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Movies / On DVD / Superman II
Superman II

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Superman II (1980)

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Reviews Counted:39

Fresh:34

Rotten:5

Average Rating:7.4/10

Consensus: The humor occasionally stumbles into slapstick territory, and the special effects are dated, but Superman II meets, if not exceeds, the standard set by its predecessor.

Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: Once again mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve), hiding his identity as Superman, must fight for law and order. This time around, a triumvirate of nasty villains from the planet... Once again mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve), hiding his identity as Superman, must fight for law and order. This time around, a triumvirate of nasty villains from the planet Krypton break free of their dimensional prison and hightail it to Earth, where they enjoy the same superpowers as Superman. Meanwhile, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) has discovered that Superman and Clark are the same person, so Superman debates whether to give up his abilities to become a normal man and share his life with Lois. Richard Lester (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT) takes the helm for this sequel, which is arguably the equal of the original hit film. [More]

Starring: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper

Starring: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Susannah York, Clifton James, E.G. Marshall, Marc McClure, Terence Stamp

Director: Richard Lester

Director: Richard Lester
Screenwriter: Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman
Composer: Ken Thorne

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Superman II

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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The combination of Richard Donner's superb original casting and visual attack with Lester's wit and his ear for sound proves a pretty formidable alliance.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Edgy and exciting.

comment Comment
06/12/04
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Substantial credit should also go to Terence Stamp's casually menacing General Zod, who transcends his terrible costume and make-up to appear a convincing threat.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
09/26/01
Tom Coates
Tom Coates
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
03/02/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

This is first class entertainment with a little bit of everything thrown in for good measure.

Full Review Source: DVD Review | comment Comment
07/10/07
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review

With his perfect pacing, elegant narrative design, and depth of characterization, Richard Lester has made as good a matinee movie as could be imagined.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
04/17/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

An especially fun movie and a rare instance of a sequel that not only equals, but even betters, its original.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/17/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A solid, classy, cannily constructed piece of entertainment which gets down to action almost immediately.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/17/07
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The spectacular battle scenes, the tenderly poignant love story, and the still-amusing work by Hackman make its broad transgressions quite forgivable.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/02/07
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

A definitive look at the strange, impossible love triangle of Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Superman… not perfect, but in the annals of comic-book movies it remains an indispensable touchstone.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
08/09/06
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

Acaba sendo salvo pelo mesmo elemento que contribuiu para o sucesso do original: a dinâmica e a química entre Christopher Reeve e Margot Kidder.

Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
07/11/06
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

...as uneven and overlong as the first one.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
07/08/06
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

By its very nature, the resulting film is severely compromised, but still rip-roaring, unpretentious entertainment.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
07/04/06
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Tighter, funnier, and generally better than its predecessor

comment Comment
09/13/05
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

I thought it was great when I was nine, but now... oh my GOD!

comment 2 Comments
08/25/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

No review available.

comment 1 Comment
06/25/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Superman II made me cheer when I was seven years old, it makes me cheer now that I’m thirty, and it’ll make me cheer when I’m ninety.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
06/18/05
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

Aside from some unfortunate slapstick, it's a truly spectacular superhero sequel.

comment Comment
02/03/05
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

Superman II begins in midstream, and never looks back...

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/08/04
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Superman II

May 14, 2007: "Superman" Reigns at The Saturn Awards
Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" cleaned house at the Saturn Awards over the weekend. (Hey, don't laugh. The Saturn Awards have been around for over 30 years and they... More...

June 26, 2006: Critical Consensus: Look, Up In The Sky! It's A Certified Fresh "Superman Returns!"
The Man of Steel is back in "Superman Returns." Is Bryan Singer's big-budget adaptation able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, or is it critical Kryptonite? More...

June 13, 2006: "Superman Returns" Gets More Online Reactions
In a follow-up to yesterday's article ("Early Superreaction Sounds Promising"), we've got the rundown on even more online journalists who have chimed in after last... More...

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