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| "Here yee,....here yee,...for I am more powerful than thee" |
The plot revolving around this feature takes place when the
arms race continues to escalate between super powered countries. Feeling a need
to do something after a young boy sends him a letter, Superman AKA Clark Kent
(Christopher Reeve) looks to find a solution. Seeing the opportunity in
Superman's involvement, the ever scheming Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) breaks out
of prison with the help of his nephew Lenny (Jon Cryer). Luthor's plan is to
create a being just as strong as Superman. Meanwhile the daily planet is being
taken over by David Warfield (Sam Wanamaker) and his daughter Lacy (Mariel
Hemingway), who ends up developing feelings for Clark.
The script was written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal
who both wrote for The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) and The Jewel of the Nile
(1985) prior to this. Seeing that part of the film's production problems came
from the budget, it could be said that they both had to work with whatever they
could. However, there are parts to the story that don't make any sense in
continuity. Such as people breathing in space aside from Superman or Luthor
having the know-how of creating another superhuman. There's also meaningless
supporting characters such as Lenny and Lacy. Both of them do not contribute
anything to the overall story and neither of them have a purpose other than
hijinks.
If anything, the worst offender is the big baddie, Nuclear
Man played by Mark Pillow. Not only does Pillow give a rather goofy over the
top performance, but his weapon of choice is very lame. Fingernails,....that's
right fingernails. This not only makes the action between him and Superman
laughable but almost embarrassing. Forget all the mediocre special effects the
production used,...they could have at least thrown their fists at one another.
That's one thing Superman III (1983) got right. Thankfully, most of the other
fun characters return like Perry White (Jackie Cooper), Jimmy Olsen (Marc
McClure), Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and even William Hootkins as an arms
dealer.
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| Nuclear Man |
While the effects are not always on par with prior films, at
least they feel closer to the first two superman films than that of the third
film. Director Sidney J. Furie did his best to keep it that way along with his
cinematographer Ernest Day. Furie was the director of Iron Eagle (1986), while
Day had worked on Running Scared (1972). All shots are kept steady and have a
good number of shots that capture the large scope of the setting. The best
component to this feature though was the score composed by Alexander Courage.
While not having the same grab as John Williams, Courage uses Williams' theme
for Superman to a great extent making it sound almost like Williams was there.
Not only is the score fully fleshed out but matches in tone as well to the rest
of the films.
Saying this is the worst film in the series is a bit hard to
say. Superman III (1983) got several things wrong as well. At least here it
felt more like the first two. Yes the effects are not as polished and
continuity issues are vast, however the music, camerawork and returning actors
put in one more performance that still retains the Superman feel.
Points Earned --> 6:10
