World Superman III & IV: Your Thoughts?

[Mr. Socko]

I just got around to getting the Chris Reeve Superman collection. I hadn't seen part III and IV since I was a kid and I'm watching III right now...


And my God, it is awful! I thought I would enjoy it because I usually like even the suckiest of superhero movies if they're at least light hearted, but this is terrible on every level. The opening title sequence is embarrassing. I'm 40 minutes into this movie and I've hardly even heard the Superman march and I don't think I can go much further

 

[Scarlet Spider]

I just got around to getting the Chris Reeve Superman collection. I hadn't seen part III and IV since I was a kid and I'm watching III right now...


And my God, it is awful! I thought I would enjoy it because I usually like even the suckiest of superhero movies if they're at least light hearted, but this is terrible on every level. The opening title sequence is embarrassing. I'm 40 minutes into this movie and I've hardly even heard the Superman march and I don't think I can go much further

At least make it to the end of the movie... there are some redeeming qualities. The Superman vs. Clark Kent fight is one of the coolest battles ever shown in any superhero film, and Chris Reeve's portrayal of the evil Superman is brilliant.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

At least make it to the end of the movie... there are some redeeming qualities. The Superman vs. Clark Kent fight is one of the coolest battles ever shown in any superhero film, and Chris Reeve's portrayal of the evil Superman is brilliant.

Agreed. Christopher Reeve is not only the best movie superhero ever, but he makes one of the best supervillains ever as well. Also;

- The best special effects of the series
- Genuinely scary 'woman-gets'-turned-into-cyborg' sequence
- Annette O'Toole is great as Lana
- Romance between her and Clark is far more believable than Lois and Superman
- A different take to Donner's approach; Lester shows Clark is actually a genuine character and not a disguise, hence the friction between the two identities. The original name for the movie was Superman Vs Superman, unfortunetly this was diluted for the whole Gus Gorman storyline, but it's still great.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

- A different take to Donner's approach; Lester shows Clark is actually a genuine character and not a disguise, hence the friction between the two identities. The original name for the movie was Superman Vs Superman, unfortunetly this was diluted for the whole Gus Gorman storyline, but it's still great.

Clark Kent IS a DISGUISE, an ACT.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

The disappointing thing about SIII + IV:

I: was cool, flawed, but cool. That is SUPERMAN
II: General Zod rocked and its a nice sequel

But for III + IV I actually expected... you know... Science Fiction Hero Superman. Brainiac. Alien species. Mongul. YOu know. Not again Superman on earth against two joke threats. Hell, they should've brought on Godzilla.

 

[cabel]

I've always enjoyed III. Although I do look at it a handful of missed oppurtunities. The story in concept is actually pretty cool, and ahead of it's time in sense (computers taking control of the world, etc.) Of course they made it more of a Richard Pryor flick.

And biggest missed oppurtunity was the possible Lois,Lana,Clark/Superman love triangle (or rectangle depending on how you look at it) that never got a chance.

 

[Super Kal]

Clark Kent IS a DISGUISE, an ACT.

depends on which timeline.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Clark Kent IS a DISGUISE, an ACT.

Not in Superman III. Why don't you watch it?

 

[Kevin Roegele]

The story in concept is actually pretty cool, and ahead of it's time in sense (computers taking control of the world, etc.)

Not really, in the same period there were movies like War Games and The Terminator.

 

[spiderfan970]

For those of you who can't take Superman 3 or Superman 4 by themselves...

http://fanedit.org/24/

 

[turtlefocker]

That opening fire scene is cool and the junkyard fight is fun but everything else is garbage.

"Redeemed" is amazing; the most skillful edit I have ever seen.

 

[matthooper]

Superman 3 is barely watchable. The Pryor stuff is embarassing and just seems too out of place in a Superman movie. It has a few redeaming qualities.

Superman 4 is a discrace to the name of Superman and the legacy of the character. It is one of the worst films ever made by a studio and an actual production budget.

 

[spiderfan970]

again man, I'm tellin' ya, you gotta check out superman redeemed. It makes a good attempt at saving it.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

I enjoy Superman 3 and 4 I suppose for nostalgic reasons and Christopher Reeve at least delivers.

Fantastic Four and Catwoman, now those are bad movies.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

depends on which timeline.

ah. THe "Superman is a lie, Clark Kent is real" fraction.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

For some reason when I watched IV last night I liked it. Even with all the crap; it was wierd and I can't explain it. I saw all the flaws; the bad story telling, the pointless scenes, the plot holes and the "I can pull powers out of my ass" trick but i still really enjoyed.

It wasn't even in a so bad it's good way.

I can't get my head around it.

 

[Dr. Fate]

I enjoy Superman 3 and 4 I suppose for nostalgic reasons and Christopher Reeve at least delivers.

Fantastic Four and Catwoman, now those are bad movies.

Very bad movies.

I think #3 & #4 were missed opportunities. There was so much potential in the ideas of a Superman gone evil and Superman dealing with real world political issues (like nuclear warfare) but both ideas were squandered. Tis a pity.

Superman 4 has one of my favorite live action Superman moments though: the bit where Superman straightens the flag out on the moon and you see all this pride on his face (right before he gets jumped by Nuclear Man). Even though it was a crappy set with a visible bar to make the flag appear "weightless", there's something about Reeve in this scene that makes it feel like a true Superman moment.

Annette O'Toole was hot in #3. Hotter than Margot Kidder ever was.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

I always thought it was odd that we had the US flag scene and the pride that Superman has in it; in a film that's about how we're all the equal.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I always thought it was odd that we had the US flag scene and the pride that Superman has in it; in a film that's about how we're all the equal.

The 'we' refers to the United States.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I watched the movie a week or so ago and had a tough time. It wasn't very exciting and it just plain sucked. Chris Reeve looked embarrased.

 

[Nightwing1977]

With how crappy 3 & 4 was, it made me glad SR wasn't like that. It wasn't perfect, but it sure was better than the last 3 & 4. If you think Richard Pryor, Nuclear Man, & Luthor's punk nephew were better than SR, don't make me wet my pants.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

I loved Evil Superman hahahaha oh oh who can forget Nuclear Man. He was a bad ass mother ****er.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Superman III is a horrible movie. Now, I'll admit evil Supes kind of cracks me up and the junkyard fight is cool, but other than that, horrible. Just horrible.

Superman IV I never take seriously. The movie was made on the cheap, and is at least laughably bad. Not like B&R, which was just big budget crap that is unwatchable.

If I had to rate these two movies, I'd give both Superman III and IV 3/10, just for being movies that are funny bad. Plus, they still have Reeve as Supes, and he owns the Superman role more than any actor has owned a comic book based role. B&R is an example of 1/10. Never saw Catwoman, so I can't comment.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I haven't seen Superman III or IV since I was a kid, but lately I've been wanting to watch them again, even though I know they are horrible movies. Should I get them? I kinda want to have all the Reeve films, but I dunno...

 

[CFE]

Superman III isn't a horrible movie by any means. I totally side with Kevin on a few aspects.

The thing that saves III for me is the concept of having the villain be a computer.

I -- Superman vs. Super Human (Lex Luthor)
II -- Superman vs. Super Alien (General Zod)
III -- Superman vs. Super Computer

That tranisition in villains felt like it came right out of the Fleischer cartoons, where Superman would fight Nazis, then a giant monster, then a robot and so on. All the varying threats that make up "A Job for Superman" and prove the Man of Steel can take on a challenge of ANY sort.

Superman III is my guilty pleasure. I fully realize how much the fans despise it and my favorite Superman film will always by Donner's '78 original. But that said, I still get a kick out of watching it.

"The Quest for Peace" on the other hand...that's my choice for "Worst Comic Book Film EVER." It's horrid...and it depresses me to think about it, knowing how unbelievably high the grace that franchise fell from was...

Like Marc McClure had said..."It should've been left to Donner."

CFE