Superman 1 is an unbeatable classic

[hursty]

Watched the three hour epic last night, gets more special with every watch, just before I slipped the KCOP in though, I watched the opening credits on Blu-Ray surround sound - WOW, man, the entire house was rocking with whoooosh after whooosh. Best credits ever!

The film is so special, to all of us who grew up with it, its a special special film, made by a genial director and acted by true legends.

Thank god Donner got his way and presented a non-campy version of this film, the alternative is unthinkable, and also, no way today would a film wait over an hour before bringing its title character in properly, the way the movie progresses from Krypton to Smallville to the Fortress to Metropolis at a mature and non hurried pace and doesn't bore the viewer at any time.

Tremendous film, one of the greats

[Valentine Smith]

To be fair, Batman Begins is paced almost the same way. We don't see Bats until about an hour in. In fact, when I first saw that in the theater, I was like, "Wow! They're taking the STM approach before showing him in costume!" I thought that was kinda neat.

But yeah, STM remains my favorite movie of all time. Part of it is emotional and nostalgic, but a lot of it is just how damn GOOD the film is!

[hursty]

Is it an hour for BB? Thought it was shorter.

[Deleted]

It will probably always be my favorite movie of all time.

[SupermanUF]

When ever I watch the movie with other people who haven't seen it, I always see them get a little antsy in the last act. I wish it would have stayed in Metropolis and not gone to the desert. Or maybe it's just that at that point, the movie has stopped being earnest, and Lex/Otis just keep getting campier and campier. Not sure. But I still love it and hold it dear to my heart, and is still the superhero movie by which all others are judged.

[cypher85]

Is and without a doubt will always be my favorite movie. The movie is brilliantly and expertly made. But, nostalgia ensures that nothing will ever top it no matter what. Kinda weird/interesting that I know at 26 that I will never have a movie that tops it for me. But, I do.

[crazy_asian_man]

When ever I watch the movie with other people who haven't seen it, I always see them get a little antsy in the last act. I wish it would have stayed in Metropolis and not gone to the desert. Or maybe it's just that at that point, the movie has stopped being earnest, and Lex/Otis just keep getting campier and campier. Not sure. But I still love it and hold it dear to my heart, and is still the superhero movie by which all others are judged.

Agreed.

The antsy-ness w/friends COULD be a few things: (1) that most movies seems to stay in the two hour range, rare that films go another half hour nowadays (or about), (2) the pacing and tone is definitely different- with Krypton, it was dire urgency, with Smallville, it was longful, with Metropolis, funny and sweet--- but with Luthor: it was maybe a little too campy with nothing REALLY at stake.

If asked to 'rate' the different 'movies within a movie' in order of things most beloved, I'd put the 'Superman/Metropolis' stuff first, the smallville stuff second, the krypton stuff third--- and Luthor stuff last, for sure. While the Hackman Luthor worked great as a balance to counterpoint the seriousness of the villains for SII- he does drag down the movie a bit in STM. If Hackman and Donner had decided to make Luthor scary/menacing instead, I wonder if it might have energized STM in the final act? Hard to say...

[Jimbo]

Superman is an incredible movie, and then the third act begins.

[hursty]

Think the third act is getting a raw deal here, think its pretty spectacular myself

And as for Luthor, well, Superman II was a goer, so it didnt hurt for Supes to have a deadly enemy - but one with limitations...making Zod and co that much more intimidating. If Luthor completely matches Superman in the first movie, there is nowhere for Supes to go in the next film

Hackman was a joy, as he always is.

God I love the Krypton sequences, the set design is so beleivable, it really feels like a planet from a galaxy far far away. I wish we'd have stayed there a bit longer, flesh out Jor-El's conflict with the council a little more, and give Vond-ah a reason to justify her credit in the billed cast ahead of the likes of Jeff East who did far FAR more in the film than Scheck.

[eccentricbeing]

As much as I love this movie to death, the movie does drag a bit after the Superman/Lois flight and doesn't pick up until Luthor gets Superman's attention. But other than that, it flows greatly.

[Rod]

sometimes I dream that I am watching the movie and in my dreams it is longer with lots of incredible new scenes!
i love this movie.

[Kamdan]

It was much cooler to see Superman restore the San Andreas Fault and deal with the aftershock damage than just seeing him fixing things around Metropolis, like what they did in Superman Returns. The film was also made in an era when disaster movies were very popular and that could have been another selling point for the film. It was very bold of the writers and producers go with such a long film, that was split into two, maintaining a good display of Superman abilities, where in the first he performs his "super feats," while in the second part, he has an fight against three worthy and powerful foes. "That's amazing... AMAZING! Too good to be true!"

[hursty]

How amazing would it have been to have the missile ending in STM? What a cliffhanger

There again, when Supes flies past us and smiles at the end, he may have gone headlong into Zod.

[TylerDurden389]

You bring up an interesting point there Hursty. We all know how STM was supposed to end on a cliffhanger where we see the missile in space release the villains. Either before or after credits (cant remember how it was scripted). But either way, if they did end the film that way (or even simply show the scene), then seeing Supes' smile at us probably wouldn't feel as good since we know what lurks ahead.

In the end the film ends on a high note, and in a way does end without being connected to the sequels (for the most part). I think it's better that way. Not gonna get into it here, but I have no problem with the Lex/missiles sequence (the KCOP cut has shown me just how cut down and edited the entire sequence really is), or the 3rd act, or Lex's campiness (Hackman is a genius and you can tell he had a lot of fun in the role, if he had film scenes with Lester I doubt he'd have had the same demeanor) or even the time-travel ending (the epic scream that Supes belts out will always be one of my favorite movie moments EVER. Just thinking about it while typing this out gives me chills).

Maybe I would nitpick the film as well if I over-analyzed it the same way I did with S2, but I flat out refuse to do that. I want to hold onto the "magic" that STM still has for me.

Now, once the new fan edits are released in HD, hopefully there'll be a sequel to this epic film that has the same magic as the first. As it is right now, S2 still has it's "magic moments" (I can thank Selutron and a lot of us editors out there for that), but overall the film doesn't keep the magic going like STM does. But I'm happy to say we're getting there.

[Valentine Smith]

I think folks are hard on that third act.

The only things I'd change in STM are "can you read my mind" and turning back the world. I can forgive/excuse the campy villains, etc.

[hursty]

Mar 15, 2012 7:03:05 GMT -5 TylerDurden389 said:

You bring up an interesting point there Hursty. We all know how STM was supposed to end on a cliffhanger where we see the missile in space release the villains. Either before or after credits (cant remember how it was scripted). But either way, if they did end the film that way (or even simply show the scene), then seeing Supes' smile at us probably wouldn't feel as good since we know what lurks ahead.

Yes, exactly, while I'd love the missile ending as scripted, Christopher Reeve's infectuous grin from 'a friend' is perfect. Absolutely perfect. It of course has the reverse effect on me now, every time I see that bit I tear up. Same with the Supes and Lois flying sequence.

In the end the film ends on a high note, and in a way does end without being connected to the sequels (for the most part). I think it's better that way. Not gonna get into it here, but I have no problem with the Lex/missiles sequence (the KCOP cut has shown me just how cut down and edited the entire sequence really is), or the 3rd act, or Lex's campiness (Hackman is a genius and you can tell he had a lot of fun in the role, if he had film scenes with Lester I doubt he'd have had the same demeanor) or even the time-travel ending (the epic scream that Supes belts out will always be one of my favorite movie moments EVER. Just thinking about it while typing this out gives me chills).

The scream is absolutely haunting, so is what comes before it, Supes guilt at putting everyone else before Lois and the way he carefully places her head on the ground...before looking skywards and releasing all that manifested rage - in that moment all on its own - you are looking at the only man who could ever play this role with any kind of passion and dignity.

As for the 'missile caper' - I've got to say, and its no disrespect to master-editor Stuart Baird, but the theatrical edits out far too much, I do get that it was too long and you're away from Superman and Lois for too long, but there some brilliant moments of humour ('long arm') that are lost, plus a bit of a gap between going for the first and second missiles, showing the necessary bit of regrouping. I think without the extra exposition its actually hard to understand whats going on.

Maybe I would nitpick the film as well if I over-analyzed it the same way I did with S2, but I flat out refuse to do that. I want to hold onto the "magic" that STM still has for me.

There's very little to nitpick at, perhaps why Maria Scheck gets a full credit, that's it.

Now, once the new fan edits are released in HD, hopefully there'll be a sequel to this epic film that has the same magic as the first. As it is right now, S2 still has it's "magic moments" (I can thank Selutron and a lot of us editors out there for that), but overall the film doesn't keep the magic going like STM does. But I'm happy to say we're getting there.

No, SII has many classic moments, notably emanating from the mouth of Terence Stamp - whose every utterance reeks of genius - but for me, SII is way behind STM is the magic stakes.

[hursty]

Mar 15, 2012 7:29:32 GMT -5 Valentine Smith said:

I think folks are hard on that third act.

The only things I'd change in STM are "can you read my mind" and turning back the world. I can forgive/excuse the campy villains, etc.

Whats everyones beef with 'Can you read my mind'?

I like it.

[Valentine Smith]

I like the flying sequence, but Lois' "spoken word open mic coffeehouse poetry" thing is pretty horrible. That's a piss break every time it comes on screen for me.

It's too bad, because Reeve and Kidder have some great chemistry during that bit, and share some really cute looks and moments.

[hursty]

I can see what you're saying, but I honestly don't mind it, it shows us what Lois is thinking at the time.

Just be thankful she ain't singing.

[Kamdan]

Have any of you had the chance of seeing the film in a theater? It's a whole different ball game from watching it at home. I saw a film print of the extended version a year before Superman Returns came out and was totally enthralled with it. It only played for two days and I had to BEG to see it again, because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. That, along with seeing Batman '89 on the big screen, are my two favorite theater going experiences.

I remember my brother whispering me about how Lois should be dangling during the flying sequence, but the combination of William's work, the special effects and the performances sold it for me. Now, when it comes to Superman IV... yeah.

[hursty]

No, never.

By extended version to do you mean the 8 minutes extra job released in 2001?

I'm sure it was amazing just seeing THOSE opening credits on the big screen, that would be worth the price of a ticket alone

The Dark Knight filmed in Imax at THE Imax is my greatest ever movie experience. Take a lot to top that.

[Kamdan]

Yep, it was the Thau edit. I'll take the KCOP and the theatical cut over it, because it doesn't have that messed with sound, but it's better than nothing.

Oh, yes, seeing the credits was pure bliss, because I was expecting it to be just a DVD copy projected on the screen, which always looks wrong.

They played The Dark Knight at my IMAX not to long ago too. Very impressive. I'm hoping they'll have a marathon of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight before the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.

[hursty]

I'm a stickler for extra footage, I would love the lot in DVD quality, but chances are it'll never happen.

Got a question about the credits, do you prefer the first few names that come AT you, or everything afterward that goes AWAY from you. I think I'd have loved it to all come AT us.

I think that'll be overkill mate, once you get to TDKR you'll have had enough of it all

I plan to watch B89, BB then TDK in consecutive nights before TDKR.

[Kamdan]

Yeah, I gotta admit it was cooler to have them come towards you instead of away. I also remember the light that came towards the camera after John Williams' credit was almost blinding, but I can still see. It wasn't as horrible as JJ Abrams' annoying over use of lens flairs.

Yeah, I was thinking it might be overkill, especially since they're long films, but I'd rather see them IMAX sized, rather than just watching them at home.

[Jimbo]

Mar 15, 2012 8:27:45 GMT -5 hursty said:

There's very little to nitpick at, perhaps why Maria Scheck gets a full credit, that's it.

Salkinds were eager to plug the movie as epic and serious. Hence they plastered Brando and Hackman as much as possible to let people know it wouldn't be a silly kid movie.

Same goes with Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews, and Maria Scheck (Glenn Ford too). Big names of their period which added to the film's legitimacy.

It'd be like making a comic book movie today with Meryl Streep and Richard Attenborough as supporting characters. At the very least, some would give the film a closer look because of the casting.