LOOK, UP IN
THE SKY - THE AMAZING STORY OF SUPERMAN (2005)
Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman (2005)
Actors: Forrest J Ackerman, Gilbert Adler, Anne Archer, Stephan
Bender, Kate Bosworth
Directors: Kevin Burns
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen,
NTSC
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Number of discs: 1
Run Time: 120 minutes
DVD Features:
- Available Subtitles:
French
- Available Audio
Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Movie:
 
Disc:
 This new documentary on the
60-year history of the Superman character
isn't a cheap cynical attempt to cash in on the new
Superman Returns movie; and being
narrated by actor Kevin Spacey with Superman
Returns and X-Men director Bryan Singer
himself aboard as executive producer
-
how can it be?
Instead it is an extensive, well-researched almost two-hours
long look at Superman in all his incarnations throughout the years
- from
his origins as 1930s comic book to several TV and radio shows as well as
animated shows right up to the several blockbusters movies and current
Smallville show.
Even big-time comics geeks
will learn something from the documentary since it features quite some
little-seen footage, such as from one (thankfully unaired) show featuring
Superman as a doggie puppet in a show aimed at very small children!
Viewers
are even treated to some unused rare costume and set designs for the several
attempts at making another big screen Superman movie in the
late-1990s. Sadly no mention is made of Nicolas Cage who almost got to play
Superman himself, nor do we get to see other parties involved in those
aborted projected such as Batman director Tim
Burton or screenwriter Kevin Smith.
Providing the normal
?talking heads? in documentaries such as this we have several big-time
Superman fans such as KISS lead singer Gene Simmons and several people from
the Superman universe itself such as actress Annette O'Toole who played
Lana Lang in Superman III and Superman's mom
in Smallville.
Never dull, the material is
presented in a fittingly colorful and vibrant way, often featuring
manipulated comic book graphics. As a plus we also get to hear composer John
Williams? Superman theme song from the 1978 movie a lot. (This surely has to
be one of the irritatingly catchiest tunes ever written!) When it's all over
you'll be asking for more . . .
THE DISCS: Sadly no
extras
? thus no unused extra interview material for instance. Some trailers
for Warners flicks such as Poseidon and Superman Returns
itself.
WORTH IT? Yes.
RECOMMENDATION: Rent
or buy it if you're a Superman or comic book fan. If you're not, then what's
the matter with you?
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