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.