Superman II (1981) Warner Bros./Action-Adventure RT: 127 minutes Rated PG (comic book violence, language, discreet sexuality) Director: Richard Lester Screenplay: Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Tom Mankiewicz (uncredited) Music: Ken Thorne Cinematography: Robert Paynter Release date: June 19, 1981 (US) Cast: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, Jack O’Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Susannah York, Clifton James, E.G. Marshall, Marc McClure, Terence Stamp. Box Office: $108.2M (US)/$216.3M (World)
Rating: ****
One of the taglines for Superman II is “The Man of Steel is back, and better than ever!” I couldn’t have put it better myself. This installment is, hands down, the best Superman movie EVER. Director Richard Lester (A Hard Day’s Night) doesn’t waste any time getting the action started. Remember the opening scene of the first movie when Jor-El sentenced three traitors to banishment in the Phantom Zone? Meet the villains of this second (and last good one) installment of the series.
As the movie begins, Lois Lane (Kidder) is in Paris covering a story. Terrorists are about to set off a hydrogen bomb inside the Eiffel Tower and they have hostages. As usual, the intrepid reporter gets herself into trouble when she hides under the elevator and the cable breaks. Superman (Reeve) arrives just in the nick of time to save her (again). Then he launches the bomb into outer space which causes the Phantom Zone to shatter, freeing the three criminals being held there- arrogant leader General Zod (Stamp, The Limey), second-in-command Ursa (Conan the Destroyer) and hulking mute enforcer Non (O’Halloran, The Spy Who Loved Me). They have the same exact powers as Superman once they reach Earth (that darn yellow sun!). Zod’s plan is to take over the world. Superman’s job is to stop him. Of course, Lex Luthor (Hackman, The French Connection) shows up and throws in his lot with the super-powered trio. He promises to deliver Superman in exchange for one small thing, Australia.
In a subplot, Clark Kent is still in love with Lois and wants to reveal his true identity to her. They are at Niagara Falls working on a story. Lois, starting to suspect that Clark is really Superman, jumps into the raging waters. Clark chooses not to reveal his alter ego at this time. He does so later and is subsequently forced to choose between love and his powers.
Superman II doesn’t waste a lot of time with character exposition. It gets right into the action and never stops. There are a lot of cool scenes. My favorite scene is when Superman fights the trio right in the middle of Metropolis. It’s an amazing set-piece with the four super-powered figures causing mass mayhem and destruction. At one point, the citizens try to get involved with the expected results. They don’t have super powers.
The performances in Superman II are about the same as the first. As for the bad guys, Stamp is unforgettable. He makes it crystal clear that Zod is just as much of a megalomaniac as Lex except that he’s more dangerous than his human counterpart. Douglas is also very good as Ursa, an ice cold bitch if ever there was one. O’Halloran makes a nearly formidable foe; he just can’t seem to work his powers. Since I singled out the performances of the major characters in my previous article, there’s no need to repeat it.
It’s rare that a sequel is better than the first, but Lester pulls it off. Superman II was supposed to be directed by Richard Donner, but the studio was so unhappy with Donner’s work that they replaced him mid-shoot. In any case, Superman II rocks! I mean that knock-down, all-out fight where Superman fights the villains is pretty awesome. The special effects are awesome! There was no such thing as CGI in 1981. CGI has become the norm for special effects in movies, I look at effects in current movies and the CGI effects don’t look real (Yes Michael Bay, I’m looking at you!). The effects in many of the 70s and 80s look more realistic (Now I’m looking at you Mr. Spielberg).
I’m sure that many of you have already seen Superman II, why not watch it again? This is worlds better than most of the crap that passes for movies these days. I grew up watching a lot of movies and I think Michael Bay should study them before he makes another noisefest.
Just to clarify something, I am reviewing the original theatrical version of Superman II, not the Richard Donner cut that came out on DVD in 2006. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll stick with the original version, the one I saw in theaters that summer. I remember it vividly because I took my first date (Julie B.) to see it. We’re still friends.
