Superman: The Movie— A Review

13th July, 2025: Superman: The Movie/Superman.

The Introduction.

Right: it’s official Sunday afternoon.

And?

Dinner — or, at least, a burger — is cooking.

I’ll probably have that with some yummy home made chips.

Made with home grown potatoes, loving bought in a shop, shoved into a cupboard until needed … or chopped up, and shoved into the air-fryer.

Then … you know … cooked … !

Gosh … the excitement … 

At any rate?

I have the evening free: and fancied a movie.

Given the 2025 version is due out at some point … ?

I felt watching the 1978 version of Superman: The Movie — also called Superman — might be an idea.

If things go well … ?

I’ll have this review up by Monday, 14th July: and you can see what I thought.

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Part One: the Summary.

Superman: The Movie opens with a child’s voice: a child who flips the pages of a comic book, and tells us that the finest newspaper in the city of Metropolis … is the renowned Daily Planet.

The scene shifts: to show us the planet Krypton, where Jor-El (Marlon Brando) is conducting the prosecution of three Kryptonian crinimals who are exile to the Phantom Zone.

The scenes shifts, again.

To show us Jor-El telling his fellow Councillors that facts are indisputable: that Krypton will explode in less than thirty days.

Only for the Council to insist he stay silent about the planet’s death, and that he and his wife Lara (Susannah York), not cause a panic by leaving.

Something Jor-El is willing to do: as he’s already built an escape craft for his only son, Kal-El.

A craft Krypton’s finest scientist manages to launch, as Krypton, itself, starts dying.

The scene shifts again, to show us the baby Kal-El’s trip through space, and eventual landing in the Kansan town of Smallville.

Where his ship is found by Jonathan and Martha Kent: who adopt the strange little boy, name him Clark … and nurture him until he reaches the age of 18 … 

When his adoptive father dies of an unexpected heart attack.

It’s only then that Clark decides he has to leave home: he has an unexpected urge to head north …

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

14th July, 2025.

Part Two: Thoughts.

Now … bearing in mind I last saw Superman: The Movie in a cinema in 1978?

What did I make of Superman: The Movie, of this film?

Of a movie that I’ve only seen twice?

There’s possibly a few things I should tell you.

One is simply this: that this film is — or was — the first superhero film that I can remember seeing,

There weren’t that many superhero films that reached Brentwood Cinema.

There were a few around, I think: but Superman was the first big internationally released production to reach the UK.

I’d seen the original Star Wars at Brentwood’s cinema, only a few months before: and can remember thinking Superman’s opening titles — and music — had been possibly influenced by the Lucas-penned blockbuster.

But, once the titles rolled?

That we were in very different territory.

For a start?

The opening fifty minutes or so told us lots of things about the character: how his world was destroyed, how he came to Earth, about his years in Kansas, and the death of his adoptive father … 

And how he discovered his heritage, once he found the mysterious Green Crystal and set up the Fortress of Solitude at the North Pole.

Those scenes, of the Fortress growing out of the Arctic ice, of the hologram of Superman’s father, were beautifully done.

But, as important as they are to Superman’s story?

As important as these first fifty minutes of the film are … they bored me witless!

In both 1978, and last night.

It’s the pacing of them.

The details in the first fifty minutes were all very well, all very nice … but could possibly have been done far more quickly.

Maybe not with a Star Wars-style opening crawl: but certainly far more rapidly!

However … ?

It’s only when Clark — Superman’s secret identity — reaches Metropolis, rescues Louis from a mugger, and is introduced to Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) that Superman: The Movie picks up pace, moves into high gear … and, like its main character, starts to fly!

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Part Three: More Thoughts.

There’s possibly a lot more I could tell you here.

Seriously, a lot.

But the one thing I should say … ?

Is that the cast are — for the most part — fantastic.

Especially the two central characters.

I’ve quietly said for years that, whoever plays Lois Lane in latter movies, needs — needed? — to be someone special.

Needs, in other words, to bring feistiness, verve, and toughness to the role: needs to be both vulnerable … and have the hard-nosed instincts of a chain-smoking, veteran, reporter.

With all due respect to everyone else that’s played the part?

Including Stockard Channing, who also auditioned for the role in 1978?

Kidder is the definitive Lois Lane!

Part of why she works in the role?

Is simply that she works so well with her co-star, Christopher Reeve: but also she is utterly right for the role.

Reeve, himself?

Plays Clark/Superman with a straight face that possibly only Adam West’s Batman could beat … but also with a sense of restraint, an unfailing sense of good manners.

At one stage in the film, Superman drills his way down through a pavement: so he can get to Lex Luthor’s underground base.

It’s stayed in my mind as an example of what I mean by ‘polite’: Reeve’s version of the character does this after saying, “Stand back, please” to the crowd of excited onlookers.

No other actor brought that to the part … !

No other actor brought that restraint … or brought such a knowing smile.

It’s a smile that snares Lois Lane: and us, the audience.

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Part Four: And Finally.

So … what have I made of this trip down memory lane … ?

Of a second viewing of a forty-seven year old film that still looks good: even though I saw it many years ago?

Yes: the opening fifty minutes were as boring as I found them, originally.

Yes: the effects hold up, although they are no-where near as sophisticated as today’s.

And yes: the “Can You Read My Mind?” section of the film is cheesier than a dairy in Cheddar.

But … ?

Superman: The Movie, also called Superman, is still a watchable film.

And, whilst I felt the first fifty minutes could be shorter, or better paced?

They’re an important part of the film: that tell his origin story to those of us who weren’t familiar with it.

Yes: the character’s line about defending truth, justice and the American Way puts me in mind of a quote from Moore and Gibson’s Watchmen graphic novel*.

Yes: the film came out in the post-Star Wars frenzy … but … ?

This was the first successful superhero movie, one that defined the genre, and influenced everything that followed: regardless of whether they were DC movies, Marvel movies or independent from both.

That?

Makes Superman: The Movie worth watching at least once.

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Part Five: Thank you and Goodnight.

That … ?

Is where I’ll leave things for now.

I’ll leave you with my thanks for reading this: or for watching the video version of this review, if that’s what you’ve done.

Before I go?

I will ask you to subscribe to my YouTube channel: if you want to.

And follow this blog, as well.

I do a quiz every day: and am planning to review series three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Keep your eyes peeled, folks: I’ll see you next time.

Superman: The Movie

★★★☆

*        It was a line from a fictional researcher, speaking of the superpowered Dr Manhattan: but that could equally apply to Superman: “God exists, and he’s American.”   [Blogger’s italics.]   If a real world Superman wouldn’t worry you?   Maybe he should …