So now I move onto Part 2, which is the aptly named Superman II, 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......
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