Superman II

Just a few years after the first “Superman” hit, along came the sequel that was bound to happen. “Superman II,” sadly, but expectedly, did not really live up to its predecessor. The effects did not improve from the last one at all, things got a whole lot cornier this time around, and the quality of acting ranged from good to terrible. At least they kept the theme song. It’s one of the only things in the film that didn’t disappoint on some level.

Understandably, special effects back in 1980 were nothing like they are today, but in “Superman II,” Superman still looks like a man suspended by wires who never flies in the direction his arms are pointing. If anything, the effects are worse than in the first movie. “Superman II” boasts its ability to make big explosions, and wreck stuff. This is not saying much when we saw entire planets exploding, and saw Superman flying around the Earth at a gazillion miles per second in the last movie three years prior. So the lack of improved, or at least matched, special effects was pretty disheartening.

“Superman II” was undeniably a corny movie. While turning back time by making the Earth turn clockwise in the last film is also corny, nothing beats the fact that, somehow, his magical ice palace has a machine that can turn him human just when that’s what he wants. Also, I don’t think anyone knew that Superman had the ability to make copies of himself, and to teleport too. But of course, making copies of himself to stop multiple crimes at once is out of the question. So is teleporting himself to the scene of the crime, because I guess that flying is better for the public image. He really only uses those particular powers to show off and get himself laid with Lois.

The Man of Steel himself, Christopher Reeve, delivered a smashing performance as always. With an equally gifted performance came Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. The two had a very believable chemistry, albeit a bit hidden in this sequel by unnecessary slapstick comedy. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor was very disappointing this time around. In the first film, the director established him as a twisted, evil man in a sad scene involving a New York cop. He was still funny, of course, but we all knew what he was capable of. In this film, they dropped all of that and turned him into a obnoxious, flamboyant and silly character that audiences despised. Finally, the villainous triumvirate itself. The three Kryptonian baddies were laughable. They had no acting talent at all, and were horribly monotonous.

“Superman II” failed to live up to the standard set by its predecessor. Much of the acting was disappointing, as were the visual effects. Still, it’s worth seeing once. I give it 5 out of 10 stars.