In many successful film franchises, there may be said to be an unspoken "rule of threequels." This rule dictates that the third film in a series is where things begin to unravel. The thinking goes as follows: A film is a hit, establishing a new character or world into cinema. The sequel, banking on the success of the first, will be larger, more exciting, and is often more ambitious. By the third film, however, the filmmakers -- in an effort to outdo film #2 -- either have to ratchet the action up to a near-intolerable levels, or take the action in a "new direction," often with disastrous results. One can see this dynamic at play in "Alien³," "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," "Return of the Jedi," "Death Wish 3," "X-Men: The Last Stand," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Spider-Man 3," "RoboCop 3," and "Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
- 2/22/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Richard Donner's 1978 film "Superman" changed how people thought of comic book films. Before this, we had silly superheroes like Adam West's "Batman" series. It was a blast, but it wasn't a serious take on comics or characters like this. "Superman" really started it all, nabbing three Oscar nominations and winning a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects. Christopher Reeve played Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman in his breakout role and starred with the likes of Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and Margot Kidder.
Both the 1978 film and 1980's "Superman II" were set to be filmed simultaneously, and after shooting a big chunk of the second film in addition to the first one, Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "The Goonies," "Scrooged") was fired from the production. He stated that he was never given a budget or a schedule for the film and was replaced by Richard Lester, who reshot a lot of...
Both the 1978 film and 1980's "Superman II" were set to be filmed simultaneously, and after shooting a big chunk of the second film in addition to the first one, Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "The Goonies," "Scrooged") was fired from the production. He stated that he was never given a budget or a schedule for the film and was replaced by Richard Lester, who reshot a lot of...
- 1/19/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
In 2023, we are living in the age of superhero films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe, as well as assorted others, have become the dominant form of entertainment these days. Back in the late 1970s, however, superheroes were the stuff of comic books, relegated to the world of camp and kids entertainment. Sure, we'd seen superheroes on TV with shows like "Wonder Woman" and "Batman," with the latter getting a film version as well in 1966, but it was all a bit on the silly side. (This is not a judgment. Campy superheroes are lovely.) Then came the Richard Donner-directed "Superman" in 1978, starring Christopher Reeve in his breakout role.
This was a whole different kind of superhero film. "Superman" wasn't as dark as some of the comic book movies we have now, but it was indeed taken more seriously than anything we'd seen before. The cast included heavy hitters like Marlon Brando,...
This was a whole different kind of superhero film. "Superman" wasn't as dark as some of the comic book movies we have now, but it was indeed taken more seriously than anything we'd seen before. The cast included heavy hitters like Marlon Brando,...
- 1/19/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Two of the most iconic DC Super Heroes in pop-culture history are coming back to the big screen December 3rd as each celebrates a milestone cinematic anniversary with special presentations by Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC.
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices, but 4 lucky We Are Movie Geeks readers can each win a pair of tickets for the Dec. 3rd screening. Just leave a message in the comments section and tell me which actor is your favorite Superman. It’s so easy. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
Christopher Reeve stars as Superman and Clark Kent, leading an incomparable cast that includes Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as villainous Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando and Susannah York as...
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices, but 4 lucky We Are Movie Geeks readers can each win a pair of tickets for the Dec. 3rd screening. Just leave a message in the comments section and tell me which actor is your favorite Superman. It’s so easy. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
Christopher Reeve stars as Superman and Clark Kent, leading an incomparable cast that includes Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as villainous Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando and Susannah York as...
- 11/27/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
There have been few films as edited, re-edited, and repackaged as Superman the Movie. It has been resurrected and represented to a few generations of fans for good reason. Prior to 1978, any attempt at a super-hero movie was usually done on the cheap and/or with tongue firmly in cheek.
The tag line, “You will believe a man can fly”, and the S-shield was all you needed to whet your appetite back then. The first pictures released to the media certainly got us interested but until you sat in the theater and heard John William’s opening march, you had no idea what you were getting.
And what we got was, arguably, the first super-hero film to treat the genre with dignity and respect. Visually, it was stunning, and you could not ask for a more pitch-perfect lead than Christopher Reeve. He was Curt Swan’s Man of Steel made...
The tag line, “You will believe a man can fly”, and the S-shield was all you needed to whet your appetite back then. The first pictures released to the media certainly got us interested but until you sat in the theater and heard John William’s opening march, you had no idea what you were getting.
And what we got was, arguably, the first super-hero film to treat the genre with dignity and respect. Visually, it was stunning, and you could not ask for a more pitch-perfect lead than Christopher Reeve. He was Curt Swan’s Man of Steel made...
- 11/12/2018
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Two of the most iconic DC Super Heroes in pop-culture history are coming back to the big screen this November as each celebrates a milestone cinematic anniversary with special presentations by Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC.
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play on Sunday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time). The revolutionary Batman animated adventure “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” returns to movie theaters for only one night on Monday, November 12, playing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local times). Tickets for both of these special presentations – which will play in more than 500 movie theaters nationwide – are available now and can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark film and the 80th anniversary of the beloved DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster,...
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play on Sunday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time). The revolutionary Batman animated adventure “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” returns to movie theaters for only one night on Monday, November 12, playing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local times). Tickets for both of these special presentations – which will play in more than 500 movie theaters nationwide – are available now and can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark film and the 80th anniversary of the beloved DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster,...
- 10/2/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
Burbank, CA, September 25, 2018 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards,...
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards,...
- 9/26/2018
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
I guess there are plenty of adults now too young to remember when Christopher Reeve made his debut as The Man of Steel. It was a massive hit across the full spectrum of moviegoers. Warners is taking good care of everyone’s favorite undocumented visitor from Planet Krypton, and has assembled two separate cuts of his big-screen premiere.
Superman: The Movie
Blu-ray
2-Film Collection
Warner Bros.
1978 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 188 min. Extended Cut + 151 min. Special Edition orig. 143 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Trevor Howard, Margot Kidder, Jack O’Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York, Jeff East, Marc McClure, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Diane Sherry, Randy Jurgensen, Larry Hagman, John Ratzenberger, Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill.
Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Film Editors: Stuart Baird, Michael Ellis
Production Design: John Barry
Assistant Director: Vincent Winter...
Superman: The Movie
Blu-ray
2-Film Collection
Warner Bros.
1978 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 188 min. Extended Cut + 151 min. Special Edition orig. 143 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Trevor Howard, Margot Kidder, Jack O’Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York, Jeff East, Marc McClure, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Diane Sherry, Randy Jurgensen, Larry Hagman, John Ratzenberger, Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill.
Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Film Editors: Stuart Baird, Michael Ellis
Production Design: John Barry
Assistant Director: Vincent Winter...
- 10/10/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Superman
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton
1978, USA
High school pals and cartoonists Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the character of Superman to Detective Comics, Inc. (later DC Comics) in 1938. Ever since, the history of the widely considered national cultural icon continues to be awe-inspiring. Superman premiered in Action Comics #1 of the same year, a time when Americans were in desperate need a hero; and ever since, Superman has appeared in a variety of animated and live action movies and television series. The Man of Steel has also appeared in various radio serials, newspaper strips, and even video games throughout the years, and with the success of his adventures, Superman helped to shape the superhero genre and establish its command within American pop culture. An animated cartoon of Superman appeared in 1941, and in 1942, a Superman novel was published. A Columbia...
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton
1978, USA
High school pals and cartoonists Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the character of Superman to Detective Comics, Inc. (later DC Comics) in 1938. Ever since, the history of the widely considered national cultural icon continues to be awe-inspiring. Superman premiered in Action Comics #1 of the same year, a time when Americans were in desperate need a hero; and ever since, Superman has appeared in a variety of animated and live action movies and television series. The Man of Steel has also appeared in various radio serials, newspaper strips, and even video games throughout the years, and with the success of his adventures, Superman helped to shape the superhero genre and establish its command within American pop culture. An animated cartoon of Superman appeared in 1941, and in 1942, a Superman novel was published. A Columbia...
- 6/18/2013
- by Ricky da Conceição
- SoundOnSight
Martha Thomases’s column on Friday addressed the sexism and gender issue that is suddenly so rampant in the comics medium and its, ahem, sisters, science fiction and gaming, as I did last week – again.
Sexism and gender issues are nothing new to me in my other life as a registered nurse. Do I have to tell you that nurses have been the targets of sexist bullshit forever? (Female nurses, that is. Male nurses are part of the “club.”) However, these days most hospital administrations have strict “zero tolerance” policies, meaning that any type of hostile behavior, including sexism, is not, well, tolerated. And most of them mean it. If it happens, the perpetrator is usually given a choice – attend a proscribed amount of therapy sessions or be fired, although there are several “behaviors” that will cause immediate termination (such as calling your workmate a “fucking Jew,” which happened to...
Sexism and gender issues are nothing new to me in my other life as a registered nurse. Do I have to tell you that nurses have been the targets of sexist bullshit forever? (Female nurses, that is. Male nurses are part of the “club.”) However, these days most hospital administrations have strict “zero tolerance” policies, meaning that any type of hostile behavior, including sexism, is not, well, tolerated. And most of them mean it. If it happens, the perpetrator is usually given a choice – attend a proscribed amount of therapy sessions or be fired, although there are several “behaviors” that will cause immediate termination (such as calling your workmate a “fucking Jew,” which happened to...
- 6/17/2013
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
Christopher Reeve as Superman.
It might seem a bit strange to quote a Shirley Bassey song when introducing this next article, but a little bit of history does seem to be repeating…at least when it comes to Superman on screen and the approach to casting Zack Snyder’s forthcoming Superman reboot, Man of Steel.
In the beginning…
Back in the mid-1970s, when director Richard Donner agreed to direct Alexander and Ilya Salkind’s big budget Superman film for Warner Bros, one of the ways he chose to build believability was to jettison the campy storyline that writers David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton had prepared, based upon the Broadway musical to which they had been attached in 1966—and that Hungarian producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind had initially approved. Instead, Donner was insistent that they craft a tale as grounded in reality as possible for a comic book character.
It might seem a bit strange to quote a Shirley Bassey song when introducing this next article, but a little bit of history does seem to be repeating…at least when it comes to Superman on screen and the approach to casting Zack Snyder’s forthcoming Superman reboot, Man of Steel.
In the beginning…
Back in the mid-1970s, when director Richard Donner agreed to direct Alexander and Ilya Salkind’s big budget Superman film for Warner Bros, one of the ways he chose to build believability was to jettison the campy storyline that writers David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton had prepared, based upon the Broadway musical to which they had been attached in 1966—and that Hungarian producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind had initially approved. Instead, Donner was insistent that they craft a tale as grounded in reality as possible for a comic book character.
- 6/17/2011
- by Robert Falconer
- CinemaSpy
Superman II was, for the longest time, the best superhero film never made. Richard Donner, who directed the first Superman, had filmed about 3/4 of the sequel before he was fired. He was replaced by Richard Lester, best-known for A Hard Day’s Night, who turned the film into a semi-spoof of itself. Superman II in its final form is a hodge-podge of chopped-together scenes and mismatched tones. Gene Hackman refused to return for reshoots, leading to the use of a Lex Luthor body double. Stars Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder noticeably lose and gain weight between scenes. Serious romance mixes with goofy farce.
- 9/24/2010
- by Darren Franich and Keith Staskiewicz
- EW.com - PopWatch
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