Superman III Review

Superman III


Release Date: 26th December 1983 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dovemead Films
Cantharus Productions


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 120 minutes


Budget: $39,000,000

Box Office Gross: $70,656,090
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Wealthy businessman
Ross Webster discovers
the hidden talents of Gus
Gorman, a mischievous
computer genius. Ross
decides to abuse his talents,
in a way to help Webster
with his plans for economic
control. When the man of
steel interferes, something
must be done about Supes.
When Gus' synthetic
Kryptonite fails to kill
Superman, it turns him in
an evil incarnation of his
former self. The tar-laced
Kryptonite pits man against
himself, setting up the
Clark vs. Superman battle.
(Source - IMDb)


Cast
Christopher Reeve - Clark
Kent/Superman
Richard Pyror - Gus Gorman
Annette O'Toole - Lana Lang
Robert Vaughn - Ross Webster
Margot Kidder - Lois Lane
Jackie Cooper - Perry White
Marc McClure - Jimmy Olson
Annie Ross - Vera Webster
Pamela Stephenson - Lorelei
Ambrosia
Gavan O'Herihy - Brad Wilson
Nancy Roberts - Unemployment Clerk
Graham Stark - Blind Man
Gordon Rollings - Man in Cap
Bob Todd - Dignified Gent
Stefan Kalipha - Data School Instructor
Helen Norton - Miss Henderson
Shane Rimmer - State Policeman
Al Matthews - Fire Chief
Barry Dennen - Dr. McClean
Robert Henderson - Mr. Simpson
Paul Kaethler - Ricky
R.J. Bell - Mr. Stokis
Pamela Mandell - Mrs. Stokis
Ronnie Brody - Husband
Sandra Dickinson - Wife
Phillip Gilbert - Newsreader
Pat Starr - White Coated Scientist
Gordon Signer - Mayor
John Bluthal - Pisa Vendor
David Fielder - Olympic Runner
Robert Beatty - Tanker Captain
Christopher Malcolm - 1st Miner
Larry Lamb - 2nd Miner

Crew
Director - Richard Lester
Creators "Superman" - Jerry Siegel and
Joe Shuster
Screenplay - David & Leslie Newman
Executive Producers - Alexander & Ilya Salkind
Producer - Pierre Spengler
Casting Directors - Jane Feinberg,
Mike Fenton & Debbie McWilliams
Production Designer - Peter Murton
Art Directors - Terry & Brian Ackland Snow
and Bert Davey
Set Decorator - Peter Young
Costume Designer - Evangeline Harrison
Director of Photography - Robert Paynter
Flying and Second Unit Director - David Lane
Stunt Coordinator - Paul Weston
Director of Special Effects and Miniatures -
Colin Chilvers
Supervisor of Optical & Visual Effects - Roy Field
Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter Donen
(Uncredited)
Additional Model Effects - Derek Meddings
(Uncredited)
Additional Model Photography - Paul Wilson
(Uncredited)
Front Projection Consultant - Zoran Perisic
Film Editor - John Victor-Smith
Composer: Original Songs - Giorgio Moroder
Original Superman Themes - John Williams
Music - Ken Thorne


Review
After finishing 'Superman II' from the previous director Richard Donner that hit the theatres in 1980, his so-called replacement director Richard Lester was approached by the Salkinds to make another film of the series. For sure 'SUPERMAN III' could have been a flop but luckily proved itself to be an below average film and is too comical. Adding Richard Pyror to co-star with Christopher Reeve only made things worse.

The other actor by the name of Robert Vaughn portrays a villain that's far sillier and more poor than Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. The good points in this movie is the scene where Superman turns bad and his alter-ego Clark Kent has to face him. Some of the more great things include the few funnier parts like Superman ruining the Tower of Pisa.

'SUPERMAN III' nearly convinced everyone what a bad movie this was and it's nearly as bad as 'Superman IV'. There's a lot more to say that this film needs to have a better storyline, better character development as well as a compelling villain. I'm going to delay this review marathon permanently because I'm deeply focused on seeing the new X-Men movie 'The Wolverine'. I'll get to write the review of this feature someday and return to finalise the Superman marathon.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

Back to Home