Two classic superhero movies richard donners superman. Kent so splendidly in richard donners 1978 film that those who followed have often struggled to live up to the same standard. Dec 14, 2018 from comic books, smallville 20012011, superman returns 2006 and even as recently as last weeks episode of supergirl. Jun 08, 2020 the original plan for superman iii mightve panned out differently, but the film released in 1983 feels like the result of someone pitching a superman richard pryor movie but not actually hammering out any of the story details beforehand. The combination pack houses both discs in a standard bluray keepcase, with no booklets or other inserts. Inspiring, impeccably researched, and supremely practical, kotlers book is a mustread for everyone who wants in on the secrets on how to surpass their personal best. In a new interview, richard donner was asked about the current state of. The man of steel was written and penciled by john byrne and inked by dick giordano. Superman director richard donner hates todays cynical. Superman s tagline famously stated youll believe a man can flydonner refused to. A true epic that encompasses superman s origins, his arrival in metropolis. The film has been loved by fans for decades, and remains to many one of the best comic book movies ever. The movie remains among the most beloved films of the 1970s.
The special effects, sets, haircuts and wardrobe may all look dated, but superman. Feb 27, 2020 hitting stands in 1978 the same year ali retired for the first time as well as the year richard donners superman premiered superman vs. When you see it done right, by my standards, its so fulfilling. Neal adams born june 15, 1941 is an american comic book artist who helped design the dc comics characters batman and green arrow. Superman and lois lane are a fictional couple and the first superhero comic book romance. Superman set the standard for all comic book movies that followed and it continues to be a massive touchstone to this day. Red book edition and superman redeemed, perhaps the gold standard of dc fan edits batman forever. In 1977, director richard donner set about simultaneously filming an epic twopart adaptation of the superman comic book series.
Considered by many to be the gold standard in cinematic superheroism, its the movie that convinced an entire generation that a man could fly. Jun, 20 in order to offer a successful superman, a writer must craft a believable clark kent. Collectors edition was released october 30, 2012 by the gaiam studio. The connection with classical messiahs was underlined with the comic book death of superman in. The connection with classical messiahs was underlined with the comic book death of. For a generation of fans, reeves earnest superman is the definitive version and he remains the standard by which all other actors who have played the man of steel are judged. Richard donner, director of the omen, the lethal weapon series, the goonies, but oh so especially the golden standard of comic book movies and feel good americana, 1978s superman the movie, was rightly honored on wednesday 7 june by the academy of motion picture arts and sciences. The film features a cast of christopher reeve, richard pryor, jackie cooper, marc mcclure, annette otoole, annie ross, pamela stephenson. Superman director richard donner blasts cynical dark. Superman at 80 heres the secret to his long life the conversation. Kevin feige of marvel studios, and geoff johns of dc entertainment, who hailed donners superman 1978 as the gold standard of. The 11 best comic book movies you can stream right now, from. However, it set the standard for superhero movies, one that many still.
Superman is a fictional superhero, who first appeared in american comic books published by dc comics. The combination of actor christopher reeve and director richard donner in the superman movies was pure magic, and set the standard when it comes to. Zack snyders darker man of steel recalls supermans earliest. They wont just be screenplays translated into comic form, but entirely new stories set within the respective cinematic universes. Bleeding cool is your independent source for news about comic books, film, tv, games, collectibles, and more. Superman 1978 and batman 1989 getting dc comics book. Christopher reeve in superman 1978, directed by richard donner. Sep 10, 2018 two perfect examples are batman forever. Red book edition is a fan edit that adds all of the. Donners superman to be the gold standard of superhero storytelling, and its. The movie is a 1978 superhero film directed by richard donner.
This version of her contains elements similar to the originally released version of superman ii even though donner is cowriting this arc where she is in love with zod. An adversary of the superhero superman and accomplice of general zod, she is typically depicted as having been imprisoned in the phantom. Aside from its clashing tones and mismatched narrative elements, richard lesters superman ii is a solidly entertaining, nearly great superhero film. Community standards republishing guidelines friends of the. The box office problem with superman movies is superman. Superman director richard donner is not a fan of bleak and angry. The superman character has endured and continues to be popular. He is the cofounder of the graphic design studio continuity associates. Superman was a hero who did good deeds because it was the right thing to do. The novelization for young sherlock holmes 1985 says a character was a superman to holmes. Richard donner, director of the classic 1978 superman movie, says he. With approximately 70% of superman ii made and after significantly going over budget and over schedule on both movies, filming on superman ii was suspended in october 1977 so that donner could focus on completing the first film, superman. Feb 16, 2021 two classic superhero movies richard donners superman. However, his original film defined superman for fans for years to come.
Dec 30, 2020 superman director richard donner is not a fan of todays bleak and angry superhero movies. His creators jerry siegel and joe shuster established the. Its the america we wished existed at the time, a comic book frame of wide. Superman iii is a 1983 superhero film directed by richard lester from a screenplay by david newman and leslie newman based on the dc comics character superman. A bluray set containing all the cartoons, called max fleischers superman. Superman 1978 and batman 1989 getting dc comics book treatment. That all changed when richard donners superman hit theaters on. Rare the book that is learned, clever, fascinating, and useful. Richard donners 1978 film superman, starring christopher reeve. Superman has been adapted to a number of other media which includes radio serials, novels, movies, television. With its mix of cuttingedge special effects, genuine humor, and total sincerity, richard donners superman set the standard for every comic book movie that followed. It is the third installment in the superman film series and a sequel to superman ii 1980.
The youthful kent created by dcs new 52 shines here with terrific dialogue exchanges courtesy of the book s supporting cast, jimmy olsen and lois lane. Kevin feige points to richard donners superman as his. Batman 89 and superman 78 hardcover collections solicitations are up. Following a welcome to the packed house by academy president cheryl boone isaacs, the first donner tribute came from two major names in the worlds of film and comic books who got their start as his employees.
Nov 28, 2006 by the end of the 1930s, siegels superhero had become a bona fide phenomenon from comics to books to radio to tv, and seventy years later, superman remains the most recognizable superhero in history. It was written by geoff johns and richard donner, the director. Aug 01, 2020 christopher reeve played superman for a decade, starting with richard donners 1978 superman. A masterful and evocative depiction of a fledgling imperial rome fraught with intrigue and at war with itself. It is the first installment in the superman film series. On that lost threehour version superman and the curious. Forty years ago, richard donner and christopher reeve made a.
Richard donner born richard donald schwartzberg, april 24, 1930 is an american director and producer of film and television and occasional comic book writer. The movie set standards for comic book adventures to follow. Last son is a fiveissue comic book story arc featuring superman in the monthly action comics. It is based on the dc comics character of the same name and stars marlon brando, gene hackman, christopher reeve, margot kidder, glenn ford, phyllis thaxter, jackie cooper, trevor howard, marc mcclure, terence stamp, valerie perrine, and ned beatty. It wasnt until 1978 that someone finally saw the transformative potential of bringing comic book heroes to fleshandblood life. Superman director richard donner is not a fan of todays bleak and angry superhero movies. Superman, american comic book character created for dc comics by writer jerry. Feb 27, 2021 richard donner left after just one superman movie, although he did have a richard donner cut of superman ii released years after richard lester replaced him as the sequels director. Bleeding cool news and rumors comics, movies, tv, games. After directing the horror film the omen 1976, donner became famous for directing the first modern superhero film, superman 1978, starring christopher reeve. Superman director richard donner blasts cynical dark comic book. Lessons every filmmaker can learn from richard donner by. The timereversal ending was the original intended ending for superman ii, but it was used for the first film to give it a more exciting conclusion. Batman 89 and superman 78 hardcover collections solicitations.
Oct 28, 2019 the cws superman, tyler hoechlin, and lois lane, elizabeth tulloch, are getting their own onehour drama. Richard writes modern thrillers too, under the pseudonym of thomas waugh. Donners film, and christopher reeves performance, set the standard for comic book adaptations for decades since its release in 1978. From the ussr of joseph stalin to the successful presidency of lex luthor, there are many items the comic book gets right. He is a judge for the hwa crowns and the founder of the london history festival. This is a classic of the comic book hero genre, and in most respects the one that really set the standard for all comic book hero films that follow it. Superman is the first true superhero, the standard bearer for what has become one of the most powerful and lucrative entertainment genres. Why christopher reeves superman is so hard to forget. Dec 30, 2020 superman set the standard for all comic book movies that followed and it continues to be a massive touchstone to this day. Red son is not only a tale of the man of steel and his pursuit of a global utopia, its also about politics, technology, and personalities. Nov 03, 2017 as a result, superman now feels like a curious transitional film, a bridge between the personal, idiosyncratic auteur films of the 1970s an era kicked off in part by bonnie and clyde, whose screenwriters are two of the credited scribes on superman and the escapist comic book epics that dominate cinema screens today.
Jun 26, 2017 to this day, they hail superman 1978 as the gold standard of superhero films. Jul 04, 2016 thats also part of what made richard donners superman. Birthright grew to replace the superman origin story set in place by john byrne with the 1986 series man of steel. Other originally richard donner was meant to direct superman 2 but ultimately he was let go and the film was finished by richard lester, but many years later after fan interest, richard donner was brought back to finish his cut of superman 2. Dec 25, 2018 donners superman was released in 1978, and featured christopher reeve in the titular role. Its star, newcomer christopher reeve, was jawdroppingly handsome. The movie is a 1978 superhero film directed by richard donner, supervised by alexander and ilya salkind, produced by their partner pierre spengler, written by mario puzo, david newman, leslie newman, and robert benton from a story by puzo based on the dc comics character of the same name. They are among the best known fictional couples and have appeared in.
The footage of zod kicking superman into the torch of the statue of liberty, and superman punching non into the empire state building was shot by richard donner for a superman ii trailer. Its flaws may be writ large across the screen, but, thanks to an appealing leading man and some engaging notes of darkness, the action film manages to standout. Nolan to patty jenkins, superman has been cited as the gold standard. Though the movie might be ridiculous, reeve was still at the top of his game and pryor is undeniably funny. This would be plot enough, but the narrative also includes the return of gene hackmans lex luthor and a subplot where clark kent rids himself of his immortality in order to be with margot kidder. Case in point, director richard donners original 1978 superman. Superman ii is a 1980 superhero film directed by richard lester and written by mario puzo and. Dec 30, 2020 jenkins recently explained that it was a scene of superman flying with lois lane in donners film influenced dianas flight scene in wonder woman 1984, a scene that itself is similar to a scene. The movie set the standard for all superhero films to come. Ursa is a fictional supervillain appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. They have remained in a complicated relationship ever since.
Audiences had never seen anything quite like it before. Original superman director praises wonder woman films. Exile and other stories omnibus by jerry ordway hardcover. It was the first megabudget comic book superhero movie. Dc universe should take bold step by featuring great fan films. Every superman movie ranked from worst to best screen rant. The man of steel was a sixissue limited series released in 1986 by dc comics, several months after the twelveissue limited series crisis on infinite earths completed. These iconic richard donners movies set the foundation for everything that. The movie and continuing on with richard lesters superman ii and superman iii. Why superman 5 with christopher reeve never happened. Special edition as part of a 2film collection from the warner bros archive collection.
A definitive timeline of superman at the movies syfy wire. But when director richard donner brought the superhero to the big screen in 1978s superman, there were no such debates. The movie 1978 and tim burtons batman 1989 are coming to the world of print with a pair of cinemainspired comic books from dc, the publisher confirmed today. May 24, 2015 when the comic book was still a nascent medium in the late 1930s and early 40s, superman was more of an enforcer on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. A sequel to richard donners superman, superman ii finds christopher reeves man of steel squaring off against three criminals from his homeworld.
1093 1230 5 140 1201 376 780 1313 147 472 1141 1096 102 1037 186 486 1108 1307 574 306 352