I’ve always admired this movie, but never truly loved it. I don’t know why, but this film just hit me in all the right ways this time. There’s just a timeless feeling to it despite its flaws that make it a pure joy to watch from start to finish.

It’s an incredibly slow film, especially from the start, but it is absolutely never boring. The opening scene on Krypton is full of enamoring visuals and a fantastical tone that really intrigued me from the get go. Then watching Clark in Smallville not knowing what his purpose is and trying to figure that all out is super engaging to watch since we know who he will truly become.

Christopher Reeve is no doubt the best Superman we have ever had, and will ever have. Despite how great David Corenswet was in the new film, and trust me, I loved his version, I don’t think anyone can ever possibly live up to Reeve’s interpretation solely because he is the foundation for Superman himself.

For the longest time this has had my favorite score of all-time. I don’t think there are many other movies out there that are as much enhanced by their music as this one. The main theme of course is incredible (gives me goosebumps every time), but then there are even scenes like the flying scene too, which was my favorite scene in the whole film. No score quite enhances a movie like this one does.

The visuals are nuts as well. I really don’t understand how they made them look so good in 1978. Every time Superman flies, you believe it. I’m definitely now curious to check out some behind-the-scenes stuff to see how they achieved what they did. It’s not even just good for the time, but still holds up almost perfectly today.

Now despite how much I absolutely loved it in this viewing, there are definitely flaws. The big obvious one is definitely Lex Luthor. Gene Hackman wasn’t a terrible choice to play him, but having his motive be real estate really shouldn’t be something that belongs in a comic book film. Also all the stuff with the missiles sort of felt like it came out of the blue.

The ending isn’t very well written either. I never hate it because it maintains the tone and feeling you get from the rest of the movie, but strictly from a writing standpoint it is definitely a bit of a cop out. I won’t spoil it, but it’s one of those endings where you go, “Why didn’t he just do that before?”

Even with the flaws this movie has, I have to say this really flew by (no pun intended). I ate up every minute of it this time and I both don’t understand how and why it never hit with me like it did this time. Definitely a classic comic book movie for a reason.