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The plot
Superman comes from the distant planet Krypton. His parents decide to send him in a spaceship, which would bring him to planet Earth, shortly before the red sun of their solar system explodes. On planet earth he is adopted by the Kents, a childless couple and he is given the name of Clark and how is raised as an own son. As Clark’s adopted father dies, he moves to Metropolis and works as a reporter at the daily newspaper "Daily Planet". There he often acts the shy or clumsy person. Lois Lane is the exact opposite and Clark falls in love with her, although his chances are virtually zero since Lois is in love with Superman. Unknown to her, Clark is Superman and uses his super powers for the benefits of humankind.
Meanwhile one of the most dangerous criminals in the world, Lex Luthor has a devious plan to make a fortune in real estate, by buying large amounts of 'worthless' western desert land and then diverting a nuclear rocket from a missile testing site. This will destroy California and leave Luthor's desert as the new West Coast, increasing its value ten-fold. Superman tries to foil his plan but is put out of action by kryptonite, the only substance that subdues his super powers. Only at the last moment can he escape. Unfortunely the earthquake has begun and it’s up to Super Man to stop it. To achieve this, he must stabilize the St. Andrew's column and then repair the damage including the famous Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam, stopping the flood. Superman saves many lives but is too late to save Lois Lane, who dies in the landslide. Thanks to his super forces however Superman succeeds in flying back, circling the earth at a breathtaking speed and arrives a few seconds before the deadly landslide. He then tackles Lex Luther and brings him to jail. Bringing the story to a happy end.
Cast
Superman made the main actor Christopher Reeve a star, Margot Kidder plays Lois Lane and Gene Hackman gives a ravishing performance as Lex Luthor. In a great supporting role Marlon Brando is first-class as a Superman’s biological father.
Prizes and Reviews
The first Superman movie is considered one of the best comic films of all time. Overall, it was nominated for three Oscars, but lost in all categories. But the film won an honorary Oscar for special effects. Other major awards were the five Saturn Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Grammy.
The great strength of the Superman series was the groundbreaking special effects and the excellent actors. Moreover it differs from the comics, most of which have a dark prevailing mood, whereby the film has an optimistic view and happy end. Lots of comics have since been filmed due to the success of Superman.
Marvel Comics | Superman - Movie 2
The plot
The film begins with terrorists that have seized the Eiffel Tower and threaten to level the city with a hydrogen bomb. Lois Lane is also in Paris, trying to get the story for the newspaper. Literally in the last minute Superman manages to save Lois Lane and throws the bomb into space. Unfortunately, the impact of the H-bomb in space frees three serious criminals from the planet Krypton, who were imprisoned in the Phanton Zone after trying to form a dictatorship to rule their home planet. General Zod, Non and Ursa make their way to Earth unnoticed.
Meanwhile Superman has other problems. Lois Lane has found out that Clark Kent and Superman are identical and confronts Clark. After several unsuccessful attempts to deny it, he admits that he is Superman. He now has love and takes her to his fortress of solitude. There a hologram of his mother gives him a difficult choice, either love or super powers. As he knows nothing of the Krypton criminals, he chooses love. Without Super Man, the nasty three have no difficulty taking over the Earth and even the president of the USA has to kneel before them. Lex Luther also joins the forces of evil after breaking out of prison. He finds Superman’s fortress and worse for Superman, he finds out that Superman’s father is responsible for jailing the three Krypton criminals. With this information and a plan he visits them in the Oval Office, where the General is bored with ruling the world and wants revenge against Superman and his father.Luthers’s plan is to kidnap Lois Lane. Clark realizes he must become Superman again and manages to reverse his loss of super powers. In the massive showdown, it is still an unfair fight with the odds three to one. Superman’s only chance is to trick them and cleverly he uses Lex Luther to do so. As he is locked in a chamber which should rob his powers, it turns out to be the only safe place as the red kryptonite explodes, taking away the super powers of the three criminals. Back in Metropolis, Clark finds Lois in her office crying about how selfish she was to steal Clark away from his job as Superman. Clark then kisses Lois and in the process uses a form of telepathy to erase the knowledge of his dual identity from Lois, returning them to their usual status quo. The film ends with a scene at the white house. The American flag is restored on the roof and Superman assures the president he will not abandon his duty as Superhero ever again.
Cast
Christopher Reeve as Superman, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. Terence Stamp is very convincing as the rogue General Zod.
Prizes and Reviews
The film won a Saturn Award. It was recognized that Superman II was very good entertainment. However, the film fails, if he wants to be more than popcorn cinema as the messages seem too simple, this didn’t stop the film from being a massive box office hit.
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