Superman III (1983)
No ambiguity here - definitely my first time seeing this
A cursory search online reveals that CBM fans don't have much respect for this film, with many calling it one of the worst superhero sequels ever made! While I wouldn't personally go that far, I do concede that the drop in quality between the second and third films is considerable; it would appear there was much more of Richard Donner in
Superman II than Richard Lester. Or perhaps we can attribute the drop in quality to someone whose name wasn't Richard...
In his
Superman III review, Roger Ebert said, "The running gag about the hero’s double identity isn’t really exploited this time." Umm Roger, did we not see the same film? This second sequel takes the theme of duality to its logical conclusion, by not just exploring the pitfalls and concessions necessary to maintain a secret identity, but by literally separating Superman into two distinct personas! I asked rhetorically in my review for the second film what would happen if Superman decided one day to start exploring his base instincts, instead of rigidly adhering to the moral conditioning of his upbringing (and make no mistake friends, conditioned he was as an alien taught to mimic human behaviours and emotions). And the answer
Superman III provides is, not much...
After being exposed to synthetic Kryptonite with a key element substituted, Superman becomes corrupted by the unnatural compound and starts to turn evil. Or does he? Does the synthetic Kryptonite really change Superman or does it merely suppress his Ego, allowing Superman's Id to reveal his true potential for anarchy and callousness? Yet instead of exploring the implications of a super-powered alien deciding to pursue his own self-interests, despite being conditioned to love and protect us, how do the producers choose to depict a chillingly fascist Superman? They have him straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa and covertly blow out the Olympic Flame?? Get drunk at a bar?? Can Superman even get drunk?? Seriously, this was the extent of their inspiration?? Sure the 'evil' Superman also causes an oil spill but that was a request fulfilled so he can sleep with Lorelei, and proves easy enough to 'fix' later in the film. Speaking of Lorelei, my favourite line in the film comes when Superman tells her, "don't ask me to save you because I don't do that anymore." So what exactly does 'bad' Superman do all day? Fly around stealing candy from kids and causing other benign naughtiness? Whatever the case may be, this **** is funny...
Once again, the depictions of women in the film strongly suggest, if not downright misogyny, then a certain patronization on the part of Lester and the Newmans. To be honest though, the men don't fare much better here, either. Ross Webster, functioning as a second-rate Lex-Lite (because Gene Hackman presumably had better things to do) barely registers, and the constant ridiculing of his sister Vera's implied undesirability becomes progressively more distasteful as the movie lumbers on. This was my first-ever exposure to Richard Pryor, and while clearly a gifted physical comedian, even he couldn't add much of a pulse to the proceedings. And don't even get me started on Lois, who doesn't have more than two minutes of screentime in the entire film. Reportedly, Margot Kidder clashed so bitterly with the producers over Lois' portrayal in the second film that she was essentially written out of the third. Apparently she felt her depiction wasn't providing a strong role model for little girls who were fans of the movies. The nerve of her!!
Margot's replacement in the film sadly provides a watered-down alterative, completely devoid of the salty broth that made Lois so indelible in the first two films (admittedly less so in the second movie). As Lana, Annette O'Toole brings a certain sweetness and vulnerability to the role, but as a foil to our hero, she ain't no Kidder (who was?). However, one scene involving Lana and 'evil' Clark fascinated me. Just after 'turning', a clearly uncomfortably Lana asks Superman to leave her house, but he initially refuses, a very predatory demeanor overtaking him. He comes to his senses eventually, but was the implication that this version of Superman just might be capable of sexual abuse? Would an alien understand the human aspect of 'consent'? Later in the film, Superman willingly takes advantage of Lorelei's sexual offer, but wait! Didn't the second film strongly suggest that Superman cannot have sex with a human in his powered state? Are we to assume that Clark's base alien instinct is so twisted that he would risk murdering a human, just to satisfy his carnal urges?
At first the fight between a split Superman and Clark in the junkyard made me groan, but the disappearance of the 'bad' Superman at the end made me realize that the battle was ideological and not physical, which is right. Having thought about the film holistically since watching it, I do believe that
Superman III respects the Superman mythos - at least the one established in this franchise - more than it disrespects it. I can definitely sympathize with fan complaints: gone is all sense of wonder and recognizable human emotion this time around. The effects are much shoddier in this latest sequel, and there's nothing as compelling as the “Can You Read My Mind” romantic sequence from the first film or the Fortress of Solitude seduction scene from the second.
Superman III is compromised (fatally, if we're being honest here) by a director more interested in slapstick than reverence (though that might be a classic example of 'skill versus will' on Lester's part). Having said all that, I can't completely discount the film because it's a SUPERMAN MOVIE STARRING CHRISTOPHER REEVE! We only got what, like four of them (not counting the Director's Cuts and Special Editions of course)? And we'll sadly never get another one so this fact is enough to justify
Superman III's existence. It's a shame the film isn't better - it's the most comic booky Superman movie yet! And as sucky as it is, I've read that
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is even worse!
I've come this far - may as well make it all the way to the bitter end
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