Film Review: Superman: The Movie (1978)

"You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you... even in the face of our death. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I've learned, everything I feel... all this, and more, I... I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside you, all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father the son. This is all I... all I can send you, Kal-El." - Marlon Brando

Of all the superhero films ever made, Superman:  The Movie was, and still is, one of the most epic experiences made.  Even its opening credits sequence, with big blue 3D letters streaking at the audience across deep space, is an epic and awesome sight.  From then on, as the film chronicles the origins of Superman and his first confrontation with Lex Luthor, the film sets out to deliver as much as it can; among the film's smorgasbord of spectacle, there are the otherworldly scenes on planet Krypton, Superman discovering his powers for the first time, numerous feats in which Superman saves lives and fights crime, and a thrilling climax where the Man of Steel's abilities are put to the test as he struggles to thwart mass destruction on a global scale.  With so many action scenes and visually-inspiring sequences, the film covers a lot of ground, and it does decent justice to the classic comic-book hero.

This experience is marred only by the age of the film.  Despite its sheer ambition and scale, the film's special effects have not aged well, the styles appear outdated and gaudy, acting has its cheesy parts, and campy comedy clashes frequently with the sentimental drama.  There is also a lot of absurdity involved.  It's still a fun and enchanting experience, even if it is the product of its time.

The story for this film is a long affair; half of it is devoted to Superman's origins, showcasing the fate of planet Krypton and Kal-El's upbringing in Smallville.  In the last half, the film switches to Superman's life in Metropolis, and the subsequent struggles that ensue.  A lot of the funner scenes occur in the last half, but the film overall builds up the title character really well, and explores some strong themes regarding fate and destiny.  My only real complaint about this story is that it's rather uneven, and the climax feels somewhat weak.

Regardless, this film is made competently, with quality photography and editing.  Acting from Christopher Reeve is effectively perfect; Margot Kidder is endearing (even if her character is rather daft), Gene Hackman plays a seriously hammy villain, and Marlon Brando chews the scenery in his brief scenes (in a role that cost a whopping $3.7 million).  Writing is not particularly deep, but it strikes the right tone and it is pretty good in general.  Despite my complaints about the film's age and styles, it does use some very expensive sets, props, costumes, and special effects.  The filmmakers and producers didn't exactly get along during this film's shooting, so the end product is especially admirable.  John Williams' score for this film is classic!

The theatrical cut of this film is decent, but on DVD and Blu-Ray, there is an extended cut available with something like 20 minutes of new footage.  The film doesn't really need these scenes, but they are pretty cool, and a few of them do add a little more to the story and characters.

Recommended!

4/5 (Entertainment:  Good | Story:  Good | Film:  Very Good)