeled the film’s secret weapon; its heroic leitmotif not only elevates action beats but continues to influence superhero soundtracks four decades later.

In closing, the reviewer stresses that Superman endures because it approaches the character with earnest optimism instead of irony. He concedes the film’s 143-minute runtime includes dated pacing and some campy dialogue, yet he believes its heart, performances, and sweeping sense of awe outweigh those flaws. Final verdict: the 1978 Superman stands as a timeless classic and a must-watch for any fan of comic book movies.

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