**T**_heme_- 5.5/10
**R**_ewatchibility_- 4/10
**A**_cting_- 5/10
**K**_inematography_- 5.5/10
**T**_ime_- 3.5/10
**Total** - 23.5/5 = ==4.7==

"I ask you to kill Superman, and you're telling me you couldn't even do that one, simple thing." Now Webster, this movie's Luthor, says that Gus on phone but in retrospect it feels like that was something that was said to the director, Richard Lester. I like Richard Pryor a lot, but when he is at least half of a Superman movie and he is not Superman, we have a problem. The new group of villains aren't unique or interesting. In fact the best bad guy in the movie is Superman himself. To that point, there are elements of great potential in this movie. A synthetic kryptonite that has red kryptonite properties, the super computer has Brainiac potential, and a Clark romance with Lana that can throw a monkey wrench in the Lois and Clark adventure. But none of it is done particularly well or at the very least isn't written well enough to translate over physically. Annette was great as Lana and Chris did a great job at again creating another version of the same person that feels completely independent from the other parts, its just a shame that everything happening around these two kind of waters down their performances. Part of me really wants to like 3, but it's just not good.

Despite the success of the first two due to Richard Donner. Actually knowing how to use Superman. The producers wanted to make their movie that they insisted needed more slapstick comedy.
Warner Brothers still messes up like that to this day when they have a good thing. Kind of like with Tim Burton and hinting to him not to come back for Batman 3.
Richard Donner was already fired when he was filming part 2. Some of his vision was at least still there. You knew the new director Richard Lester didn’t know much about Superman though. When he actually throws the S symbol at people.
With Donner completely gone for part 3.
Richard Lester returned with a complete comedy approach. With the movie only having strong moments due to the red kryptonite scenes and Superman turning bad for awhile.
The villains were quite bad, while the producers also add Richard Pryor for the hell of it for more comic relief. There’s one very silly and bad final battle in the end.
That always left me confused. Did the villains die ? Since Superman just grabs Pryor and flies away with him. Then we never see the villains again.
This movie is a bit of a mess. After Superman 3 and 4, that’s why I am someone who actually liked Superman Returns. It takes him seriously, just doesn’t do anything too memorable with him.

Never underestimate the power of computers.

After being caught for a money making computer scam, Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor - wonderful) is recruited by unscrupulous multimillionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn). With Gorman's computer expertise, Webster plans to take complete economic control. But first there is the considerable issue of eradicating Superman first...

Richard Lester, as everyone now knows, inherited Superman 2 from the jettisoned Richard Donner. Here we have a complete Richard Lester Superman film, and from the extended slapstick opening we are aware that this is far lighter in tone than the previous two films. Lester's credits are steeped in comedy traditions, so it's no real surprise that Superman 3 is more airy comic book than troubled caped crusader. This is something that many franchise fans are completely unforgiving about. Which is a shame, because viewed as a comic book bit of nonsense it's a rather enjoyable film, certainly it's the one with the most fun approach.

The action is very well put together, with a franchise highlight as Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) gets to fight a clearly off kilter Superman (erm, Reeve again), and the comedy, if accepted on its own terms, is very rewarding. Annette O'Toole (adorable) takes the lead love interest role for this one, with Margo Kidder only along for cameo duties. Pamela Stephenson is on hand for some sex bomb side-kick to Vaughn work, and Annie Ross gest the bitch sibling role and gets her teeth and "wires" into it.

All told, it's not a ground shaking superhero film, but it does work as entertainment if one can cast off the mythology of Superman and his fantastical complexities. To do so is not a crime against ones superhero beliefs, it's just an acceptance that this is a different approach, and that Superman 3's only real crime is not being as good as the two film's that preceded it. Hey, just think, "Quest For Peace" was around the corner... 6/10

**Great sequel!**

A funny, exciting Superman movie that includes the greatest scene in the franchise - the junkyard fight between Evil Supes and his nerdy counterpart, Clark Kent.

Richard Pryor is hilarious as the hapless Gus Gorman - the computer programming genius with a heart. Robert Vaughn makes for a great villain and the special effects are top notch.

So much more entertaining than the tedious bile that would come in later years - Superman Returns and the Henry Cavill rubbish.

I remember sitting in the packed theater in 1983 and the whole audience thoroughly enjoying this - laughing and cheering in all the right places.

And for those who claim the film is too silly - do they not remember Ned Beatty as the cretin Otis in Superman and Superman II - surely the stupidest character to grace the series.

- Charles Dance

_**More than it first appears**_

"Superman III" (1983) gets a lot of flack because of the inclusion of slapstick, a parody tone and Richard Pryor, but it is entertaining once you get used to the tone and the presence of Pryor.

Christopher Reeve as Superman is good, of course, but you also have Robert Vaughn as the Luthor-like villain and Pamela Stephenson as his attractive female assistant a la Miss Teschmacher. The cast really excels with the inclusion of the beautiful Annette O'Toole as Lana Lang, a sort of replacement for Lois Lane, who barely appears. Annette is a pleasure to behold throughout.

Once you get used to the too-goofy approach the film really takes off in the second half with Superman fighting his dark side, an obvious type of the inner conflict of flesh & spirit within us all. Even more, there's the satisfying redemption of a certain character that illustrates how a person can make a huge mistake and still be applicable for redemption, as long as he or she is willing. The film just leaves you with a good feeling.

BOTTOM LINE: It's not great like the first two, but "Superman III" delivers if you overlook all the bashing and give it a chance. Richard Pryor is goofy, but likable while Annette O'Toole shines. Most of all, the movie is deeper than what meets the eye and effectively conveys powerful truths about the human condition and potential.

The film runs 2 hours, 4 minutes.

GRADE: B-/B