**He was called Non because that is the amount of brains he had.** Great sequel that expands on the introductory scenes in Superman (1978) where we met General Zod, Ursa and the massive moron, Non - although I wouldn't call him a moron to his face. (Perhaps if I had a ladder) But anyway, these three criminals are inadvertently released from the Phantom Zone by Superman and they naturally head toward Earth seeking revenge on the son of their jailer. Hackman receives top billing this time now that Brando collected his pay cheque and was at the bank cashing it. A very entertaining and funny sequel thanks to Richard Lester's expert hand at comedy. - Potential Kermode
Fun packed and humanistic sequel is worthy alright. Superman II stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, and Jack O'Halloran. It was to be a troubled shoot that saw two directors involved with the project. Richard Donner had completed about three quarters of the film before being taken off the project, so Richard Lester then came in to finish the film. Because of the back stage problems there are a host of writers credited on the film and both Robert Paynter & Geoffrey Unsworth were involved with the cinematography. Filmed using the Megasound system the score is a reworking of John Williams original score by Ken Thorne. Something of a miracle in itself that Superman II, in spite of all the behind the scenes shenanigans, is a very fine sequel to the massively successful Superman from 78. Sure there's some odd tonal shifts, a couple of things don't quite add up (to be corrected later on down the line with the release of the Richard Donner cut), while the villains are badly under written, but this has enough comic book adaptation savvy to please most comic book lovers. This time around sees Superman pitted against three villains who have been released from their prison due to Superman himself detonating a hydrogen bomb in space. The big kicker here being that the three convicts, General Zod, Ursa and Non, are from his home planet of Krypton and had been imprisoned by his father Jor-El. Now they are free they are hell bent on revenge against the son of Jor-El and the planet that worships him. If that was not enough for Superman to contend with, he also has affairs of the heart to deal with as his love for Lois Lane grows ever stronger by the day. While a certain Lex Luthor is plotting his escape from prison... Pic nicely fuses a humanistic heart with exciting set pieces, to make Superman II a worthy sequel to the wonderful template that is the first film. Ultimately we should embrace both cuts of Superman II or it would go downhill from here... 7/10
_**Continues the super-story of the groundbreaking first film**_ Three Kryptonian criminals escape imprisonment in the Phantom Zone (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) to harass citizens of the United States, including the president (E.G. Marshall), while Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) schmoozes them. Meanwhile Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) suspects that Clark Kent is Superman (Christopher Reeve) during an assignment to Niagara Falls before flying off to fight the Kryptonians. Susannah York plays Kal-El’s mother while Jackie Cooper is on hand as Perry White. "Superman II" (1980) was mostly shot simultaneously with the first film in 1977 wherein director Richard Donner had shot 75% of the film before focusing on finishing the first movie. When the flick went back into production in 1978 Donner was controversially fired and replaced with Richard Lester, who was already working on the project with Donner as second unit director. Marlon Brando’s scenes as Jor-El were cut (obviously because he wanted too much money, i.e. 11.75% of gross US box office earnings) and redone with Lara (York). Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, this is a thoroughly entertaining sequel with some people even claiming it’s better. What makes the film work so well is that (1) the three Kryptonian villains are interesting and their superhuman exploits are engaging, (2) Luthor is likewise amusing, (3) the sci-fi ambiance and special effects are state-of-the-art for the late 70s and (4) the drama involving Clark/Supes and Lois (and Perry White) is consistently entertaining. On the downside, I could do without Otis’ goofy antics (Ned Beatty) and the movie is slightly overlong. The film runs 2 hours, 7 minutes and was shot in Paris; Norway; Niagara Falls & Calgary, Canada; Pinewood Studios (the Metropolis scenes, etc.), Chobham Common, Surrey (the East Houston, Idaho, scenes), & London Underground, England; and St Lucia. GRADE: A/A-
Short film that presents an alternate take on the origins of Judge Dredd's arch-nemesis - a demonic creature known as Judge Death that sees life itself as a crime. Can Dredd survive a clash with such foe and save his niece?
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
Dr. Peyton Westlake is on the verge of realizing a major breakthrough in synthetic skin when his laboratory is destroyed by gangsters. Having been burned beyond recognition and forever altered by an experimental medical procedure, Westlake becomes known as Darkman, assuming alternate identities in his quest for revenge and a new life with a former love.
Movie Star Rating : 6.4 Read More
Set in 50 B.C., Asterix and Obelix are living in a small but well-protected village in Gaul, where a magic potion concocted by Druids turns the townsfolk into mighty soldiers. When Roman troops carve a path through Gaul to reach the English Channel, Caesar and his aide de camp Detritus discover the secret elixir and capture the Druid leader who knows its formula, and Asterix and Obelix are sent off to rescue them.
Movie Star Rating : 6 Read More
Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit Metropolis, in search of the criminal, Dr. Laughton. However, when they finally find Dr. Laughton, Kenichi and Shunsaku find themselves seperated and plunged into the middle of a larger conspiracy. While Shunsaku searches for his nephew and explanations, Kenichi tries to protect Tima (a mysterious young girl), from Duke Red and his adopted son Rock, both of whom have very different reasons for wanting to find her.
Movie Star Rating : 7.1 Read More
Mario and Luigi, plumbers from Brooklyn, find themselves in an alternate universe where evolved dinosaurs live in hi-tech squalor. They're the only hope to save our universe from invasion by the dino dictator, Koopa.
Movie Star Rating : 4.4 Read More
For nine generations an evil sorcerer has been victorious in hand-to-hand battle against his mortal enemies. If he wins a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, desolation and evil will reign over the multiverse forever. To save Earth, three warriors must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, their own inner demons, and superhuman foes in this action/adventure movie based on one of the most popular video games of all time.
Movie Star Rating : 5.8 Read More
One little ancient British village still holds out against the Roman invaders. Asterix and Obelix are invited to help. They must face fog, rain, warm beer and boiled boar with mint sauce, but they soon have Governor Encyclopaedius Britannicus's Romans declining and falling. Until a wild race for a barrel of magic potion lands them in the drink.
Movie Star Rating : 6.8 Read More
British Ministry agent John Steed, under direction from "Mother", investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter to rule the world with his weather control machine. Steed investigates the beautiful Doctor Mrs. Emma Peel, the only suspect, but simultaneously falls for her and joins forces with her to combat Sir August.
Movie Star Rating : 4.4 Read More
Agent Jack Ryan becomes acting Deputy Director of Intelligence for the CIA when Admiral Greer is diagnosed with cancer. When an American businessman, and friend of the president, is murdered on his yacht, Ryan starts discovering links between the man and drug dealers. As former CIA agent John Clark is sent to Colombia to kill drug cartel kingpins in retaliation, Ryan must fight through multiple cover-ups to figure out what happened and who's responsible.
Movie Star Rating : 6.6 Read More
Arthur the King 2024 - Movies (May 20th)
The Wrath of Becky 2023 - Movies (May 20th)
IF 2024 - Movies (May 20th)
Family Practice Mysteries Coming Home 2024 - Movies (May 20th)
Oppenheimer 2023 - Movies (May 19th)
Golden Kamuy 2024 - Movies (May 19th)
Silent impulses 2023 - Movies (May 19th)
Everything Puppies 2024 - Movies (May 19th)
Silence of the Prey 2024 - Movies (May 19th)
The Guardian of the Monarchs 2024 - Movies (May 18th)
Imaginary 2024 - Movies (May 18th)
One Life 2023 - Movies (May 18th)
Dont Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead 2024 - Movies (May 18th)
The Strangers Chapter 1 2024 - Movies (May 17th)
Pandemonium 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
Nightwatch Demons Are Forever 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
Bad Romance The Vicky White Story 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
Faceless After Dark 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
The American Friend 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
You Cant Run Forever 2024 - Movies (May 17th)
End of the Rope 2023 - Movies (May 17th)
The Green Veil - (May 20th)
American Idol - (May 20th)
Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun - (May 20th)
Bar Rescue - (May 20th)
Race Against The Tide - (May 20th)
The Fortune Hotel - (May 20th)
Escape to the Country - (May 20th)
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs - (May 20th)
Lucky! - (May 20th)
Secrets of the Hells Angels - (May 20th)
Vanderpump Villa - (May 20th)
Have You Been Paying Attention? - (May 20th)
Big City Greens - (May 20th)
The Chase Australia - (May 20th)
The Farmer Wants a Wife - (May 20th)
Deal or No Deal - (May 20th)
Smiling Friends - (May 20th)
The Summit - (May 20th)
Take Me Home - (May 20th)
Saturday Kitchen - (May 20th)