Superman II (1980) Movie Review

Synopsis:

General Zod (Terence Stamp) and two Kryptonians invade Earth. Superman (Christopher Reeve) must take to the skies in his attempts to stop them. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor aligns with Zod in his bid to take down the Man of Steel.

Review:

It is without question that Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) left its mark on audiences.

It was a film that had creative practical effects, along with Christopher Reeve’s inspiring performance.

John Williams's heroic score also enhanced the heroism of the film. With those in mind, fans wondered what the follow-up film would entail.

Taking over from director Richard Donner for Superman II was Richard Lester.

Lester’s direction should be familiar to those who watched Donner’s previous film.

This is evident when it comes to its practical effects and tone. Despite this, Superman II's story is more disjointed compared to its predecessor.

Take, for example, how Superman II juggles more than one storyline.

While this idea in concept can be effective, Superman II has difficulty deciding which one to focus on.

For instance, much of the film’s first half juggles between Clark Kent and Lois Lane's interactions and General Zod’s antics.

Scenes with Christopher Reeve’s Clark and Margot Kidder’s Lois have sincerity. When the film jumps to Zod, it loses that quality.

For one, General Zod and his fellow Kryptonians look far too cartoonish to be intimidating. Plus, they lack any form of development or many interesting characteristics.

As an example, Sarah Douglas's Ursa is a female version of Zod, whilst Jack O'Halloran’s Non is a dumb brute.

On occasion, Terence Stamp demonstrates his charm as Zod, despite his goofy appearance.

Also, the returning Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor brings his usual energetic performance.

Though his purpose in the plot is not revealed until the second half, his appearance is welcome.

Where Superman II’s story finds its strength is in Clark and Lois’s interactions. Both have genuine chemistry and are the film’s most believable performers.

As expected, Christopher Reeve is ideal for Clark Kent and Superman. He can switch personalities in an instant, retaining his charm from the first film.

Superman II's practical effects are reminiscent of the original. There are practical stunts (which can look goofy), alongside some effective explosions.

Whilst not as creative as Richard Donner’s first film, the practical work remains above average.

Richard Lester’s visuals are also good, matching the previous film's tone.

Replacing John Williams’ original score for Superman II is Ken Thorne.

Most of Ken’s work includes repurposing John Williams’ main theme from the first film.

Although Ken’s score fails to reach the heights of Williams’s original, it accompanies each scene to good effect.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Superman II is a more uneven entry compared to its predecessor. Its main villains are somewhat goofy, which impacts the plot’s pacing.

This is evident in the film’s first half, switching at random between Lois, Clark, and General Zod.

Given the goofy nature of the film’s villains, this can lead to tonal inconsistencies.

Otherwise, Superman II has good character moments.

Take the scenes between Clark and Lois as examples. Both share a genuine chemistry not matched by other performers in the film.

Gene Hackman’s return as Lex Luthor is welcome. Whilst his role is not revealed until later on, Gene’s energetic performance is welcome.

Superman II’s practical effects are similar in quality to the first, if a little less creative.

This film’s visuals are also good. With it, director Richard Lester presents a similar style when compared to the first film.

Ken Thorne’s original score for Superman II is also good. While most of it is John Williams’ repurposed music from the original, it fits the tone well.

Superman II’s main flaws are its goofy villains and inconsistent storyline. Regardless, it is a sequel that should please fans of the Man of Steel.

Sam’s Action Reaction score:

Characters - 7/10

Story - 6.5/10

Practical effects - 7/10

Visuals - 7/10

Soundtrack - 7/10

Overall score: 6.9 out of 10