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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A serial sequel that's better than the first, October 15, 2003
This review is from: Atom Man Vs Superman [VHS] (VHS Tape)
ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN (1950), the second of two 15-chapter Superman serials, is far superior to its predecessor, SUPERMAN (1948). For one thing, it drops the ridiculous Spider Lady idea and gives Superman a formidable comic book-style villain in his familiar archnemesis, Lex Luthor (well-played by Lyle Talbot). Luthor keeps Superman and the Daily Planet constantly on their toes, coming up with inventive new threats in every episode. If it isn't a "directional cyclotron" causing earthquakes in one, it's an atomic missile headed for Metropolis in another. And Superman gets to do a lot more Superman-like feats of derring-do in this serial. In an ingenious touch, the makers incorporate all sorts of actual disaster footage into the action--flood, fire, earthquake, bridge collapse--and have Superman plunge in to rescue victims. As in the previous serial, the super effects are created using cartoon animation, so whenever Superman takes off to fly he becomes a cartoon figure. This animation is used more imaginatively and in a wider set of actions than in the first one. In one spectacular moment, an animated Superman picks up a live-action miniature truck from a raging flood. And there's one jaw-dropping sequence in outer space that relies on animation. The same actors return to play Superman/Clark Kent (Kirk Alyn), Lois Lane (Noel Neill), Jimmy Olsen (Tommy Bond) and Perry White (Pierre Watkin). Unlike the first serial, the spunky Lois gets some costume changes this time around. She also goes to work at a Metropolis TV station at one point, serving as on-camera talent doing man-on-the-street interviews in the early days of the medium! Overall, it's so filled with clever and imaginative touches that it ranks not only as one of the finest serials this reviewer's ever seen, but as one of the best examples of filmed Superman ever.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN, June 26, 2002
This review is from: Atom Man Vs Superman [VHS] (VHS Tape)
A good action serial with the KING of super heroes, SUPERMAN! The second of two Superman serials with KIRK ALYN as Supes, wearing a costume reminiscent of the later TV George Reeves'. The title being that of the RADIO show's story that in many ways is better than this serial or ANY screen work of Superman. The Atom Man in the RADIO story was a kryptonite powered Nazi who could create kryptonite lightning from his hand, nearly killing Superman several times. In THIS SERIAL, he's LEX LUTHOR who has a teleportation machine, that smacks of STAR TREK in a way, YEARS BEFORE Trek was thought of! NOT that people ' glitter ' when they teleport in or out in this movie. The criminals use this ability to escape Superman. There's super feats here too. FLYING is shown as a satisfactorily cartooned figure for long shots that some think is garbage and others like myself think is COOL. Think of this serial as a long 50's TV Reeves episode with similar level effects. The theme music is cool too. Alyn looked more like Superman than any screen actor one except for Christopher Reeve, the blockbuster movie guy. If you just want modern COLOR and blockbuster effects, this is'nt for you. It's a gem though and no one should miss KIRK ALYN as Superman, the FIRST actor in the role. Lois Lane is played by NOEL NIEL who was TV's main Lois later and she plays it even more as a weak, girl in trouble who could'nt rip her way out of a wet paper bag than she did in the TV series! Other reviews here probably tell you who else was in it, so I won't repeat it here.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERMAN FANS MUST SEE THIS FILM!, February 27, 2000
This review is from: Atom Man Vs Superman [VHS] (VHS Tape)
One of the greatest of the classic serial films, ATOM MAN VS SUPERMAN has it all: space ships, evil criminals, action packed cliffhangers, and "the empty Doom" weapon. This movie shows the Man of Steel against Lex Luthor in a top notch adventure. Kirk Alyn is the best as Superman(next to Christopher Reeve)and Lyle Talbot steals the show as the mad genius-Lex Luthor. My only complaint is that the title villain never actually fights Superman, he just appears in a couple scenes. However, this classic is a valuable addition to any Man of Steel fan's collection.
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