Superman III (1983) Retrospective / Review
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- Опубликовано: 19 авг 2024
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Superman III (1983) Retrospective / Review
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I always love whenever Oliver talks about the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, because I can get a sense of genuine joy coming from him as he talks about these movies.
Thanks, Owen!
Oliver Harper No problem, man. I just always love seeing you get passionate about something you love/enjoy, even though some people might not agree with your opinion.
@@OliverHarper How have you never done a restrospective/review of The Hunt for Red October? I was stunned and appalled when I found out :-) It's got everything you want... McTiernan doing the instructing, Poledouris doing the soundtrack and Connery doing a terrible Russian accent :-)
@@OliverHarper I like that you don't rip movies to shreds...but just the very idea of this movie alienates me, and judging by the footage you've showed I don't have a terribly difficult time seeing how some go so far as to say it's worse than Batman & Robin. They just viewed Superman as a license to print money, understandable sure, but then that led them to just enlist Richard Pryor to do his thing in a Superman flick. Superheroes might be the ONE genre of film handled better by current Hollywood than in any past decade. I admit that I'm not typically into Superman or Batman and that most of the superheroes getting movies more recently appeal to me more, though.
Here's a question for you all: would you rather watch Captain Marvel over any post-1980 Superman flick?
After Clark defeats "evil" Superman, when he tears apart his shirt to reveal the full colored Superman logo while the march is played majestically might be my favorite part of all four films.
Porkins I like to think of that part as a filmed short-story, and more or less ignore a large portion of the rest of the movie. It really is a great scene in the series. The drums sound so sinister at the beginning, then get drowned out by JW’s timeless fanfare
I saw this in the cinema as a kid and I remember most of the audience cheered and applauded at this moment.
Agreed!!.Very goosebumply!.Although,is that better than the original 1978 1st reveal?..I’m not sure there’s ever been a better moment in film history than that..ever ever
I feel it's the second greatest moment in the series. The first being when Jor-El "dies" a second time in order to restore Superman's powers in the Richard Donner cut of Superman II.
@@7superdaimajin Donner cut of Superman 2 was crap using footage that was cut because it wasnt any good in the first place. It was only done just to get people to buy another superman dvd
Evil superman: I'm gonna flick peanuts at bottles...I don't give a shit
@@stonegasman3866 But they are bullets at His whim, and He's actually shooting up the Bar ~ If a person had got in front of one they could have been killed or seriously injured, and I doubt Supes would have given the slightest f**k at that moment.
@@stonegasman3866 It's basically a PG rated Bar massacre, but with liquor bottles... ...Trying to covey a positive anti-alcohol message to the youth, while still allowing Supes to be a complete shit.
@@Cyborganna in real life the nuts will just explode soon superman touch them
And also Evil Superman f*cks.
😂😅🤣 You three are dishing out comedic gold right here.
Superman III feels like half a great film; if they'd steered away from the "comedy", and amped up some of the action elements, and maybe fleshed out the Clark vs Superman thing, it could have been the best of the series. Though I do find the Clark/Lana love story more endearing than many of the Clark/Lois stories and Christopher Reeve gives an excellent performance.
They didn't go all the way with Lana as the love interest unfortunately.. Her and Clark are not together at the end. He replaces her ring that she had to pawn, and Lois is Jealous. But it's not really said Clark/Lana are a couple. So the Salkinds again not really knowing what to do?
The comedy just makes it campy, unfortunately. A lot of these 80s films just didn’t have the high-caliber writing and effects that are available today. O agree, I think Superman III could’ve been great
I totally agree with you guys. Superman 3 had all the elements to be a great Superman film but the script didn’t focus on the aspects that needed to be in the forefront of the story. The idea of Clark going back to Smallville for a high school reunion and rekindling with his high school sweetheart Lana Lang, should have been the entire back bone of the story while Clark is battling his inner demons and becoming Evil Superman. If Lester had done away with the forced comedy and punched up all of the action sequences, Superman 3 could’ve been a fantastic movie. Unfortunately we didn’t get that. What we got was a bit of a mess of a movie because Lester didn’t know what kind of film he was making. The tone was all over the place and it suffered because of that. What I will say is that Christopher Reeve gave an excellent performance as well as Annette O’Toole. Christopher Reeve was also in the best shape he ever was and he had fully matured to the point where you could tell he was finally very confident and comfortable as Superman. I also think that the Special Effects were the best out of the bunch and that the overall production of the movie was excellent. Even with its flaws, I love this movie. I grew up watching it and it still holds a nostalgic place in my heart!
@@archangel5627
Superman 3 was the Salkinds Ego out of control. They wanted to show without Donner and Manc involved at all they could make a Superman their way, and have it be just as successful as 1 and 2. That's why they bring back the Newman's who Donner wanted off as writers for Manc. That's why Lester is directing from start to finish. They wanted Superman 3 to be a "HA We told you so" Movie.. Instead it was the beginning of the downward slide. Ilya Salkind tried to act as if he, and his father sold the rights, to Cannon because they just didn't want to make another Superman.. In truth there was no real momentum for another after 3. With Chris ready to be done with it.. Cannon came along and made it dirt cheap suckering Chris into coming back.. We all know how that turned out..
@@archangel5627 Agreed. I'm a fan of this film, even with it's shortcomings. Truly some of the best flying moments, especially the turns and flips Reeve pulls off on wires. I LOVE the chemical plant scene, perfectly shot and scored. One thing I didn't get was why Superman wasn't spooked or put off by the GREEN chunk of rock having been exposed to Kryptonite by Luthor in the first film. I think I should have been RED, as this form of Kryptonite is often credited with altering or mutating Superman rather than weakening him. Watching this, it was sad to continue to hear "late" after many of the actors that starred in it. Reeve, Pryor, Vaughn, Kidder, Cooper, all gone.
I watched this film well over 500 times as a kid. I was OBSESSED with it. And for that reason it’s one of the most important films in my life.
Me too, I watched all of the original superman movies hundreds of times over the course of my childhood beginning at 3 yrs old
Samuel you took the words right out of my mouth! My vcr tape of this was properly ruined from so many rewatches and rewinds.
Same.. I actually enjoyed the comedy bits, and I still love when superman fights his self. Part 3 is the one I watched as a child over and over too
I always enjoyed it but the Salkinds made a big mistake getting rid of Richard Donner.
The battle with ‘Dark Superman’ in the junkyard is so brilliant that it transcends the rest of the film. The film itself is actually really good in its own way, just not a patch on the first two.
Ollie picked his clips perfectly, that mad look on evil Supe's face but also that bit where Clarke starts dancing at the reunion - perfect comic timing. Reeve got to show so much range in this one even if only briefly.
@@GregBreden There's lots to like in that movie. I find the idea of Superman and Clark Kent essentially splitting into two a fascinating idea. Although Clark is essentially the disguise, he's also asserting himself as a distinct personality. Lots to be drawn from that. As much as I like the film, I feel it's a real shame that they don't explore that idea any further.
@@Ben_Kirkham I loved the film at the time and still do, in fact I think I put it in 2nd place after the 1st one, it's just so much fun. Even though II is pretty good in a pulpy way it lost some of the grandiosity of the first one which I rate the highest. I never even thought about how Clark isn't actually a real person to be a true alter ego for Dark-Superman to battle. You're so right that they could have made more of that, if Richard Pryor hadn't been so much of the focus maybe they could have expanded it. We'll never know. I like Richard Pryor a lot mind you.
@@Ben_Kirkham I'm afraid I have to disagree with you, Ben. Clark is not the disguise. Clark Kent is the real personality, Superman is just the work clothes he puts on when he goes to work. Clark "plays" Superman in the same way an actor plays a character.
I love they mentioned that scene in Crisis
That Cyborg scared the shit out of 4 year old me.
Same here
I mostly remember being confused by it.
best part for me.
11 year old me didn't handle it that well either. Lol
That whole transformation was creepy, but by God, that design and how the actress had those robotic and jerky movements down to a t.
They could have had an entire Terminator-like fight between Superman and her.
Christopher Reeve will always be the best. He was able to completely change character between Kal El and Clark Kent, and in this one his evil Superman was awesome and scary!
Reeve was the best because he played Clark Kent always a little bit clumsy compared to the serious Superman.
I mean watch all the other „Men of steel“? They all portrayed Clark almost the same like Superman! Easy to figure it out those two are the same person, the only difference are the glasses! Reeve did so well, it‘s really hard to believe his Clark could be Superman.
He was and will be the definition of this character. ♥️
I love these high quality documentaries you produce. Never stop, my dude.
Love from Germany
Thanks for the support, Denis!
@@OliverHarper Thanks for appreciating my support, Oli!
I think what makes this slightly better than Superman IV is just how surreal and bizarre Superman III is. Just the idea of having a having the star of a huge superhero movie play second fiddle to a comedian seems so alien now; it'd be like if Kevin Hart co-starred in Iron Man 3 alongside Robert Downey Jr and getting equal if not more screen time.
Richard Pryor was such a cool guy. Can you imagine somebody going on a talk show today to talk about a movie he liked but he didn’t star in?
Pryor was cool, but talk shows back then were a lot more casual conversation than now.
@@keithklassen5320 which is why podcasts are ever so popular because people like those kind of conversations instead of safe scripted ones
Man pryor fucked Margot kidder up on drugs and beat downs good guy but lmao
Talk shows now are basically commercials for other products
brute2171 yeah it should have been Brainiac in this movie
I too was scared of Vera being changed into the Cyborg and also when Lana's son Ricky is in the field (growing up on a farm does that).
That TERRIFIED me as a kid. I refused to watch it ever again. Saw it years later and laughed my a as off...
That scene still makes me crap my pants today, and I made it through a 24 hour marathon of A Serbian Film.
I loved Superman 3 when I was a kid. I was so happy that they were making another Superman after Superman 2.
I remember I had the comic book adaptation. I read that book till the pages fell out.
I can't help but love this movie. Still waiting for Gus to turn up in the comics.
Same I’m ashamed to admit I like all of them even IV
@@averagechadlegionary5824 I do as well. I have fond nostalgic memories of IV, in particular.
@@averagechadlegionary5824 IV was the first one I saw as a kid. I can still recite most of the dialogue.
Yah and yet the mediocre Nuclear Man was adapted to comic form few months ago. If Otis Burg was adapted so should Gus
I wish I could love it.. There are great aspects of it most of which are covered here. However it annoys me to this day that the Salkinds and Lester had all the money required to make another great Superman movie and they really blew it.. This movie even looking at it objectively is quite depressing and slow.. Nearly all the attempts Lester made at comedy fell flat. They give Pryor one of the best comics of his time just goofy unfunny material.. Chris did his 100% best to make this darker edged Superman work and he did accomplish it.. It just wasn't a Superman story that needed to be told.. Superman 4 while a goofy B movie has the excuse of a bad studio ruining the movie by slashing and burning the production budget. 3 is just a failed movie thanks to the director and producers screwing it up..
I was hugely lucky to have as one of my fathers friends David Speed (RIP) who worked on the Superman movies and visited Pinewood during some of the films. This was my favourite as I got to visit the sets. I couldn't go on the live set as Robert Vaughn was against any strangers on live shoots. I did however get to walk around the Daily Planet offices and the Cave set - notoriously mistaking one of the concrete structures as real and as I lent against it it moved!.
On one of the earlier films (I think S2) I was given a signed photo from Chris - the famous top of the Skyscraper hands on hips shot dedicated to me and had call sheets signed by the cast from both movies. Sadly lost during house moves over the years!
Thanks Oliver for great work on these retrospectives - took me back to my youth and those all to precious visits to Pinewood as a kid and hanging out on the SFX sets. If you ever do a look at "Morons from Outer Space" I was actually able to assist on the SFX work in the opening scene.
Growing up near Pinewood was a lot of fun and I went to school with Peter Lamont's son Simon who himself has quite a catalogue today (and got to meet his Uncle who did a talk on OHMSS at my middle school).
The film has 3 great scenes. The chemical plant fire, the battle of the two Supermans and the Battle of the supercomputer.
I’m sorry but I didn’t enjoy any of those scenes and I think superman 3 is worse than 4.
@@henith7850 either you're trolling or you have some serious issues bubba. Liking 4 over 3 is not a thing. Ever.
You mean 4 great scenes. He gets some lovin from the blond girl.
All the scenes with Annette O'Toole are great and not just because she's gorgeous. Chris and Annette have great chemistry and their scenes are never boring. They are the heart of the movie.
Sean Pultz Nah. Just the 2 Supermans.
"He's still coming, he's going to get me." Makes me laugh every time.
Booshman My favourite line of the movie! Hilarious!!!!😂
I'll be honest here, my memories of this movie were not mostly fond ones, but your retrospective opened my eyes to a lot of things I'd forgotten about... I still do not care for the corny, misplaced humorous aspects mostly portrayed by Pryor,, but there were some genuinely humorous moments in this movie, even a few from him... I know I'm mostly alone in saying this, but I still prefer the fourth one over this one because at least the entire cast was reunited, it had a more stable story, one that tried to get a message across no matter how misplaced and corny it was, and it felt more like a Superman movie to me despite its obvious flaws...
Three will always be my least favorite of the series, but this retrospective made me remember some bits that I had forgotten about that were pretty damn cool...
Excellent work, as always please keep it coming...
When I saw the character Brad Wilson in this, I thought "What the hell!? That's Capt. Jack Petacchi from Sean Connery's 007 schlock-mess Never Say Never Again."
Funny to think in real life he's the son of The Old Man from Robocop/Conal Cochran from Halloween 3.
Also Airk from Willow.
Same year, ‘83
He's also not American - he's Irish, and I don't mean the annoying American way of saying you are Irish when your great granddad was from there. He was actually born and bred in Ireland. Underrated actor, because I totally bought that he was American.
@@Syklonus Yeah. He usually plays Americans. First thing I saw him in was an episode of Jonathan Creek, and he played an American there! Also in Midsomer Murders. I guess if you need someone to play an American in a UK shot film or TV you get Gavan. Although in Never Say Never Again, he speaks with an English accent, despite his sister being played by Kim Basinger. It's not he couldn't have matched her!
I love it when Oliver says how ridiculous something is, and then uses an insult or a swear word to add some directness to the criticism. It sounds completely sophisticated and natural, due to his lovely accent and straightforward narration. I love the English!
I love this movie so much. I watch the junkyard scene over and over. Reeve is amazing playing two versions of himself. It is so well done. Symbolic too, when evil Superman disappears, cleary expressing he was fighting with himself and his inner demons the whole time.
I love how in the opening you removed almost all the comedy from the opening introduction and it looked like an actual serious very good movie
As a kid I saw this film loads of times but it was the super computer scenes that I always looked forward to and especially Vera getting taken over by the computer - brilliantly terrifying!
Christopher Reeves was so convincing and looked so cool as evil superman. Amazing transformation.
I had no idea Annie Ross dubbed Ursa in 2. I figured it was just Sarah using a deeper voice in ADR, similar to how Stamp sounds deeper in the Lester versions of scenes.
My favourite of the 4 for some reason. I always remember it being on TV and taping it on VHS to watch whenever I wanted to!!! I even remember the parts where the ad breaks were when I watch it now!!!
I met my father after cub scouts in 1986...and my first words were...'is it taping,did the VCR work?'
Superman 3 is the reason I like Lana over Lois. She liked Clark, not Superman. When they rebooted the Superman comics in the 80s, Lana liked Clark for who his was and not because of his super powers. Unfortunately, Clark doesn't have feelings for Lana and of course falls in love with Lois.
Lois is a big-city bitch who chases after fame and status. Lana is the awesome small-town sweetheart who cares about the right things in a man. And at least in these movies, Lana is also way hotter. Team Lana!
You forget that Clark is the disguise. Kal-El/Superman is the real Him unleashed to His full potential. Lois, being a powerful-minded and highly motivated Woman was far closer to His equal than Lana Lang. As for being a "big-city bitch who chases after fame and status" ~ Miss Lane merely wanted career success. And what's so wrong with that? Jimmy Olson was far more vapid in His mission for notoriety and getting the perfect photo for the big scoop, yet gets treated like a lovable little scamp. BIG middle finger to that hypocrisy.
@@Cyborganna not true. Clark is the one who grew up in smallville before he changed into kal-el.
Clark knew nothing about where he was from.
Kal-el (superman) is the disguise
@@Cyborganna I have to disagree with you. Clark is not the disguise. Clark Kent is the real personality, Superman is just the work clothes he puts on when he goes to work. Clark "plays" Superman in the same way an actor plays a character. Team Lana!
Cyborganna you have been watching Kill Bill 2
This movie could of been Superman v. Bizarro and Brainiac
So true !
Superboy had great Bizarro episodes. It would be cool if someone edited them together and made a movie out of them.
It is now. I did a short remake of it with Brainiac & a Kara/Supergirl cameo.
ruclips.net/video/im1gYxUtlqA/видео.html
What's up Superman
that sequence when he splits in two was better than Batman v Superman and Justice League combined.
"Superman III" has some great scenes. The man being saved from drowning in his car, The chemical plant fire, Clark running along the fence, and Changing into Superman to save Ricky from the combine Harvesters, The Junkyard scene, and the missels being fired at Superman, and we see what looks like a videogame on the monitor. Also there is the scene that would have tromatised any kid at the time, the scene where Vera is turned into a Cyborg. The actual Cyborg isn't what scared me, it was actually showing her being trapped, and getting turned into the Cyborg that disturbed me. Great performances from Christopher Reeve, and Annette O'Toole, with Chris dropping the nerdy persona of Clark, for a more tougher version of the character. Obviously this is not the greatest Superman film, but it has it's memoriable moments to keep you entertained. Christopher Reeve is superb in all his scene including being the evil/bad Superman. Ken Thorne's score is memorable, and enjoyable as well as incorporating the themes of John Williams. I have noticed over the years the 3rd entry in a successful movie franchise does suffer "Robocop 3", "Beverly Hills Cop 3"and "Spider-Man 3" for example. All in all Superman 3 has some great, and touching scenes, and is still an enjoyable film to watch.
Pamela Stephenson was super hot in this movie! Billy Connolly is a lucky man! 🤣
The power of scotch
👌🏻
She was pretty and in some scenes funny but like Pryor her character feels 100% out of place here. Like why is she in a Superman movie? Luthor had Miss. Tessmacher.. So what the bad guy needed to 2 female sidekicks this time?
Poor Oliver. He had to take this campy flick and make a badass trailer with it. I'd be laughing too hard to do it.
He made the movie look epic.
It wasn't all campy. There's some genuinely good and quite dark stuff in there.
You should see what he managed to do with Batman and Robin. Mind blowing!
@@ikmor Am right now.
@@Syklonus some but not enough. The movie is a tonal mess
Loved this movie as a kid. It has so many great elements that could have made it one of the best superman movies if not for the comedy. Still a gem of my childhood though
You know this guy is a damned good editor. The first 3 minutes of this video made Superman III look like a great movie.
haha thanks Tim!
As a kid watching all these movies from superman to aliens to master's of the universe to terminator to last action hero and even stop or my mom will shoot, I loved them all because as a kid u don't really care about picking holes in plots or how they made things u just love watching them whatever you see
I love Ken Thorne's Superman II score.
This was my introduction to Christopher Reeves Superman. I thought it was rather good. The best part was the Evil Superman vs Clark Kent in the junkyard.
Good review, Oliver.
Your reviews are truly the most entertaining, interesting and insightful on all of RUclips!
WOW, thank you!
I’ll always love this movie. Chris was great, Pryor was funny (in a goofy way), and the junkyard scene is AMAZING!
I actually own the soundtrack on vinyl, I got it as a Christmas present back then when I was a kid. My dad often gifted me movie soundtracks. I still have it.
I was a child when I saw all 4 reeve films so I even to this day hold a nostalgic place in my heart for 4
Annie Ross is best known to my generation and friends as Ms. Creswood in PUMP UP THE VOLUME.
Moroder's theme to Midnight Express is amazing and he wrote "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" and David Bowie's "Cat People."
Hey Oliver! These retrospective reviews are GREAT. Thorough, insightful, but not spiteful. You do a fine job of telling these stories, and many of these films I grew watching. The work you've put into each review is incredible, and I look forward to watching more! Well done, sir!
Superman 3 will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first one I ever saw AND it was in the theater! I was 4 years old at the time and it blew my tiny little mind! Good memories.
I loved this as a kid although, the one thing that bothered me was how did Gus know that Superman ripped his shirt open?
Good point.
The Scenes With Annette O'Toole As Lana Lang, are Amazing
That’s a good question that we’ll never get the answer to
I was just watching this movie on Sunday. It's been my favourite Superman movie since I was a kid.
What's what's up with Ving Rhames
👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
I've always found it fascinating that the MX missile looks very similar in shape to Thunderbird 2.
I'm assuming Derek Meddings made it (as he did with Thunderbirds).
@@davidjames579 Most likely.
I just turned 10 when this came out, I thought the computer effects would figure in the Atari game release! lol! I was so disappointed!
Oliver Harper, I love all your reviews. You put so much effort into your editing and production, and you have great taste in movies.
A nice remaster Oliver, I’ve always loved Superman III as it was also my first experience with the character at probably the same time you saw it. Hope you’re doing ok during this time of lockdown. 👍
This is one of my top 3 favorite channels on youtube. Your passion for these classic movies rivals only my own. Keep up the great work!
Thanks very much!
For the folks who watch Eastenders, Archie Mitchell is one of the coal miners toward the end of the film.
I was not very old when I first saw this movie, when she turned into a robot it terrified me. It still has a special place in my heart. Also a big fan of Richard Pryor so I liked the comedy aspect. Another great retrospective.
The part when Pryor scares himself in the mirror always makes my family crack up!
Is this the one where superman kills his clone through autoerotic asphyxiation?
YouSoSpice yeah
@@oliviawilliams6204 what a great film
@generic generic oof the edge
This channel is so amazing, I’ve watched it for years. High production values, well edited, good content. Where are the subscribers!!??
I remember seeing Superman 3 on ABC back in 86! I was 5 and really excited but got frustrated and bored because there were *SO MANY* commercials and that's stuck in my mind all these years and the first thing I think of when someone brings up Superman 3 lol
There is a fan edit Superman Redeemed. It edits parts of Superman 3 and 4 down into one film. It makes almost a passable film out of the two.
Fan edits help this film a lot, even cutting out a few bad bits including the intro changes the whole feel of the film
Glad you have reviewed this. I have always felt this film is under appreciated. There's a lot about it that deserves more credit.
Couldn't agree more!
I remember watching this soon after it was released, and wishing that there was an Atari or C64 computer game with the same 'game scene' and graphics from the movie where Superman is being attacked by rockets. In the same token, in those years I also wished I could play both the Starfighter arcade game shown in 'The Last Starfighter' and the full game of the Ice Wizard scene shown in 'Big'.
The Starfighter arcade game actually exists on PC. Check out Rogue Synapse to download a copy. They even made Space Paranoids playable too from Tron.
@@alucard624 Awesome - thanks for the tip!
Freeze the ice wizard with what?
This is where the franchise started to crack in a major way. It's an okay and entertaining movie, but it's not at all on par with the first two Superman movies. Unfortunately, Supergirl and Superman IV: TQFP sunk the franchise in disastrous and depressing ways.
The Salkinds having control of Superman was a mess from the get go.. Donner, Manc, and Reeve made it work for as long as they could.. But their terrible ideas were bound to Sink the Man Of Steel Eventually..
I love this movie..... And Chris Reeve will always be the best Superman ever....
The One and Only
Couldn't care less what anyone says; this is my favourite Superman movie.
Same
I liked them all for all the their right reasons which is why I got them all on DVD.
@@darryllharden9141 same here mate
Uneven movie, but it has some GREAT scenes.
Another wonderful retrospect review of a hugely underrated movie yet again. Thank you. I've been binge watching your reviews. And they all have been great viewing. Cheers! 👍😎👍
This is a brilliant retrospective review.. All your reviews are to be fair. Thank you for all the hard work that must go into these. Also, I absolutely agree regarding the robot scene, it was horrific as a child and stayed with me for a LONG time as a kid.
Thanks very much for your feedback!
One of my all-time favourite films. I couldn't watch Vera's transformation into the cyborg until I was in my teens! Guess I first saw SIII in 1986 when I was 8. The Ultimate Computer still gives me shivers to this day. If I was rich I'd build a full size working version of it lol XD
I think Cyber-Vera is many kids first time seeing body horror in a film. Her screams and pleas for help as she's transformed are terrifying.
I know that for me, being a pretty sheltered child, it was one of my earliest experiences of horror. It left an indelible impression on me. We're talking waking-up-soaking-wet-nightmares kind of impression. Thanks Richard Lester!
They actually called her brainiac in the script. It's based on it
How tf you pay Richard Pryor 1mil more than your star and lead of 2 other previous films.. Hell they should've taken that money and used it toward the special effects and storyline..
Couldn't agree more with your conclusions on this film. Overall it's an excellent entry in the series. Being the 3rd film it's right that they have changed the tone and brought some levity to proceedings, especially after the rather darker Superman II. It's fun, honest, the SFX hold up well but serve the story rather than the other way around, and it still has that WOW factor.
This is my very first exposure to Superman. I was probably 2 years old when I first saw SM3 and it stuck with me ever since! That comedic intro, the junkyard fight, and that f**kin cyborg, man.
I LOVE IT ALL! 👍
I was among the many 80s kids who were frightened by the assimilation of Vera.
@generic generic On occasion. There was a time when I had all four movies on DVD.
This was the first film I saw at the cinema when I was 8, so I have a soft spot for it. I was already a big fan and really enjoyed part II beforehand. The junk yard scene is my favourite part of the whole series, and yes the cyborg scene was pretty traumatising on that first viewing.
Great Review...I watched this during its theatrical release in the summer of 1983...I remember watching this at the ABC cinema in Reading on a Saturday morning then running down to the Odean to catch Return of The Jedi...Superman won that day!...I love Superman III and consider it a guilty pleasure movie...Me and my mates were blown away by the computer graphics in the canyon scene and didn't think we would ever see anything close on home consoles!...Thanks for bringing back so many great memories.
Great, passionate review - we could talk for hours, I know it! The wolf in The Neverending Story - was waiting for you to mention G'mork...yep, he's mentioned it. Brilliant and en pointe. Superb video and review. Your work is quality and well researched and judged. Love it, Oliver.
A little trivia Oliver mentioning the same year Psycho II coming out, Psycho II would get a brief cameo as a clip when Norman Bates returns to the Bates Motel shown on a cinema screen when Supergirl (1984) is flying over the city.
Thank you Oliver, Chris was absolutely at his peak as Superman for III, he looked the best on this movie too. The first time saw Superman III was August 1985 when ITV screened the extended cut. You very kindly gave me a few VHS cassettes if the extended cuts in 1to3 around 15 years ago which I’m really greatful for, I still have them too. Really love your work and was great to hear your views on the Superman III Caped Wonder podcast, great work. My first knowledge of Superman was when I saw it in 1983, again ITV, screen I think for the first time Superman the movie, it was the first time I’d ever seen it and have been a lifelong fan of these films ever since.
An excellent documentary: I really had no idea about how Annie Ross had provided a dubbing of Ursa's voice in Superman 2 (13:27-13:54)
Yeah that’s something I never realized as well.
Great stuff man. Your editing and analysis are terrific! Thanks for the content
Thanks very much!
I was one of those terrified children at the end of the film. When the mean lady turned into a robot that was scary as hell to a six year old. Almost as scary as the wolf from The Neverending Story.
One note: people walking down the street in the summertime wearing skis is pretty normal for Calgary 😉 🇨🇦
This was a very good video. I watched it til the end.
I always look forward to your retrospective reviews. Such soothing, enjoyable and enlightening content. Thank you for producing this series.
I liked superman III and even watching those clips now i dont see a bad movie .This was the period of thatcher and reagan economics and unemployment was high . it poked fun at a lot of American values and the film seemed more of a satire at times. For me it seems stronger than superman 2 ( superman the movie is on a different level altogether ) Although i agree Christopher Reeve is at his best in Superman III. On the downside some parts are too excessive and it clearly cut ties with Richard Donners vision. Understandably , this film is seen as a sudden downturn and end to a burgeoning franchise.
"Annie Ross from Lambert, Hendricks & Ross."
WOAH! I wasn't expecting that. I love their version of Cooking at the Continental.
Commenting before actually watching the video, but regardless of anyone's opinion of this movie, Superman III holds a special place in my heart. It was the first movie I remember seeing in the theater when I was three years old. The moment when Vera Webster is "borgified" scared the crap out of me and I would cover my eyes for that moment for years afterward. Years later, I acquired an original movie poster.
The 80s movies were so awesome and crazy at the same time
Great as always Oliver. Its been years since I've first rented this movie. As I said in your announcement for this movie re-retrospective/review, I was encouraged to check this movie out when I saw the amazing "Superman" documentary, "Look Up In The Sky:The Amazing Story of Superman", and hearing it was a, as narrator Kevin Spacy said, "Disappointment for fans of the first two movies". Seeing it here, I can why that would be the case, as both Supermans 1 and 2 were more serious in tone, and this one tried to go in a more comedic route. But honestly, I kinda dig the change in tone, its at least funny to point where it doesn't go into parody territory, and Christopher Reeve, and I'll never stop saying this about the guy, still delivered the definitive live-action Superman. And while I loved 2013's "Man of Steel", Henry Cavill is no Christopher Reeve. I may want to marathon these movies sometime.
Saw this film on ITV a few times in the '80s and liked it, especially the phone booth scene which I wish had been done for The Incredible Hulk TV series where you see David turning into the big, green guy. The first 2 are obviously better, Donner is missed but it's a good movie for kids to watch.
This is my favourite Superman movie.
Like you said, it doesn't take itself too seriously and Reeve's has grown confident in the role.
My absolute favourite scene is the bowling/sneeze moment... when I first watched it as a child, it made me laugh for a good 5 minutes... we had to pause the video until I could compose myself!!!
After the brilliance of Superman and Superman 2 nothing was ever going to top that incredible story arc.
What's up RoboCop
💀💀💀💀💀💀
Ahh nice my man I’ve been waiting for this one!
I very good updated retrospective. I didn’t think there was much you could add from your last one but learned TONS more. Thanks. Chris Reeve has been my hero sense I first saw Superman: The Movie on my moms lap at 4 years old and I LOVE these retrospectives. Keep up the great work.
Another great review Oliver! Being a similar age to you, Superman 3 holds a special place in my heart too. Agreed with everything you said :)
I always contend if you take Christopher Reeve out of these movies, they are SH#. His earnestness and honesty in his portrayal of Superman, and his goofy, well natured dorkiness of Clark Kent, are what makes these films watchable, even after all this time.
The end of this movie was also spoiled by Entertainment Tonight as I recall, although it may have been moot at that point since the trailers were playing. I remember them showing pretty much beat for beat the entire scene fighting the computer, only leaving out whether or not Superman survives.
As a kid I remember thinking that someone else was playing the evil Superman because Reeve's performance was so drastically different than I was used to. I was also convinced through the entire movie that there was going to be a reveal that Pryor's character was a superhero, the fall from the building cemented that (he's wearing a cape and there's no way a human could survive that fall). Very huge disappointment for me there.
Outstanding retrospective. One of my favourites on the channel.
Thanks so much!
Definitely agree this and his Wrath of Khan review
I've Just Discovered You and I Truly Enjoy Your In Depth Retrospect of All These Movie.
Superman The Movie is my fave movie of all time. But I always remember loving Three. As a teenager it was just fun. I didn't notice the flaws until I was older. Now I still love the movie if Im wanting to see Chris Reeve as Superman and an entertaining couple of hours on my big screen.
Many critics heavily panned Superman Movies (w/Chistopher Reeves) 3 and 4 but I REALLY LOVED the third one. The comedy scenes were Not very appealing BUTThe scene between Superman vs Clark Kent was an epic CLASSIC IMO.
I understand what you mean when you say you are biased towards the film since it’s a childhood favourite. I feel the same with Batman Returns and I still think it’s the best Batman movie ever !