To those that know the origin of Kal-El aka "Superman" the film's story should be fairly familiar. The film opens with scientist Jor-El (Marlon Brando), along with the Ruling Council of Planet Krypton sentencing three attempted insurrectionists - Ursa (Sarah Douglas), Non (Jack O'Halloran), and insurrection leader General Zod (Terence Stamp) - to "eternal living death" within the Phantom Zone. Despite Jor-El's prominent stature within the council, the evidence he provides that proves Krypton will soon explode falls on deaf ears. Seeing this as a situation he can't win, Jor-El - along with his wife Lara (Susannah York) - launches a spacecraft containing his infant child Kal-El toward planet Earth. Earth would provide an atmosphere suitable for survival, and due to the dense molecular structure of Kryptonians the planet would also provide the child with superhuman powers. Three years later, the ship crash lands in Smallville where it is found by Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter). They adopt the child, fully aware of his "uniqueness". As Kal-El, renamed Clark by the Kent family, grows up, he too becomes aware of the powers he is capable of; however, his adopted father Jonathan gives him structure and guidance in this matter, telling Clark he believes he is here for a reason, and that whatever reason it may be it's up to Clark to figure out what it is. Following the death of Jonathan, Clark feels a "call" coming from the barn. He finds a glowing green crystal in the remains of the ship that leads him to the Arctic. The crystal that he holds forms the Fortress of Solitude. It is there that Clark learns his true origin and identity from a vision of his biological father Jor-El. Now a grown man with his powers fully developed, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) moves to Metropolis and becomes a reporter for the Daily Planet. There he meets Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), a young and ambitious reporter that he develops feelings for. Clark's reason for being here soon becomes more clear with the emergence of criminal mastermind Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman).
This movie is an absolute treasure. The performances for what is essentially a comic book film from 1978 are top notch. When you look at the cast though, should you really be surprised? Academy Award winners Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, Academy Award nominee Ned Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, and Terence Stamp; this is a first rate cast. Director Richard Donner is no stranger to creating film classics be it The Omen, The Goonies, and the Lethal Weapon series. Here is no exception. Donner - along with a strong writing team led by Mario Puzo, who won two screenwriting Academy Awards for both The Godfather Part I & II, and Tom Mankiewicz - is able to blend a perfectly concocted balance of heart pounding excitement, genuine laughs, and heartfelt emotion. In spite of all the exciting action-packed moments, the real gem of this film is the humanity and emotion behind it all. Whether it's the sweet and perfect chemistry between Superman and Lois Lane, the touching moments between Kal-El and his father Jor-El, or the life lesson given by Jonathan Kent, this film has a big heart. The most touching scene, both heartfelt and heartbreaking at once, occurs with Clark and his adoptive mother Martha at Jonathan's funeral. Clark, while grieving, simply states, "All these powers, and I couldn't even save him." Finally, no other movie I know of is capable of bringing the inner child out of me better than Superman. I can still remember as a three year old watching this for the first time. Seeing Kal-El finally dressed up in his suit and taking flight left me awestruck. I'd even pretend to fly around the room - that is when not ghost-busting for the Sanford, FL community. Despite that dream coming to a crashing halt with reality three years later when I jumped off a swing and didn't fly, but broke my wrist instead, I still enjoy every aspect of this film to this very day. The direction is perfect, the effects (for 1978, mind you) are spectacular. The performances are great, and the great John Williams's brilliant score only adds to the entertainment as it rumbles in the background. Being one of the first, if not the first, big budget superhero blockbusters to be made, this film first set the bar for subsequent superhero films to come.
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