Superman II (1980)

The critic calls it one of the most exciting comic-book films and says it earns a place in the classic canon. They praise its physical-effects action and its human, dramatic focus on Superman, Lois and Clark.

Gold gives the sequel an enthusiastic verdict, praising its entertaining blend of romance, thrills, comedy and effects. He especially singles out the climactic battle between Superman and the Kryptonians as a visual highlight.

Ferguson considers it probably the strongest Christopher Reeve Superman film in terms of plot. He praises Richard Lester’s playful direction and the film’s strong supporting cast.

Ebert finds the film entertaining and an improvement on its predecessor. He singles out its humor and Christopher Reeve’s performance as particular strengths.

The review presents the film as an entertaining follow-up. It singles out the film’s abundance of tricks, though the page text is unavailable to confirm further details.

The review suggests a positive verdict despite the film feeling less grandiose than its predecessor. It praises the combination of the original’s casting and visual style with Richard Lester’s wit.

Carty finds the flawed, divisive sequel still has plenty to offer. He especially praises the chemistry between Reeve and Kidder and the inventive four-way battle.