Rating:  -
Get "Superman III" and "Supergirl" by the Salkind folks and you'll have the cheesiest evening ever! In fact, Superman III nearly beats Supergirl in the "pure cheese" category. And if, like me, you're a fan of such movies, you'll absolutely love this DVD.
The story - Clark Kent/Superman goes back to Smallville for a school-reunion and meets up with a really lovely Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole). Unfortunately, there's this businessman and his bimbo girlfriend and his sister who hires Richard Pryor to mess up the world-weather (and Columbian coffee) with computers. Superman turns evil after touching some green crystal (Kryptonite mixed with tar) and gets drunk, then ends up sleeping with the aforementioned businessman's bimbo girlfriend and even pushes the Tower of Pisa straight. Finally, a supercomputer designed by Richard Pryor turns evil and transforms the aforementioned businessman's sister into an evil, mechanical sister. Superman fights them all with acid and then proceeds to make the Tower of Pisa a leaning tower again before soaring off triumphantly. Movie ends. Roll credit.
I hated this as a kid but watched it again last night and absolutely loved it. It's the nostalgia thing again. I knocked one star off my rating for it because there's this scene where Richard Pryor skies off a skyscraper, lands on the street and DID NOT die!
Rating:  -
Without Lex Luthor, this film rather suffers. But it was an attempt to create an original story instead of returning to the same old theme, which, let's be honest, can get exhausting.
This also got me interested in psychology as a child, because I thought the whole notion of two sides of the same man duking it out was fascinating, to say the least.
Besides, Richard Pryor is a scream here, though what he does on the computer intuitively instead seems to be very close to what a skilled hacker can do today.
This film has one other great idea: Clarke should forget about Lois and start dating Liana. Liana is much sweeter, and unlike the Superman-obseesed Lois, Liana only wants her old friend, Clarke? And, she's smart enough NOT to put herself into deathtraps.
Rating: -
The third installment in the Superman series, while not as thrilling as its predecessors, is nevertheless a fun movie to watch. It's important to know that this movie has an entirely different feel than the other two: a bit more lighthearted and without the Clark/Lois romance. The plot has Superman, fresh from defeating General Zod, going up against megalomaniac industrialist Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn). After he foils Webster's first plan, Superman gets exposed to Webster's synthetic kryptonite which turns him into an evil thug. But when Webster threatens the world using a destructive supercomputer, can the Man of Steel fight off the evil which has corrupted him to save the day?
Comedian Richard Pryor is the bumbling Gus Gorman, a computer whiz, whose talents are exploited for evil by Webster. He provides some funny moments, but at times doesn't seem to quite fit into this kind of movie. Annete O'Toole is Lana Lang, who coupled with a spirited performance provides a great love interest. This film also had some really good scenes. The two best are the chemical fire and the junkyard duel between Superman and Clark Kent (wait and see why!!).
This movie is great fun, so sit back and enjoy it!
Rating: -
I just rented the VHS copy of this movie for my sons, (ages 13 and 15) who have never seen this film before, and what a blast it was. Their comments, aside from their laughter, were, "How cheap was that?" and "That was corny!" referring to the special effects.
However, I know deep down, they actually enjoyed the movie since they stayed in the room the entire time with their eyes glued to the set. Of course they are going to notice and laugh at the special effects, the film was made over 17 years ago. Their comparing the f/x to the latest Hulk, Spiderman, and Star Wars films. Thats what they have come to expect. I would critisize this film too if it was released last year.
I first saw this film on a date with my fiance' and I thought it was far better than Superman II. I didn't like Margot Kidder cast as Lois Lane to begin with. I thought she was much to unattractive for Reeves, and her part much to large in #II. I am probably the only person to think this but, I liked Lana Lang, (Annette O'toole) much better as Clark Kents love interest. For this reason I liked the very small part Kiddder had in this film. Richard Pryor was good as the unsuspecting villian and comic relief.
What super-power should Superman tangle with in this film? He has already battled evil genius, Lex Luther, and 3 former inhabitants of Krypton with physical powers like his own. Why not fight himself? The synthetic Krypton that causes this sickness or multi-personality disorder in Superman is a great idea. Theres no better way to evolve the story line. How many times have any of us struggled with good and evil within ourselves.
The evil super-computer at the end was good too. Can anyone say "Terminator III".
Overall, I love this movie and rank it 2nd in the series with #II and IV battling for last place. Of course the first Superman will remain everyones favorite.
Just to let you know, after the movie was over, my 13 year old asked if we could get a copy of our own. "Sure thing." I said. I thought it was like an old friend coming to visit.
Rating: -
The first was good, the second was ok, the third was original, and then it really went down hill... This movie is worth having on DVD simply because it has all the memorable superman moments -- no sup as a child, or supe in love, or retarded adversaries from outerspace -- no, none of that.... it has superman in a bar flicking peanuts at bottles! what more can you ask for?? Not to mention the vulcan weather satellite -- that could MAKE weather (talk about an 80's view of technology!). This is one of THE 80's movies, with content pertaining to high-powered business men, green-screen terminals, satellites, OIL SPILLS, a good-and-evil showdown that smacks of nightmare on elm street, a really big computer, a cyborg, a jar of acid, video-game-controlled missiles, coal-crushing, timmy-saving, and that Leaning Tower of Pisa guy!! Com'mon -- that guy is a MUST.
It's not perfect -- for example, it's less funny today than it was because some of jokes don't translate well (it might be fairer to say they CHANGE into something which is still interesting, but less of a joke than a commentary) -- but it's still funny enough. Take pryor in smallville: he get's off the bus and see's a tacky suit in a window -- it's not obvious it's tacky when it's set against a backdrop of early-80's fashion. it's still funny, but not ha-ha funny... :)
Simply put, this is REQUIRED VIEWING for any would-be computer science major, or 80's afficionado.
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