The Indestructible Man
- Richard Brindisi
The comicbook industry is in dire need of revitalization. Our man
Rich is here to tell you why and what could be done about it.
You Can't Beat Superman
Way
back in 1978, news got around that a big budget motion picture was set to be released called - for those of too
young to remember - "Superman, The Motion Picture." A year before, a movie called "Star Wars"
broke box office records and had opened the door for the "fantasy epic." This is not to say that there
were no fantastic fantasy films before then. Let's just say movie studios took note of the impact these escapist
films had on the audience and their bank accounts. As a fan of superheroes, it was exciting to learn of the flick
and count down the days to the official release. The newspaper ads touted "You will believe a man can fly!"
I can remember sitting in the theater on opening night with friends and looking around at an audience that was
quite diverse. Literally, the audience was made up of people of all ages. Superman had been around since 1938.
Even if you never picked up a Superman comic book you probably could have seen him on television, a movie serial
or cartoon. I was partial to the TV show from the fifties, starring George Reeves, which aired in reruns for just
about my whole childhood and the exquisitely animated Max Fleischer cartoons from the forties. Could Hollywood
bring truth and justice to this new Man of Steel ? Well, because of the efforts of Richard Donner, Alexander Salkind,
Christopher Reeve and a fabulous cast and crew, they did!
I've written in this column, a comic book movie adaption should embrace the source material and history surrounding
the concept and character. Even after enjoying such movies as "Batman" and "X-Men," I must
face facts. You can't beat "Superman." It has my vote for the greatest comic book movie ever. Not only
was the script religiously faithful to the essence of what's come before, thanks to Mario Puzo, but the cast was
outstanding. It still can be emotional, seeing Christopher Reeve for the first time in costume was awesome. He
might not have been as huge as a Mr. Universe, but he didn't have to be. His countenance and approach to the character
was overwhelming, considering this was his first lead movie role. Mr. Reeve was Superman, and will always in my
mind. For you who have seen the film, I'm sure you will agree the scene where he catches Lois in one hand and a
helicopter in the other is an image that you will not soon forget. Sure, special effects have made great leaps
since then but that was a clip!
I admit the movie did have a lot going for it. Richard Donner is no slouch in the director's chair. John Williams,
fresh off "Star Wars", was at his best orchestrating the score. Cast members like Jackie Cooper as Perry
White, Glenn Ford as Pa Kent and Marlon Brando in a cameo as Jor-el brought a realism to the characters fans knew
well. Of course, let's not forget Gene Hackman one of the best actors around, as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. Okay,
they went a teensy bit over the top with Luthor compared to the way he had been portrayed in the comics but Gene
gave us a performance to remember.
Some might consider the special effects dated when compared to today's standards, but at the time no one had ever
witnessed such a spectacle. Young Clark outracing a speeding train, Superman drilling into the pavement to find
Luthor's lair and his flying against the Earth's axis to turn back the hands of time is stuff straight out of the
comic book.
That's the point! Are all of the prospective directors of comic book film adaptions listening?
"Superman II" had some great moments, including a battle between the evil Kryptonians and Superman on
the streets of New York. . . I mean Metropolis. Never before had I witnessed live action super-powered beings flinging
buses at each other. After the first sequel, however, it was downhill from there. I guess even Superman couldn't
keep up the momentum forever. Or maybe the blame lies with some of the puny humans responsible for those films.
What do you think?
For some time now there's been talk of a new series of Superman films. Although I try to keep a positive outlook
- like all of you out there - all we can do is hope and pray that the film's creators will take as much care with
the new movie as Donner and crew did with the first, the best one.
It's not very encouraging when you hear rumors, such as with the "Spiderman" movie. Sam Raimi decided
to make Spiderman's web-shooting ability part of his anatomy as opposed to him using mechanical web-shooters, as
in the comics. I guess we'll never see the climactic scene where Spidey runs out of fluid when he needs it the
most. Anyway, that's another character and another column.
To Christopher Reeve - in my mind you will always be Superman. You still make me believe a man can fly!
Other Indestructible
Man Columns:
You Can't Beat Superman
True Conventions
X-Men!
State of the Industry
