Superman II

Rating:
Summary: Kneel Before Zod!
Review: To me, the original "Superman" movie is, and always will be, the best comic book/superhero movie of all time. There have been a few since the 1978 classic that have come close, but none have matched the magic and scope of the classic original. This 1981 sequel to the smash hit is a wonderful sequel that nearly captures and matches the same fun and class as the first film. Why people have had such problems with this movie is beyond me. Director Richard Lester has gotten a lot of bad press for the work he did on the film, and though it may not be Richard Donner standards, he still did a great job. He made the movie look and feel like a real comic book adventure. Wether or not it's true that Dick Donner stepped in and did some work on the movie on his own is true or not, I have no idea. The movie is epic in scope as the first film, and delivers the goods. This time out, her hero(once again played superbly by the late great Christopher Reeve), is conflicted between his role as superhero, and his love for Lois Lane(Margot Kidder). Once he decides to give up his role as superhero and manages to become human, things go haywire. Don't they always?. The moment he settles into his new life as a human with Lois, three villains from his home planet of Krypton, who've been trapped by Jor-El, escape and come to earth where they begin to wreak havoc and just naturally act as villains do. They get help when they are aided by Superman's arch nemesis Lex Luthor, once again played by the scene stealing Gene Hackman. The movie is definitley a visual delight, and everybody involved puts in their all to deliver a non stop action/adventure that delivers. The heroic moments are incredible, and the effects are so much better and natural looking than in most of the superhero/adventure movies nowadays. And this was 1981!. Christopher Reeve continues to make both Superman and Clark Kent fleshed out characters. He may put on glasses and everybody doesn't know who he is, but he does such a good job of seperating the two into two completely different personalities, that there is no way this guy could be one in the same. He is great. Everybody else does their part. Kidder is perky and headstrong as Lois Lane, and Gene Hackman, as always, steals every scene he is in. The three Krypton villains, Zod, Non, And Ursa, are a dastardly trio, wonderfully brought to life with uber-villainy camp by Terence Stamp(who here lately has been providing the voice for Jor-El on "Smallville"), Sarah Douglas, and the never speaking Jack 'O' Halloran. Some moments here stand out among all others. Most notably the big showdown in downtown Metropolis with the three villains causing utter chaos, and the fight with Superman. Without a doubt, the best part of the movie, and one of the best superhero/adventure moments ever. While the film may feel a bit jerky here and there, and not have a clear and precise narrative, it is still brilliantly done and put together. A superhero that is almost as heroic as it's classic original. The new movie, "Superman Returns", directed by Bryan Singer, which is scheduled for release in 2006, is said to take up after this movie. Let's hope Singer and crew do the series and the character justice.

Rating:
Summary: Son of Jor-El, Kneeeeel Before Zodd!
Review: My friends and I still quote that line and will probably keep doing it for the rest of our lives. (Yeah, there's a chance we may be geeks.)

Is there a better villian than General Zodd in any other movie based on a comic book??? No, I don't think so. Zodd ruled!

I also kind of dig his partner Ursa. She's a very hot super villian-ette (not sure if that's really a word - I may have just invented it.)

There's nothing I can say bad about this movie. Christopher Reeve was fantastic in this, as was everyone else in the cast. The story is very good. It's got a great mix of action, romance,humor and adventure.

As great as the original Superman movie was, I think this one was even better.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD.............BUT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.
Review: Superman 2 was an ok sequel,except when the 3 villains from krypton made a major attack on a one horse town(what the heck was that all about?).That scene was horrible.Also the John Williams score was completely butchered.The plot itself was pretty good.Lois Lane discovers Clark's secret,falls in love with him,Clark gives his powers up for her,then the 3 kryptonian villians break from the phantom zone and wreak havoc on earth.Clark knows that somehow,he has to get his powers back,and does so through the kryptonian crystal that was put in his rocketship.They have a showdown in Metropolis,and Superman wins.I actually liked this movie alot more when I was a kid than I do now.In the late 1980's,on ABC,I saw the Richard Donner cut of Superman 2,and that changed everything.His version of this film was just awesome(just as good as the first Superman).In the Donner cut,Clark gets his powers back through his father.Jor-El gave up his soul to give his son his abilities back(Marlon Brando kept the producers from using his footage,because of legal issues).The Brando footage was not in the ABC broadcast,I just read about it.The relationship between Clark and Lois,and Lois' trouble dealing with knowing Clark's secret was written better, and had more detail.Also the small town attack is absent(GOOD!!).Unfortunately,the Donner cut is not out for release.Margot Kidder says that she believes the footage still exists.There are petitions on the web to get Donner's version released.Richard Donner,by the way,was the director of Superman and the original director of Superman 2.If you like Superman 2 now,you will LOVE Superman 2:The Donner Cut.

Rating:
Summary: SUPERMAN VS. SPIDER-MAN
Review: Spider-Man 2 is a rip-off of Superman 2 (e.g. Superman loses his powers and Spider-Man loses his powers) sans the ending where it looks as if Mary Jane ends up going with Spidey while Lois and Clark in Superman split up!!!


Please release the Richard Donner version as the story would be more complete!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: The inane rantings of a fanboy: this movie INFURIATES me.
Review: This film is one of the most painful experiences I've ever had as a Superman fan. The character is just torn to shreds, and is by far the worst defiling a superhero has ever suffered in film.

Why, you may ask?

I flip out with geek rage every time I see Superman give up his powers to live with Lois Lane. First of all, it is the single most selfish, childish thing a person could ever do, and it is not the least bit befitting of the greatest hero of all time. And why would he do it, anyway?! Lois fell in love with SUPERMAN, not Clark Kent.

I could rant on for hundreds of words in regards to Clark Kent picking a fight and even BULLYING a man in a diner for virtually no reason or his inexplicable regaining of super-powers, but its not healthy being as angry as I am writing this. Suffice it to say, this film is just profoundly stupid, offensive, and detrimental to the Superman mythos. But that's just how I feel.

Rating:
Summary: The film surpasses the first in the series
Review: I first saw this in the theater for the first time in 1981, I recall the audience as a whole actually giving a joyful shout when a graphic at the end of the movie proclaimed Superman would be back soon in a sequel to Superman II. This is not just the faulty remembrance of a child since I was 24 years old when I saw this movie.

Reeve subtlety balanced the strength of Superman with the mild-mannered nature of Clark Kent wonderfully. I was never too fond of Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, but to be fair she played a driven reporter well, so my lack of fondness is superficially driven by me not understanding her physical appeal to another. Gene Hackman played the evil sociopath Lex Luthor with a joyful exuberance.

Those who are overly critical of this film may forget that special effects in 1981 were not up to today's standard. Of course, dialogue in today's movies are rarely up to older film's standards since conversation was more important then in a time before today's brief e-mail mentality where communications disappear with a keystroke into a spiral of computer generated special effects explosions.

Older movies were often journeys. Today's special effects driven movies are roller coasters, taking you nowhere and leaving you exactly where you started when the ride is over. In Superman II, your imagination had to fill in some of the holes, but I never witness today's audiences applauding something in the movie proclaiming the movie hero will be back. That is the standard by which this film should be judged.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent sequel
Review: First of all those who claims that this film has cheap special effects compared with new films you must remember it was made before computer animation. If people could understand how difficult it was to make SFX in these days they would probably
re-calculate the quality of this film. Sure there are scences that looks unrealistic like the places where they used dolls instead of real actors just to same time. The Metropolis battle
is one of best and most memorable moments in this film. The first two Superman movies will always remain as classic blockbusters.

Rating:
Summary: "Super" Sequel
Review: "With all this accumulative knowledge when are these dummies going to learn to use the doorknob?"
"Hi! You should see The White House. They'll be cleaning that for months." - Lex Luthor does damage control in "Superman II"

The adventures of The Man of Steel continue in a rare sequel that is equal to its original (the same can't be said for "Superman's III & IV").

While on an undercover assignment for The Daily Planet, Lois Lane & Clark Kent try to uncover a honeymoon scam at Niagra Falls. But, when Lois witnesses Superman save a boy from going over the Falls and certain death, Lois realizes that when ever Supes is around, Clark Kent isn't and vice versa. Lois begins to question whether Clark & Superman are one in the same. Whats worse is when Clark has, what normally would have been, a life altering accident right in front of Lois, revealing his true identity & Lois proclaiming her true love to the Stud of Steel.

Just when things couldn't get any worse, three Kryptonian criminals, that were jailed by Superman's dad in the original film, break free from there eternal prison (The Phantom Zone) and wreak havoc on Earth, destroying anything in their path & eventually ruling the planet. Its up to Superman to take'em down and save the day.

"Superman II" was filmed together with "Superman: The Movie" with more than 80% of "II" directed by Richard Donner. Gene Hackman didn't return for the last 20% that was directed by Lester and a stand in was used for additional shots with a voice imitator looping any new dialogue used. The cast is in fine form (this is basically how you can tell these two films were shot together. The cast looks geriatric in "III" & especially in "IV"). There are a lot of effects shots that look old, but, still work to a certain degree. There are tons of product placement in this film (keep a look out during the battle in Metropolis. You will see everything from "KFC", "Coca-Cola", & "JVC", to "Cutty Sark", "Marlboro" & "Evita"). I also spotted a film flub during the battle in Metropolis. Take special attention right after the bus crash sequence where Superman trys to stop the bus from hitting the Marlboro truck, but, gets hit along with it. There's a quick shot of the crowds stunned reaction. Using your DVD remote freeze the image and look in the background. It looks like the main entrance way to a big studio (maybe Elstree Studios?) making, what should be, an outside set look like its inside.

As for the DVD it falls short. Audio is 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround with a trailer for a special feature (what the f**k?!). No animated menus, either.

"Superman II" is a great film that shouldn't be missed and after twenty-three years since its release it still flies high. I just wish the DVD did too.

Rating:
Summary: We need a 21st Century Superman movie!
Review: Very bad film.
They released Spiderman into the 21st century, why not Superman?
I've always found him to be the most appealing comic book character. He is sure for an amazing performance.
RELEASE HIM INTO OUR CENTURY!