Supermarathon! Superman: The Movie (with Paul and Valerie)

Paul does not like any movies.

I've been to movies many, many times with Paul, and every time, the following happens:

The movie ends, the lights come up, we exit the theater, and stand around talking.  I ask "So, what'd you think?" and Paul sort of ponders for a second, then says "I don't think I liked it."

I can only recall Paul saying he liked one major release movie, but I wasn't there for it.

This evening he and Valerie (Paul's steady lady friend) came over and we all watched Superman: The Movie.

No, I have no idea how many times I've seen the movie, but I'd guess I've seen it a few dozen times.  I know I've seen it theatrically at least 3.3 times.

RHPT, Steanso, Lucy, Adriana, Peabo and Jamie in Beaumont - no longer watching Superman: The Movie, circa 2005

JimD once brought the film to Beaumont, Texas when he was working there, and I met RHPT, met up with Peabo and his wife (and his wife's sister) and went to see the flick.  And then the projector broke.  Well, these things happen.

Tonight, nothing broke.  I have no idea what Paul thought of the film, but he did tweet that he'd seen it, so he was at least willing to acknowledge the experience.


It's been over a year since I've watched the movie, which is actually quite a while for me.  I don't think I watched it all the way through in 2012 in order to include it in my 2012 movie reviews.

In many ways, I'm too attached to the film.  I understand it has problems, is flawed, reflects it's era in ways good and bad...  but it's just a movie I know so well, I'm beyond judging it any more.  Weird parts, faults and quirks are just part of the fabric.

I did notice on the BluRay edition that when Krypton explodes, dude...  you can totally see the black backdrop in the shot.  That should have gotten cleaned up in the transfer.

Truthfully, I hadn't thought much about comparing Henry Cavill to Christopher Reeve or George Reeves, but he has some big red boots to fill.  So far he seems like he's pulling it off in the trailers, but there's so much to Reeve's performance that's youthful (he was 24 or so), but also beyond it's years.

Once of my favorite scenes is, of course, the helicopter rescue scene, from start to finish.  But so much of what I think is great about Superman gets wrapped up in those first words between Superman and Lois and Superman's reaction to his own first public appearance.

"Well, I hope this little incident hasn't put you off flying, miss.  Statistically speaking, of course, it's still the safest way to travel."

He has this really warm look on his face, and then he turns around and immediately breaks into this huge grin.  I always sort of read this as the smart-assed side of Superman that I don't think most people think about, but which is all over the comics.  He's constantly winking to the camera, and only we know what he does, secretly, as Clark Kent.  But here, he turns and immediately looks like he has just really been pulling Lois' leg.

And maybe this red cape and blue uniform business is going to be really amazing.

Also, it's always funny to mess with Lois.




Thanks to Paul and Valerie for coming over and bringing that awesome ice cream!