In Theaters: ***^ Supergirl (2026)

 There is lots to say about Super Girl in the media, most of it bad, (based on what Milly Alcock said rather than the show) but the movie is really pretty good.  There is the underlining theme of men vs women and they talk of why Clark Kent is Superman and Kara is Supergirl.  Supergirl (Milly Alcock) is having some kind of life crisis; and goes to a world where there is no yellow sun, so her powers are inert.  Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his villains steal Kara's space ship.  They also poison Super Dog and Supergirl has only three days to get the antidote from Krem.  Kara is in pursuit on public transportation with Ruthye (Eve Ridley) tagging along as she wants to kill Krem for killing her parents and brother.  The public transportation ship is robbed, and only after the kick Supergirl off the ship does she get close enough for her powers to be restored.  They then chase the bad guys.  Lobo (Jason Mamoa), a bounty hunter, is also in pursuit of Krem and his men.  This leads to a big confrontation.  There are also several smaller confrontations on the way.  Krem's business is stealing women and selling them for breeding.  Supergirl has to rescue the women several times.  Supergirl convinces Ruthye not to kill Krem when she has the chance.  She worries it will ruin her spirit.  After her adventures she returns to Earth to settle down and visits Superman ((David Corenswet) with her dog.  

DC Movie Review: ****Super Man Returns (2006)

 Superman (Brandon Routh) has returned after being away for five years in space, exploring his home world of Krypton.  In the meantime Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has explored his lair, and stole crystals.  The crystals contain the knowledge of Krypton.  He experiments with the crystals, and every time he does it causes a black out.  

Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on from Superman.  She has a son and a boyfriend/fiancé, Richard White (James Marsden.)  She won a Pulitzer for an article about not needing Superman.  She takes her son with her, tracking down a hint about the most recent blackout.  She wonders onto the boat of Lex Luthor.  

After she is on board, Luthor heads to see to put his plan into action.  He had obtained kryptonite from a museum.  He is going to combine the kryptonite with a Krypton crystal, and make an island he will own.  This new land will cover much of the eastern United States, and being combined with kryptonite, will be poisonous to Superman.  He completes his task, and then must hurry away to avoid the crystal island.  Superman, and her fiancé rescue Lois.  Richard White takes her away in a seaplane, but Lois Lane realizes they must turn back.  Superman is in peril because of the kryptonite.  He is tossed in the ocean to die.

As they approach, Lois' son, is able to see Superman in the deep.  He is in fact Superman's son.  They are able to get him and fly away, but Superman must return.  Billions are in peril.  Superman restores his strength in the sun, then lifts the island and throws it into space.  The effort kills him.

Luthor and his girlfriend, Kitty Kowolski (Parker Posey) escape, but Kowolski drops the crystals on purpose as she is tired of Luthor's antics and callousness.  

Lois visits Superman in the hospital.  Can her life, and knowing he has a son, bring him back to life?  

This movie is good, not the best superman.  It gets bogged down a couple of times with back story, but the action wins out in the end.

DC Animated Movie Review: *** Superman: Doomsday (2007)

 In this Superman (Adam Baldwin) dies, a lot of times.  He faces a being from Krypton, made as a super warrior.  In killing the creature he too dies.  But that is not the end.  Lex Luthor (James Marsters) wanted to kill Superman and he feels cheated.  So Superman is restored by Lex Luthor who then kills him with red sun and kryptonite.  In the meantime  Luthor clones Superman.  The new Superman is not the same however.  He does not have qualms about killing others in keeping Gotham safe.  Luthor mentions he has a fail safe, so the new Superman finds the lead line Kryptonite ball in his head, and removes it.  In the meantime Superman does come back to life as his body heals itself.  He goes to face the cloned Superman before he is fully healed.  The cloned Superman destroys all the other clones Luthor has made, and leaves Luthor under a pile of rubble.  It is only with Lois Lane's (Anne Heche) help that he is able to bring done the cloned Superman.

DC Animated Movie Review: ***^Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)

I really enjoyed this Batman/Superman movie.  It is a sequel to Public Enemies.  In Public Enemies Batman (Kevin Conroy) and Superman (Tim Daly) stopped a meteor.  In this movie we learn that it was actually a spaceship from Krypton and Superman's cousin, Kara (Sumer Glau) was inside.   She has some difficulty adjusting to her powers as she is no longer n Krypton.  Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg) takes her to home of the Amazons where she can train.  However Darkseid (Andre Braugher) learns of this, and sends his minions to kidnap her.  The Amazons and the minions have quite a battle, but while they battle Kara is kidnapped and her friend killed.

Superman recruits Big Barda, (Julianne Grossman) Darkseid's former underling to take him to the Darkseid world, Apokolips.  Darkseid tries to capture Wonder Woman as an alternative, but fails, and Superman takes Kara home to the farm to meet his folks, and Darkseid is there.  He has incredible power in his eyes; more than Superman.

I liked the cusi showing up.  I thought she was a good addition, and trying to find her place.  

DC Animated Movie Review: ***Superman/ Batman: Public Enemies (2009)

 This movie asks the question, What would the world be like if Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) became president.  It doesn't go well for Luthor's enemy Superman (Tim Daly), and also Superman's friend, Batman Kevin Conroy).  It seems every superhero in the world has been sent to bring Superan in.

In the meantime a meteor from Krypton is heading toward earth.  Luthor says he will handle, but a nuclear missile fails to alter its course.  He then tells people he will stop it but in reality does nothing.  So a few people will die. However Batman and Superman are planning on intervening.  But Luthor comes out in an Iron Man type suit.  The other super heroes are starting to see through him.  

Animated DC Movie Review: ***^ Batman The Dark Knight Returns, parts 1 and 2 (2012, 2013)

 Batman (Peter Weller) has been retired for ten years.  However he doesn't like the way things are going in Gothem, so he decides to return to crime fighting, even though he is now in his 50s.  The minions have formed a gang of young people, with a devious leader who is strong and wants to face Batman.  They are committing crimes against people for the fun of "slicing and dicing."  In the meantime Harvey Dent, Two-Face (Wade Williams) has been treated and his face restored (but mentally he still sees it as ugly but now matching).  Batman has to stop his evil intentions.  

But still the minions are waiting and threatening a general attack on the city.  Batman confronts them, but the leader is able to defeat him and send him packing.  He is saved by his new Robin (Ariel Winter) a young woman.  There Alfred, (Michael Jackson) the butler, helps but him back together and reminds him that brawn for brawn he is going to lose.  He has to use his intelligence.  

So after Batman is healed enough, he invites all the minions to a place where he chooses to fight, in the mud which will work to slow the head minion down.  He then proceeds to slowly take him apart, and in doing so wins the respect of the minions.  Part One ends with the minions becoming smaller gangs of vigilantes, following Batman's example.

The Joker (Michael Emerson) enters part two.  His psychiatrist arranges for him to be on a TV talk show.  Commissioner Gordon (David Selby) retires, and the new commissioner is out to get Batman.  Joker of curse, kills his psychiatrist, and then all the people in the studio and the host with his laughing gas.  He seems to really like killing.  Batman has to fight the police to get away, making is so he is too late to save anyone.  Robin again helps him get away.  

Batman is being blamed for troubles in Gotham, and the president recruits Superman (Mark Valley) to fix the problem, even killing him if necessary.  In the meantime the Russians and USA are at odds fighting over an island, and Superman's intervention turns the battle in the USA favor.  

Batman traces the Joker to a carnival.  He makes the tunnel of love a tunnel of murder.  However Batman finally catches up to him, and Batman is witnessed killing the Joker.  The police are hard on his tail now.  Batman barely escapes again, with Robin piloting the Batcopter.  

Russia retaliates with a nuclear weapon, which although diverted by Superman, still explodes injuring SUperman and causing all electronics to go out on the sea coast, including Gotham.  Chaos ensues, but Batman, with the help of the minions is able to restore some sense of order.  

Superman is still coming for Batman.

This movie is very exciting.  Here we have a Superman vs Batman battle.  

Movie Review: ****Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

 This movie poses the question, should a super being impose peace, nuclear disarmament in this case, on the world.  In this case Superman (Christopher Reeve) takes on this task.  However in this case, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) has escaped prison again, helped by his nephew, Lenny (John Cryer). Luthor is determined to clone Superman.  He does this using the sun, which gives him the power of the sun creating Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow).  

In the mean time at the Daily Planet things are not going well.  There has been a hostile takeover by David Warfield (Sam Wanamaker) who is into sensational headlines and stories even if not quite true.  Perry White (Jackie Cooper) is let go and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) eventually quits.  Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure) hangs on.  Lois Lane rekindles her flame with Superman, encouraged by Superman.   Warfield's daughter Lacy (Mariel Hemingway) ignites a flame with Clark Kent.  Clark Kent and superman go on a double date with Lois and Lacy which makes for some trickery back and forth.  However the date is interrupted when Luthor send a message to Superman on a frequency only he can hear.  He entices Superman and introduces him to Nuclear Man.  This leads to an interesting fight, and Superman being sickened, perhaps with nuclear energy from the sun.  The outcome is very much in doubt, as long as the sun shines Nuclear Man has the advantage.

In the mean time White has bought up the shares of the company, and comes back with his own take over, kicking Warfield out.  Superman concludes that peace should not be forced, but come from the people themselves.

This movie has an interesting conclusion.  The Superman movies all fall short in terms of special effects.  They did not have the computer generated features that are available now.  However within their technology limits they do pretty well.  

Movie Review: *** Superman III

 This is the only Christopher Reeve Superman movie without Lex Luthor.  Instead he goes up against Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) who is an entrepreneur.  He teams up with a computer expert, Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor).  He also has a couple women helping him, Vera (Annie Ross) and Lorelei (Pamela Stephenson).  They access a satellite and with that they manipulate the weather.

There is also less Lois Lane and the newspaper characters as Clark Kent returns to Smallville for his class reunion, and rekindles a flame with Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole) and out duels Brad (Gavav O' Herlihy) for her affections.

So Gorman designs a super computer, but the three villains take it over and kick him out.  In bread into the computer is it analyzes an opponents weaknesses, and is able to counter.  When superman confronts the computer, the computer takes over one of the women and becomes self sufficient.  It is no longer dependent on electricity and becomes independent.  Superman has to trick the computer to save the world.

Movie Review: ***Supergirl (1984)

 This movie is made as a sequel to the Superman movies and to take advantage of the Superman buzz.  Supergirl/Linda Lee (Helen Slater) comes to earth looking for a device she lost.  It is an orb that keeps the refugee ship powered as the group has left Krypton.  Without the orb they are doomed.  Zaltar (Peter O' Toole) leads the group and condemns himself for the loss of the orb.

Supergirl follows the orb, and as luck would have it, it falls into the hands of a witch, Selena (Faye Dunaway), who wants to use the power to take over the world.  She has a couple helpers (Brenda Vaccaro and Peter Cook) Only Supergirl stands in her way.  Supergirl is cousin to Superman, and she goes to boarding school where she rooms with Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy), Lois' young sister.  There is a handsome man (Hart Bochner) in the mix that Selena is determined to have, but her spell goes wrong and he attaches to Linda Lee, Supergirl's alter ego.  

This movie is mildly entertaining, but goes over the top and as a result did not get good reviews.  The other actor involved, from the Superman series is Marc McClure who plays Jimmy Olsen.  He is a friend of Lucy's.

Movie Review: ****^Superman II (1980)

 Superman II is just as fun as Superman.  In fact in some ways it is funner.  The gag at Niagara Falls, and Clark Kent 45(Christopher Reeve) saving Lois (Margot Kidder) while bumbling around and not using super powers or so it seams.  And then the trip to Superman's residence, and his relinquishing his powers.  The bit at the diner is just as fun.  Superman without powers is beaten into the ground, but then he returns after getting his powers back.

The basic theme is three other beings (Sarah Douglas, Jack O'Halloran and Terence Stamp) from Krypton show up, after a nuclear bomb explodes in space, releasing them from their prison.  They are intent on ruling, and nothing can stop their powers; especially not Superman after relinquishing his powers.  Superman has to undo this, but he still is no match for the three.  So he has to use subterfuge, and Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman).

Movie Review: ****^Superman (1978)

 Superman/Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) is sent to earth by his parents (Marlon Brando and Susannah York) as his planet, Krypton is due to explode.  They send him to earth, where differences is gravity will give him super powers.  There he is adopted by the Kents (Glen Ford and Phyllis Thaxter).  When his father dies, he moves to New York and becomes a reporter.  There he works with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), photographer Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure) and his boss Perry White (Jackie Cooper).  Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) is a criminal boss and mastermind.  He is intent and igniting a nuclear bomb to create an earthquake so California with drop into the sea.  This will propel his properties in the desert to be seaside property.  

He figures out Superman.  He is from another planet, and vulnerable to kryptonite.  He uses this to incapacitate Superman and launch his two nuclear bombs.  However Luthor is betrayed by his girl (Valerie Perrine).  She released Superman, who in turn saves his friends and the world.  

At the Movies: ****Superman 2025

 David Corenswet stars as Superman in this version of the franchise.  Lex Luther (Nicholas Hoult) provides the villain and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) the love interest.  Luther has a secret weapon.  Somehow he has cloned Superman, and so he has a genetic equal, and then with his coaching he has made a Superman one+.  However on Superman's side he has a crazy dog, with super powers.

The most important information comes to light when Lex Luthor breaks into Superman's lair.  They not only break all the robots, take the dog prisoner; but they also access the message from Superman's parents that Superman was to be a god.  The message was corrupted so Superman never heard that part of the message.

Luthor uses this information to have Superman arrested.  He then puts him with a being (Anthony Carrigan) that can replicate kryptonite which he does causing Superman to lose his powers.  But Luther goes too far when he murders a man in front of Superman and this being.  Luthor is holding the beings baby hostage.  He turns off the kryptonite and provides light to help Superman restore himself.  Then Superman rescues the baby and we are off to the races. 

In the meantime Lois Lane has recruited Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) of the Green Lantern group which also includes Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced).   Luthor has been making worm holes throughout the universe, for which he ultimately pays a big price.  He rips a tear in the fabric of the universe which threatens earth.  Superman attends to this while the Green Lantern group confront a military country that has been working with Luthor.  Superman also attends to Luthor.  It is the dog that destroys all the drones that let Luthor see the action so he can tell his clone what to do.

I think the relationship between Clark Kent/Superman is what makes this movie click in the end.  At the end they are sneaking off for an "interview" giving themselves a chance to kiss.  Fun stuff.  I am into all things superhero.

Movie Review: ***^Batman vs Superman (2016)

This movie is a bit confusing.  It seems like they are trying to spend most of the movie explaining why Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill)  have it for each other.  In the end it is blackmail by the part of Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg) that gets them to fight.  It was Luthor manipulating things all along.  Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) also play significant parts.  Senator Finch (Holly Hunter), along with a committee gets blown up by Luthor.  Luthor is a really bad man through this entire movie.  He summons a terrible monster using technology from Krypton.  He also develops a weapon to kill Superman.  Big fight at the end, first between Batman and Superman, and then against the monster.