Superman (1978) Review

 

Superman (1978)

I figured it was about time we had a proper superhero film on this channel, and what better than the OG.

Superman, is the origin story for the man of steel, and follows Clark Kent, an alien from Krypton, sent to earth after his planets destruction. Here he must live as Clark, but fight crime as Superman, as Lex Luther hatches a plot to destroy California.

Before this film, superhero films weren’t ever taken seriously, aside from the Incredible Hulk (but that was a TV show, so we won’t count it just yet). Superman though, broke the mold on the silver screen, creating a film that wasn’t campy (for the time) but infused comedy to reflect on the contrasts between Clark’s alter ego and himself, as well as the absurdity of Lex Luthor.

While it doesn’t hold up quite as well today, with its obvious technological limitations compared to blockbuster CGI fights, it’s complex on a grand, but simple scale. Its’ use of rear reflection mapping, instead of blue screen pairs well with the dynamic moving of the camera, while keeping the actors still was monumental, borrowing a lot of the crew from Star Wars, which came out a few months prior. Many of the effects though, still hold up nicely and look stunning for the time.

Most of this films success however, goes to the late Christopher Reeve, who defined what Superman should be for generations. His ability to transform between a nerdy, stuttering, nervous young reporter to a confident, humble, and powerful hero is beyond amazing, with one scene in particular showcasing this to perfection. He is such a good Superman, possessing all of the qualities that made golden age superheroes so great, was seemingly how perfect and good natured they were, pre-antihero. Other great performances by Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman, add a lighthearted and heartwarming side to this film that make it such a classic.

Its message of humility, when knowing what one is capable of, is powerful. So many times, we see a man capable of it all, fail. It’s a natural part of life, and seeing it in Supes himself in his first big solo outing is great because while he isn’t human, there’s nothing more human than that.

7.2/10