Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

'78 is one of my favorite movies. I agree, a little momentum is lost for a bit in the third act and it could have been edited differently. The time reversal thing is a little too much for me, but in some way it all works itself out by the end making this the best comic book movie ever. I'm still waiting for a modern of Superman take that even comes close and with the heart and soul of this one.

Yep, I'm still waiting for a modern comic book film in general that even comes close to STM. And I ain't no snob, got loads of Marvel and DC flicks in my collection, but this movie has a touch of greatness in everything it does and it still wows me to this day.

[ghostof82]

I think the music is a huge part of it. Film music isn't what it was, the MCU films are shockingly poor in this regard and the films are lesser for it, and the DC films are no better. Give us a heroic theme that defines the character and that we can whistle walking out of the cinema. What's a Bond film without the 007 fanfare, or an Indiana Jones film without the Raiders march? STM has so much great music, it takes the film to some other level.

[DKLou]

Originally Posted by Jay Mammoth

Only 1 trailer. Looks great, can’t wait

At least they are sticking with what appears to be comic book or original storyline stuff. That’s a plus.

Originally Posted by Bolty

That seems harsh but the 3rd act was really beyond the capabilities of 78 FX.
Starting with the campy missile retargeting nonsense the movie losses a lot of momentum. Never was or will be a fan of the time reversal ending -- in either movie!
Casting will probably never be topped but there is for sure room for modern takes on the character.

True on the 3rd act being a tad dodgy, even if one allows for some dodgy-ness. I actually prefer the super kiss to the time reversal. Still, I love the first two Superman films.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yep, I'm still waiting for a modern comic book film in general that even comes close to STM. And I ain't no snob, got loads of Marvel and DC flicks in my collection, but this movie has a touch of greatness in everything it does and it still wows me to this day.

Yep, the same. I've got quite a few Marvels and DCs.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yep, I'm still waiting for a modern comic book film in general that even comes close to STM. And I ain't no snob, got loads of Marvel and DC flicks in my collection, but this movie has a touch of greatness in everything it does and it still wows me to this day.

Donner set the standard. You could argue, as you are, that there’s still no one who’s met it.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

Donner set the standard. You could argue, as you are, that there’s still no one who’s met it.

Wonder Woman was the only one that really, fully got there.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by ghostof82

I think the music is a huge part of it. Film music isn't what it was, the MCU films are shockingly poor in this regard and the films are lesser for it, and the DC films are no better. Give us a heroic theme that defines the character and that we can whistle walking out of the cinema. What's a Bond film without the 007 fanfare, or an Indiana Jones film without the Raiders march? STM has so much great music, it takes the film to some other level.

This is so correct. Imagine Superman without John William’s score. You can’t. The only Marvel films with an above average score is Guardians, and that is due to Gunn. They finally got a decent composer for The Fantastic Four, but film scores have gone way, way downhill.

[DR Herbert West]

There hasn't been a great superhero score since the '90s IMO.

[RoboDan]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

There hasn't been a great superhero score since the '90s IMO.

[jordanjabroni]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

There hasn't been a great superhero score since the '90s IMO.

The Alan Silvestri Avengers theme is absolutely stellar. However, that's a theme - not an entire score.

For me, Elliot Goldenthal's Batman Forever and Danny Elfman's Batman and Spider-Man scores are my favourites as, unlike other movies where I know a couple of the big themes, cues and/or motifs, I know these three front to back. They have so many memorable moments. They feel like an old friend.

Batman Forever has so much personality and energy. Working on my fanedit has been a joy, because each character has a 'sound' and it never gets boring.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

There hasn't been a great superhero score since the '90s IMO.

Zimmer and Gregson-Williams Wonder Woman scores, as well as Elfman's Spider-Man scores, are looking at your suspiciously.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Zimmer and Gregson-Williams Wonder Woman scores, as well as Elfman's Spider-Man scores are looking suspiciously at you.

Really good IMO.

[jordanjabroni]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Zimmer and Gregson-Williams Wonder Woman scores, as well as Elfman's Spider-Man scores, are looking at your suspiciously.

Wonder Woman scores are horrendous, in my opinion.

If you're going for Zimmer, surely The Dark Knight Trilogy takes it?

DESHI, DESHI! BASARA! BASARA!

[david_blu]

I would say Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Spiderman 1&2 and maybe Endgame, nothing else comes close.

There are so many themes in Superman, I think I prefer it to Williams' Star Wars work for the most part.

[jordanjabroni]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

This is so correct. Imagine Superman without John William’s score. You can’t.

I'm going to chalk this up to me being a 1994 baby, but both Superman: The Animated Series and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman have iconic themes for me... so I can imagine Superman without them. Not to mention Remy Zero - Save Me from Smallville! But both of those themes are seared into my mind just as much as the John Williams theme. Of course, Williams made the most iconic of the lot by leaps and (single) bounds, but I do hold those other two dearly in my heart.

While I adored the Superman 2025 trailer, the reimagining of the Williams theme didn't affect me - plus I don't like the instrumentation at all. Wasn't a fan of Elfman reusing classic themes in Josstice League at all.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by jordanjabroni

Wonder Woman scores are horrendous, in my opinion.

No, sir. No.

If you're going for Zimmer, surely The Dark Knight Trilogy takes it?

DESHI, DESHI! BASARA! BASARA!

Zimmer's work is extraordinary. The Dark Knight Trilogy, Man of Steel, BvS, and Wonder Woman 1984 are wonderful scores I listen to often.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by jordanjabroni

I'm going to chalk this up to me being a 1994 baby, but both Superman: The Animated Series and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman have iconic themes for me... so I can imagine Superman without them. Not to mention Remy Zero - Save Me from Smallville! But both of those themes are seared into my mind just as much as the John Williams theme. Of course, Williams made the most iconic of the lot by leaps and (single) bounds, but I do hold those other two dearly in my heart.

While I adored the Superman 2025 trailer, the reimagining of the Williams theme didn't affect me - plus I don't like the instrumentation at all. Wasn't a fan of Elfman reusing classic themes in Josstice League at all.

The themes in The Animated Series and Lois & Clark nevertheless took some inspiration from Williams, if in tone only. Williams set the tone for what a superhero movie score should sound like. It wasn't until Zimmer that Superman had a different sound and it was very welcome and unique, setting Superman apart from the crowd.

[dallywhitty]

Probably goes without saying, but Elfman's scores for Batman and Batman Returns are absolutely god-tier.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by david_blu

I would say Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Spiderman 1&2 and maybe Endgame, nothing else comes close.

There are so many themes in Superman, I think I prefer it to Williams' Star Wars work for the most part.

The themes are amazing in Superman. I almost agree...it kind hits me in a way unlike anything else he's done. Especially some of the Krypton and three villian stuff...aside from the amazing main score. Williams was incredible in general.

[jordanjabroni]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Probably goes without saying, but Elfman's scores for Batman and Batman Returns are absolutely god-tier.

Returns feels way, way more Elfman/Burton. Still amazing of course, but it has that quirky zaniness to it that '89 doesn't really have. Also, Face to Face is a banger.

Batman '89 feels so much more powerful, to me at least. That cue when Batman swoops in after Napier shoots Eckhart... the Batmobile racing back to the cave and later fleeing the Axis Chemicals raid... the finale heading into the credits... just straight chills.



However... I'm taking Forever over both. It's just so delicious and fun.