Superman II
Dir: Richard Lester
1980
*****
Superman II was actually filmed at the same time as Superman The Movie. This I believed helped the movie achieve a certain integrity in its continuity but it also damaged the franchise. The problem was that there were far too many egos behind the camera. Constant disagreements and backstabbing caused a rift between cast and crew and although Richard Donner had filmed the majority of Superman II, Richard Lester (who had been repeatedly wronged by the producers in this and other franchises) was brought in to finish and rework the finished cut of the film (and to halt a law suit). Richard Lester just wasn't as talented a director as Donner and as much as I love the finished film, it really isn't the film is should have been. It's hard now to see the film any other way but the fact that the majority of the cast and crew remained loyal to Donner, and subsequently walked, remains a sad truth and you can't help but wonder what could have become of the franchise. Much like the first film, there are questionable aspects of the story, Superman's magic kiss and using his 'S' motif as a weapon being the most contentious examples. Overall though, it's good old supes doing his thing. Dare I say it but this hardcore Superfan even believes that many of the Lester changes to script are better than the original ideas, for example, Donner wrote a scene whereby Lois shoots Clark with a gun to prove he's Superman. I personally much prefer what was filmed, Lois jumping into the Niagara Falls, hoping that Clark would save her. I love it all but I give credit to Donner over Lester. Again, everything can be taken with a pinch of salt, in many respects the character is flawed because he is so unstoppable, 2 supermen and 1 superwoman should have beaten Superman hands down but of course they don't, that's not what the audience wants and Superman II only gives the audience what they want. Superman The Movie gave us the origin story, Superman II gets on with the action. Lex Luther and General Zod team up and Clark and Lois's relationship blossoms, it's everything Superfans wanted from a sequel and it's a rare example of a follow up film being just as good as the original (although not quite as good in my opinion).