This may be the first truly great scene in the Superman film cannon. Superman II, 1980, is arguably the best of the original series and was a critical and box office success, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1981. After inadvertently escaping their other-dimensional prison in the Phantom Zone, General Zod leads his fellow Kryptonian fugitives Ursa and Non travel to the moon and, soon after, to Earth. Aided by power-hungry Lex Luthor, Zod takes over the White House and kidnaps Lois Lane in an attempt to lure Superman to his appointed kneeling. Meanwhile, Kal-El has been struggling with his alien origins and the secret identity he must keep from Lois, the woman he loves. He uses Kryptonian crystals to turn himself human, but when Lois and the Earth become threatened, he uses them again to regain his powers. In the fight that ensues, Superman is kicked into the Statue of Liberty (in Metropolis?), cold cocked into the Empire State building, gut-punched with a manhole cover and crushed with a bus full of people. By the standards of 1980, the effects and editing of Supermans first big fight with Zod and Company is at the top of its game. The scale is large and complex, the colors deep and the pacing tight. Further, this was the first time in Supermans cinematic career that he was outmatched, overpowered and forced to run (fly) for his life.
David Wagner is an author/musician who splits his time between Oakland, CA and Istanbul, Turkey.
David has published two novels, both available on his website, and as a fan of movies, comics, and genre television, he is happy to be working with WhatCulture as a regular contributor.
