I can't say I'm all that familar with George Reeves as Superman other than his appearance on "I Love Lucy" but I have seem photos of him in the costume and he really looks the part to me from what I've seen. Like a lot of people, I grew up with the Christopher Reeve Superman and pretty much have used him as the benchmark because I love his version of the character but I have liked something about everyone who has played the role. Some more than others but everyone who has played Superman/Clark Kent has brought something to the role that made me like the character.
I guess if I had to re-watch one of them, I'd go with the second film, but I think my best answer would be "none of the above". They're all flawed, and for some reason the first one didn't connect with me as a kid the way it did for many. I remember seeing it in a theater with my dad and being bored by a lot of it. Sort of the same reaction I had when they made TV series out of Spider-Man and the Hulk - I would continually wonder why I was watching my favorite superhero fight regular criminals instead of the supervillains I'd grown up reading. The second film at least rectifies some of that, but it's still a mess.
I'm a little bummed out that no one's selected 3, 4 or Returns. I'd love to see someone come up with a defense for those. Last year, some guys at Comic Alliance actually declared 3 the best of the bunch simply because it captured some of that Silver Age goofiness.
There is some interesting things about Superman 3. I like the idea of him becoming evil as he does in the movie and basically has to fight himself to get back to what Superman is supposed to be. My biggest problem with the movie has mostly to do with the fact that this movie felt more like a comedy and the casting of certain roles as well as the lack of screen time for others like Lois and not even having Lex in the movie. I did like the inclusion of Lana Lang and that whole story. It's a very mixed bag for me. I thought Christopher Reeve was amazing as the corrupted Superman though. He played that very well. It has it's moments but overall not a great movie.
There is some interesting things about Superman 3. I like the idea of him becoming evil as he does in the movie and basically has to fight himself to get back to what Superman is supposed to be. My biggest problem with the movie has mostly to do with the fact that this movie felt more like a comedy and the casting of certain roles as well as the lack of screen time for others like Lois and not even having Lex in the movie. I did like the inclusion of Lana Lang and that whole story. It's a very mixed bag for me. I thought Christopher Reeve was amazing as the corrupted Superman though. He played that very well. It has it's moments but overall not a great movie.
I actually recall coming out of a movie theater with my dad and encountering that first Superman III poster in the lobby. The one with him flying and carrying a screaming Richard Pryor. Even as a young kid I remember thinking that looked pretty effed up.
Again, my main problem with Superman III was more than it had to do with Richard Pryor. He was put into the movie because he was reported as saying he liked the Superman movies and the creators wanted him in it. Pryor got a nice deal from the movie company to make other movies after Superman III and overall, at times, it feels more like a Richard Pryor movie than a Superman movie and that bums me out. I never liked the poster to Superman III. It never sat well with me. Every Superman movie is just a picture of Superman except for III which adds Richard Pryor for no other reason that he's Richard Pryor.
I wouldn't count the Ben Affleck movie where he plays George Reeves. It's not all about him playing Superman. It's about his life and his death and what led up to it, so no. I wouldn't count it. The Fleisher cartoons though I would count and those are amazing. I would even put those cartoons up against all the stuff you're getting today. They are so timeless.
I have to go Superman the Movie. While I enjoyed Superman II (the original) more when i was a kid, as i get older, I realize just how awesome that first movie is. Not only did Donner play it straight, but you could really believe that people could be fooled by the glasses.
I really like the Clark Kent/Superman battle. I like the idea of Superman 4 but the overall product isn't so great.
The Clark/Superman battle is a lot more brutal than I remembered it being. Great scene and weirdly hard to watch (in that good way). Also, Superman puts out a chemical plant fire by freezing a lake and dropping it onto the fire, which is about the most Supermanly action in the whole series.
As for 4, yeah, a lot went wrong there. But it's probably Margot Kidder's best performance as Lois since the first movie... go watch it again and pay close attention to her, because Super Roofie Kiss or no, she totally knows.
I remember being very uncomfortable the first time I saw the Clark Kent/Superman fight. They were really trying to kill each other. It was very disturbing but I thought it was done nicely and a good scene. The part where he freezes the lake to put out the chemical fire was outstanding and yes. A very cool part of the entire series. I do remember Lois being really quite awesome in 4. She is the highlight of the film in my opinion.
I always felt that if some of Richard Pryors shtick was cut, Superman 3 would play a little tighter. I like Mr Pryor as an actor, but it seems the writers were never able to figure out how to intergrate him successfully into the story.
I really like the Clark Kent/Superman battle. I like the idea of Superman 4 but the overall product isn't so great.
The Clark/Superman battle is a lot more brutal than I remembered it being. Great scene and weirdly hard to watch (in that good way). Also, Superman puts out a chemical plant fire by freezing a lake and dropping it onto the fire, which is about the most Supermanly action in the whole series.
As for 4, yeah, a lot went wrong there. But it's probably Margot Kidder's best performance as Lois since the first movie... go watch it again and pay close attention to her, because Super Roofie Kiss or no, she totally knows.
I remember being very uncomfortable the first time I saw the Clark Kent/Superman fight. They were really trying to kill each other. It was very disturbing but I thought it was done nicely and a good scene. The part where he freezes the lake to put out the chemical fire was outstanding and yes. A very cool part of the entire series. I do remember Lois being really quite awesome in 4. She is the highlight of the film in my opinion.
I always felt that if some of Richard Pryors shtick was cut, Superman 3 would play a little tighter. I like Mr Pryor as an actor, but it seems the writers were never able to figure out how to intergrate him successfully into the story.
Even as a kid, I questioned his surviving skiing down a building.
I always felt that if some of Richard Pryors shtick was cut, Superman 3 would play a little tighter. I like Mr Pryor as an actor, but it seems the writers were never able to figure out how to intergrate him successfully into the story.
Even as a kid, I questioned his surviving skiing down a building.
Yeah, cos the whole alien from another planet what dresses in blue tights with his red underwear on the outside is completely plausible--not to mention reversing the earth's rotation as a way to turn back time. :D
Again, my main problem with Superman III was more than it had to do with Richard Pryor. He was put into the movie because he was reported as saying he liked the Superman movies and the creators wanted him in it. Pryor got a nice deal from the movie company to make other movies after Superman III and overall, at times, it feels more like a Richard Pryor movie than a Superman movie and that bums me out. I never liked the poster to Superman III. It never sat well with me. Every Superman movie is just a picture of Superman except for III which adds Richard Pryor for no other reason that he's Richard Pryor.
I wouldn't count the Ben Affleck movie where he plays George Reeves. It's not all about him playing Superman. It's about his life and his death and what led up to it, so no. I wouldn't count it. The Fleisher cartoons though I would count and those are amazing. I would even put those cartoons up against all the stuff you're getting today. They are so timeless.
superman 3 is completely rediculous and a joke of a movie. not to mention an insult to the two previous films which were essentially masterpieces. that said, its still somehow enjoyable and a clasic in its own way that i think of fondly. if a sequel like it was made today people would explode over how insulting it was. the closest comparisons i can think of would be gremlins 2 or batman and robin... though b+r had the buffer of forever which hinted at the turn.
superman 3 is completely rediculous and a joke of a movie. not to mention an insult to the two previous films which were essentially masterpieces. that said, its still somehow enjoyable and a clasic in its own way that i think of fondly. if a sequel like it was made today people would explode over how insulting it was. the closest comparisons i can think of would be gremlins 2 or batman and robin... though b+r had the buffer of forever which hinted at the turn.
I always felt that if some of Richard Pryors shtick was cut, Superman 3 would play a little tighter. I like Mr Pryor as an actor, but it seems the writers were never able to figure out how to intergrate him successfully into the story.
Even as a kid, I questioned his surviving skiing down a building.
Yeah, cos the whole alien from another planet what dresses in blue tights with his red underwear on the outside is completely plausible--not to mention reversing the earth's rotation as a way to turn back time. :D
Comments
I'm a little bummed out that no one's selected 3, 4 or Returns. I'd love to see someone come up with a defense for those. Last year, some guys at Comic Alliance actually declared 3 the best of the bunch simply because it captured some of that Silver Age goofiness.
I'd rank any of the Fleischer Studios shorts and most of the DC Animated features above all the choices offered.
I wouldn't count the Ben Affleck movie where he plays George Reeves. It's not all about him playing Superman. It's about his life and his death and what led up to it, so no. I wouldn't count it. The Fleisher cartoons though I would count and those are amazing. I would even put those cartoons up against all the stuff you're getting today. They are so timeless.
Most people I know kinda liked it.
My world = ROCKED.