Richard Donner has made some wonderful movies over the years. From The Omen to The Goonies to letting Mel Gibson off the leash in the Lethal Weapon movies,Donner makes movies you remember. This first proper Superman film is another.
Donner may have made the odd stinker but anyone who can make a superhero film and control both Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman's egos (regardless of the cost) has my admiration. Lets be honest forget Dean Cain,Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill,Christopher Reeve was Superman. He exuded everything the superhero required. Good looking All American Boy (even though he came from another planet), Reeve was a striking looking man. In Hackman,Donner delivered another classic baddie and Ned Beatty gave more comic kudos to proceedings as Luthor's bumbling henchman. First of a generation this was a box office sensation and although some of the special effects look a little ropey nowadays it's still an achievement.

Before Nolans Batmans and Marvels attempts to control the Cinematic box office there was Superman. The first Super hero Blockbuster. Christopher Reeve will always be Superman due to this performance. You can argue which Batman you prefer but there is only one true superman. Marlon Brando's cameo as Supermans father Jor El is still spoken about today. Gene Hackman also owned the role of Lex Luther through the series of films. But this was Superman. From start to finish this is an epic Blockbuster for a time where Blockbusters didn't exist. Have you ever seen a superman series or film since without the John Williams iconic score ringing through your mind? thought not.

It's sad to me that Christopher Reeve's performance as Superman has been brushed aside somewhat. He does a fine job as Superman-as-boy scout (which is the version of the character the film is invested in), but where he really shines is as Clark Kent. Here he channels Cary Grant from Bringing Up Baby to hilarious screwball effect.

And that's really the great thing about the film; it is in many ways a pastiche of several genres, superhero, screwball newspaper comedy, coming of age drama, and interstellar sci-fi, yet most of it works perfectly. Really the only weak moments involve Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, as well as his two hencepeople, who are just a bit too cartoonish yet don't quite work on the screwball level. Still, a must-watch for fans of the genre.

I HAVEN'T seen this before - but with Man Of Steel around the corner I thought I'd finally sot down with it. So how'd I find it? It's a delightful romp with all those wonderful elements - humour, adventure, the goofy bad guy and the love interest. I appreciated the offbeat humour here - from Lois' pink knickers gag to the scene with the airplane pilots.
It's cheesy but its fun and damn, Christopher Reeves played the two sides of this character wonderfully.
There are a few plot holes here or there but they're minor and not worth going into detail about them.

One of the first, and best superhero movies. I feel like I'm a fair weather Superman fan. He's great when handled well, but it is very easy to screw him up. Only one thing... turns... me off to this movie, but it sort of works with the style so whatever. Excited for Man of Steel, probably my most anticipated summer movie this year.

Nunca la había visto, y no hay mejor compañía para verla que mi Pak, fan de Superman hasta los huesos. El ritmo de la película esta muy bien la verdad, al igual que los efectos para dicha época.

Lo que más llama la atención es la estupidez que transmite Clark, no hacia falta hacerlo tan idiota para que existiera tanto contraste entre el y Superman.

Lo de girar para que el tiempo vuelva para atrás... es terrible XD

Just an amazing superhero movie and a great superman movie and had a great story but theme and treated superman with respect and made it into a great comic book movie even with some cheesey lines and not the best effects but still is a great movie.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.