Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
In the sequel of the Christopher Reeve era adaption of the Man of Steel, General Zod is freed from the Phantom Zone and wrecks havoc on Earth.
Liked
Reeve and Gene Hackman.
Disliked
Everything else.
Thoughts
It was way too cartoony for me to like it at all.
The best part of was seeing Reeve reprise his role. He was believable as Superman, but mainly, he was very charming as the clumsy, awkward Clark Kent. But was it me, or has his Kent voice morphed into Kermit the Frog?
Terence Stamp was cool as General Zod, although I've been clouded by Kevin Smith's impression of the famous "Kneel before General Zod!" quote, so I had expected a more flashy villain performance. The great Gene Hackman also had his moments, but I hoped there would be more screen time for his lovable cronies, Jackie Cooper and Ned Beatty.
Unfortunately, everything else was borderline unwatchable. Maybe it was intentionally meant more for kids, but I don't recall the original to be this cartoony. How am I supposed to take this serious when this dialog exists: "The Phantom Zone is indestructible, except from the shockwave of a nuclear explosion in space."? Characters changed personalities and behaved stupidly constantly. For example, Zod wants to show his might, so he beats up a small town, not a large city?
There was too many confusing moments. How did Superman regain his powers? Why did the Kryptonians suddenly gain super-duper powers in the Fortress of Solitude when it's the yellow sun that gives them powers? And what's up with Superman's sudden ability to neuralize someone a la MIB?
So yeah, maybe I was expecting something a bit more grown up and charming, so Superman II was a huge letdown.
