Superman

I have certainly watched a fair few films and shows involving caped heroes but the 1978 Superman film was quite a glaring omission and needed rectifying fast. This was the massive success directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve in the leading role, and I went into this not knowing quite what to expect. I had found the 2006 version to be rather average and the 2013 version to be overly frenetic with a heavy reliance on action. Thankfully, this would prove to very different...

The story here sees Superman as a child on his planet before its destruction as he sent away in a pod to Earth where he is taken by the Kent family who raise him as their own. He grows-up living a normal life until a green crystal brings him to the Fortress of Solitude where he learns of his past and there be becomes the hero we all know today as he fights against the criminal mastermind, Lex Luthor. 

There is something so wonderfully charming about Donner's adaptation and it is the result of his fantastic direction, John Williams iconic score and a charismatic Reeves, who is perfectly cast in the leading role. The screenplay also lets the film take its time to develop the characters, something which I feared might initially make it feel slow and dated, and perfectly balances drama, humour and an appropriate level of action. I say that as Man of Steel in particular was mind-numbingly over-the-top whereas Superman here is refreshingly focuses on the characters while still providing some very entertaining set-pieces. 

Superman is a classic superhero film and set a bar for the character which has not been beaten since. The pacing might seem slow at first for newcomers but give the film time and you will find it to be a great experience that holds-up very, very well today. Without a doubt, this is an easy one to recommend and one I will gladly watch again.