Sunday 14 October 2012

Reviews@24 Panels: SUPERMAN II (1980)

[While we break for a week from talking about Superman's animated adventures, James drops his two cents on Superman II.]

The production history of Superman II is a long, troubled, and oft-storied one: Originally, director Richard Donner shot the majority of Superman II during principal photography of Superman (1978), but deadlines and a sky-rocketing budget forced the production to switch gears, so the first film could be delivered for a Christmas '78 release. After that film's success, feuding between Donner and the producers led to the director's dismissal before he could return to complete the second film. With the firing of Donner, producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind brought in director Richard Lester (who had helmed The Three Musketeers [1973] and The Four Musketeers [1974] for them) to finish Superman II. However, Gene Hackman didn't return out of respect to Donner, and after a lawsuit the Salkinds didn't want to pay Marlon Brando again (which explains Susannah York's appearance in some crucial scenes). And to make matters worse, Lester didn't even use th majority of Donner's footage. Despite these seemingly-detrimental strikes against it, Superman II is a remarkably coherent, entertaining film. It's held up well, and is still one of the best sequels to a superhero movie.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Episode 36. ALL-STAR SUPERMAN (2011)


All-Star Superman, the comic, teamed an all-star creative teamGrant Morrison and Frank Quitelywith all-star charactersSuperman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, etc.for a legendary limited run of 12 issues. All-Star Superman, the film, combines this all-star comic with the all-stars of DC Animation—including the voice casting of Andrea Romano and the production of Bruce Timmresulting in what is arguably one of their best direct-to-DVD efforts. It's only fitting that the all-stars of podcastingDru and Dave... OK, fine, we're pretty much the bottom of the podcast barrel, but at least we love us some Superman. Listen in as we gush over the god, the myth, the man: All-Star Superman

Episode breakdown:
0:00 - 12:47: Opening banter (including our apologies to James, the Festival de Nouveau Cinema, the extent of Dru's terrible memory, Dave's attempts to see Looper)
12:47 - 13:23: All-Star Superman trailer
13:23 - 1:11:22: Main discussion: All-Star Superman
1:11:22 - 1:20:54: Closing remarks (including Condorman)



Addenda:


Hungry for more CondormanRent the movie on iTunes.



Send all feedback to twentyfourpanels@gmail.com. Stay up to date with our blogs at 24panelspersecond.blogspot.com and 24panels.tumblr.com. Follow Dave on Twitter @24panels and Dru @violetbooth. Remember that Dave live-tweets a different comic book movie every Saturday night at 11PM! Like us on Facebook. And don't forget to subscribe (and review us) in iTunes!

Next time on 24 Panels: Superman vs. the Elite...

Friday 5 October 2012

Episode 35. SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY (2007)


It's the battle you've waited your whole life for: two god-like titans duking it out in a bloody, destructive fight to the death. Who will come out on top? Superdave, fighting for truth, justice, and the suburban Ontario way? Or Druoomsday, the rocky hulk of a creature with Neil Young-esque sideburns and a receding hairline? You'll have to listen to this episode of 24 Panels Per Second to find out. 

Episode breakdown: 
0:00 - 24:48: Opening banter (featuring the Peanuts gang, Blendtec blenders, a delicious non-alcoholic toddy recipe, and why you need to go see Dredd in theatres before it's too late!)
24:48 - 25:42: Superman: Doomsday trailer
25:42 - 1:25:43: Main discussion: Superman: Doomsday
1:25:43 - 1:31:05: Closing remarks (The Dark Knight Returns: Part One, Dru's off the 'book)




Send all feedback to twentyfourpanels@gmail.com. Stay up to date with our blogs at 24panelspersecond.blogspot.com and 24panels.tumblr.com. Follow Dave on Twitter @24panels and Dru @violetbooth. Remember that Dave live-tweets a different comic book movie every Saturday night at 11PM! Like us on Facebook. And don't forget to subscribe (and review us) in iTunes!

Next time on 24 Panels: All-Star Superman...

Monday 1 October 2012

Preview Post: SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY

24 Panels returns this week with the beginning of the "Value of Superman" series! Kicking things off, Dru and Dave will be taking a look at the 2007 DTV film Superman: Doomsday!