@@thedeadlynose5127 probably somewhere - he worked on a BUNCH of stuff like 2001, Clockwork Orange, Beatles movies etc so there’s some crazy pictures back at my mums house. Sadly never got to meet him as he died when my mum was still quite young. Crazy that a lot of the stuff he worked on is now my fave stuff, would’ve been nice to have a natter about it all with him
@@TobyStanding sorry to hear they passed bud. They sound like they had a fun interesting life sure they would have had so many cool stories to share aswell. 😊
Reeve's change in character has to be acknowledged. Every actor since Reeve has just played the character as one dimensional. Reeve changed everything about himself between playing Clark and Superman. From his voice to his gait, facial expressions, mannerisms, everything. Reeve was also the guy who made Superman's flight work too. They had him on wires and were instructing him how to fly... but during Superman's reveal where you see him fly for the first time, Reeve decided to ignore all the choreographers and tilted his body so he banked left instead of just letting the wires do the work. Everything Reeve did, made Superman believable. Routh tried it, but he was just copying Reeve.
I remember seeing a Cracked video years ago where they point out that Clark even parts his hair on a different side to Superman - all these little things help really separate the two identities
This, so much this. The film moto should have been "You'll believe the glasses disguise, work". That moment when Lois goes into the room, and he takes off his glasses and straightens up, to then hunch back into "Clark Kent" mode is perfect acting.
I totally agree, those times when he straightens up when no one is looking and BECOMES Superman, even in Clark's clothes...it's AMAZING. Also...I think Routh nailed the imitation.
Y’know why I still love Superman: The Movie and why I argue that despite its pacing issues it still holds up? Because even at the birth of the superhero film genre Superman was grappling with his own relevance in a world that’s moved past the Golden Age of Comics. Because Superman: The Movie took 1940’s Hope-and-Optimism, Do-The-Right-Thing-For-Its-Own-Sake, Shining Beacon of Hope and Justice Superman, plunked him down in modernity (well, the then-modernity of the late 1970’s), asked “do we really need a character like this?” and answered with a resounding “Yes, we do. In fact, we might need him now more than ever.”
Honestly seeing Superman saving a kitty for a little girl it's soo charming and simple. I don't know why we can't have charming moments like this with Superman on the big screen again
Exactly. You have no idea how annoyed I was when they said they were working on making Superman relevant again. The executives over at WB don't understand Clark at all. He's an impoverished, anxious, immigrant who grew up on a farm, doesn't fit in, sucks at social interaction, and has a greedy businessman as a nemesis. What the hell were they on about? It was so frustrating.
Whole heartedly agree, it’s amazes me that Zack Snyder said that Superman “is boring” in an interview, and then goes on to make the worst iteration of the character, having him be aimless and having to have everybody else tell him what he is and what to do. He’s not “boring”, he’s one of the most relatable characters. Despite all his powers, he’s still just a regular guy. One of my favorite instance of the character was in All-Star Superman, when he talks a girl out of suicide by telling her “you’re stronger than you think”. He’s old fashioned, with wholesome family values, caring, compassion etc, you have that diametrically opposed with the cynicism and current worldview of the planet, and you have a paragon in Superman. It’s not that difficult to see how much that works.
The editing is always like, five notches above what I'd expect from a video like this. I've tried listening to the podcast and it just isn't the same. Ben is like a third member of these conversations.
As one of the old people who saw this movie in its first release, I think you’re not quite getting how *amazing* the effects looked at the time. “You’ll believe a man can fly,” was a brilliant tag line. The last time anyone had seen Superman “fly” it had been George Reeves lying on a piece of glass (which was still in national syndication at the time). The level-up was dazzling. And Christopher Reeve himself was dazzling. He was almost too good; no one since has been able to rival his performance.
I agree I watched Superman the movie 1978 and it was my first movie on a big screen let alone watching i in color. But the effects were amazing for it time.
Christopher Reeve even in all his camp made Superman more believable and personable than anything I’ve seen since. There have been some good attempts in animated and live action since. But this portrayal of the character is simply the best. That fly by nod to the audience is better than any 3D idea they had.
I absolutely _love_ the scene after the flying bit, in which Clark waits for Lois as she's getting ready and considers telling her the truth about being Superman. In just simply removing his glasses and changing his posture, Christopher Reeve changes from Clark to Superman before our very eyes. I always use that bit as "Exhibit A" whenever somebody bleats "hOw coME NOBodY KnOWs sUPerMan iS CLaRK kENT JUsT BeCAUse Of ThE GLAsSEs!"
@@thatcleverchick1182 My friends and partner hate my contact lenses. Glasses are just part of the identity. It’s really weird how such innocuous details affect the way people perceive you.
That take in "Superman Returns" was bizarre. It was like they burred out the smile out of a belief that it was too cheesy for "modern audiences. You know the same kind of modern audience that can only accept a movie like "Taxi Driver" if it's remade as a comicbook movie.
It's a real shame that the Salkinds fired Richard Donner. He was passionate about Superman. In interviews, he has stated that Superman is a modern myth. That comes across in Superman the Movie with its structure, starting with Krypton and its destruction, Kal El's voyage to Earth, his childhood being raised by the Kents in Smallville, the search for his heritage (as depicted when he goes to the Fortress of Solitude) and his adulthood in Metropolis. He has said he had more story ideas for future installments. During the film shoot, Donner had a banner on the set, with a picture of Superman with the world Verisimilitude emblazoned on it. It was Donner's catchphrase on set. He wanted to remind the cast and crew that they was respectful to the Superman mythos and create a willing suspension of disbelief for the audience. I think he achieved that.
This was a fun time to be alive. When the people over at Warner Brothers Pictures actually understood the warmth and relatability of the Superman character.
They didn't understand anything. They were constantly fighting with Richard Donner and as soon as he was out it was garbage cash grabs. Basically did the same thing with Burton and Keaton until they burned that franchise to the ground too. It's usually a visionary director saving the franchise from them like what Nolan had to do.
Mike B I can understand not shaving your head, especially when you’re at the age where you’re worried it might not all grow back, but the mustache? Come on, Gene. Lmao. Cesar Romero had the excuse where it was a long gig that would last years. This is a movie, lol.
There *are* two different Supermens in this universe. One of them went on to do Superman 2, 3 and 4 and the other one went on to knock up Lois and then leave for a couple of years and then come back for Returns.
Superman Returns was a sequel to the first and second film...That was all supposed to be the same time there was zero days gap between them...Its not shocking or rocket science why Returns ignored 3 and 4
As someone who was eight years old when this came out, I still think of Reeve as Superman. No matter how many actors play the character, Christopher Reeve is the “real” Superman to me. That made his eventual fate even more tragic. I was in my twenties when I heard about the accident that left him paralysed, and I STILL thought, “That’s impossible. He’s Superman!” Side note: Shortly before his accident, he appeared in the film “The Remains of the Day”. When I saw the film in the theatre, there was a shot of Reeve’s character getting out of a car and looking up at Darlington Hall. Some wag in the theatre said what we were all thinking: He started singing John Williams “Superman” theme!
The idea of Pa Kent reasoning with young Clark like, "why would you bother wasting your incredible abilities on something so mundane?" is great. It's a wonderful contrast to Man of Steel where instead of dissuading Clark from using amazing abilities for inconsequential purposes, Pa Kent is like, "you probably shouldn't ever use your powers at all."
This movie holds a special place in my heart. Its the first movie I watched with my son after he was born, up at 3 am feeding him so my wife could sleep, and this was on. I saw it multiple times before and after that, but this memory sticks with me. You have to admit, the flying special effects stand up to even today (IMO) and the one transition of going from Clark to Superman in one shot, no cutaways, was pretty cool
I just watched this movie (and it's sequels) for the first time like 9 months ago towards the beginning of quarantine and while I didn't think it was that bad, it certainly wasn't masterful. I found what really worked for me, is Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. Reeve just embodied the good-hearted adorably clumsy nature of Clark and the strong heroic nature of Superman. Then Kidder was the perfect opposite, having that great go getter, always on the move, attitude (I actually loved the line of her stating how her sister has the whole married w/kids & a mortgage etc. thing, that type of life just isn't for her) but then she melts in Superman's arms. Great flirtation and chemistry between them. I did as well enjoy the bits of sarcasm from Lex but that was about it. I much prefer the more modern Lex, who's much more of a presence, tricks the public that he's a good guy & even if he is arrested, he's lawyers get him out the next day. I thought this Lex found out & found Kryptonite way too easily & the scheme to get to the missile to reprogram it wss too cartoon-y, especially w/these two henchmen. As for the other characters, they were just kind of there. It was really the story & it's structure that kind of fall flat. I keep imagining how there probably wasn't really a precedent set yet for superhero adaptation movies. (Myself not being born until 98) You know this movie had to walk so others could run type of deal. Like you said, there probably wasn't a actual comic-book writer within miles of this production. Lol Part of it's main focus was on trying to show audiences a man flying around for the first time. I also imagine that this must have been a lot of people's first introduction to Kal-El's origin, which is great and all but going in knowing everything we know now, you can really see how clunky it is here. Continuously jumping forward in time & it still takes a good chunk of the movie until we finally see Reeve. In which I also feel a bit jaded in that when his "ai" father is teaching him with some random overlapping monologues of info, they're just showing bunch stars & are then like, oh now 12yrs have passed. WTF!? The first action sequence, while cool, it kinda had some bad pacing as well. It was clearly just to show off his powers but it could have been integrated more natural. All those big accidents & crimes just so happening at once? I felt it would have been better as a montage over a few days or at least have them happen each in different cities over the country/world if it all had to be on that same night? Then I know this must have been one of the first movies to start the trope of the villain always monologuing their entire plan but it was painfully implemented here. Lex talked for like 5 minutes! And Superman was just casually walking along side him while the missiles were currently zooming towards their targets!?!? And he still had time to get "trapped" & then finally go and stop, well one of the missiles. Maybe if he didn't waste that time he could have stopped both & prevented Lois's death initially? In which that ending was just a slap in the face! Like, ok, so he was able to reverse time to bring her back but what really got me is that they didn't even bother to attempt the logical sense that all of the destruction from the earthquakes would then occur again!? I was waiting that whole scene for that ground to crack open again under them lol Like for real, why even kill her!? just to bring up more problems with the script? And he had just learned sometimes he can't save everyone even w/all his powers, like w/Pa Kent, then literally goes & slaps that in the face!? Anyways, as a whole I think this ends up being pretty average. I'm not into giving passes just because it was the first, lazy cop-out writing is what it is no matter when it is. I can have respect for the originals while also fairly judging it for what it is! This character deserves to have that quintessential movie that frankly was never gonna happen with the limitations of the past & being the first, without learning what works & what doesn't.
Superman is my favourite Comic Book character because he’s the impossible concept. You guys are dorks, but blow me over if you don’t nail this stuff every. single. time. Thanks so much for covering this. You made my day with how sincere you are and how relentlessly real and fun you are in your appreciation.
Pissed off that Marlin Brando got more then Reeves. Reeves literally embodied superman, even though these movies aren’t amazing he makes me feel magical when I see him.
They are amazing Christopher reeves showed who super and really was and wasn’t a superhero who throws a villain into a bunch of building with people in it and the buildings fall and kill people
This is my personal favourite film, and it taught me filmmaking. it's heartwarming that you guys approached it with so much respect and shared all of these production stories that I've known since I was a kid! thanks so much boys, you are classy as ever
Much like the character himself, this movie was the template for everything that was to come. Sure it's campy but it works. The music is on par with William's work on Star Wars, if not better. The editing, the photography, Christopher Reeve.... Luthor is a crazy bastard... it's a great movie.
I still find myself humming theme songs randomly without hearing them first all the time. This movie's and Indiana Jones are the top two that come to mind for me.
I think the reason Superman can't time travel whenever he wants is it took the grief of losing Lois to make him defy his father's instructions. You can see on his face he's a little bit out of his mind at the time.
They humanised him, that selfish act for the sake of his beloved made him quite relatable. I found baffling that people say Man of Steel made Superman more human.. Yet the Reeves one did it first
Yes, of course, but the problem is there aren't any consequences. Of course it's a desperate move and not something he'd do all the time, but WHY is it such a bad thing if they've shown there to be no ramifications for the act? Ultimately it doesn't matter because these movies have Superman doing things all the time that don't make any sense and just show up once so at least it's internally consistent in that regard, but it kinda undercuts the drama of that scene when you really think about it
i came here to listen how one of my favorite Superhero movies was going to get riffed on and instead ended up loving what you guys said!! i especially loved the parts on Marlon Bando.. that dude was a dick and I agree 100% Chris winking at the audience at the end was MAGICAL!
Watched these as a kid when they came out. These were totally hokey at the time, but in a great, playful way. I so love the original Reeve Superman movie.
After watching this I wanted to watch the movie again. The moment in Lois's apartment where Clark takes off his glasses and stands up tall is kind of brilliant. I didn't appreciate how much he changed his physicality. All the flirting and everything Chris Reeve does is perfect and dare I say unparalleled by any other actor playing the role.
The helicopter scene is as good as it is because of the editing - music and visuals - I think it's as good as the shower scene in Psycho or the tennis scene in Strangers on a Train - the build up to it shows DNA from 'The Omen', Donners film before this.
Loved this film when I was younger (Yes, I'm old) thing that bugged me though was Lex Luthor knowing, apropo of nothing, that a piece of Superman's planet would give off a radiation that is harmful to him. That's like me holding out a bit of dirt and thinking that it would cause harm to someone opposite from me
It was seen as lightly comedic but certainly not hokey at the time. Everyone was falling about talking about the flying effects and how ground breaking they were with footage of Chris leaving the ground even studied in slow motion shown on the news with the onlookers unable to say exactly how it was done until sometime after it was released when it was revealed that it was done with the actors wearing body casts so they didn't strain themselves or get injured as their weight came off their feet and so "takeoff" appeared effortless as though superman simply left the ground or gently "alighted." It hadn't been done that way before and Superman had never been able to leave the ground so smoothly before this movie. As hokey as it looks now, it was GROUND BREAKING then.
I’ve got some trivia Otis (Lex Luthor’s right hand man) and his “otisburg” that was on the map of costa del lex (Lex Luthor’s “West coast”) that name was used as a location on founder’s island from Batman Arkham Knight
Thank you for talking about the cut scene in the tunnel!! Of all the movies that was the best visual effects and also showcased his abilities to people who otherwise don’t know.
The time travel thing was addressed pretty well in Smallville in the 100th episode. He has the option to go back in time and save someone but it had consequences that impacted the rest of the series.
In my senior year of high school I did a presentation talking about 8:05 this scene and how it shows the dichotomy between Clark and Lois for my English Class. I freaking love that scene.
The helicopter catch is on my top five list for favorite moment in comic book movies. For a kid who grew up watching the Reeve films, this will always be the definitive "this is Superman" moment. EDIT: "Brando juice in my head" is not a phrase I expected to hear today. Thank you.
I'm so stoked for these. I love all the Christopher Reeve ones. Yes, I said all. The man gives it everything he's got and makes even Quest for Peace work. I'm looking forward to Superman 3. I just watched it today and it's ridiculous but very enjoyable. Christopher Reeve pretended to fight himself long before Chris Evans made it cool and funny and it actually made sense.
The first movie is one of my grandmothers favorite movies. It was my dads favorite before he passed so he views it as a good memory. Thank you for making this video I always enjoy you guys content.
This was a surprise to be sure, but a damn good welcome one. I may have not been alive when these movies were popular, but I'll always be grateful for them, and Christopher Reeves
Like some others here, I was unable to watch past the beginning part of the video. As a nine year old sitting in a theatre watching the blue swooshes fly across the screen to John Williams' amazing score, I was blown away. To this day Superman the Movie remains one of my all-time favourites despite the fact that the effects are now dated by comparison. It was not a perfect adaptation of the comics at the time, but the characterizations are what made it shine. Donner, the Salkinds, and many others made it happen.
Jaws in '75, Star Wars in '77, Superman in '78, Empire Strikes back in '80, Indiana Jones in '8...My god John Williams was crushing it year after year after year
Guys! That Telly Savalas/Gene Hackman anecdote is pretty fun knowing that Lex Luthor from the Paul Dini an Bruce Timm cartoon show IS ACTUALLY BASED ON TELLY SAVALAS!
This movie isn't old! I remember... Oh, you got me. I'm old (and I've never done a TikTok dance). I even remember the George Reeves TV show (though not from its initial run, I'm not THAT old). And no love for Terrence Stamp? OK, not a BIG role (in this movie), but nor was Jor-El/Marlon Brando. Also, it was amazing how distinct Christopher Reeve made Superman and Clark. He really did make it possible to believe people wouldn't immediately spot Clark = Superman, at least to a passing glance (less believable that the news room he worked in every day didn't realise!).
You have to give props to Reeves for the moment you see Clark try and tell Louis that he's Superman. It looks like he changes into another person. He looks like he grows a foot and his face completely changes. I don't think I've ever seen another actor nail the dichotomy of the two characters so well or convince me that nobody wouldn't instantly recognize Clark as Superman.
An all-time classic and STILL the best live-action Superman portrayal ever done. RIP Christopher Reeve. (And there is no Superman without that theme song.)
It just occured to me that out of the 6 Superman movies including the 1978 one, 3 of them had the villain in some sort of terraforming plot for real estate...
@@axebomber2108 Nah its just imbeciles that think their LMFAO being "hip and kewl" calling it a real estate scheme when they were literally going to turn the entire planet into Krypton and didn't care that all the humans would die, as opposed to land that could be sold to rich people.....It is hilarious though when imbeciles think they're hurrr durrr owning the Snyder fans.....Maybe you should go watch WW84 again or that CW low budget looking Shazam show, oops sorry that Shazam garbage got put on a movie screen.
That's been the only plot I've seen in a superman movie lol Every one I've seen, has basically the exact same moment where the villain monologs(with painful detail) I cer their little "train set" thingy, and describe some plot to move all the dirty poor people out, and buy up all the land.
Superman holding Lois and the helicopter is the most dad looking thing in all the superhero movies. Like thoughs billboards that say "take time to be a dad".
I have one Marlon Brando story. I had an after school job answering phones as a customer service representative for an electronics store. I dealt mostly with online sales and someone called and was asking me to find them a dictation machine. Eventually this person, confused by all the options dictation machines had, put their boss on, which turned out to be Marlon Brando, and for the next 18 minutes I got to listen to him berate his assistant for not being an expert on dictation machines.
Thanks! You guys are so funny and clever and your videos make my day. The editing, too, is just sublime; perfect cuts among eclectic sources. I don't know the first thing about editing (or even the second) but yours is astounding to watch and your content is magnificent. Thank you again!
My dad is one of the people who still remembers watching this in theaters. *Plus back in the 60s, his parents were in an acting class with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman
I'm a millennial and still think this movie is great. Like Batman (1989) it was of its time. Both movies tried to make audiences believe in their larger than life characters on the big screen and I think they both were successful. Also, this is probably the greatest film score in comic book movie history. Side note: when Clark jumps out the window I always thought that was just a sped up representation of him losing his civilian clothes mid air, and not them just disappearing. If that makes sense?
I said Geoffrey Usworth but it's actually Geoffrey Unsworth. We also made other mistakes I didn't pick up on and will not change
mr pumpkin movies was a mistake
More like Mr SCUMBAG Movies
actually this is a really good video
@@dougchee irrelevant!
Very disappointed that you admitted this.
The concept of a Christopher Reeve doll being catapulted multiple times to achieve the perfect shot is amazing
Lol the true definition of stunt double.
If they stuck to that method Reeve could've played Superman post-horse fall.
Much better than today's methodology
@@lexiwilson9501 Christopher Reeve will not stand for that...
@@RoddThunderheart I laughed way to hard at yours and that other guys comments
My grandad was one of the cameramen from these films - got a big coat of his he used when filming in Canada
That's very cool must have some pics of him with the with the soup man
@@thedeadlynose5127 probably somewhere - he worked on a BUNCH of stuff like 2001, Clockwork Orange, Beatles movies etc so there’s some crazy pictures back at my mums house.
Sadly never got to meet him as he died when my mum was still quite young. Crazy that a lot of the stuff he worked on is now my fave stuff, would’ve been nice to have a natter about it all with him
Your grandad’s OLDDD
@@LFrench he’s also dead so
@@TobyStanding sorry to hear they passed bud. They sound like they had a fun interesting life sure they would have had so many cool stories to share aswell. 😊
Of all of the Superman movies, this is definitely one of them.
Of all the people who comment on this channel, you're the last I'd expect.
One of the speediest to do so too. Ironic
that's deep
Movies are tight!
You speedrunning comment sections now?
Wow, how profound
The best part of this video is James's pure delight when recounting mustachegate.
To be fair, hearing it for the first time in this video, its an amazing story
I could listen to him go on about his love and respect for Brando for hours.
And that epic music for the reveal.
Reeve's change in character has to be acknowledged.
Every actor since Reeve has just played the character as one dimensional. Reeve changed everything about himself between playing Clark and Superman. From his voice to his gait, facial expressions, mannerisms, everything.
Reeve was also the guy who made Superman's flight work too. They had him on wires and were instructing him how to fly... but during Superman's reveal where you see him fly for the first time, Reeve decided to ignore all the choreographers and tilted his body so he banked left instead of just letting the wires do the work.
Everything Reeve did, made Superman believable.
Routh tried it, but he was just copying Reeve.
I remember seeing a Cracked video years ago where they point out that Clark even parts his hair on a different side to Superman - all these little things help really separate the two identities
Routh was copying Reeve because his film was supposed to be a sequel to Reeve’s film
This, so much this. The film moto should have been "You'll believe the glasses disguise, work". That moment when Lois goes into the room, and he takes off his glasses and straightens up, to then hunch back into "Clark Kent" mode is perfect acting.
@@aderitomachado1754 And you realise his acting was even better because it was shot with no cutaways.
I totally agree, those times when he straightens up when no one is looking and BECOMES Superman, even in Clark's clothes...it's AMAZING. Also...I think Routh nailed the imitation.
Y’know why I still love Superman: The Movie and why I argue that despite its pacing issues it still holds up?
Because even at the birth of the superhero film genre Superman was grappling with his own relevance in a world that’s moved past the Golden Age of Comics.
Because Superman: The Movie took 1940’s Hope-and-Optimism, Do-The-Right-Thing-For-Its-Own-Sake, Shining Beacon of Hope and Justice Superman, plunked him down in modernity (well, the then-modernity of the late 1970’s), asked “do we really need a character like this?” and answered with a resounding “Yes, we do. In fact, we might need him now more than ever.”
Couldn’t agree more 👏 we will always need Superman
Honestly seeing Superman saving a kitty for a little girl it's soo charming and simple.
I don't know why we can't have charming moments like this with Superman on the big screen again
^this^
Exactly. You have no idea how annoyed I was when they said they were working on making Superman relevant again. The executives over at WB don't understand Clark at all. He's an impoverished, anxious, immigrant who grew up on a farm, doesn't fit in, sucks at social interaction, and has a greedy businessman as a nemesis. What the hell were they on about? It was so frustrating.
Whole heartedly agree, it’s amazes me that Zack Snyder said that Superman “is boring” in an interview, and then goes on to make the worst iteration of the character, having him be aimless and having to have everybody else tell him what he is and what to do.
He’s not “boring”, he’s one of the most relatable characters. Despite all his powers, he’s still just a regular guy. One of my favorite instance of the character was in All-Star Superman, when he talks a girl out of suicide by telling her “you’re stronger than you think”. He’s old fashioned, with wholesome family values, caring, compassion etc, you have that diametrically opposed with the cynicism and current worldview of the planet, and you have a paragon in Superman. It’s not that difficult to see how much that works.
Shoutout to the editors: That René Descartes edit did not go unappreciated! 1:44
I had to pause for a quick chuckle for that one
Beat me to it mate, well done
Cogito Ergo Sum
Putting Descartes before DeHorse
The editing is always like, five notches above what I'd expect from a video like this. I've tried listening to the podcast and it just isn't the same. Ben is like a third member of these conversations.
That mustache-gate is, bar none, the BEST trivia ever reported on Caravan of Garbage
As one of the old people who saw this movie in its first release, I think you’re not quite getting how *amazing* the effects looked at the time. “You’ll believe a man can fly,” was a brilliant tag line. The last time anyone had seen Superman “fly” it had been George Reeves lying on a piece of glass (which was still in national syndication at the time). The level-up was dazzling. And Christopher Reeve himself was dazzling. He was almost too good; no one since has been able to rival his performance.
Same here, and I strongly agree with almost everything you said (I don’t know about the Reeves Superman, as I’ve still never seen it.)
I agree I watched Superman the movie 1978 and it was my first movie on a big screen let alone watching i in color. But the effects were amazing for it time.
When Superman first winked into the camera, my mother slapped me on the back and yelled, “he’s winking at you!”
At 6 years old, I believed her
At 17 I’d still believe it
That's pretty fucking delightful
That sounds magical
Great freaking mother 😂♥️
Aww, that's sweet.
Having René Descartes appear when "I think" was said is nothing short of genius
Mason is being begrudgingly carried by James' enthusiasm throughout this video. You bloody love to see it.
Right this is the channel I never knew I needed until a few years ago.
Christopher Reeve even in all his camp made Superman more believable and personable than anything I’ve seen since. There have been some good attempts in animated and live action since. But this portrayal of the character is simply the best. That fly by nod to the audience is better than any 3D idea they had.
I absolutely _love_ the scene after the flying bit, in which Clark waits for Lois as she's getting ready and considers telling her the truth about being Superman. In just simply removing his glasses and changing his posture, Christopher Reeve changes from Clark to Superman before our very eyes.
I always use that bit as "Exhibit A" whenever somebody bleats "hOw coME NOBodY KnOWs sUPerMan iS CLaRK kENT JUsT BeCAUse Of ThE GLAsSEs!"
I used to wear black framed glasses, then I got lasik. The whole glasses-as-a-disguise thing is 100% true.
@@thatcleverchick1182 My friends and partner hate my contact lenses. Glasses are just part of the identity. It’s really weird how such innocuous details affect the way people perceive you.
I totally agree with the 26:45 mark, his smiling and winking says all you needed to know about his take on Superman
That take in "Superman Returns" was bizarre. It was like they burred out the smile out of a belief that it was too cheesy for "modern audiences. You know the same kind of modern audience that can only accept a movie like "Taxi Driver" if it's remade as a comicbook movie.
It's a real shame that the Salkinds fired Richard Donner. He was passionate about Superman. In interviews, he has stated that Superman is a modern myth. That comes across in Superman the Movie with its structure, starting with Krypton and its destruction, Kal El's voyage to Earth, his childhood being raised by the Kents in Smallville, the search for his heritage (as depicted when he goes to the Fortress of Solitude) and his adulthood in Metropolis.
He has said he had more story ideas for future installments.
During the film shoot, Donner had a banner on the set, with a picture of Superman with the world Verisimilitude emblazoned on it. It was Donner's catchphrase on set.
He wanted to remind the cast and crew that they was respectful to the Superman mythos and create a willing suspension of disbelief for the audience. I think he achieved that.
This was a fun time to be alive. When the people over at Warner Brothers Pictures actually understood the warmth and relatability of the Superman character.
@@mezzb show your daughter Smallville, it’s great
They didn't understand anything. They were constantly fighting with Richard Donner and as soon as he was out it was garbage cash grabs. Basically did the same thing with Burton and Keaton until they burned that franchise to the ground too. It's usually a visionary director saving the franchise from them like what Nolan had to do.
That moustache moment is the best thing ever 😂
FOR HOW LONG WAS HE WEARING IT JUST TO FOOL HIM?!??! 😂😂😂
Mike B I can understand not shaving your head, especially when you’re at the age where you’re worried it might not all grow back, but the mustache? Come on, Gene. Lmao. Cesar Romero had the excuse where it was a long gig that would last years. This is a movie, lol.
Kevin Feige makes every new Marvel director watch this movie before they start filming because he thinks it's the greatest superhero movie ever made.
because it is
He should make them watch it twice.
Wish the DCU would do that
I thought you were going to say that Feige wears a fake moustache in order to convince Marvel actors to lose their facial hair.
Explains why marvel make cringe comedies then....
RIP Richard Donner, you made me believe a man could fly 🙏
Not gonna lie. Saying “I’ll shave my mustache if you shave yours” to get an actor to shave, that’s good directing haha.
Certainly beats removing it using CGI and probably a lot cheaper 😂
Still the greatest theme tune ever written, if it doesn't make your heart swell then you're broken.
"The opening of this movie sets up the next movie"
The earliest contender for the Game Is On award
Except you only get that award if it turns out the game was definitely not on.
The game was on and then there was a lot of production troubles but it still ended up being on award?
Things I learned from this video:
1. I'm old.
2. I'm not young.
Hi old not young, I’m dad
I feel your pain!!
Some people call me "Old Die Hard", and I'm 41
@@eldritchmorgasm4018 dude, that’s old
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Fun Fact: Christopher Reeves and Kevin Conroy went to school together and were childhood friends
Weren’t they in the same broadway play when Christopher was cast as superman ?
@@ryanmussell739 haven’t heard that one. Pretty cool; I wonder if they were close up until then?
I think Christopher Reeve was also roommates with Robin Williams for awhile.
@@antoniodiavolo didn’t know that one either👍🏻
thats awesome
There *are* two different Supermens in this universe. One of them went on to do Superman 2, 3 and 4 and the other one went on to knock up Lois and then leave for a couple of years and then come back for Returns.
Superman Returns was a sequel to the first and second film...That was all supposed to be the same time there was zero days gap between them...Its not shocking or rocket science why Returns ignored 3 and 4
As someone who was eight years old when this came out, I still think of Reeve as Superman. No matter how many actors play the character, Christopher Reeve is the “real” Superman to me.
That made his eventual fate even more tragic. I was in my twenties when I heard about the accident that left him paralysed, and I STILL thought, “That’s impossible. He’s Superman!”
Side note: Shortly before his accident, he appeared in the film “The Remains of the Day”. When I saw the film in the theatre, there was a shot of Reeve’s character getting out of a car and looking up at Darlington Hall. Some wag in the theatre said what we were all thinking: He started singing John Williams “Superman” theme!
The idea of Pa Kent reasoning with young Clark like, "why would you bother wasting your incredible abilities on something so mundane?" is great. It's a wonderful contrast to Man of Steel where instead of dissuading Clark from using amazing abilities for inconsequential purposes, Pa Kent is like, "you probably shouldn't ever use your powers at all."
Yes yes, this movie is old and dated.
_plays the soundtrack_
And nobody cares.
This movie holds a special place in my heart. Its the first movie I watched with my son after he was born, up at 3 am feeding him so my wife could sleep, and this was on. I saw it multiple times before and after that, but this memory sticks with me. You have to admit, the flying special effects stand up to even today (IMO) and the one transition of going from Clark to Superman in one shot, no cutaways, was pretty cool
I just watched this movie (and it's sequels) for the first time like 9 months ago towards the beginning of quarantine and while I didn't think it was that bad, it certainly wasn't masterful.
I found what really worked for me, is Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. Reeve just embodied the good-hearted adorably clumsy nature of Clark and the strong heroic nature of Superman. Then Kidder was the perfect opposite, having that great go getter, always on the move, attitude (I actually loved the line of her stating how her sister has the whole married w/kids & a mortgage etc. thing, that type of life just isn't for her) but then she melts in Superman's arms. Great flirtation and chemistry between them.
I did as well enjoy the bits of sarcasm from Lex but that was about it. I much prefer the more modern Lex, who's much more of a presence, tricks the public that he's a good guy & even if he is arrested, he's lawyers get him out the next day. I thought this Lex found out & found Kryptonite way too easily & the scheme to get to the missile to reprogram it wss too cartoon-y, especially w/these two henchmen. As for the other characters, they were just kind of there.
It was really the story & it's structure that kind of fall flat. I keep imagining how there probably wasn't really a precedent set yet for superhero adaptation movies. (Myself not being born until 98) You know this movie had to walk so others could run type of deal. Like you said, there probably wasn't a actual comic-book writer within miles of this production. Lol Part of it's main focus was on trying to show audiences a man flying around for the first time.
I also imagine that this must have been a lot of people's first introduction to Kal-El's origin, which is great and all but going in knowing everything we know now, you can really see how clunky it is here. Continuously jumping forward in time & it still takes a good chunk of the movie until we finally see Reeve. In which I also feel a bit jaded in that when his "ai" father is teaching him with some random overlapping monologues of info, they're just showing bunch stars & are then like, oh now 12yrs have passed. WTF!?
The first action sequence, while cool, it kinda had some bad pacing as well. It was clearly just to show off his powers but it could have been integrated more natural. All those big accidents & crimes just so happening at once? I felt it would have been better as a montage over a few days or at least have them happen each in different cities over the country/world if it all had to be on that same night?
Then I know this must have been one of the first movies to start the trope of the villain always monologuing their entire plan but it was painfully implemented here. Lex talked for like 5 minutes! And Superman was just casually walking along side him while the missiles were currently zooming towards their targets!?!? And he still had time to get "trapped" & then finally go and stop, well one of the missiles. Maybe if he didn't waste that time he could have stopped both & prevented Lois's death initially?
In which that ending was just a slap in the face! Like, ok, so he was able to reverse time to bring her back but what really got me is that they didn't even bother to attempt the logical sense that all of the destruction from the earthquakes would then occur again!? I was waiting that whole scene for that ground to crack open again under them lol Like for real, why even kill her!? just to bring up more problems with the script? And he had just learned sometimes he can't save everyone even w/all his powers, like w/Pa Kent, then literally goes & slaps that in the face!?
Anyways, as a whole I think this ends up being pretty average. I'm not into giving passes just because it was the first, lazy cop-out writing is what it is no matter when it is. I can have respect for the originals while also fairly judging it for what it is!
This character deserves to have that quintessential movie that frankly was never gonna happen with the limitations of the past & being the first, without learning what works & what doesn't.
"If you remember this, YOU'RE OLD!"
So, I'm in that camp.
You're as old as you feel.
I'm 18 but thanks to the pandemic I might as well be 108
@@mitrooper or the person you are feeling am right ?
This was my first movie, and I saw it at a drive-in.
@@carealoo744 It's 2021 if you want to be 108 the sky's the limit.
the two aussie boys are of course hilarious, but this editing is actually seriously captivating, and adds to it so much. cheers, gents.
Superman is my favourite Comic Book character because he’s the impossible concept. You guys are dorks, but blow me over if you don’t nail this stuff every. single. time.
Thanks so much for covering this. You made my day with how sincere you are and how relentlessly real and fun you are in your appreciation.
idk why the "i think" with the Descartes picture was so funny to me
Thats all Ben from Canada
Such a hilarious little bit by the editor at 23:45 with the addition of the subtle Archer clip of phrasing during the "Brando juice" comment 😂
You are correct James, I was there in 1978, which means I'm old.
Feels good to be right
@@mrsundaymovies - to paraphrase the t-shirt: I may be old, but I got to buy all the bad comics when they came out.
BOOOOMMEEER
@@howiegruwitz3173 How very dare you!!! I'm a proud generation Xer.
Pissed off that Marlin Brando got more then Reeves.
Reeves literally embodied superman, even though these movies aren’t amazing he makes me feel magical when I see him.
Brando's pay was a big deal, even back then. Plus him getting a percentage of the box office gross was (and still is) absolutely nuts.
@@mainstreetsaint36 I agree
They are amazing
Christopher reeves showed who super and really was and wasn’t a superhero who throws a villain into a bunch of building with people in it and the buildings fall and kill people
The first two films are legitimate classics.
Super man is a bitch so it doesn’t matter how much anyone got paid
This is my personal favourite film, and it taught me filmmaking. it's heartwarming that you guys approached it with so much respect and shared all of these production stories that I've known since I was a kid! thanks so much boys, you are classy as ever
STM has absolutely beautiful cinematography, especially in the first half.
John Wayne: Died in 1979
Ben: Check Mark!
Bens editin style is so perfect for you guys, really hit the jackpot when you found him
Heres some I would love to see you guys cover
World War Z
Bourne Identity
M Night movies such as Split and Signs
Fast and Furious movies
Saw movies
Starship troopers
How about a truly garbage movie"the happening"
The actor who plays young clark Kent was a year older and Chris Reeves....
Much like the character himself, this movie was the template for everything that was to come. Sure it's campy but it works. The music is on par with William's work on Star Wars, if not better. The editing, the photography, Christopher Reeve.... Luthor is a crazy bastard... it's a great movie.
I still find myself humming theme songs randomly without hearing them first all the time. This movie's and Indiana Jones are the top two that come to mind for me.
I love Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent so much it hurts sometimes
I think the reason Superman can't time travel whenever he wants is it took the grief of losing Lois to make him defy his father's instructions. You can see on his face he's a little bit out of his mind at the time.
They humanised him, that selfish act for the sake of his beloved made him quite relatable.
I found baffling that people say Man of Steel made Superman more human.. Yet the Reeves one did it first
Yes, of course, but the problem is there aren't any consequences. Of course it's a desperate move and not something he'd do all the time, but WHY is it such a bad thing if they've shown there to be no ramifications for the act? Ultimately it doesn't matter because these movies have Superman doing things all the time that don't make any sense and just show up once so at least it's internally consistent in that regard, but it kinda undercuts the drama of that scene when you really think about it
@@hiimchrisj Yyeahh let's just say it's a comic book movie
The sudden music at the fake moustache reveal was amazing
i came here to listen how one of my favorite Superhero movies was going to get riffed on and instead ended up loving what you guys said!! i especially loved the parts on Marlon Bando.. that dude was a dick and I agree 100% Chris winking at the audience at the end was MAGICAL!
Watched these as a kid when they came out.
These were totally hokey at the time, but in a great, playful way.
I so love the original Reeve Superman movie.
After watching this I wanted to watch the movie again. The moment in Lois's apartment where Clark takes off his glasses and stands up tall is kind of brilliant. I didn't appreciate how much he changed his physicality. All the flirting and everything Chris Reeve does is perfect and dare I say unparalleled by any other actor playing the role.
"Krypton is spelt with a K. Don't ask why my home planet has the Latin alphabet or why I was taught in English."
@@mezzb Interesting idea. Let's petition to make it legit cannon
The helicopter scene is as good as it is because of the editing - music and visuals - I think it's as good as the shower scene in Psycho or the tennis scene in Strangers on a Train - the build up to it shows DNA from 'The Omen', Donners film before this.
The tennis scene from Strangers on a Train... what a great shout-out.
Loved this film when I was younger (Yes, I'm old) thing that bugged me though was Lex Luthor knowing, apropo of nothing, that a piece of Superman's planet would give off a radiation that is harmful to him. That's like me holding out a bit of dirt and thinking that it would cause harm to someone opposite from me
It was seen as lightly comedic but certainly not hokey at the time. Everyone was falling about talking about the flying effects and how ground breaking they were with footage of Chris leaving the ground even studied in slow motion shown on the news with the onlookers unable to say exactly how it was done until sometime after it was released when it was revealed that it was done with the actors wearing body casts so they didn't strain themselves or get injured as their weight came off their feet and so "takeoff" appeared effortless as though superman simply left the ground or gently "alighted." It hadn't been done that way before and Superman had never been able to leave the ground so smoothly before this movie. As hokey as it looks now, it was GROUND BREAKING then.
‘Say Jim, that’s a bad outfit!’
I’ve got some trivia Otis (Lex Luthor’s right hand man) and his “otisburg” that was on the map of costa del lex (Lex Luthor’s “West coast”) that name was used as a location on founder’s island from Batman Arkham Knight
21:13 "He's still alive!"
Well this hurts now.
Indeed
Thank you for talking about the cut scene in the tunnel!! Of all the movies that was the best visual effects and also showcased his abilities to people who otherwise don’t know.
The time travel thing was addressed pretty well in Smallville in the 100th episode. He has the option to go back in time and save someone but it had consequences that impacted the rest of the series.
In my senior year of high school I did a presentation talking about 8:05 this scene and how it shows the dichotomy between Clark and Lois for my English Class. I freaking love that scene.
The "I think" bit was so unexpected I had to pause the video to laugh
The helicopter catch is on my top five list for favorite moment in comic book movies. For a kid who grew up watching the Reeve films, this will always be the definitive "this is Superman" moment.
EDIT: "Brando juice in my head" is not a phrase I expected to hear today. Thank you.
The idea of Elton John as superman is aboutletly insane and I love it
The thumbnail alone makes me want to re-watch Superman 78'. So glad you've done this.
I'm so stoked for these. I love all the Christopher Reeve ones. Yes, I said all. The man gives it everything he's got and makes even Quest for Peace work. I'm looking forward to Superman 3. I just watched it today and it's ridiculous but very enjoyable. Christopher Reeve pretended to fight himself long before Chris Evans made it cool and funny and it actually made sense.
The first movie is one of my grandmothers favorite movies. It was my dads favorite before he passed so he views it as a good memory. Thank you for making this video I always enjoy you guys content.
No worries mate, sorry about your Dad’s passing
@@mrsundaymovies I didn’t expect a reply from you guys today. That’s awesome. Keep up the good work though!
I really enjoyed this, Christopher Reeve what a legend, I love when Comic Artists use his likeness!
This was a surprise to be sure, but a damn good welcome one. I may have not been alive when these movies were popular, but I'll always be grateful for them, and Christopher Reeves
Like some others here, I was unable to watch past the beginning part of the video. As a nine year old sitting in a theatre watching the blue swooshes fly across the screen to John Williams' amazing score, I was blown away. To this day Superman the Movie remains one of my all-time favourites despite the fact that the effects are now dated by comparison. It was not a perfect adaptation of the comics at the time, but the characterizations are what made it shine. Donner, the Salkinds, and many others made it happen.
My biggest takeaway: Marlon Brando was a dog of a bloke
I had never heard how bad he was.
Gonna be honest, didn't know he was dead
There was a lot more to Brando and his politics than presented here but he was definitely an arrogant prick and super lazy by the end.
Mine was :Richard Donner wore a fake mustache with the express intention of tricking Gene hackman
@@kronemerj that was hilarious tbh
I just realized this came out a year after Star Wars, holy shit
The 70's were a good decade for movies
Jaws in '75, Star Wars in '77, Superman in '78, Empire Strikes back in '80, Indiana Jones in '8...My god John Williams was crushing it year after year after year
That black-and-white picture of crazy Brando looks a lot like Rip Torn
Boogie Nights comparison roles:
Jack Horner-The Salkynds
Dirk Diggler-Richard Donner
Johnny Doe-Richard Lester
Guys! That Telly Savalas/Gene Hackman anecdote is pretty fun knowing that Lex Luthor from the Paul Dini an Bruce Timm cartoon show IS ACTUALLY BASED ON TELLY SAVALAS!
Ooh, that's a fun fact!
I think we can all agree that Superman: the movie is definitely one of the Superman movies ever made
I would argue that man of steel was also one of the superman moves made
Superman returns is also one of the superman movies ever made! Superman lives is definitely one of the superman movies never made!
@Mostafa Saad I agree that all superman movies are superman movies
@@ZikedY I see but do you know the one of the animated superman movies could be one of the Superman movies
@@decaballo9554 yes, all movies with superman is a superman movie
The editing is usually amazing on these, but today it is somehow this much more amazing!
Everytime I heard Brando I think of random Dio lines everytime he's mentioned lol
Always loved the saving a cat out of a tree reference in BvS
I forget that James doesn’t edit these. I’m sat here thinking how tf does he know about these memes
This movie isn't old! I remember... Oh, you got me. I'm old (and I've never done a TikTok dance). I even remember the George Reeves TV show (though not from its initial run, I'm not THAT old). And no love for Terrence Stamp? OK, not a BIG role (in this movie), but nor was Jor-El/Marlon Brando.
Also, it was amazing how distinct Christopher Reeve made Superman and Clark. He really did make it possible to believe people wouldn't immediately spot Clark = Superman, at least to a passing glance (less believable that the news room he worked in every day didn't realise!).
Christopher Reeve made me believe that using a pair of glasses as a disguise would actually work. Such a perfect Clark Kent.
The music during the moustache reveal almost killed me haha, it kept going like some amazing revelation
You have to give props to Reeves for the moment you see Clark try and tell Louis that he's Superman. It looks like he changes into another person. He looks like he grows a foot and his face completely changes. I don't think I've ever seen another actor nail the dichotomy of the two characters so well or convince me that nobody wouldn't instantly recognize Clark as Superman.
I have such fond memories of growing up with this movie, also the editing on this video is absolutely phenomenal! Fantastic work as always Ben.
This is one of those classic Caravan of Garbages with great commentary and great editing
An all-time classic and STILL the best live-action Superman portrayal ever done. RIP Christopher Reeve. (And there is no Superman without that theme song.)
It just occured to me that out of the 6 Superman movies including the 1978 one, 3 of them had the villain in some sort of terraforming plot for real estate...
Yep. But calling MoS Zod's plan a real estate scheme would cause Snyder fans to foam at the mouth with rage.
@@axebomber2108 Nah its just imbeciles that think their LMFAO being "hip and kewl" calling it a real estate scheme when they were literally going to turn the entire planet into Krypton and didn't care that all the humans would die, as opposed to land that could be sold to rich people.....It is hilarious though when imbeciles think they're hurrr durrr owning the Snyder fans.....Maybe you should go watch WW84 again or that CW low budget looking Shazam show, oops sorry that Shazam garbage got put on a movie screen.
@@lutherheggs451 Well, you just proved my point. Foaming at the mouth over a joke and everything.
That's been the only plot I've seen in a superman movie lol
Every one I've seen, has basically the exact same moment where the villain monologs(with painful detail) I cer their little "train set" thingy, and describe some plot to move all the dirty poor people out, and buy up all the land.
Superman holding Lois and the helicopter is the most dad looking thing in all the superhero movies. Like thoughs billboards that say "take time to be a dad".
Oh my God, I lost my shit during the fake mustache story, I just can’t 😂
I have one Marlon Brando story. I had an after school job answering phones as a customer service representative for an electronics store. I dealt mostly with online sales and someone called and was asking me to find them a dictation machine.
Eventually this person, confused by all the options dictation machines had, put their boss on, which turned out to be Marlon Brando, and for the next 18 minutes I got to listen to him berate his assistant for not being an expert on dictation machines.
I love how mason just explained the time rules from smallville
You guys should do the 2004 Thunderbirds movie. I remember it being terrible but can't be bothered doing a rewatch so would love to see a vid on it😂😂😂
I feel like Ben has watched supernatural with the gabriel reference in this vid and Dean in another one
Thanks! You guys are so funny and clever and your videos make my day. The editing, too, is just sublime; perfect cuts among eclectic sources. I don't know the first thing about editing (or even the second) but yours is astounding to watch and your content is magnificent. Thank you again!
The way James said Richard Lester is everything 😂
My dad is one of the people who still remembers watching this in theaters.
*Plus back in the 60s, his parents were in an acting class with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman
I'm a millennial and still think this movie is great. Like Batman (1989) it was of its time. Both movies tried to make audiences believe in their larger than life characters on the big screen and I think they both were successful. Also, this is probably the greatest film score in comic book movie history. Side note: when Clark jumps out the window I always thought that was just a sped up representation of him losing his civilian clothes mid air, and not them just disappearing. If that makes sense?
Honestly most surprised by the Miraculous Ladybug clip using her Lucky Charm...