Richard Donner never had any thematic or visual stamp in his work, he was a (very good) journeyman, one of the best in Hollywood, but not without any misfires.
Superman: The Movie is a mixed bag. The prologue on Krypton is very cheesy, reminiscent of the 1930s and 40s sci-fi serials. Deliberate stylistic choice or not, it doesn't do the movie any favours. The Smallville portion is excellent and easily the best part of the movie, it's touching and heartfelt without devolving into corniness (unfortunately, Donner will indulge in corniness later on with the "Can you read my mind?" scene).
Nearly an hour in, we are introduced to the adult Clark Kent, his love interest Lois Lane and the villain Lex Luthor and this is the weakest part of the movie. While Gene Hackman certainly has the charisma, his Luthor is too ineffective and comedic to be a believable threat, he feels shoehorned in simply because Superman has to have a villain. Christopher Reeve looks the part and acts with such sincerity that it's impossible not to like him, however, he and Kidder have little chemistry and their interactions come off more stilted than natural.
As for the special effects, there's no need to sugarcoat it, they are dated and might put off many (mostly, but not exclusively younger) viewers.
Among the comic geeks, Superman: The Movie is a gold standard for how to make a superhero movie. In my humble opinion, only the Smallville portion deserves the praise, as it is a standout in an otherwise average movie.
Superman: The Movie is a mixed bag. The prologue on Krypton is very cheesy, reminiscent of the 1930s and 40s sci-fi serials. Deliberate stylistic choice or not, it doesn't do the movie any favours. The Smallville portion is excellent and easily the best part of the movie, it's touching and heartfelt without devolving into corniness (unfortunately, Donner will indulge in corniness later on with the "Can you read my mind?" scene).
Nearly an hour in, we are introduced to the adult Clark Kent, his love interest Lois Lane and the villain Lex Luthor and this is the weakest part of the movie. While Gene Hackman certainly has the charisma, his Luthor is too ineffective and comedic to be a believable threat, he feels shoehorned in simply because Superman has to have a villain. Christopher Reeve looks the part and acts with such sincerity that it's impossible not to like him, however, he and Kidder have little chemistry and their interactions come off more stilted than natural.
As for the special effects, there's no need to sugarcoat it, they are dated and might put off many (mostly, but not exclusively younger) viewers.
Among the comic geeks, Superman: The Movie is a gold standard for how to make a superhero movie. In my humble opinion, only the Smallville portion deserves the praise, as it is a standout in an otherwise average movie.
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