I'm sorry but I had to put this as the title as it made me laugh, so now I'm onto Part 2, which is Superman II (funnily enough), which was a highly successful sequel to the original, which was a bit controversial during its production as Richard Donner was fired during filming and replaced with Richard Lester. And it certainly shows its change in tone with the director of The Beatles films Help and A Hard Day's Night at the helm, as we get more slapsticky and comedic stuff than the down to earth quality that Donner provided. But enough of that for now, let's investigate the plot... (PLENTY OF SPOILERS AHEAD!!).
So Superman II kicks off with Superman flying off to Paris to save the city from terrorists who are threatening to detonate a hydrogen bomb in Eiffel tower, and Lois Lane is already been sent to investigate the story. However as Lois clambers underneath the underside of the lift, the terrorists detonate the bomb, with Lois being violently hurdled toward the ground, when Superman flies up and stops the lift, letting Lois out, Supe then flies the lift deep into space where it explodes safely. However as a result of the explosion, the three villains from the first film (during the opening trial scene) are released from the phantom zone, and to make matters worse, because they are Kryptonians aswell they have the same powers as Superman. And its not long before General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O'Halloran) arrive on Earth and wreak absolute havoc, destroying anyone and anything in their way, with their super powers. However while this is going on, Clark Kent/Superman is oblivious as he is on an assignment with Lois Lane and they are sent by the Daily Planet to Niagra Falls to investigate honeymoon hotel scams. During their trip, Lois grows suspicious of Clark's behaviour as he conveniently disappears when a young boy falls into the Niagra Falls, only to have Superman fly out seconds later to save him. Initially Clark manages to bluff Lois, but later on in their suite, Clark trips and his hands fall into a log fire, checking Clark's hands, Lois is amazed to find he isn't burned. Clark finally relents, takes off his glasses and reveals himself to be Superman to Lois, they fly off to the Fortress of Solitude, where Superman explains his real background to Lois. Clearly Superman and Lois are in love with each other, and Superman talks with the image of his mother (a holographic image the same as in the first film) and declares his love for Lois, but his mother warns him if he choses Lois he must become human. Superman agrees and steps into a molecule chamber, which removes his powers, on leaving the chamber, Clark and Lois go off and to quote Alan Partridge, make sweet love.
While this is all going on by now, Zod, Ursa and Non have invaded the Whitehouse and forced the President to surrender his power over to them. Meanwhile Clark and Lois go off to a diner (driving by car this time!), and Clark soon finds out when he stands up to a thuggish customer, that he is indeed vulnerable, as the customer beats him up. At this point, Clark sees Zod on the TV with the President who declares he has given his power over to Zod. Clark then realises, having made a terrible mistake in giving up his powers, that he must go back, but the process of losing his powers is irreversible. Regardless Clark goes back to the fortress, and appeals to his father, but receives no response, about to leave though he spots the green crystal, which created the fortress. Meanwhile Lex Luthor, having escaped prison, makes an uneasy alliance with Zod, who flies to the Daily Planet to take Lois hostage to force Superman out in the open. And pretty soon the caped wonder flies back on the scene and challenges Zod and his two underlings to "step outside" and the rest is history.
Superman II clearly is something of a split film, as you can see the change in tone between the scenes that were clearly directed by Richards Donner and Lester. Donner provides the scenes with more weight, and down to earth humour, while Lester provides the more slapstick approach. Regardless of the outcome of the conflicting styles, Superman II really works well as a film and a sequel to the first film. The characters continue to be developed and we start to see Clark Kent become a little bit less awkward, although he is still quite bumbling. But its Lois we get to see develop more than anyone else, as she professes her love for Superman, and her scene with Clark near the very end when she knows his real identity and how it tears her up to not tell anyone, is really nicely played by Margot Kidder. Perhaps though in that scene (Another SPOILER) after it being played so well by both Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, its a bit convenient and pat that they decided to have Superman erase Lois's memory of their relationship with one kiss!
And while the two leads are excellent as usual, the supporting cast also deserve credit as well, particularly Terence Stamp as General Zod, who plays him as cold, callous and calculating, not to mention just a tad maniacal. He is also responsible for one of the best lines in the film and the line which is the title of my entry "these humans are beginning to bore me!". Gene Hackman once again is great as Lex Luthor, although he does keep referring to himself just a bit too much "Me??? Lex Luthor??? The greatest criminal mind of our age???" "Me???? Lex Luthor???? Extinguish the greatest flame of our age???". Although I do find it slightly peculiar he would still keep in touch with Miss Tessmacher, who rescues him from prison, after she betrayed him in the first film, by letting Superman go.
The film has many enteratining scenes, one of the highlights of course is Superman's battle with Zod, Ursa and Non, as after so much bad-ass dominance its a great moment in the film when Supe finally shows up and asks the General to "step outside". The scene where Lois is convinced that Clark is really Superman and she throws herself into the Niagra falls is funny as well, as Clark has to subtly save Lois without unveiling his identity. Another great scene is where Clark returns to the Fortress of Soltitude and asks for his parents help, and screams "FATHER!!" to no avail, its one of the best moments of Chris's performance in the film. And last but not least the scene at the end where Clark returns to the diner to get revenge on the thuggish customer Rocky (Pepper Martin) who beat him up earlier. I also love that while Superman/Clark Kent is a real good guy of great moral courage and everything, he still wants revenge over someone who has wronged him, so he's not oh so goody goody that he doesn't take pleasure in getting his own back.
Onto a quick word about Richard Lester's direction, which while it certainly shifted the tone of the film, it hardly destroys the film's credibility. And yeah ok admittedly it could have done without that hugely slapsticky scene near the end where Zod, Ursa and Non use their super powers to blow away everyone who tries to get at them, and we see a guy in the telephone booth flying along the ground, and he's clinging talking and laughing as he dragged with it. But he does add some nice moments in the film, particularly the scenes between Clark and Lois, when Clark reveals his identity, their chat at the beginning in the Daily Planet office (where Lois tries to make a glass of fresh orange using about a dozen oranges!) and the end where Lois doesn't know how to deal with knowing Clark's dual identity.
Also finally a little note on Ken Thorne's music score, which is mostly an adaptation and variation on John Williams main score from the original film. Admittedly Ken Thorne's score isn't in the same league as John Williams, in fact there are at times you think you are listening to the score from a TV movie. But overall he doesn't do a bad job at orchestrating the music for the film, and he adds in a couple of good passages of music himself (the scene where Lois ascends the Eiffel is one).
So overall Superman II, while it doesn't quite fully live up to the expectations of the first film, it does succeed in being a worthy and very enteratining sequel, with plenty to commend it.
And on that note, that's it for Supe II, time for III......
No comments:
Post a Comment