Rating:  -
Taking place right where the first movie left us, Superman II returend most of the cast and elements from the first and gave us a thrilling new story.
The three Kryptonian villains from the begining of the first movie are released from the Phantom Zone prison and head to Earth to cause havoc and trouble, now that they have the same powers as Superman due to the yellow sun radiation that gives Kryptonians super powers like it did for Kal-El. They waste no time using their new powers and evil plots to try and control the planet. First killing a group of astronauts on the moon then they head to a small town in Idaho destroying it as if it were made of twigs, before finaly taking over the White House in Washington and causing the president to kneel in submission.
The trio of terror consists of General Zod (Terrance Stamp) who is the leader and brains behind the reign of terror, Ursa (Sarah Douglas) the evil and twsited female who kills first and asks questions later and Non (Jack O'Halloran) the silent and slow minded brute who tries to impress his leader while doing his every bidding.
Superman (Christopher Reeve) and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) start to advance their relationship in this movie, that was established in the first. Lois figures out that Clark Kent is really Superman so Superman decides to take her into his life and tell her all about his life and history. But he finds out that to love her, he has to be willing to give up his powers and become a mere mortal, as he can't love a human and still be Superman. So he willingly gives up the powers to be with Lois, but this was before he knew of the Trio of Krytponians causing trouble throughout the planet and now there is no one to stop them. Gene Hackman also returns as Lex Luthor, the evil mastermind, who wants nothing more then Australia and to use these three outsiders for his own twisted power hungry purposes.
Not returning unfortunately is the director from the first film Richard Donner, due to creative differences amonst him and the producers so Richard Lester filled in instead and it is noticable the differneces in quality and style that was in the first, compared to this one. Donner directed a lot of the scenes that fill this film but a lot was also changed then was previously supposed to be. As a kid these things are probably not even noticable, but looking back 20 years later, you can see what was over what could have been if politics behind the scenes didn't take place.
The movie was full of a lot of great moments. We have the amazing battle that takes place in Metropolis with Superman and the three baddies. We have Clark Kent now without his powers getting beat up in a dinner, actualy seeing his own blood for the first time in his life. A standoff at the climax where Superman has to outsmart the three villains and Lex Luthor to restore normacy to the planet Earth. The Superman and Lois relationship moments may not be for everyone but I did like how Lois tried to get into trouble, to prove that Clark was really Superman by jumping into Niagra Falls only for Clark to have to save her instead as he didn't want to give away his identity.
There were some downsides, and it was mostly due to the new directors attempt at humors and lack of agreesion with the evil characters. A lot of moments were changed from what was previously intended so we wind up with the three villains in scenes like the famous using their super breath to blow through the streets of Metropolis to try and stop a mob who was mad they almost killed Superman. That goes on for a few minutes of them just standing there blowing everything on the set away. Including someone on a telephone who still talks after the phone booth is falling apart, someone from KFC who had to hand someone their change only to blow away with the rest of the people and cars galore flying about. Also we have new super powers that Superman or anyone from Krypton on Earth should never have had including a celephane S logo that Superman throws at one of the bad guys suddenly capturing them with it, teleporting powers with holographic images included within and the ability to make someone lose their memory due to a kiss. It was corny moments like this that definitely caused the movie to lack something over the first. What could have been really great if it were still on it's original flight plan, turned into pretty good overall but with a few bumpy points mixed in.
The movie is still great and enjoyable. You gotta take it for what it is, which is a good follow up to a wonderful film, which included most of the same characters from the first minus a director and Marlon Brando who's parts were cut out and replaced with Superman's Krtyponian mother instead. If you want to see more humor, more great acting by Christopher Reeve (who still played the part as well as anyone could ever have), cool fight scenes, a love story, action and the same wonderful music score written by John Williams.. then you will enjoy this movie and not even mind the few minor downsides to this film. A great follow up and worthy addition to the Superman franchise.
The true disapointment of this disk is that it is not a Special Edition like the first movie DVD is. There are no extra scenes added in, no commentary, no making of. It is just the movie cut of the film and that is it. Which is still great but a lot of fans, including yours truly, would have loved if this got the same treatment as the first. As there were a lot of moments cut out and changed due to the director switch as well as a lot overall that just seemed missing that would have been cool to see. Even a Making of documentary would have been nice.
Overall, this is a great edition to anyones movie library. Especialy if you have the first movie, this is must get. They say lighting can't strike twice, this is the perfect example of it doing just that. This was just as much fun and thrilling as the first movie and any fan of Superman or just a fun movie that people of all ages can get into, will be more then happy to watch this movie many times. If anything, just to see what happens to the three baddies at the end is more then worth the watch as they finally get thiers and it's more then worth the wait.
Rating:  -
After the incredibly huge success of "Superman: The Movie", Warner Brothers decided it was time for the Man of Steel to take flight yet again. Rejoining Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman for the sequel was the original film's director, Richard Donner. However, this movie wasn't without it's fair share of troubles, as the produers had frequent confrontations with Richard Donner and eventually replaced him after most of the movie had been filmed, a move that left many in the cast and crew upset. Though Donner was replaced, I still choose to view "Superman 2" as another great movie from the great director of "Superman: The Movie" and the "Lethal Weapon" series.
"Superman 2" picks up pretty much where the original left off, with Superman saving Metropolis from trouble whenever it arose. This time however, the love story between Clark Kent and Lois Lane is explored even further when Lois figures out that Clark is Superman and the sparks truly fly. Superman chooses his love for Lois over his heroic duty and returns to the Fortress of Solitude to have his powers stripped away and become human. Sadly this comes at a terrible time for both Metropolis and the world, as 3 Kryptonian supervillains escape from the Phantom Zone with one mission in mind, make the son of Jor-El pay for their time spent locked away in the Phantom Zone. The Kryptonians, led by General Zod (Terrence Stamp) will stop at nothing until Kal-El is kneeling before them or dead at their feet. Will Superman set aside his love for Lois and regain his powers in time to save the earth or will the evil Kryptonians kill him and rule the world.
An awesome sequel that improves upon the original in every way, a faster paced story, more action, more gripping drama, even better acting, you simply couldn't ask for anything better. Richard Donner and the cast really outdid themselves here, sadly Donner was unable to finish what he started do to the meddling of the producers. Maybe if Richard Donner had been able to finish "Superman 2" the next two sequels would be better; instead of grounding this franchise for almost 20 years, until 2005 when director Bryan Singer (director of "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United") would begin production on the appropriately titled, "Superman Returns".
On a side note, Terrence Stamp who plays General Zod in "Superman 2", provides the voice of Jor-El on the TV series "Smallville".
"Superman 2" is rated PG for violence.
Rating: -
I think that this Superman is even better than the first, as three renegades from Superman's planet Krypton, are unwittingly released by Superman and fly down to the planet Earth, where they wreak havoc and aim to take the world over.
Superman (Christopher Reeve) must fight for truth, justice and the American way...but alas he has given up his powers for love of the mortal woman, Lois Lane (Margo Kidder). By the time he gets his powers back, the battle is joined between good and evil. Thrilling and entertaining , from a more honest and innocent time.
Rating: -
To me, the original "Superman" movie is, and always will be, the best comic book/superhero movie of all time. There have been a few since the 1978 classic that have come close, but none have matched the magic and scope of the classic original. This 1981 sequel to the smash hit is a wonderful sequel that nearly captures and matches the same fun and class as the first film. Why people have had such problems with this movie is beyond me. Director Richard Lester has gotten a lot of bad press for the work he did on the film, and though it may not be Richard Donner standards, he still did a great job. He made the movie look and feel like a real comic book adventure. Wether or not it's true that Dick Donner stepped in and did some work on the movie on his own is true or not, I have no idea. The movie is epic in scope as the first film, and delivers the goods. This time out, her hero(once again played superbly by the late great Christopher Reeve), is conflicted between his role as superhero, and his love for Lois Lane(Margot Kidder). Once he decides to give up his role as superhero and manages to become human, things go haywire. Don't they always?. The moment he settles into his new life as a human with Lois, three villains from his home planet of Krypton, who've been trapped by Jor-El, escape and come to earth where they begin to wreak havoc and just naturally act as villains do. They get help when they are aided by Superman's arch nemesis Lex Luthor, once again played by the scene stealing Gene Hackman. The movie is definitley a visual delight, and everybody involved puts in their all to deliver a non stop action/adventure that delivers. The heroic moments are incredible, and the effects are so much better and natural looking than in most of the superhero/adventure movies nowadays. And this was 1981!. Christopher Reeve continues to make both Superman and Clark Kent fleshed out characters. He may put on glasses and everybody doesn't know who he is, but he does such a good job of seperating the two into two completely different personalities, that there is no way this guy could be one in the same. He is great. Everybody else does their part. Kidder is perky and headstrong as Lois Lane, and Gene Hackman, as always, steals every scene he is in. The three Krypton villains, Zod, Non, And Ursa, are a dastardly trio, wonderfully brought to life with uber-villainy camp by Terence Stamp(who here lately has been providing the voice for Jor-El on "Smallville"), Sarah Douglas, and the never speaking Jack 'O' Halloran. Some moments here stand out among all others. Most notably the big showdown in downtown Metropolis with the three villains causing utter chaos, and the fight with Superman. Without a doubt, the best part of the movie, and one of the best superhero/adventure moments ever. While the film may feel a bit jerky here and there, and not have a clear and precise narrative, it is still brilliantly done and put together. A superhero that is almost as heroic as it's classic original. The new movie, "Superman Returns", directed by Bryan Singer, which is scheduled for release in 2006, is said to take up after this movie. Let's hope Singer and crew do the series and the character justice.
Rating: -
My friends and I still quote that line and will probably keep doing it for the rest of our lives. (Yeah, there's a chance we may be geeks.)
Is there a better villian than General Zodd in any other movie based on a comic book??? No, I don't think so. Zodd ruled!
I also kind of dig his partner Ursa. She's a very hot super villian-ette (not sure if that's really a word - I may have just invented it.)
There's nothing I can say bad about this movie. Christopher Reeve was fantastic in this, as was everyone else in the cast. The story is very good. It's got a great mix of action, romance,humor and adventure.
As great as the original Superman movie was, I think this one was even better.
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