Superman II
Superman II is a 1980 superhero film directed by Richard Lester and written by Mario Puzo and David and Leslie Newman from a story by Puzo based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the second installment in the Superman film series and a sequel to Superman (1978). A direct continuation of the first Superman, Christopher Reeve reprises his role as Superman. The returning cast includes Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, Marc McClure, Jackie Cooper, and Jack O'Halloran. The film's plot features the arrival of General Zod and his comrades on Earth, following their release from the Phantom Zone (a prison that had been made by the people of Krypton). Zod seeks revenge for imprisonment by pursuing the planet's last son, Kal-El, alias "Superman". As a result, Kal-El, who had unknowingly freed them, must now face threats from his long-dead home planet. Zod also allies with Lex Luthor, who still aspires to world domination. The hero also faces an internal conflict, torn between his duties as Earth's hero and his desire to live amongst them solely as Clark Kent, and especially with his love interest, Lois Lane.
Plot
Before the destruction of Krypton, the criminals General Zod, Ursa and Non are sentenced to banishment into the Phantom Zone. Years later, the Phantom Zone is shattered near Earth by the shockwave of a hydrogen bomb, thrown from Earth by Superman. The three criminals are freed and find themselves with superpowers granted by the yellow light of the Sun. After landing on the Moon and effortlessly killing a team of astronauts exploring there, they continue toward Earth with plans to conquer the planet.
Awards
Cast
- Angus MacInnes
- Antony Sher
- Christopher Reeve
- Clifton James
- E. G. Marshall
- Eugene Lipinski
- Gene Hackman
- Jack O'Halloran
- Jackie Cooper
- John Hollis
- John Ratzenberger
- Marc McClure
- Margot Kidder
- Ned Beatty
- Richard Donner
- Richard Griffiths
- Roger Brierley
- Sarah Douglas
- Shane Rimmer
- Susannah York
- Terence Stamp
- Tommy Duggan
- Valerie Perrine
More details
| author | David Newman Leslie Newman Mario Puzo Tom Mankiewicz |
|---|---|
| award | Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film |
| contentLocation | Paris Washington, D.C. |
| director | Richard Donner Richard Lester |
| editor | John Victor-Smith |
| events | alien invasion Superman |
| genre | action fantasy live-action science fiction |
| keywords | american flag arctic australia daily planet explore fortress of solitude general zod hydrogen bomb kidnap kill krypton land lex luthor lois lane niagara falls non only way phantom zone president of the united states secret identity strand the white house ursa white house |
| musicBy | Ken Thorne |
| producer | Pierre Spengler |
| publisher | Columbia–EMI–Warner Distributors Warner Bros. |
| recordedAt | Alberta New York City Paris Pinewood Studios Toronto |
| theme | science fiction action sequel superhero terrorism |