Review It's a bird! It's . . . Superman II By Dennis Mesaros Missourian staff writer

Comic book fans, take heed ! The new "Superman n" movie is great entertainment, but the Krypto- - nian hero we've known and loved from the grand old pages of DC is nowhere to be seen. It is difficult to appreciate the problems directors face in making movies out of popular cartoon char- acters. Special effects can make characters appear to do fantastic things without the public saying, "Oh, come off it." After all, it is a cartoon of a cartoon, life imitating non-lif- e. A recent film in this genre,"Popeye," was a minor suc- comics. You see, Lois has discov- Daisy May pursuing Lil Abner than cess, and so was "Superman." Now, ered Clark Kent's real identity, and a sophisticated, stylish ace reporter. Warner Bros. Inc. hopes its sequel he gives up trying to fool her. In or- Gene Hackman plays a nifty-but-overly-comi- cal will pile in just as much of the green der to make love to an earth woman, Lex Luther, who, as stuff. No, not kryptonite, either. he has to relinquish all of his super any comic book fan knows, is much Director Richard Lester has emp- powers in a transformation ma- more evil than this. The real Lex tied all his know-ho- w into this one. chine. takes his job more seriously. He He has created a movie that will When they return to the states, wouldn't stand in the same room make you gasp at the evil doings of Clark is beaten up by a greasy truck with Superman without trying to dis- the villains and cheer when Super- driver in a seedy diner. This makes integrate him with a laser or kill him man inevitably triumphs. As skys- the former man of steel, now rusty. with green kryptonite. Hackman's crapers crumble and armies are laid Looking at a TV newscast, he sees Luther is merely a clown in wolf's to rest, you forget the problems what has been afoot. The world is doming. Telly Savalas would have down at the office and cling to your now in the possession of the evil trio, been better for the part. Add to this seat. and they dare the coward Superman Ned Beatty as Luther's corpulent The story opens as Superman to show himself. sidekick, and their capers approach saves the world from thugs who are Back goes Clark to the Arctic and slapstick comedy. about to detonate a hydrogen bomb his fortress. He begs the spirit of his One thing is a relief. Before the from atop the Eiffel Tower. The man father to return his strength, which movie is over, Superman erases of steel carries the deadly device he does. Superman streaks toward Lois's memory so that she cannot re- into space, where 'it can cause no Metropolis and a battle to end all member their brief interlude. Bat harm. Wrong. The blast releases battles. Billboards fly, buses collide there is a scene near the end that is arch-crimin- three Krypfjoman als and radio towers fall on helpless citi- completely unacceptable to those of from the Phantom Zone, a dimensio- zens. us who remember the nobility of the nal Alcatraz where they have been Can the man of steel do it? Has he real Superman. Returning to the din- trapped since Jor-e-l, Superman's fa- met his match? What do you think? er in his Clark Kent guise, Superman ther, imprisoned them before their Christopher Reeve plays more of a PICKS a fight with the truck driver planet was destroyed. super boy than a super man. Overly who had bullied him. With appalling Once exposed to Earth's yellow demure m the face of advances by bravado, Superman gives the hap- sun, they acquire all trie powers of Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), his por- less human his blockbuster punch, Superman. Their plan is, of course, trayal is bothersome. The Superman sending turn across the counter and to conquer the world. Metropolis in the comics is more mature and in- into a pinball machine. This is com- quakes beneath their death-dealin- g telligent than Reeve would have us pletely out of character. Now come blows. Even the Secret Service is no believe. He's too cutesy. The many on, Warner Brothers! You are tak- match for the three as they take over close-up- s of his baby blues tell you ing a few too many liberties with this the White House and capture the why the Warner Bros, people chose hero to generations of children. president, who just happens to look him in the screen tests, rather than Alas, when a movie company just like E.G. Marshall. Where is Super- for any exceptional acting ability. happens to own the comic book com- man? In the comics, Lois Lane certainly pany, I suppose even Superman Well, it just happens that he and pursues Superman, but she always must follow corporate guidelines. Lois Lane are making whoopy in the does it with class. Kidder's Lois is Superman II is playing at the Mis- Fortress of Solitude. This is the first too aggressive, and she has thrown souri Theater. It is rated PG. Grade: thing Superman wouldn't do in the style to the wind. She acts more like B