Review of Superman II (1980) by Kenneth C — 24 Jun 2011

My first Superman movie to see in the theater before seeing the original. My first step-father-to-be took me to see this movie 5 times at the theater (no exaggeration). He bought me the Superman II Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP by John Williams and a Superman II coffee cup. I'm sure he was trying to win favor with me. The record was so freaking awesome. The Superman shield was actually laser etched into the vinyl record reflecting back a spectrum. This record was played non stop throughout my childhood until my older brother decided to break it in half out of anger. Ebay it. I replaced mine some 20 years later and it is still cool and unique.

The movie is great but seems a bit silly and out of place at times looking back on it from 30 years later. The Richard Donnor Cut that was released a few years back brought the movie to a level that I can appreciate more as an adult. Yet, there remains some unnecessary parts that require a child's imagination (I will happily turn on by the way) to process its importance to the story.

Like the first movie, I really enjoy sitting down on a Saturday afternoon and watching Superman II. Even the Richard Lester version. Maybe my childhood love of this movie saves it from being less rated.