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55555This is a thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series, helped by some incredible special effects and some nice tongue-in-cheek humour. This is most memorably achieved by maestro Richard Pryor. Occasionally, though, this movie does became slightly too scary for it's young target audience - a notable example being a moment when an old woman (Annie Ross) is sucked into a computer to be transformed into a hideous robot. Not suffering too much from the lack of Hackman as Lex Luthor, this movie really delivers the goods - a superb set-piece clash between the split-personality Superman stands out as a classic movie moment. The climax is stunning as Pryor's giant computer flies out of control, with only Superman left to stop it. All in all, this is a very worthy and memorable installment in the series.

3 Stars (Good)

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55555Christopher Reeve returns as mild mannered Clark Kent/Superman in the forth installment of the Superman series in which he helped write. This time Superman battles nuclear arms and a new solar charged enemy created by Lex Luthor. Co-Starring Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Mariel Hemingway, Superman IV The Quest For Peace is the poorest movie in the series and generally a bore. It boasts the worst special effects in the series and the worst acting. Some scenes are neatly done - most notably a double date between Clark Kent and Lois and Superman and a reporter, where he has to make numerous changes. Hackman remains, yet again, the only redeemable feature in this movie as he relishes his role of Lex Luthor. Editing which completely erased one enemy and flying sequences that were actually scenes from previous films doomed this film from the start - a testimony to never, ever, push anything as far as this again.

2 Stars (Fair)

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55555Young Kara (played by then new-comer Helen Slater), living on Argo City, a floating spin-off of her cousin Superman's home planet, Krypton, accidentally releases the satellite's power source, the omegahedron, which heads for Earth! Impulsively, she pops into a nearby spaceship and flies after it. Once on earth, Kara assumes the identity of Linda Lee, a brunette schoolgirl roommate of Lois Lane's sister. Are you following all this? Meanwhile, wicked sorceress, Selena (played by Faye Dunaway), tries to acquire the magic force and puts a hex on Supergirl's cute-but-dumb boyfriend, Ethan. If this follow-up to the Superman trilogy had been a hit, Slater would probably have had a major career, but no such luck. Everything is overblown and underdeveloped in this silly comic book spectacular, with Faye Dunaway giving a performance even more off-the-wall than in Mommy Dearest and Peter O'Toole (as Zaltar) even sillier than Marlon Brando was in Superman. Also wasted were Mia Farrow, Brenda Vaccaro, Marc McClure, Simon Ward, Hart Bochner, Maureen Teefy, Matt Frewer and Peter Cook (minus Dudley Moore). Through it all, however, Slater gives an excellent, sincere performance as the alien ingenue.

2 Stars (Fair)

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55555Starring George Reeves as Superman, reporters Clark Kent and Lois Lane go to small town to see the world's deepest oil well; instead, they discover that "mole men" have climbed out of the well, from their home at the center of the earth. This very low-budget feature served as a pilot for the long-running TV series, but it's more serious (and less fun) than the subsequent show--and we don't even get to see Superman fly! But it's still great to see Reeves as the Man of Steel in this classic. TV title: THE UNKNOWN PEOPLE.

4 Stars (Very Good)

55555 "Superman Vs. Spider Lady" is a great serial. What people tend to forget when watching it today, is that it was made in 1948 and was aimed at the Saturday matinee crowd. The special effects, to be sure, are primitive by today's standards, but take a closer look. Remember this was 1948. The opening sequence and Superman's flying effects were achieved through some excellent animation. Don't forget that Superman IS a comic book character. The transition from live action to animation in the flying sequences, is performed seamlessly and realistically. I thought that this was pretty innovative for its' time. Kirk Alyn was born to play Superman. He gives a realistic and credible performance as both Superman and Clark Kent. The diminutive Noel Neill makes an excellent Lois Lane, girl reporter, Timmy Bond (Formerly "Butch" of the Our Gang comedies) is good as Jimmy Olsen and veteran Pierre Watkin is suitably cranky as Perry White. Carol Forman brings a cold and icy sexiness to the role of the Spider Lady, Superman's chief nemesis. Serial veterans Charles Quigley, Charles King, Terry Frost and Rusty Wescoatt round out the cast in various villain roles.

4 Stars (Very Good)

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55555I have this movie in my video library collection, along with "Superman Vs. Spider Lady", "Superman and the Mole Men" with George Reeves, all 4 Christopher Reeve "Superman" films, and the miscellaneous films. Of all of them, I must say this one is one of the best. That might sound weird considering the movie's age, but it features a lot of firsts for the Man of Steel. It has the first on screen battle between Superman and his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor played by Lyle Talbot (who is magnificent as Luthor and much better than Gene Hackman). Some of the best special effects for the time are also featured such as the flying sequences which were animated and the fighting scenes that were choreographed superbly. Kirk Alyn again plays "The Man of Steel" excellently in his first "Superman" movie.

4 Stars (Very Good)

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55555 Steel shows that it's lead actor, Shaquille O'Neal, has got a long way to go before being considered a competent actor. O'Neal is fine when he's in the Steel suit, but, out of it, he's prone to bouts of uncontrollable stiffness. It's not a pretty sight. O'Neal has a palpable screen presence and his acting has a distance to go before it catches up with his charisma. In supporting roles, Richard Roundtree (the immortal Shaft himself) and Irma B. Hall are both delightful. In fact, Roundtree gives the film's most memorable peformance, continually stealing scenes from all of his co-stars of which, other than O'Neal, include Annibeth Gish and Judd Nelson. Comic book collectors will insist that there's more depth to the characters than one might expect from the medium. That may be true, but it's not evident in Steel, where everyone has a clearly-defined role and personality. None of the characters undergo any significant growth, and the few stabs made at character development are trite and ineffective. Writer/director Kenneth Johnson is the same man who once wrote for The Six Million Dollar Man television show, and was credited for some of that program's most innovative storylines (including "The Bionic Woman" and "The Secret of Bigfoot"). But, while I enjoyed The Six Million Dollar Man when I was about ten, I no longer find it particularly satisfying or enjoyable (except, perhaps, in a campy sense). Much the same is true of Steel -- its appeal is limited, and not adult in nature.

1 Star (Poor)

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55555 From the producers of the Emmy Award - winning Batman: The Animated Series comes an all-new, feature-length animated adventure starring the world’s most celebrated super hero: Superman: The Last Son of Krypton. Comprised of the first three episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, the film tells the story of Superman's origin from that of a survivor of the distant, destroyed planet Krypton. We then see his life unfold through his years as a young Clark Kent growing to manhood on Earth and becoming aware of super powers that he vows to use for the benefit of his adopted planet. Moving to Metropolis, Clark becomes a reporter at the Daily Planet - and a rival of star journalist Lois Lane. He also arouses the ire of billionaire industrialist Lex Luthor, may have more to do with the theft of a super-sophisticated battlesuit than he’s telling. It’s up to Kent’s alter-ego Superman to save the city from ruthless terrorists and keep Luthor from unleashing his ultimate weapon! This film is great for children and adults alike as you join Superman’s neverending battle for "Truth, Justice and the American Way."

4 Stars (Very Good)

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55555 Now available on video from Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, The Batman/Superman Movie features Gotham City's Caped Crusader and Metropolis' Man of Steel in a battle of wits against The Joker and Lex Luthor. In the movie, The Joker steals a jade Oriental statue that later is discovered to actually be carved from 20 pounds of radioactive Kryptonite -- extraterrestrial material from Superman's homeworld that is potentially fatal to the Man of Steel. It becomes suddenly obvious the Joker is after Superman, but why? Acting on a hunch, Bruce Wayne decides to visit Metropolis to see what Lex Luthor -- a potential business partner -- is up to these days. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are sent to cover Bruce Wayne's arrival, and Lane is immediately smitten by Wayne. Wayne finds her attractive, too, but also realizes she's a direct line to Superman. Once the two caped super heroes meet, it's not on the best of terms. They're suspicious of one another but, after realizing the Joker's and Luthor's plans, they agree to handle their respective problems without getting in each other's way. Together, they confront The Joker and Luthor. Along the way, Superman and Batman save each other's lives, and save Metropolis from certain doom. The Batman/Superman Movie is a top-notch animated adventure featuring two of the world's greatest super heroes. It lacks some of the gritty reality of other animated super hero movies, but it'll keep young fans glued to their televisions no matter what.

5 Stars (Excellent)

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