Review of Superman II (1980) by Hrant B — 30 May 2013

Superman 2 is a good film, and a good follow-up to the first Superman movie as it is. However, it could have also been so much better. If the studio had aloud Richard Donnor to finish the film and make it the way he originally intended then Superman 2, along with the first film, could have been one perfect epic instead of two separate films. Instead Donnor was replaced with Richard Lester and the film is bogged down by this. This review will be on the Lester version that was released in theaters. I have not seen the Donnor cut yet, though I hear it is much better than this version.

The story is that in stopping a terrorist plot and throwing a nuclear bomb into space, he releases General Zod and his two minions from the Phantom Zone. Superman/Clark also reveals his identity to Lois. Clark/Superman ultimately has to choose between the love of his life and saving the world. He also has to fend off Zod and prevent him from taking over Earth.

Once again Christopher Reeve does a phenomenal job as both Superman and Clark Kent. Margot Kidder also returns as Lois, and does a great job once again. The chemistry between them is one of the best aspects about the movie. I like the moral dilemma Clark is put in. He has to choose between his own happiness and being a symbol of hope for humanity. The story and the moral is definitely one of the best things about the film. Terrance Stamp also plays a great villain as Zod.

However, like the first movie, I do not like how Lex Luthor is played up mostly for comedy in this movie. I did find him funny and Gene Hackman does a good job playing him once again. However, Lex should not just be funny; he should also be cold and calculating. We do get that at points in the film, but not nearly enough. His two henchmen from the first film are back in this as well. They are funny, but I never liked Lex having bumbling henchmen. It just makes him look more like a Saturday morning cartoon villain. Plus, I do not buy them working for Lex again after what he did in the first movie.

Another thing that I do not like is the more light-hearted tone in places, which I find extremely out of place. In the production of the Superman 2 Donnor was let go and replaced with Lester to add a more light-heated tone to the film. This is why you have goofy scenes like Zod and his henchmen's head on Mt. Rushmore. Scenes like that seem out of place and clash with the more serious scenes that Donnor had shot. Plus Lester added shots of Superman and the other Kryptonians displaying new abilities that come completely out of nowhere like the telekinesis beam or the magic kiss Superman uses at the end.

I have to wonder what the studio heads were thinking when they hired Lester. While the first superman movie was serious for the most part it was not that dark and had a lot of levity and comedic moments. I do not see why they felt the need to make it more kid friendly. Fortunately much of the film was already shot by Donnor before he was replaced with Lester, otherwise this would have been a vastly different movie. Superman 3 is an example of what Superman 2 would have been like had Lester had complete control.

Like the first movie I find the effects rather dated. I know they were great at the time, but now I find them a bit cheap. The effects did not ruin the movie for me though. Many of the action scenes like the battle in Metropolis were entertaining.

Overall if you like the first Donnor Superman movie, definitely check this out. This film can get very silly but is still a good superhero movie.