Even though I love the Christopher Reeve movies, I have a lot of problems with them:
-The first one only really gets interesting once he hits Metropolis. Everything before that just drags on way too long.
-The turning back time by spinning around the earth.
-Gene Hackman, who is basically just Gene Hackman playing Gene Hackman (see also: Jack Nicholas playing Jack Nicholson in Batman)
Honestly, my favourite stuff is all in the middle, with Superman flying around town and stopping crimes, and of course the helicopter rescue.
I'm stunned that I'm going to have to defend Superman: The Movie from you of all people, especially since I only first saw that movie as an adult, so don't have any childhood notions about it.
Pre-Metropolis: While the school-related elements of Smallville are a little dull, they do matter for the development of what's going on. That said, not interesting? The destruction of Krypton, Kal-El learning from his father during the space flight, Jonathan Kent, the journey to the Arctic? This was all good stuff and showed a great deal of respect for the material. While the movie doesn't get as comic booky until later, that first act is a strong demonstration of "We are taking this seriously" and not a grim way, but in a way to give a sense of wonder to the concept before the costume goes on.
Turning back time: This entire segment is excellent from the moment he lands by the burial mound of the car. Reeves sells that moment of anguish without a word, and when he does speak, it's guttural and raw. To then fly up into the clouds and here the conflicting messages of his two fathers, and having to decide who he is, is a great character moment. It's the kind of thing that makes a Superman story, because we know he really can't be defeated, but to show that despite his great powers and ideals, humanity has rubbed off on him--this makes him a relatable character. The music sells the spinning sequence by itself, but I'll break it down for the soulless mo-fos in this forum--there's an emotional height to his actions, how far he's willing to go to undo this. Anyone who's lost someone they love wishes it hadn't happened and some would turn back time for another moment. Well, Superman can actually do it. In the same fantasy of stopping wrongdoing that led to Superman's creation, this is a moment where Superman can live out another aspect of wish fulfillment, of doing the impossible. And then the beautiful finish to this sequence, where he lands beside the car again, but it isn't buried. Lois is still fucking around with getting it started, gets out, goes on and on about how crappy this day has been for her, without a clue to how bad it could have been, and all he can do is stare at her and be relieved she's still alive.
I'm not gonna defend Gene Hackman--there are some actors where you hire them to be who they are, and that's what you're going to get. I thought it was a good performance, not as good as Kevin Spacey decades later, but it worked for the movie.
TLDR:
Is it possible, Nick, that you've seen this movie so many times that you can't truly appreciate it anymore? Maybe I'll just have to watch it tomorrow and appreciate it for you; you're clearly not up to the task. You've changed. I don't know you anymore.
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