Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
One of my favourite scenes in Superman II is the impending doom of the Eiffel Tower. Terrorists have managed to hijack the monument and have planted a bomb to blow up this great structure if their demands are not met. Lois Lane, in her trademarked fashion, manages to find herself in trouble in Paris while covering the story (looks like she got to Paris faster than a speeding bullet as well).
The elevator drive is destroyed as Lois and the bomb fall to the ground. A familiar red-and-blue clad superhero manages to catch the elevator and stops her fall. All of a sudden I'm getting flashbacks of the first movie when Superman catches both Lois and the falling helicopter, and these words started resonating for me again:
That dialogue could have easily fit in here as well except for the fact that the players know each other now, and they know each other well. One can tell that this is a common occurrence that's happening: Lois in danger and Superman saving her.
They go together like peanut butter and jelly.
But when it comes down to it, when everything else is stripped away, this is, at the core of it, a love story. It has been a love story for the past 60-plus years and it will continue to be a love story between these two characters. Always.
Superman II is a direct sequel to Superman: The Movie. Released in 1980, the events in this movie take place only a few months after the first one. Superman is still fresh and new to everyone in the world. People are becoming more comfortable with his presence on Earth as someone who is there to help whenever danger arises. But what if, one day, he decides to go rogue and use his power to take over the world? This movie explores that idea, and does so through, not one, not two, but three terrorists, all with the same power levels of Superman.
Kryptonian Threat Times Three
President: Superman! Can you hear me? Superman! Where are you...
General Zod: Who is this Superman?
President: You'll find out and when you do…
General Zod: Come to me, Superman! I defy you! Come and kneel before Zod! Zod!
General Zod, Ursa, and Non were sentenced to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El. These terrorists were planning an insurrection and placing Zod as the “Supreme Ruler” of Krypton. It didn’t happen, but they had the last laugh. They survived Krypton’s destruction even though they are trapped within the Phantom Zone.
But as Jor-El jailed these prisoners, his son inadvertently frees them as he hurls the elevator containing the nuclear bomb into space. The shockwaves shatter the Phantom Zone freeing Zod and company. Discovering their new found powers under the Earth’s yellow sun, they make their way towards the planet.
And that’s when all hell breaks loose.
The evil Kryptonians represent what Superman would be without a conscience. Zod recognizes the chink in Superman’s armour that distinguishes Kal-El from these super-powered terrorists:
General Zod: This Superman is nothing of the kind. You see, I've discovered his weakness. He cares. He actually cares for these Earth people.
Ursa: Like pets?
General Zod: I suppose so.
Superman does care a lot especially for Lois, and he does the unthinkable by giving up his powers to be with the one he loves. This is the man that would move the Earth (or in his case spin the Earth on its axis in the last movie) and do anything for this woman. Unfortunately, his timing was all wrong since he didn’t know anything about the escaped Kryptonian criminals until after he was depowered.
What we also learn is that Superman doesn’t know how to cope without his powers. What he took for granted, even the most simplest of things, has become a huge obstacle; he doesn’t have his powers to back him up anymore. Was it selfish of Clark to give up his powers for Lois? Perhaps, but it’s understandable that he wanted to live a normal life. The problem with that notion is that he made the people rely on Superman to be around whenever trouble occurs. Has he set himself up to be the “Saviour” only to be crucified by the people later on when they really need him?
When He Says “Kneel”, You Better Do It
Terrance Stamp put his mark as General Zod—cold, calculating, and militaristic in nature. Everybody, including Ursa and Non, are beneath him, and he flaunts his power and position to anyone around him. Ever-confident and ever-observant to the things around him makes Zod a very dangerous man. Stamp made sure that all of this came across on the screen and he made you believe that he could crush you without even blinking.
Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O’Halloran) add different dimensions to a person to wields immense power. Douglas showed Ursa as a woman that wouldn’t take crap from anyone—in essence, a Lois Lane-like figure with the abilities of Superman and none of his morality. In fact, if anything, human beings perplex Ursa as she cannot understand how they have managed to survive and exist in the fashion that they have. She sees the planet as a disorganized, unruly faction that needs to be lead to greatness, and Zod is obviously the one she trusts that can do it. Non is almost child-like in nature, always curious and seeking approval from Zod. And because he’s a mute, Non has a hard time expressing what’s on his mind making him frustrated and sometimes angry.
Christopher Reeve is always excellent in his dual role of Superman and Clark Kent. I think he added another dimension to the character by allowing him to be more emotionally vulnerable. And this is the weakness that Zod picks up from his adversary—Superman cares too much.
Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane was actually better in this movie than the first. Yes, she’s still pig-headed. Yes, she’s still getting into trouble. And yes, Superman will always save her. But I think she also allowed Lois to drop her guard for a bit and let her tenderness shine through for once.
And poor Gene Hackman. Was Lex Luthor really necessary for this film? Perhaps, but it’s a shame he was almost a window dressing. Then again there were inside politics that took place which allowed for a lot of inconsistencies throughout the entire movie. I can’t blame Hackman on that one since I would have done the same.
Super Controversy
Richard Donner, the director of Superman: The Movie, was replaced by Richard Lester halfway through the movie. Actually, Donner filmed both movies at the same time, completely almost 75% of the second one. There have been many stories as to why Donner was let go, including the one that he argued with the producers who wanted to do a more campy approach to the movie. Donner argued against the idea, and all of a sudden was replaced by Lester. To me this explains the weird tone throughout the film. There were times when things were too long and drawn out (Zod and company’s little visit to a small town) and times when it felt campy (the pedestrians being flung away in Metropolis from the trio’s super breath).
The whole hype, however, wasn’t revolved around Superman’s adversaries. The pull of the movie came from the fact that it was advertised that Superman and Lois were going to sleep together. Whoa! I also think that was another reason why Donner left because he didn’t agree with the idea.
Plot holes also reared its ugly head in many places and a lot of questions still dangle in the air. How did Superman get his powers back? Did Superman actually allow the Kryptonians to plummet to their death? How did a non-super Clark Kent manage to find a car to drive to a diner with Lois? Was it already parked at the Fortress of Solitude? I know I’m nitpicking but there are a lot of holes that were never explained properly.
And then there were the crazy new powers that were introduced in this movie. There was the telekinesis scene by levitating people into the air by pointing a finger at them (not the middle one), the teleportation scene by popping in and out of the Fortress, creating multiple duplicates of themselves, and even shooting white beams from the palms of the hands. And don’t even get me started on the cellophane “S” that acted like a capture net. I still shake my head every time I see that. I understand that liberties can and will be taken at the director’s discretion but I think this was going overboard.
Despite the faults there were still some good moments especially the battle at Metropolis, though it felt like it was moving at a slow pace at some points. The special effects were as good as the first movie and the music was perfect, even though John Williams didn’t arrange it for this movie.
It’s hard to create believable threats for Superman. People can’t really relate to the powers and abilities he possesses, but it’s not about that at all. His powers may be desirable but they don’t make the man. It’s his desire to help one another that we should be looking at. That’s the example Superman tries to set, and that’s what sets him apart from Zod, Ursa, and Non.
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