If I had to do a top ten movies of my childhood in the 80s list, Superman would be on that list, actually, I would cheat and put this and Superman II on together! I loved this movie as a kid and I staill have a massive soft spot for it now. This is a movie that I have seen a ton and I mean a ton of times. It made me fall in love with the character and while Superman has certainly fallen down my favorite superhero pecking order, the first two Christopher Reeve movies will always be something that I reminisce about fondly.
How to Download Superman
Superman was released on December 15, 1978. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. Also, check out reviews of Superman Returns (2006) and Man of Steel (2013).
The Movie Review
A Classic Experience with Superman
The first time I saw Superman would have been in the mid-80s, I saw it on TV, taped it and I would watch that tape over and over again. I would eventually get a real VHS of it, which I upgraded to DVD, which I upgraded to Blu-Ray which I then upgraded to 4K which is fantastic. This is one of a few movies where I have gotten each upgrade as they have come out so that I could have the best version in my collection.
Christopher Reeve’s Iconic Superman
At this point, what could I possibly say about Superman that has not already been said? Christopher Reeve is awesome as both Clark Kent and Superman. We also had Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, one of the more interesting takes on the character due to his look! Margot Kidder is great as Lois Lane and they even got Marlon Brando to be Jor-El, although that relationship did not go all that well.
The Plot and Timeless Appeal
While the plot of Superman becoming the hero that Earth needs, Clark and Lois falling for each other and the maniacal Lex Luthor wanting all the power he can get is great. By today’s standards, this is a pretty basic origin Superman story kind of movie. Hey, it is not bad at all, as a matter of fact, I think that it is still awesome. However, I am sure for a kid today, this would not be as exciting. Also, as a kid I never questioned it, but the whole flying super fast and turning back time as a result is a tad on the goofy side, but hey, I still dig it.
Behind the Scenes Drama
I touched on the trouble with Marlon Brando and the studio before, but the whole production of Superman is just fascinating to read about or watch videos on. This at the time was the most expensive movie ever made and there was all kinds of drama behind the screen which is so interesting to read about, such as Richard Donner not being the first choice for a director and only getting hired because original director Guy Hamilton had tax troubles!
Stunning 4K Restoration
I do want to take just a moment to talk about the amazing 4K restoration that this movie has. The picture quality took me back for a second as it has a kind of dream like 50s color movie vibe about it if that makes sense. However, before you rush out and buy the 4K, I would suggest you hold off as towards the end of 2024, there is an epic 4K box set coming out that has this movie as well as both versions of Superman II and Superman III and IV.
