Superman 1978

Vincent Canby, New York Times: Superman is good, clean, simple-minded fun... Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The film is best when it takes itself seriously, worst when it takes the easy way out in giggly camp -- as it does, finally and fatally, when Lex Luthor enters the action. Read more

Pauline Kael, New Yorker: Superman doesn't have enough conviction or courage to be solidly square and dumb; it keeps pushing smarmy big emotions at us -- but half-heartedly. Read more

Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News: It is this year's answer to "Star Wars," a movie that is pure escape and good, clean, unadulterated fun. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Along with its 1980 sequel, no live-action version has so effectively captured the essence of the characters. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Superman is a pure delight... Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: By keeping the spectacular possibilities open, through the opening scenes of the destruction of Krypton, and the subsequent growth to manhood of the planet's only son on the plains of the Midwest, the film allows naivete and knowingness to coexist. Read more

James Harwood, Variety: Magnify James Bond's extraordinary physical powers while curbing his sex drive and you have the essence of Superman, a wonderful, chuckling, preposterously exciting fantasy. Read more

Judith Martin, Washington Post: It's the simple, earth-bound quality of the film that makes this comic-book fantasy soar. Read more