Directed by Richard Lester (theatrical release); Richard Donner (Director’s Cut)
Written by Mario Puzo and David and Leslie Newman from a character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
1980/US
IMBd page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime rental
General Zod: [as somebody pulls a gun on him] These humans are beginning to bore me.
When I saw this way back when at the movies, I preferred the sequel to the original.  Donner’s cut took so much of the fun out of it that it is now much worse than the original.
Most of the cast of the first film is back in this one. Kryptonian villains General Zod (Terence Stamp, Lara (Susannah York) and Non (Jack O’Halloran) escape the Phantom Zone and sow chaos on Earth. In the meantime Superman (Christopher Reeve) is distracted by his new romance with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) who had discovered his identity. Will love interfere with Superman’s duties?
The romance was not given as much prominence as in the Lester version. Â And Lester captured the comic book campiness of the original. Â To add to its demerits, Â there is not nearly enough Gene Hackman.
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It is great to have you back, Bea.
I skipped both Fame and Superman II. There was just so much good stuff to choose from in 1980 and superhero movies never did it for me.
I generally don’t like superhero movies either but I make an exception for Superman and Superman II. I tried to congratulate you on moving on to 1981 but your site didn’t want to accept my anonymous comment. I’ll be behind you for awhile!
Blogspot is so annoying. I do not know what I can do to make it accept comments, but will have a look at it. Maybe it some idiot filter to only accept Google profiles 😡
(recovering slowly from a PC disaster so I only just got here) Can I echo Thomas sentiments, Welcome Back…… proofreading tools at the ready so no relaxung ya-hear LOL
I’m counting on those proofreading tools! It’s good to be back!
Never enough Gene Hackman! I just watched GET SHORTY and smiled every time he was in a scene.
I saw GET SHORTY in the theater. Funny I don’t remember Hackman. We’re Danny De Vito and John Travolta in it?
Yes. Gene plays the sleezy producer.