****Excellent
***Good
**Fair
*Poor
`Because most of the work that I try to do has a fairly firm grounding in some form of social reality from which I can take off and go in the other direction. I remember saying, `I don't know how much Lois Lane would pay for her apartment. Or how much a pair of shoes costs in Metropolis. ` That's where I normally write my gags and do my little bits, and I felt I was wrong for it. I've never had a feeling for comic books or comic strips at all.'
When Richard Lester took over as director that is what he added to Superman II. There are many scenes in the film that feature social humor like the crowd witnessing the battle between Superman and the three villains as a spectator sport. And then attack the villains when they think they've murdered Superman. Another good example is the ending when Superman returns to the diner and gets revenge for the beating he received when he had lost his powers.
What differs Superman II from the original is the love story. That's where Lester was strongest. The love scenes between Lois and Clark were some of the most memorable parts in this film and the performances by Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder were once again extraordinary. And the extreme close-up of Lois Lane gives her a real beauty and makes you understand why Superman loves her.
`We had a scene where Jor-El basically commits suicide, ` says Mankiewicz. `Jor-El touches his son and rejuvenates him and `kills` himself by expelling the last of his energy. That scene was as chilling as anything you'll ever see on the screen. It was shot with Brando and was wonderful, but because they [the Salkinds] would have had to pay him money, Superman says, `Mother, mother` as opposed to `Father, father, ` which is what he should have done and did do in the script. Brando appeared and said, `Even though this will extinguish what is left of my life_I warned you, I told you....` And he reached out through the void. Clark is unconscious on the ground, and it's essentially God touching the hand of Adam. It's a motif I had done at the beginning when Brando sent Chris to Earth and said, `I send them my only son. ` It was God sending Christ to Earth. Brando was just wonderful.'
The first film is legendary because of it's behind the scenes battle between director Richard Donner and the producers. Both films were originally shot simultaneously but because of special effects problems Donner was forced to focus on the first film. Once it was complete go on and finish the second. However, after the dispute Donner was fired and Lester was brought in to finish the project. As a result the film lost a lot of it's epic and fantasy aspect that the first film was full of. This film had the chance to surpass the original but as a result of a lose it didn't. Regardless, the film is still full of excitement and imagination. Still one of the greatest comic book adaptations of all-times.
RATING: 4 STARS
Quotes available from Cinescape.
***Good
**Fair
*Poor
`Because most of the work that I try to do has a fairly firm grounding in some form of social reality from which I can take off and go in the other direction. I remember saying, `I don't know how much Lois Lane would pay for her apartment. Or how much a pair of shoes costs in Metropolis. ` That's where I normally write my gags and do my little bits, and I felt I was wrong for it. I've never had a feeling for comic books or comic strips at all.'
When Richard Lester took over as director that is what he added to Superman II. There are many scenes in the film that feature social humor like the crowd witnessing the battle between Superman and the three villains as a spectator sport. And then attack the villains when they think they've murdered Superman. Another good example is the ending when Superman returns to the diner and gets revenge for the beating he received when he had lost his powers.
What differs Superman II from the original is the love story. That's where Lester was strongest. The love scenes between Lois and Clark were some of the most memorable parts in this film and the performances by Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder were once again extraordinary. And the extreme close-up of Lois Lane gives her a real beauty and makes you understand why Superman loves her.
`We had a scene where Jor-El basically commits suicide, ` says Mankiewicz. `Jor-El touches his son and rejuvenates him and `kills` himself by expelling the last of his energy. That scene was as chilling as anything you'll ever see on the screen. It was shot with Brando and was wonderful, but because they [the Salkinds] would have had to pay him money, Superman says, `Mother, mother` as opposed to `Father, father, ` which is what he should have done and did do in the script. Brando appeared and said, `Even though this will extinguish what is left of my life_I warned you, I told you....` And he reached out through the void. Clark is unconscious on the ground, and it's essentially God touching the hand of Adam. It's a motif I had done at the beginning when Brando sent Chris to Earth and said, `I send them my only son. ` It was God sending Christ to Earth. Brando was just wonderful.'
The first film is legendary because of it's behind the scenes battle between director Richard Donner and the producers. Both films were originally shot simultaneously but because of special effects problems Donner was forced to focus on the first film. Once it was complete go on and finish the second. However, after the dispute Donner was fired and Lester was brought in to finish the project. As a result the film lost a lot of it's epic and fantasy aspect that the first film was full of. This film had the chance to surpass the original but as a result of a lose it didn't. Regardless, the film is still full of excitement and imagination. Still one of the greatest comic book adaptations of all-times.
RATING: 4 STARS
Quotes available from Cinescape.