10/28/2007 - Superman - The Helicopter Sequence

Despite all these new comic book movies out there using the latest and greatest special effects, Superman (1978) still remains a favorite of mine. All the praise in the world has been heaped onto Christopher Reeve's performance as Clark Kent/Superman and it is all deserved. Chris is the definitive Superman and no one else has come close. The way he carries himself in flight is a special effect all by itself. Take, for example, the second movie where the Kryptonian villains also have his powers of flight. The actors in those roles did the best they could, but they all seemed stiff and unnatural in flight. If you have the Superman Returns special edition DVD, you saw how Brandon Routh had to train underwater for his flight sequences. And yet, he still wasn't able to match Chris Reeve's grace and ability in the air.

Some have complained about his bumbling as Clark Kent, but I've always liked that performance. He really does act like two completely different people, and made his "disguise" feasible. The way he was able to just modulate his voice, stand with a different posture, and change his mannerisms really did give him an alternate personality that nobody would confuse with Superman unless you looked closely enough.

My favorite part of the movie has to be the helicopter sequence. I watched that so many times in my childhood and it still excites me today. While I don't feel the peril of the situation as I did before, I appreciate it for its technical prowess and as the greatest entrance of a superhero ever. As for the spectacular music, you can't do better than John Williams. Screw Star Wars, I think this was his best work in a movie. Just this sequence proves it. The music builds, and builds, and hits the high note during the famous shirt rip. And I just love how Clark's face is off-camera during the S-insignia reveal. The director Richard Donner knows that this moment was bigger than the actor, that it was bigger than the movie itself. This was about presenting a legend that future generations will experience.