"Superman IV: The Quest For Peace" Movie Review

    The Christopher Reeve Superman remains the definitive take on the ‘Man of Steel’ in my opinion.  I think the first two Superman films are among the best movies ever made.  The Superman franchise sadly went down in quality greatly following those two masterpieces.  “Superman III” has some good moments but ended up foiled by it’s attempts at comedy.  “Superman IV: The Quest For Peace” ended up in even worse shape and proved to be an embarrassing swan song for Christopher Reeve in the role he made so iconic.

    “Superman IV: The Quest For Peace” was made by Canon Films with a shoe string budget.  Not exactly a promising start for a film in which it’s predecessors were famous for pushing the limits of special effects.  There were literally moments in the film where the wires could be seen and scenes that ended up being used multiple times to save on the budget.

    Christopher Reeve returns as the Man of Steel in his final appearance as Superman.  Not only does he star in the film, but he also helped develop the story about disarmament of nuclear weapons.  The film sees the welcomed return of Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor.  Hackman is such a joy to watch as he hams it up.  Hackman helps elevate this film ever so slightly, it’s just a shame he isn’t in more of the film.  Jon Cryer adds some comedy as Lenny Luther, Lex’s nitwit nephew.  Hilariously enough, Cryer has recently been cast as Lex Luthor in the CW series “Supergirl”.  Margot Kidder is once again hardly in the movie and her absence is felt.

    One of the worst parts of the movie to many fans is that Nuclear Man is the main villain.  This angered many fans since he wasn’t a character original to the source material.  I am not sure why they chose to create a new villain when Superman has a great rogue’s gallery that weren’t touched up until that point but the filmmakers did.  Still, I remember actually enjoying Nuclear Man as a kid (although the costume is ridiculous). Nuclear Man, interstingly enough, just made his comic debut in 2018.

    The movie isn’t as terrible as many make it out to be nor is it anywhere near as good as it should have been.  “Superman IV: The Quest For Peace” is ultimately a film bogged down by lofty ideas in a no budget and cartoonish production.

Grade: D

"Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" Movie Review

    Since the inception of DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-rays, and 4K Blu-rays, the general public has gotten pretty used to the idea of film's being released with director's cuts.  Most of the time these editions include a few minutes of added blood, gore, or nudity the director had to cut to secure a lower rating.  Basically, in 90% of the cases, the director's cut doesn't add much to the film.  In fact, there have been director's cuts which have trimmed film off the running time.  Oliver Stone's flop "Alexander" comes to mind as a director's cut shorter than the theatrical release.  "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" is basically a different beast all together and in my opinion, serves as a completely different film and as an alternative sequel.  Most of the basic story elements remain the same between both the Donner and Richard Lester cuts of the film.  What is interesting is to see how their approaches would have differed.

    "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" opens slightly differently than the theatrical cut of "Superman II".  Instead, it opens with what the original ending of "Superman: The Movie" was supposed to be, a cliffhanger featuring the Kryptonian criminals of General Zod, Ursa, and Non escaping from the Phantom Zone above Earth due to the explosion of a missile Lex Luthor launched in the first movie.  Superman is unaware that his heroic act unleashed the criminals and they head towards Earth as the film begins.  From there until the end, the film plays out basically the same as "Superman II" but with a few changes.  Lois Lane still discovers that Clark Kent is actually Superman but does so in a more confident and clever way.  This version makes Lois Lane seem more intelligent and more of an equal to Superman.  Once Clark Kent admits to Lois Lane that he is Superman, they decide to spend a romantic night together.  Clark Kent decides to show his love for Lois Lane by becoming a mortal human, a condition he is warned can not be undone, but he decides to go ahead and do so in order to marry and have children with Lois one day.  This part is very different than the Lester version as it features Marlon Brando as Jor-El as opposed to the Lester version which featured Superman's Kryptonian mother Lara.  Brando had sued the production at the time so his footage couldn't be used.  Clark wasn't aware that General Zod and his lieutenants were on Earth when he agreed to become mortal and realizes Superman is the only person who could protect the world.  Despite Jor-El's warning that condition was irreversible, Clark sets off to see if he can somehow regain his powers.  This part also fills in a large plot hole from the theatrical release.  In the Lester version, how Clark regains his powers is ambiguous.  In the Richard Donner cut, he learn that Jor-El knew his son might need to regain his powers one day so he created a way to obtain his powers again.  This gift comes with a price, in order to regain his powers, he must absorb the remaining "life force" of his father, meaning he will forever lose the little part of his father and his homeworld he had left.  This sacrifice adds a lot to the story and the character of Superman.  Becoming Superman once more, Clark manages to fight and defeat General Zod.  Seeing all the damage caused from these events causes Superman to turn back time by spinning the world backwards.  This ending ended up being used for "Superman: The Movie" but was intended for this film.

    For every pro I have in regards to this cut over the Lester version, I also have a con.  While I love the scenes between Superman and Jor-El and feel like they add a lot to the movie, I also very much miss some of the humor the Lester version brought.  I also prefer the theatrical endings of both movies over the Donner endings.  I am so conflicted about which version of the film I prefer.  Both versions are fun and allow Superman to showcase his powers over an equal.  Ultimately I feel like the bulk of both films remain Richard Donner films as a whole anyway.

    The cast was great, just like the theatrical release.  Many of the scenes featuring Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder are the same from alternate takes and angles.  I would argue that the chemistry between Reeve and Kidder is stronger in this version of the film.  Gene Hackman's scenes are exactly the same since he didn't return for reshots but he is still a great slimy jerk in both versions as a result.  Terence Stamp shines as the villainous General Zod.  Lastly, it is a treat to see Marlon Brando once again as Jor-El.  His interaction with Superman is defiantly the highlight of this cut.

    "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" gives us a rare glimpse into a lost film which actually managed to get completed in part thanks to fan support and Bryan Singer.  Most film projects like this leave more questions than answers, it's refreshing to see a complete vision for a change.

Grade: B

"Superman II" Movie Review

    There are not many examples of sequels being as good or better than their predecessors, especially when the first movie is widely considered a masterpiece.  I can't imagine how anyone could have pictured a movie surpassing the brilliance that was Richard Donner's "Superman: The Movie" upon it's release.  "Superman II" may not be the game changer that the first movie was but it might just be more fun.  When you are talking about summer popcorn films, fun is a very important factor.
    "Superman II" takes place right after the first film and sees the Kryptonian criminals General Zod, Ursa, and Non released from the Phantom Zone and coming to Earth.  Superman is doing his usual big blue boy scout good deeds when Lois Lane figures out that he and Clark Kent are in fact one in the same.  Clark Kent/Superman admits to Lois the truth and the two spend a romantic afternoon in the Fortress of Solitude.  Clark is unaware that General Zod has arrived on Earth as he sacrifices his powers to be with Lois Lane.  General Zod teams up with Lex Luthor in a plot to take over the world as a now mortal Clark Kent realizes he now has to make a choice.  Clark Kent can stay human and let General Zod take control of the world or risk his newly mortal life in an effort to try and restore his powers in an attempt to stop General Zod and his lieutenants.
    The project was unusual as it was originally partly filmed by Richard Donner.  Donner started filming "Superman II" while he filmed "Superman: The Movie" making it one of the first productions to be ambitious enough to film more than one movie back to back.  Richard Donner had filmed roughly 75% of the film when he got into heated arguments with the producers.  Donner agreed to stop the remaining work on the sequel and instead completely focus on finishing the first film.  After the first film was finished and released, Donner was fired from the sequel by the producers and did not get a chance to finish work on his film until his version of the film was released in conjunction with "Superman Returns".  Richard Lester was hired to finish the film but Donner's firing caused problems with the already troubled production.  To receive sole directing billing, Lester had to refilm a majority of scenes already filmed by Donner and had to reshape the beginning and ending of the movie.  Adding to the problems, actors such as Gene Hackman refused to return for reshots upon hearing of Richard Donner's departure so stand ins had to be used for a few scenes.
    Despite all the problems the film faced, it actually somehow turned out okay.  One could argue that most of the spirit of Richard Donner's original take on the sequel remained since he provided a blueprint for Lester and many of Donner's scene still remained in the film.  Basically Richard Lester was brought in to finish and polish an already solid sequel.  Now, I may seem critical of Lester but he did contribute a lot to the film's lighter tone and humor.  While it got a little hammy in a few parts, the humor worked for the most part in the film.
    It was also nice to see a movie in which Superman could cut loose and showcase his powers.  This film gave Superman an equal in General Zod and allowed him to throw a punch and fight.  While seeing a man fly was a marvel in itself, seeing a man have to handle someone with the same powers was pure ecstasy.
    The cast once again was at top form.  Christopher Reeve once again embodied Superman with a purity rarely conveyed by most actors.  The chemistry he shared with Margot Kidder was rewarded with tender moments in this film.  Both Kidder and Reeve shine as a couple and only serve to enhance each other as performers.  Gene Hackman was at his slimy best as Lex Luthor as Lex tried negotiating for land with General Zod.  Lastly, Terence Stamp absolutely shined as the evil General Zod.  Who could ever forget Stamp's delivery of "Kneel before Zod"?
    "Superman II" is the rare film that shouldn't have worked yet somehow did.  It remains one of the best comic book movies ever made and despite some of the more outlandish fashion showcased in the film, still stands the test of time.  What more could you ask for in a superhero film?

Grade: A-

“Superman: The Movie” Movie Review

    It is hard to imagine what cinema today would be like if it wasn’t for the 1978 classic, “Superman: The Movie”. The film changed the way people thought of comic book movies and it changed the way films were made on a whole.  Full disclosure, “Superman: The Movie” is one of my favorite movies of all time so it is my job to tell you why I feel so strongly about it.

    Believe it or not, I never grew up being a big comic book fan.  I had watched old episodes of “Wonder Woman”, “Batman”, “The Incredible Hulk”, and “The Adventures of Superman” from time to time on tv but I never really read the comic books or kept up with the characters.  I couldn’t tell you the difference between DC or Marvel if I had to.  Then the great animated tv shows of the 90s hit airwaves.  I was hooked on comic books after that.  I became a nerd, and I loved the nerdy discoveries I was making.  One of those discoveries was “Superman: The Movie”.

    “Superman: The Movie” was so unique and revolutionary that it still captivated audiences forty years after it release and it’s easy to see why.  I love the opening monologue of the film.  The curtains peel back and we see a vintage Superman comic book being read outloud by a child and already you have goosebumps!  The. The camera zooms into the Daily Planet and the movie transports you there right before the epic title cards zoom out at you.  From the first few minutes, the movie feels like something totally different.  It makes you feel like an actual comic book coming to life.

    The story is a basic adaptation of the origins of Superman.  Mario Puzo of “The Godfather” fame wrote the first draft of the script and you can feel his influence.  Puzo understands complex family dynamics and Superman has some of the most complex dynamics someone could ask for.  The film was also famous for being one of the first movies to shot a sequel back to back with it.  Richard Donner, hot off of “The Omen”, took on the ambitious task of filming not one, but two, massive blockbusters together.  The task didn’t work out too well for him but he did deliver an amazing film (and most of the sequel).  Filming the movies together did help make a perfect setup for “Superman II”.
    The film had the perfect blend of action, romance, comedy, and drama.  It literally had something for everyone.  The film had a great mix of different fashions from different eras and an Art Deco city design to give the film a timeless feel.  This is all set to one of the best scores ever.  John Williams once again created an instantly iconic score right after his work on “Star Wars”.
    Of course the film’s main positive aspect is it’s cast.  Rarely has a film with such iconic characters been cast so perfectly.  Of course, Christopher Reeve ‘was’ Superman both on screen and off.  The man became an inspiration and his screen presence was undeniable.  Reeve remains the best Superman to date.  Margot Kidder portrayed a smart and independent Lois Lane whose chemistry with Reeve was the highlight of the film.  There was a sweet and innocent quality to their romance.  Gene Hackman shines as Lex Luthor.  His scenes with Ned Beatty are humorous and menacing all at once.  Lastly, Marlon Brando lends his screen presence to the role of Jor-El in one of his more tender screen roles.
    It’s really easy now for people to write this film off as old or dated because it’s forty years old, but this film only gets more charming with age.  The tag line for the film read “You will believe a man can fly” because no one believed it could be done convincingly on screen.  Well, the filmmakers managed to pull it off and if you watch this movie, you will believe a man can fly as well.

Grade: A+