Retro Review: Superman

Introduction:

It's Retro Review time again! It has not been terribly long since the last one on Ghostbusters, but a reminder is always a good thing in my opinion. A retro review is taking an older film and writing a critique as though it has recently released. It works best with a franchise with a recent entry, and preferably one with a number of them in between. That is because the intent is to subtly, facetiously include the context of the history since the subject film. Sometimes the best way to "get the idea" is with examples, so please check out ones on A Christmas Story, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and miniature versions on the films of Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology, in addition to the aforementioned Ghostbusters. I use a review format that follows the name of the final film of Sergio Leone's Man with No Name Trilogy, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Good and bad aspects are typical elements of a good review, so I always feel the need to explain what might fall under "ugly". If you did not take the time to read the past editions of "Retro Review", it can range from less than ethical Hollywood tactics behind the scenes to ethnic stereotyping to less serious matters like costuming and nonsensical accents. Enough intro; let's get to it.

Retro Review: Superman (1978)

The Good:

Twelve years. Not that there have been a lot of instances including serials, but that's how long ago the most recent movie based on a DC Comics character has been on the big screen. That was Adam West's Batman, an expansion of the then hugely popular eponymous television series. The last live action appearance of Superman was over twenty years ago, and that on the small screen in Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves. Christopher Reeve (no "s") takes on the title role in Superman, also known as Superman: The Movie, and embodies the character completely, from the goofy and clumsy alter ego, Clark Kent, to the godlike benevolence of Superman. The cast also includes the star power of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, his biological father, and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, his archnemesis. The film is truly a comic book brought to life featuring a perfect blend of camp and serious, mixing in high-stakes action, good and well-portrayed characters, and special effects that indeed made this reviewer believe a man could fly. Its runtime is spent mostly prudently on a prologue on his home planet Krypton and formative years with his adoptive parents and yet leaving sufficient time to tell the main part of the story. Making a film based on a superhero is risky, to be sure. Presuming others will be made, I believe this one will be the standard for comparison, and this one proves that it could be a genre all of its own. If they're still making new Superman films at some point after the inevitable sequel or sequels (more on that in a bit), there are two approaches that can be taken, both using this film as a guide. The first is an extended prologue, but one that ties closely to the story of the film. The other approach would be to follow the basic formula of this film, but of course, make it contemporary with when it is made. On the other hand, a bad approach is to try and capture its nostalgia without enough of an update.

The Bad

Sequels to successful films are gradually becoming more commonplace, for better or worse. So, one does expect some teasing of future releases. However, to virtually begin the film with material that is presumably relevant to a future story is a bit much. Reportedly, a good portion of a second Superman film was shot simultaneously with Superman, but this portion of the prologue will have to be repeated in a hypothetical follow-up that features General Zod and his cohorts as villains, so it either adds unnecessary runtime here or will never payoff and was pointless. It is also worth noting that when Superman takes Lois Lane up for a flight, there is this odd spoken word piece performed by Margot Kidder that is simply out of place.  

The Ugly

Special effects in big budget films are being pushed to their current technological boundaries and new innovations are being created all the time. Still, even though much of the film truly looks great by any standard, there will be some scenes we as a movie-going audience will look back and see as dated. While I think the affection for the film will compensate any potential lack of continued relevance, the hope is these less-than-stellar moments will always yet be seen as part of the fascination. 

Conclusion:

Superman has set the bar high for any future films featuring intriguing heroes and villains that first came to life on the pages of comic books. Its grand scale and execution far outweigh any minor faults. While there is a small amount of time spent unnecessarily in light of the fact that it will have to be repeated, these bits do not feel forced. Lois’ poem is quite abstract to me, but others may find they enjoy it. The effects are mostly excellent but may take some out of the moment here and there. To close, it is an instant classic, and its legacy will last for years to come. Recommend: 8 knowledge crystals out of 10.

Next up...Into the Fray with opening scenes!