At this point in time, most people have jumped off the superhero train. I always like learning where people broke off from the fandom, for me it was the Disney+ series “Secret Invasion.” That said, there will always be movies about Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. Those three have superhero immunity, if a movie fails they will simply wait a few years and take a new approach. I thought it would be fun to go back to a time when a Superhero movie was a fresh idea, when a production didn’t even know what the usual pitfalls were and there was no CGI to help the effects.
The 1978 Superman holds up surprisingly well, and has renewed my respect for director Richard Donner, who captures the pre-Frank Miller comic book tone beautifully. Donner embraces the corny/goofy aspects with sincerity and affection and makes it part of the fun. Interesting pacing, with the first 45 minutes drawing everything out and once Superman shows up, it moves along with no fat. (Maybe a little while flying with Lois, but it’s a beautiful scene.) There are logic issues, like every time Clark Kent becomes Superman – where does his civilian clothes go? – but overall a fun revisit.
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