So I don't like Superman, I generally don't like superheroes or their movies so I am coming from a place of bias. But Superman just always seemed so lame to me. He's basically a robot in a leotard, who suffers no emotional crises, and outside of the whole kryptonite thing is unstoppable. There's no emotional connection for me. There's no suspense either.
I managed to make it 26 years without watching Superman, or if I did I saw it when I was like 5 and that doesn't count. I was hesitant to watch it last night, mainly because Superman is stupid and the movie is long.
The first hour is pretty boring, Marlon Brando living in some crystal city that blows up, Clark flying to earth in some crystal thing. And those dicks that get banished from Krypton at the beginning and get placed in some stupid mirror. That graphic looks like it's straight out a Steve Miller video, and then those guys don't even show up. Then we have Clark Kent growing up and learning about his powers. I like Brando alot but sometimes he's just so crappy, and what gives with the luminescent jump suit?
I wonder what Superman would have been like if his parents weren't so kind. Like say his earth dad was abusive and tried to take advantage of his powers. Or hell what if his dad actually let him play football. What if Clark used his powers for evil or at least his own gain, that would be way cooler to me. Seriously there is so much potential for conflict in that kind of story. Instead we get Clark becoming an emotionless robot.
That being said Christopher Reeves was surpisingly good. He is pretty charismatic and has a good comedic sense. I actually liked him in the role. Margot Kidder was also quite good, still not hot or anything, but she has moxie.
But Gene Hackman made the movie for me. He was just awesome as Lex Luthor, and had some awesome lines. I particularly liked when he told Ned Beatty that "200 is a common number for both of us, it's my IQ and your weight". He just was what a bad guy should be, just gleefully evil and smart.
It also became clear that this movie serves as the template for how many other superhero movies have been constructed since. First hour is exposition, how the character got his powers, plus light hearted demonstration of those powers, and hints at the conflict of the character, and the introduction of the love interest. Second hour has a crime fighting montage and the introduction of the main villain(s). Third hour has the hero overcoming the odds, beating the villain and realizing that he can't marry the love interest.
So I almost liked the movie but Superman still sucks.
I managed to make it 26 years without watching Superman, or if I did I saw it when I was like 5 and that doesn't count. I was hesitant to watch it last night, mainly because Superman is stupid and the movie is long.
The first hour is pretty boring, Marlon Brando living in some crystal city that blows up, Clark flying to earth in some crystal thing. And those dicks that get banished from Krypton at the beginning and get placed in some stupid mirror. That graphic looks like it's straight out a Steve Miller video, and then those guys don't even show up. Then we have Clark Kent growing up and learning about his powers. I like Brando alot but sometimes he's just so crappy, and what gives with the luminescent jump suit?
I wonder what Superman would have been like if his parents weren't so kind. Like say his earth dad was abusive and tried to take advantage of his powers. Or hell what if his dad actually let him play football. What if Clark used his powers for evil or at least his own gain, that would be way cooler to me. Seriously there is so much potential for conflict in that kind of story. Instead we get Clark becoming an emotionless robot.
That being said Christopher Reeves was surpisingly good. He is pretty charismatic and has a good comedic sense. I actually liked him in the role. Margot Kidder was also quite good, still not hot or anything, but she has moxie.
But Gene Hackman made the movie for me. He was just awesome as Lex Luthor, and had some awesome lines. I particularly liked when he told Ned Beatty that "200 is a common number for both of us, it's my IQ and your weight". He just was what a bad guy should be, just gleefully evil and smart.
It also became clear that this movie serves as the template for how many other superhero movies have been constructed since. First hour is exposition, how the character got his powers, plus light hearted demonstration of those powers, and hints at the conflict of the character, and the introduction of the love interest. Second hour has a crime fighting montage and the introduction of the main villain(s). Third hour has the hero overcoming the odds, beating the villain and realizing that he can't marry the love interest.
So I almost liked the movie but Superman still sucks.
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