Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[DR Herbert West]

I dig Superman IV.

[motorheadache95]

I actually really enjoy Superman IV, but in that same way I enjoy Jaws 3 as an absolutely entertaining train wreck of a film. It also happens to be the earliest movie I can recall seeing in the theaters, so I have a sentimental attachment to it. Superman getting poisoned and sick was big drama for a 5 year old

[drb999]

IV is really not that bad, not great either but entertaining enough.

[dubhousing]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I actually really enjoy Superman IV, but in that same way I enjoy Jaws 3 as an absolutely entertaining train wreck of a film. It also happens to be the earliest movie I can recall seeing in the theaters, so I have a sentimental attachment to it. Superman getting poisoned and sick was big drama for a 5 year old

It's the only one of the four I saw first-run in theaters. I remember the preview trailer being Who's That Girl?.

I did get to see the 1978 film, in a fresh print, at a restored Loews movie palace in Jersey City sometime in the early 00s. That was great. It was the longer cut with the additional Brando scenes (not the television cut).

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

I dig Superman IV.

It's the one I probably watched the most as a kid, largely because it has more Superman, in costume, per minute, than any other Superman film, before or since. There are a lot of indelible moments. And Reeve is still endearing as ever, even if the film is falling apart. And the film is earnest, even if it is stilted and goofy. Superman's actions are noble. That counts.

[NYorker]

Superman IV is bad....what else is there to say? Christopher Reeve was burned enough from the experience making it that he nixed a possible Superman V because of it.

[dubhousing]

As a kid, I really liked it. It's Superman. As an adult, I struggle to get through it.

Even though the first three are ostensibly films for kids (of all ages), there is a refreshing adult sensibility in the relationship between Clark and Lois (especially in II), and Clark and Lana in III (the best part of that movie).

IV just feels like kids stuff, not particularly well-made kids stuff, and even Superman: The Animated Series was better (a lot better, actually, and even that show had a mature sensibility at times).

[spaceball-one]

It's cheating since it's not a real comic, but The Rocketeer and Horner's score always gave me those Superman 78 feels. Very underrated.

[KC-Technerd]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

It's cheating since it's not a real comic, but The Rocketeer and Horner's score always gave me those Superman 78 feels. Very underrated.

Why does it not qualify as a "real" comic?
The Rocketeer (character)

I don't think it's as grand or epic as Richard Donner's Superman, but I think it actually does a better job at just plain being a comic book, performed as live action, on film. I can't think of a movie that actually does that better.

[GrouchoFan]

Since we've been discussing IV in this thread, I'll ask this here: does anyone know if there was any "digital tweaking" done to the 4K transfer; specifically wire removal in some shots? Or some regrading to hide the wires?

I know we don't usually trust anyone who claims to remember how a movie looked in theaters 20 or 30 years ago, but... I clearly remember seeing wires holding up the Metropolis bystanders who Nuclear Man starts levitating during the big battle near the end. I remember this because it was one of the many poor special effects sequences that so enraged me at the time. ("How could the effects be worse than the previous movies?!? I could see the wires!!")

I recently watched my 4K UHD of the movie as a personal "tribute" to Gene Hackman...and I didn't see the wires this time! Do I need to sit closer to my TV, or did they do something to the picture?

Yeah, IV is pretty bad as movies go, but Christopher Reeve was so godDAMN PERFECT in the role, I'll give the movie a pass. After you get over the initial shock of how poorly made it is, Reeve shines through enough for me to give it an occasional rewatch. And lament what might have been...

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

It's cheating since it's not a real comic, but The Rocketeer and Horner's score always gave me those Superman 78 feels. Very underrated.

I have to go back and read the Rocketeer comics, its been so long but I think there are story threads that weren't in the movie, or was there a second story in the comics that happens after the arch of the movie narrative?

Cant remember will have to dig them out to check.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by GrouchoFan

Since we've been discussing IV in this thread, I'll ask this here: does anyone know if there was any "digital tweaking" done to the 4K transfer; specifically wire removal in some shots? Or some regrading to hide the wires?

Yeah, they did some clean up.

[dubhousing]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Yeah, they did some clean up.

I read somewhere - I don't remember if it was here or another place online - that one shot during the scene where Superman returns Lenny to his reform school was zoomed in a bit on the new 4K to hide the ramp Christopher Reeve stepped on as part of the special effect of Superman flying away (it was slightly visible on the left side of the original shot). The source I read included comparative screenshots, and, yep, it's true.

[starmike]

I walked out of IV.

[spaceball-one]

Originally Posted by KC-Technerd

Why does it not qualify as a "real" comic?
The Rocketeer (character)

I don't think it's as grand or epic as Richard Donner's Superman, but I think it actually does a better job at just plain being a comic book, performed as live action, on film. I can't think of a movie that actually does that better.

My mistake! I wasn't aware, I'll have to read those!
I feel a lot better about saying it's one of the best comic book movies ever now haha

[Toetke]

Originally Posted by starmike

I walked out of IV.

shame on you for doing so
how rude

[GrouchoFan]

Originally Posted by starmike

I walked out of IV.

I staggered out; couldn’t believe what I had just seen…

[dubhousing]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Did they realize how awful it was when they were filming it or only when they saw the FX?

There's a story Jon Cryer has told in interviews of meeting Christopher Reeve by chance shortly after filming was completed, but before it was released. Reeve warned him the movie was going to be terrible.

I think this is well known, but the reason why Reeve agreed to do a fourth film is that Cannon sweetened the deal by agreeing to finance Street Smart, which Reeve really wanted to make. It's a very good movie, directed by Jerry Schatzberg, a great director.

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Did they realize how awful it was when they were filming it or only when they saw the FX?

Had to have known before. They had Mariel Hemingway breathing in space with know spacesuit lol

[Yearbook]

Originally Posted by dubhousing

I think this is well known, but the reason why Reeve agreed to do a fourth film is that Cannon sweetened the deal by agreeing to finance Street Smart, which Reeve really wanted to make. It's a very good movie, directed by Jerry Schatzberg, a great director.

Street Smart is awesome, Morgan Freeman is a force in it.