Superman the Movie - 40 years old

AMKC

So this year its 40 years since ''Superman'' the 1978 film with Christopher Reeve came out. To me he is and always will be the best Superman.

Who agrees?

Any chance we might see this in some cinema's this year for its 40th?

Basq

Was on RTE earlier today.

Agent Coulson

And it may still be the best Superhero movie made.

Harry Palmr

A proper superhero film - grand, spectacular, exciting, witty, charming, humane and perfectly cast.

The robotic pompous sh1t pumped out now isn't fit to wipe down Christopher Reeve's cape.

Tilikum17

Agent Coulson wrote: »

And it may still be the best Superhero movie made.

It is, without a doubt.

AMKC

Basq wrote: »

Was on RTE earlier today.

That's what got me thinking about it and why I decided to right this post. That and as other posters have said it being the best Superhero film ever made.

Zeek12

I've always preferred Superman II myself

Terence Stamp was great fun as the baddie

"Kneel before Zod"

Goodshape

Terence Stamp was great but the first film had the best bit of that performance too.

"Yours could become an important voice in the new order. Second only to my own! I offer you a chance for greatness, Jor-El! Take it!"

...

"You will bow down before me! Both you, and then one day, YOUR HEIRS!"

And cool as **** Marlon goddamn Brando saunters away.

"GUILTY".


Goosebumps.

Fantastic film.

Ray Donovan

Weren't Superman and Superman II shot back to back?

Goodshape

Pretty much, but Richard Donner got fired as director before the second film was complete and much of it was reshot and reorganized, so it's noticeably a bit shaky in the narrative and production values.

There was a "Donner Cut" of the second one released a few years ago. I forget whether it was any better.

Second film was fun anyway, but not a patch on the first imo.

JoeA3

Yeah for me this was and still is the best Superhero movie. Loved it as a kid and I’d still sit down and watch it today. Reeves was born to play the role.

The music - that John Williams score is just amazing. I was so disappointed when the new Man of Steel movies dropped that iconic tune but that wasn’t the worst part of those godawful recent movies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78N2SP6JFaI

tony stark

Amazing film, a movie not afraid to get lost in its own world unlike the new Star Wars with its brutal nod to screen humour. Even with effects dated in Superman I still get lost in the movie because of the great narrative and script. Also it’s not afraid to take its time. Look at the time it takes to show Pa Kent dying and Clark’s reaction at the grave. Something Synder should have learned from.

AllForIt

The opening credits, the score and the graphics of the opening credits.. One the the best openings to any movie I have ever seen.

The first scene with Brando, Stamp, Douglas etc, and the manner in which the villains were sent to prison.

The cinematography up to the point where Clark leaves for metropolis as his younger self.

The crystals, the formation of Supermans home. That must have taken some effort in Pinewood studios. Ditto superman as a baby being sent off to earth in a crystal machine.

The second movie is my favourite of the two but because I know they were made in conjunction I think of 1 and 2 as one movie split in 2 parts so It's hard for me to think of them as two separate movies.

The first movie I liked up to the point of the end of his younger life but I didn't think the rest of the movie was great in terms of the narrative. However Superman II recovered all that and I though it was excellent. Still highly watchable after all these years. I watch S II every xmas for some oddball reason.

fritzelly

The theme music was great, kept watching the "remake" hoping they would add it in somewhere but alas not
Though I'm not totally averse to the new theme music but the original was iconic

Tylerdurex

Even today when Christopher Reeve becomes Superman to save Lois on the helicopter there's a certain special aura around him that makes it not look dated at all

tony stark

AllForIt wrote: »

The opening credits, the score and the graphics of the opening credits.. One the the best openings to any movie I have ever seen.

The first scene with Brando, Stamp, Douglas etc, and the manner in which the villains were sent to prison.

The cinematography up to the point where Clark leaves for metropolis as his younger self.

The crystals, the formation of Supermans home. That must have taken some effort in Pinewood studios. Ditto superman as a baby being sent off to earth in a crystal machine.

The second movie is my favourite of the two but because I know they were made in conjunction I think of 1 and 2 as one movie split in 2 parts so It's hard for me to think of them as two separate movies.

The first movie I liked up to the point of the end of his younger life but I didn't think the rest of the movie was great in terms of the narrative. However Superman II recovered all that and I though it was excellent. Still highly watchable after all these years. I watch S II every xmas for some oddball reason.

Couldn’t agree more. Something does change when he leaves for Metropolis. It loses itself ever so slightly but still great. Modern superheroe movies could learn so much from it.

Gaz

One of my favourite films of all time and quite possible the best super hero movie but I have two major gripes ...

I f**kin hated the "can you read my mind" scene.
And I hated that he could reverse time by spinning the world backwards. If he can reverse time, why not use that handy trick every time sh1t hits the fan.

I still watch it at least once year though

s15r330

Great films.

But on Man of Steel, when the first trailer came out I had goosebumps, I thought to myself that this could be great, pity it went no further though.
Still think that is one of the best trailers i've seen.

JoeA3

Gaz wrote: »

One of my favourite films of all time and quite possible the best super hero movie but I have two major gripes ...

I f**kin hated the "can you read my mind" scene.
And I hated that he could reverse time by spinning the world backwards. If he can reverse time, why not use that handy trick every time sh1t hits the fan.

I still watch it at least once year though

If I recall correctly he had been strongly warned by his father not to do that, as it could have dire consequences (not sure what!) - but with Lois “dead” he had no other choice!

Marty Bird

Loved Supeman as others have said one of the best scores of all times, and Gene Hackman was brilliant as Lex.

McDermotX

Arguably the best minute or two John Williams has produced......and that's saying something

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypLgvMwN_VY

Mick Head

OK film, good for it's time but nothing particularly special.

The first hour where it goes through his origin story and childhood is brilliant the rest of the film is mediocre enough.

Nowhere close to being the best superhero film , it's miles off that level.

givyjoe

Mick Head wrote: »

OK film, good for it's time but nothing particularly special.

The first hour where it goes through his origin story and childhood is brilliant the rest of the film is mediocre enough.

Nowhere close to being the best superhero film , it's miles off that level.

I'd be interested to hear which film you think is, and for the love of god.. don't say one of the Avengers movies :eek:

judeboy101

Gaz wrote: »

One of my favourite films of all time and quite possible the best super hero movie but I have two major gripes ...

I f**kin hated the "can you read my mind" scene.
And I hated that he could reverse time by spinning the world backwards. If he can reverse time, why not use that handy trick every time sh1t hits the fan.

I still watch it at least once year though

I was always of the opinion that he didn't make time go back by spinning the world backwards, but rather he travelled so fast ala flash that he went back in time and we see that via the timeline reversing?

s15r330

judeboy101 wrote: »

I was always of the opinion that he didn't make time go back by spinning the world backwards, but rather he travelled so fast ala flash that he went back in time and we see that via the timeline reversing?

But doesn't the world slow and reverse?

loyatemu

no mention of Gene Hackman? Brilliant as Lex Luthor.

Mick Head

givyjoe wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear which film you think is, and for the love of god.. don't say one of the Avengers movies :eek:

The first 2 Christopher Nolan Batman films, the first 2 Sam Raimi Spiderman Films,The first 2 X-Men films that Bryan Singer Directed ,X-Men First Class and X-Men Days of the future past and the first Captain America film are all well ahead of it in my opinion.

I'd say the Dark Knight is my favourite Superhero film (although technically Batman isn't a superhero).

s15r330

s15r330 wrote: »

But doesn't the world slow and reverse?

Only relative to him. As he approached speed of time things appear to slow, then reverse when going faster.

Mick Head

Mick Head wrote: »

The first 2 Christopher Nolan Batman films, the first 2 Sam Raimi Spiderman Films,The first 2 X-Men films that Bryan Singer Directed ,X-Men First Class and X-Men Days of the future past and the first Captain America film are all well ahead of it in my opinion.

I'd say the Dark Knight is my favourite Superhero film (although technically Batman isn't a superhero).

He doesn't have special powers but why is he not a superhero?

Mick Head

Deleted User wrote: »

He doesn't have special powers but why is he not a superhero?

Because he doesn't have superpowers I guess is the reason he's technically not a superhero.

I always assumed superhero meant you had some sort of powers.

Mick Head

Mick Head wrote: »

Because he doesn't have superpowers I guess is the reason he's technically not a superhero.

I always assumed superhero meant you had some sort of powers.

Never got that train of thought.
I always put it that the level of his actions were what put the super before hero.
A guy saving a baby from a collapsing building is a hero. Batman stopping the building from being blown up (on top of an invasion from another earth) is a superhero

tony stark

Gaz wrote: »

One of my favourite films of all time and quite possible the best super hero movie but I have two major gripes ...

I f**kin hated the "can you read my mind" scene.
And I hated that he could reverse time by spinning the world backwards. If he can reverse time, why not use that handy trick every time sh1t hits the fan.

I still watch it at least once year though

haha
Brilliant, what the hell was that scene about!? Almost as bad as a last Jedi scene.....almost

artvanderlay

I play the opening credits of Superman whenever I need a lift. The music is epic, but I also need that whoosh of the blue neon name credits to get the full dopamine hit

IMO the first Superman is great apart from the ending. Superman 2 is probably the best superhero movie overall though...so much going on, more villains to battle, great twists and turns in the story. I think what made these movies great was they didn't overdo it with special effects. Sure they had their big set pieces but it wasn't wall to wall effects, they also allowed for little things such as good scripts, performances, direction etc. They did more with a lot less.

The only superhero movies that I'd put up there with Superman 1 and 2, are X-men 2, and Blade 1 and 2 . F*ck that Avengers bull**** with their washed out colours. Yuck!

Addle

Tylerdurex wrote: »

Even today when Christopher Reeve becomes Superman to save Lois on the helicopter there's a certain special aura around him that makes it not look dated at all

He was an exceptionally handsome man.
And very charismatic.
None of today's stars have a patch on him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIaF0QKtY0c

You just need to watch how he made such a difference between Clark and Supes, just with body language

MfMan

Mick Head wrote: »

OK film, good for it's time but nothing particularly special.

The first hour where it goes through his origin story and childhood is brilliant the rest of the film is mediocre enough.

Nowhere close to being the best superhero film , it's miles off that level.

Have to agree. An uneven and unbalanced movie. The opening third is serious and solid with good introduction to the main players. However, once the main story gets going, with Hackman's villainous rise to power, the whole tone becomes cheesy and slapstick. Ned Beatty's character is a total dud and a waste of a good actor. Reeve was well cast in the main role, as was Stamp, but I just don't get the love for it.

Ray Donovan

Deleted User wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIaF0QKtY0c

You just need to watch how he made such a difference between Clark and Supes, just with body language

Brilliant!!

judeboy101

s15r330 wrote: »

judeboy101 wrote: »

I was always of the opinion that he didn't make time go back by spinning the world backwards, but rather he travelled so fast ala flash that he went back in time and we see that via the timeline reversing?

But doesn't the world slow and reverse?

I always thought that was a way to visualize the time travel in a pre cgi way

judeboy101

loyatemu wrote: »

no mention of Gene Hackman? Brilliant as Lex Luthor.

Prefer superman 1 Lex luther, has zero problems killing ppl and always the smartest man in the room

givyjoe

judeboy101 wrote: »

I always thought that was a way to visualize the time travel in a pre cgi way

Giving the writers and director way too much credit I think! The oul scientific knowledge applied in any of the Superman films was basic to say the least. I didn't and still dont think it was anything other than turning the rotation backwards, turns time backwards.. or rather that's what they intended.

OU812

The dinner version of Superman 2 is far superior than the version they released. Darker in tone & dialogue.

The two should be watched back to back to fully appreciate the story, which is told far better imo.

Interiestingly Gene Hackman was very good friends with Donner and wouldn’t return to filming after he was fired so that’s why the Luther role is diminished in the comedy that’s part two, in the donner version he’s more present.

dublinman1990

I still can't believe that Superman The Movie is 40 years old this year. That is some achievement for an icon known as the Man of Steel. I have watched Superman The Movie on a couple of occasions over the past few years. It is some movie to admire when you talk about the score, the cast, the plot and the opening & closing credits. It is just a timeless classic from start to finish.

I got the Superman Bly-ray Anthology 8 Disc Box-set, which is in a blue colour, about two years ago on Amazon. I got this because I had never bought any Superman movie on DVD before. Also, roughly half of the extras from all of the basic DVD editions & boxsets on sale are currently missing. This Blu-ray set also has two versions of Superman The Movie, a theatrical & expanded edition, two versions of Superman II that includes the theatrical & Donner Cut, the other Superman movies up to Superman Returns and 20 hours of extras with a bonus disc including more extras from all the movies in the boxset. I haven't watched any of the Superman movies from it yet. But I watched the documentary from Kevin Spacey over the summer and it was really good. It's very long though as the length is roughly 2 and a half hours.

AllForIt

loyatemu wrote: »

no mention of Gene Hackman? Brilliant as Lex Luthor.

Absolutely. He's was brilliant in the Oval Office ! His bumbling henchman Otis, Ned Beaty of course, was pretty good too I though.

Gaz wrote: »

One of my favourite films of all time and quite possible the best super hero movie but I have two major gripes ...

I f**kin hated the "can you read my mind" scene.
....

Actually yes that's a good point and I'd agree. It wasn't so much the scene itself or even the melody of the music, it's was just her vocals that was the problem.

Marty Bird

Something that always bothered me when Lex pushes the cop infront of train and all they find is the shredded hat, isn’t that the guy that gets off the helicopter before Lois gets on it atop of the daily planet? After the train scene.

oceanclub

He's still the definitive Superman 40 years later, which is an astonishing feat really.

P.

Skerries

this was my first film in the cinema

I remember going to see it in the Adelphi and having King Burger before hand (not a typo)

when was it released here as I am 44 now and thought I was 6 at the time?

Goodshape

Skerries wrote: »

when was it released here as I am 44 now and thought I was 6 at the time?

IMDb says 26 December 1978, so you would have been around 5 I guess?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/releaseinfo

Pelvis

For anyone unawares, the Stella Theater in Rathmines are showing Superman on the 21st @ Noon.

Wedwood

Hard to believe Superman the Movie is 40 years old this year.

It's probably fair to say this is probably the best superhero movie and it has certainly stood the test of time. Richard Donner made the critical decision to play it straight rather than the jokey style of the then relatively recent Batman tv series and placed Superman in a 'real world' setting.

Getting the likes of Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando and Glen Ford onboard was dream casting. Bear in mind Marlon Brando had recently filmed and won his Oscar (which he famously declined) for The Godfather and Hackman had recently done The French Connection, Donner had gained Superman the Movie serious street cred.

His casting of Christopher Reeve was perhaps the most perfect casting for a role, as evidenced by how his successors in the role have paled in comparison. His onscreen chemistry with Margot Kidder jumped off the screen and they have rightly gone into movie history as one of the greatest screen couples.

Geoffrey Unsworth brought the cinematography to another level and he brought you right into to the likes of Smallville and Metropolis.

And of course, John Williams composed and conducted 'that' movie score.

Apart from being a great movie, it also promoted the idealistic American 'truth and justice', which now seems a million miles away as we live through the Trump era.

Wombatman

Saw it in the cinema as an 8 year old kid. Absolutely blew my mind. Wonderful movie. What a score.

buried

Soundtrack will never be topped IMO. Such scope and Rising. The start of this is magic.