A superhero classic (Superman (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Superman (DVD)
Date:	12/09/09 (1 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performances and plot

Disadvantages: None

note: also appears in part on The Student Room and Flixster

Superman is the original comic book adaptation, and sits alongside X-2, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as one of the very best. It owes a lot to its magnificent star, the late Christopher Reeve, who "made us believe a man could fly", and of course, Richard Donner's assured direction. Superman isn't my favourite superhero (that'd be Batman), but it's difficult to deny how well crafted this is.

The film opens as Superman's planet Krypton is in danger of being destroyed, so a Kryptonian named Jor-El sends his only son, Kal-El, in a transportation device to escape the planet, causing him to wind up on Earth. He is unearthed by a salt of the Earth farmer, Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha - he is in human form so blends in fairly well, but he gains powers from our sun. Nevertheless, the Kents raise him whilst keeping his abilities under wraps, naming him Clark.

We now cut forward some time and he is now a journalist at the Daily Planet, a newspaper in Metropolis. He has an affinity for a pretty young journalist named Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). However, before he can do anything, supervillain Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman, who sadly refused to shave his hair for most of the film) hatches another scheme to take over the world, and Superman must intervene.

Reeve's performance as Superman really makes the film - it's an iconic turn that will never be forgotten in the annels of film history. He did so well that he reprised the role a further three times in the sequels and made numerous guest appearances in the TV show Smallville despite his illness. Gene Hackman is also rather good as Lex Luthor, although I do resent him slightly for not shaving his head for most of the film.

Without doubt one of the greatest superhero adaptations of all time, thanks in large part to Reeve and Donner's flawless vision. Certainly the best outing Superman has yet to see on-screen.

Summary: Iconic beyond words