Superman Week Part 2

Now it's time to look at the sequel to Superman: the Movie, which came out in 1981, "Superman II." By shooting these two films, Richard Donner's relationship with the Salkinds started to turn sour, and Richard Lester was the mediator. Because the film went over budget, the filmmakers decided to temporarily stop production on "Superman II" and move that film's climax to the first film. Even though the first film was successful, Richard Donner did not return because the Salkinds kicked him off, and Lester was replaced as director. When Lester finished off the second film, he gave it a more humorous tone. Donner had completed about 75% of the film in 1977 before being replaced by Lester. Not only was Donner removed, Marlon Brando was cut for financial reasons and John Williams quit as the composer because he went off to pursue other stuff. Despite all of this, "Superman II" was both financially and critically successful, even though it faced competition with Raiders of the Lost Ark that same year.

For those that remember in the beginning of the first film, Jor-El sentenced General Zod (played by Terence Stamp), Ursa (played by Sarah Douglas), and Non (played by Jack O'Halloran) for insurrection and other crimes. For that, they are banished to the Phantom Zone. Traveling through the galaxy for thirty years, the Phantom Zone is shattered near Earth thanks to hydrogen bombs that Superman threw into space after stopping a terrorist attack to blow up Paris. Now these three are on the move to conquer Earth. Boy, do I have to say these villains are just great. Zod is enjoyably over-the-top, especially with his famous, "Kneel before Zod!" line. Ursa is just as diabolical as Zod, and Non doesn't speak, but trades all of his talk for his strength, which says much.

By going to Niagara Falls and Clark Kent having to tell Lois that he is Superman is probably one of the hardest things for a superhero to do with his love interest. Like I had said in my The Dark Knight Rises review, Superman gives up his powers to be with Lois forever. This is showing that he is admitting defeat, but doesn't know about Zod yet. However, when he learns about Zod and goes back to get his powers back, he comes back stronger than ever. Maybe he should have listened to his Kryptonian mother, Lara, played by Susannah York, when she pleaded to him not to give up his powers.

Of course, Lex Luthor is back and he has to form an alliance with Zod, Ursa, and Non in order to take down Superman. Now he has to put up with four villains, which is a lot of work for Superman, but he can do it since he's not stupid.

The dumbest moments in the movie are here and there. The first one is that kid at Niagara Falls. His mom finds that he is playing on the edge of the railing, grabs him and hits him, which should have made the kid learn not to play there. But no, instead he decides to play there again, his mother doesn't notice, and he falls off. Superman has to come and save the kid, so hopefully he learns not to do that again. Another is that idiotic mother who is walking on the street when Zod is taking over Metropolis. A tower is going to fall on her, and instead of running with her baby in the carriage, she instead throws herself on top of that baby. That's not going to save you or the baby from being killed from a falling tower. Superman again comes and saves that stupid mother, which she thanks him (probably so that she didn't have to run in heels). I think these parents need to have licenses if they want kids. Next comes the powers in the Fortress of Solitude when Superman is fighting Zod, Ursa, and Non. He multiples himself, and they do not know which one is the real him, which was weird. Superman even touches the S on his outfit, throws it at Non, which wraps him in a S symbol saran wrap. At one point when Superman gives up his powers and he becomes just plain old Clark Kent, he gets beat up by a guy in a bar. Before the end of the film, he comes back, throws that guy down the table, and when the bartender looks at him weird, he says, "I've been lifting weights." Couldn't you have let bygones be bygones Clark? Lastly, the mind erasing kiss. To make sure that Lois doesn't remember Clark is Superman, he kisses her, which erases all memory that he is Superman. How does that work? Did you look into her memory bank and made sure to erase the memories of her finding out you're Superman? Once again, Superman had weird powers back then, so I guess I'll let this slide.

In 2006, Richard Donner had received many requests from his fans to do his own cut of Superman II, which he and producer Michael Thau finally released on November 28, 2006. This version received positive reception from critics and stars of the original film. According to Wikipedia, "Many of the scenes were shot by second director Richard Lester, who had been an uncredited producer on the first film. However, in order to receive full director's credit, Lester had to shoot up to 51% of the film which included refilming several sequences originally filmed by Donner. According to statements made by Donner, roughly 25% of the theatrical cut of Superman II contains footage he shot, including all of Gene Hackman's scenes. In 2006, a re-cut of the film was released titled Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. The new version restores as much of Donner's original conception as possible, with approximately 83% of his footage included. Some of Lester's theatrical footage was retained to fill-in gaps in the story line that Donner had not been able to film before his firing."

Well, if you loved the first film, then you should watch the second one. It's not as good as the first, but it's thoroughly enjoyable despite being more comedic than the first one. What will happen now with the Superman franchise? Will they follow a parallel history with the Batman films? Find out tomorrow. Up, up, and away!