While Spider-Man 2 might be the definitive comic book movie, I just can't take Superman off of the top spot in my own mind.

I honestly think that WB should stop bickering over this new movie that may or may not ever happen and just re-release the old one with re-vamped FX (not too many, they're fine for the most part) .

Nope, Supes is still the cream of the crop.

First off..."Superman: The Movie" is not only one of the best superhero movies of all time, but it is one of the best movies of all time period!

It had every element working for it and it was made in 1978 for Jimmy Olsen's sake. Christopher REEVE was perfectly cast as the naive farmboy from Kansas who as the immortal Glenn Ford said "was here for a reason". He didn't know what that reason was at the time, but we were soon to find out and find out we did as the inevitable move to Metropolis came and thus the superhero was born.

Reeve was just marvelous and why he was not nominated for more we will never know because he went through every emotion in the book. Played two characters and played them flawlessly.

The script and direction was just right for the 1st entry into Superman lore and correct me if I am wrong, but this was thee first mainstream superhero movie ever. So with nothing to base it on, to be the first ever and stand this test of time I would say is quite remarkable!

This is a film that won't ever be rivaled simply because of the era in which it was made, the circumstances it was made (being the first), and the impact that it has had to this day.

Despite all that, to say that there shouldn't be another is just silly. To think that it will desecrate a memory of a debilitated actor, especially one as revered as Reeve is now since the accident, is silly.

Who knows, maybe a little homage will be paid (see "Smallville" 's exceptional homage to him), maybe not, but I guarantee you Reeve is not rolling his eyes thinking how dare they. The franchise will go on, I mean it will be almost 30 years by the time the new will get made, so I think we are due to see what else is in store and only the fans of the old will be able to gleefully pick apart and decimate to our hearts content if we so choose.

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/905.gif' alt='Superhero 1' border=0></a>

Ironic, considering most of Spider-Man 2's plot is just a rehashed Superman II.

Supes simply travelled back in time. The "reverse rotation of the Earth" is just a visual representation of this. While his past persona is off diverting floods and holding the San Andreas Fault together, the future/current Supes changes history by rescuing Lois Lane... despite the stern admission from Jor-El that he must not interfere with human history. He tells Daddy to cram it sideways and goes after the woman he loves

:lol: oh, that's classic there.. :lol::up:

Hehe. I was thinking the exact same thing when I was watching spidey. Mind you, I loved the movie and this is in no way, shape or form a putdown of it but still:

- loss of "powers"? check
- previous condition due to/for a girl? check
- cars being flung around due to some strong "force"? check
- rescue from a tall building? check. (Ok, Superman 1)

SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II are my favorite superhero-based films as well.

The ending of SUPERMAN is a problem, and the campy tone of the villains also prevents the film from achieving perfection. However, nearly thirty years later, I have yet to see a comic book film of this epic stature and creative achievement. Despite the significant flaws, the film remains very underrated.

SUPERMAN II could have been a true classic if Richard Donner was kept onboard.

I believe that SPIDER-MAN 2 won't age half as well as the original SUPERMAN. I also believe that the SPIDER-MAN movies were too derivative of the SUPERMAN series.

Something I keep hoping might happen, and since Brando is dead might, is for them to re-release both I and II the way it was intended with most of/all of Donner's scenes for II re-instated. This of course should include the infamous cut scene of Jor-El speaking to the fallen Clark Kent.

Hey, a geek can hope can't he?



:( I think I might have better chances of finding a girlfriend that looks like Jessica Simpson than this happening though.

that's a really disrespectful thing to say.

Keep it at Superman II -- Eiffel Tower ;)

Also:

- deceased ghostly parental figure giving crucial advice
- after giving up powers,
- has final battle in seclusion, where the villain is ultimately

I'm well aware of this...but as I pointed out in my DVD Talk review, the difference between Spider-Man 2 and the first two Superman movies (which I love) is that the pay-offs in Spider-Man are better...there's no time traveling or magic kisses to "put things back to normal" - those who have seen the film will know what I'm talking about.

On top of that, Maguire's Peter Parker is much more interesting to watch than Reeve's Clark Kent...and that's high praise, because Reeve was wonderful in the role.

The original Superman is 2/3 of a great movie. I agree with Donnacha, it falls apart at the end, and god knows I love Gene Hackman, but he did a terrible scene-chewing job as Lex Luthor. But that opening and everything up to the rushed and cheap climax is just superb.

Superman II on the other hand, "Memory-erasing kiss" beside, is enshrined in my top 3 superhero movies ever list (which is always changing, but today includes Superman II, Spider-Man 2 and X2) (Hmm, I sense a theme...)

I thought Superman 2 was a decent movie.
I did not like Superman 1 very much. I am not sure if it was the sparklers or splashing water pretending to be a special effect during the opening or the Lois Lane song which I hate the worse.

I also did not like the ending much either.

Great, epic movie. Lex Luthor could've been a little less over-the-top, but Hackman was sufficiently evil. Having a halfwit as his henchman weakens the villainy a bit though. The comic banter between Luthor and Otis is out of place.

Reeve IS Superman. It's been joked that any dope could see that Supe and Kent are the same guy, with just glasses for a disguise, but that doesn't hold water with Reeve. He was two completely different characters, voice, posture, facial expressions, everything. Not to mention that Christopher Reeve was an extraordinarily good-looking man. He was perfect as the Man of Steel.

I too always thought that he was reversing the earth's orbit, but I much prefer the idea that it was Superman being affected only.

S2 - Also excellent!
S3 - I would like to mutilate those responsible.
S4 - Not good, but I saw it on 07/26/1987, the first time I scored with my wife. :) Thanks, Supe!

I don't know if this counts--since I know a lot of us like to pretend that the last movie does not exist--, but with regards to the "memory erasing kiss" at the end of II, in Superman IV, Lois does tell Supes/Clark that she remembers everything. Now whether that was a blatant lie and she really did forget that time when Supes kissed him again...hehe. Just thought I'd throw it out there. I like to think that Lois just chose to stay quiet and is the real heroine of II by giving up the one she loves for the sake of the world. Probably why she wanted to go to Bermuda in III. Get away from the world for awhile.

Sorry. I didn't mean any.

I am only saying that because last I heard, it was his demands for money that prevented the footage from seeing the light of day. Of course from what I have heard about the Salkinds I am sure they are just as much to blame.

I am not saying Brando's death is a good thing, just that it makes previously impossible things, possible...possibly anyway.

Actually, that was more or less punishment for her protest of the firing of Richard Donner as director of II. Sad that Hollywood works that way, but it does.

I see your point, but I was talking about within the context of the movies, not behind the scenes. ;)

I feel similarly.... i think the Spider-Man movies have done everything the Superman movies have, only better.

I love this thread. Superman is a classic along with Superman 2. While watching Spidey 2 i did notice how similar it was. NO other super-hero movie will ever be matched in my book - casting, story, pace of the movie(the start is slow but awesome) i mean every part of the movie(Superman 2 as well) is just magic. I also think the tagline is one of the best.

Until two weeks ago, I thought "Superman" was the greatest comic book movie off all time. And then I saw an advance screening of "Catwoman". Kidding of course. While I can't possibly say that one is better than the other, "Spiderman 2" definitely reminded me a lot of the first two "Superman" films. But the first "Superman" and the second "Spiderman" are quite possibly the two best comic book movies IMO.

I had heard something a ways back about an new Superman movie that was oging to be named "The Last Son of Krypton"....starring as the man of Steel, Keanu - REEVES - what is ti about eh name Reeve and the role of Superman and teh horrible legacy it carries for that actor???

George Reaves (killed himself with a bullet to the head)
Christopher Reeve - Horse riding accident
Keanu Reaves - ??? - watch out Keanu

Can't say a whole lot about the movie, though the Smallville scenes are so perfect it's scary, but I grew up listening to the soundtrack on vinyl, and that theme song is permantly a part of my thought processes. Right up there with TESB and TWOK.

I've actually been thinking about a rewatch here lately, maybe I'll get to that this weekend.

I've always thought that in Superman IV when Clark reveals he's Superman to Lois, it's in that moment that she remembers everything that happened before.