Search - Superman - The Last Son of Krypton on DVD

Superman

Donald E. Kesler | U.S.A. | 01/05/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was quite pleased with the quality of this production. The animation is not nearly as refined as the work that may be found in those short cartoons produced by Max Fleisher; however, it is still light years beyond most of the cheap animation produced today. I was really pleased with the initial flight sequences and the way super speed was presented. Later on in the film, the flight scenes seem far less dramatic. Also, there are a few points where the art work simply seems crude. What this film may lack in graphics is more than made up by a very original and concise telling of Superman's origin. The origin story of Supeman, sole survivor from the doomed planet Krypton, has been told quite a number of times in both comics and film. This version expands greatly upon the original (and all too brief) origin story provided by Jerry Siegal and Joel Shuster. It also deviates dramatically from the retelling presented much later by John Byrne. In my opinion, this origin story is in many ways superior to Byrne's. Without giving too much away, Byrne presented Krypton as a planet populated by a race of cold, unemotional beings. The animated version presents the Kryptonians as being a far more human like race. While this may lack scientific credability, it certainly makes it easier for the viewer to feel sympathy for the plight of Jor-El who must send his son off to another world. Dini and company do decide to follow Byrne's lead and keep Clark Kent's adopted parents alive. This makes perfect sense to me. Superman is a very up beat character. Why impose gloom and doom on him? After all, he is not Bruce Wayne. Brainiac is given an entirely new origin story in this film. It is chilling. In fact, I hope that Warner Brothers will make the Braniac episodes available sometime in the future. His (or ITs) appearance here is all too brief. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft should pay close attention to the scene following the action in the ice cavern. There is a very brief allusion to _At the Mountains of Madness_. There is, of course, quite a bit of gunfire. This is to be expected in a film about a man who is bullet proof. It does not bother me, but it may concern some parents. Overall, it is a lot of fun. I think quite a number of adults will appreciate it as much if not more than their kids. Some of the humour is obviously directed at an older crowd. At one point Lois Lane gazes at a photographic image of Superman. She quips, "Nice 'S'."Regards and Best Wishes,Donald Eric Kesler"

The Last Son of Krypton

retribution17 | U.S.A. | 01/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This video is the compilation of the first three episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, which originally aired primetime on September 6, 1996.I love this movie because it's a Superman story told through a visual medium. As a fan of Superman and animation I can safely say this movie captures the true spirit of Superman. The movie is mostly action, but drama is incorporated throughout the story. The film deals with the destruction of Krypton, Clark Kent in high school, and Superman's first romps through Metropolis.If you don't have access to Kids'! WB to watch The New Batman/Superman Adventures, The Last Son of Krypton will give you a great taste of what you're missing."

Best Superman Filmed Material I've Seen

Stephen B. O'Blenis | Nova Scotia, Canada | 11/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although the DC live-action adaptations have generally lagged well behind the Marvel adaptations, in the animation field DC wins hands-down. "Superman: Last Son Of Krypton", my personal favorite of the 'movie/tv' chronicles of the Man Of Steel is a stellar example of this. Like the Batman animated material, the animated Superman has admittedly been simplified and, to a lesser degree than Batman, toned down for the younger audience, but remains a faithful, spirit-capturing translation of the epic Superman comics. Unique animation style, tremendous scenes combining action and drama magnificently (including the legendary 'airplane-save' scene), and some of storytelling's alltime best characters add up to a great movie, one that, in my opinion, surpasses the ongoing animated series that followed it. The voice actors aren't who I would have picked for the parts - they sound utterly nothing like the characters I hear when I read the books, although admittedly that's a pretty subjective standard to judge on, with probably almost everybody who reads a tale in comic book format, novel format, or whatever hearing the voices differently - but they do indeed turn in good performances and prove worthy interpretors of their parts. Highly recommended for everybody; suitable for tots but DEFINATELY not a 'kids-only' picture; great stuff, overall almost on par with the best Superman comics."

Excellent movie

Stephen B. O'Blenis | 04/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This "movie" comprises the first three episodes of the superb Superman: The Animated Series. It is an excellent introduction to Superman, and one of the best of the first season. (...)If you're not a completist then don't buy this, because(...) there is a box set due out in the summer. I bought it for the sole purpose of having it in a movie format."