One of the Man of Steel’s most fascinating film scenes came from one of the most divisiveSupermanadaptations. As the first real superhero to gain popularity in modern culture, it makes sense thatSuperman has had a presence on the big screen for almost his entire history.
However, there are a handful ofSupermanmovies that failed to capture the spirit of the characterand led to mixed-to-negative reviews. However, even at the lowest points in the character’s cinematic history, there are some worthwhile scenes.
Superman III Remains One Of The Most Divisive Superman Movies
When it comes to divisiveSupermanmovies, few, if any, come close to toppingSuperman III. The film was released in 1983, and despite having the legendaryChristopher Reeve reprise his role as Superman, thisfilm took the character in a very different directionfrom the first two movies.
Its director, Richard Lester, had experience with Reeve and the character thanks to taking the lead forSuperman II.However, while that filmstill retained a lot of the core of Richard Donner’s production, its follow-up didn’t fare as well.Superman IIIwas entirely in Lester’s hands, and thefilm took on a much bigger comedy focusthat grated on fans and critics alike.
Superman III’s Clark Kent Vs Superman Fight Is Some Genuinely Fascinating Stuff
There was one moment in the movie that stands out as groundbreaking as far as the hero’s history goes. This comes whenSuperman splits into two beings, one sporting Clark Kent’s signature clothing and the other in the Superman costume.
After Superman was infected by artificial Kryptonite, he began to behave erratically. However, by splitting himself into two, he could combat his dark side. The two partake in an intense brawl, beforeClark ultimately wins out over his evil counterpartand embraces his identity as the heroic Superman once again.
The thing is, because of the context of this movie and its comedic focus, this fight feels out of place.It almost comes across as more slapstick humor, similar to the scene of Superman straightening out the Leaning Tower of Pisa from earlier in the same film.
As a result, thescene doesn’t land the way that it could were it presented in a more serious take on the hero. Sure, James Gunn’sSupermanfeatures a fight between Superman and his evil clone, Ultraman, but in terms of moral quandaries, this does not have thesame effect as the scene fromSuperman III.
Seeing Clark grapple with his inner demons, in a literal sense, and exploring the hero overcoming internal struggles is an interesting and important part of his journey. But alas,Superman IIIwas the wrong place to do it, and the chance may never come up again in aSupermanstory.
