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    Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

    Movie » Superman IV: The Quest For Peace released on July 24, 1987.

    Superman battles the Russians and the threat of nuclear holocaust in this cold-war inspired film. In addition, Lex Luthor cooks up a scheme to finish Superman once and for all... the creation of Nuclear Man, an evil being spawned from Superman's own genetic material. Christopher Reeve's final film appearance as Superman. This was a box-office and critical bomb and was panned by many. It would be almost 20 years until another Superman movie would be made.

    thecannon's Superman IV: The Quest For Peace review

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    Quest for Peace should be Rest in Peace

    Ugh. I can't believe I'm willingly watching this film again. I really can't. I think I hate myself and want to suffer. With all the great movies I have sitting on my shelf, I decided to watch Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (which I don't even own, I just took out from the library). I'm such an idiot. I remember this being the worst Superman movie and one of the worst superhero movies of all time, but after rewatching Superman III, this should look good. SHOULD. I don't quite have high expectations. So, I'll be doing this review differently than my usual reviews. This time, I'll just run down the plot of the movie and complain about stuff. So this will be more of a rant than a review. Sorry (I'll try and be a bit more professional in tomorrow's Superman Returns review).

    The Plot

    Immediately as the film starts, we get the best part of the film: The opening credits. The only reason it's the best though it because of the music playing. I just love the John Williams Superman music. However, while Superman II & III changed it up a little, this film shows how lazy it is by just reusing the old music without attempting to change it. And can someone tell me why the words on the screen are so cheap looking?

    We then move onto the opening scene. Superman saves some people in outer space. The scene itself is pointless (I think. I'm writing this as I watch the movie, so I don't know if that has something to do with the plot), but we see that the special effects are worse than Superman, the first film in the series. Anyway, Clark then is going back to Smallville for no reason and goes to the barn where the ship that brought him to Earth is. He opens it up and hears his mother's voice telling him about some green crystal that it has great power but can only be used once. God, this woman never shuts up. Then, as he sees someone coming, he takes the crystal and puts it in the pocket of his jacket. It's glowing green and is sticking out, but no one will notice it. There's then some pointless dialogue about Clark selling the farm.

    Then Lex is in prison (or breaking rocks or whatever) while singing Mozart. Some guy then comes in in a car, and he just looks odd. I wouldn't be surprised if he came out of the closet is the best way to put it. Both cops there stop yelling at Luthor to chase him. They laugh at him until eying up his car. They end up getting a ride in the car, but then he takes control of the car via remote control and crashes it. It somehow doesn't kill them though. We then learn the kid is Lex's nephew named Lenny Luthor.

    We then cut to Metropolis, and wow it looks different. Despite being faster than a speeding bullet, Superman (as Clark) misses the subway. When the driver collapses, Superman has to save the day and stop the train. Though they didn't even use super speed effects to show Clark turning into Supes in some booth (I forget what it is), he just steps in and a split second later walks out as Superman. Superman then stops the train, and apparently now has electric powers.

    At the Daily Planet, Clark shows up and finds out that the Daily Planet was taken over. I don't see the point to this, but I guess it'll go somewhere. The guy who took over the place's daughter apparently has a thing for Clark for no reason. God, I get sick of Superman/Lois, but why do they need to keep changing things?

    Anyway, we then see that the US and the Soviet Union may end up in nuclear war. And now we learn the real reason this film was made: Unlike the first two films who wanted to produce a quality film or the third film who just wanted to make money, this film was simply pumped out to Hollywood could push their Anti-Nuclear Missile thoughts. I would go on a huge rant about that, but I don't feel like it. In a classroom somewhere, some kid then decides to write a letter to Superman to do something to stop the nuclear weapon thing. This is just dumb.

    We then cut to some museum where they show a statue of Superman. And they have a piece of Superman's hair holding a thousand pound ball too. If Superman's hair is that strong, how did it come off his head?

    Lex & Lenny Luthor then show up talking about their plan to take Superman's hair and mutate it. Lex destroys the glass case and this makes no sense. Superman's hair is holding the thousand pound ball. Lex takes a pair of pliers, and CUTS THE HAIR WITH THEM! So, is this indestructible/super strong hair or not?

    We then cut back to the Daily Planet and we're met with a "Please Tell me this isn't a Superman porno" scene. After that, Superman gets the kid's letter and goes to the Fortress of Solitude. When did the Fortress get all dark and foggy? it looks more like a horror movie. This is where I had to check Wikipedia to figure out what was going on. Their exact words are: "Superman travels to the Fortress of Solituide to seek advice from the spirits of his Kryptonian ancestors. They recommend that he should leave Earth and find a new home." That's weird.

    And next we see possibly the worst green screen I've ever seen. Superman flies Lois across random places around the world which was done to add time, and can some please tell me when Metropolis started to look like Gotham from the Nolan trilogy?

    Superman then goes find the kid and asks if he wants to walk with Superman, which he says yes to. Several hundred other people join in and basically have a parade to the United Nations. There, Superman basically says "Yeah, I'm not happy with the way you guys are running your planet, so I'm going to take all your Nuclear weapons." And everyone starts clapping and cheering. You couldn't come to this conclusion yourselves people!?! You need some alien to tell you how to run your planet?

    After this, Superman begins rounding up every nuclear missile on the planet and puts it into some giant net in outer space. I'm serious. There's some unbelievably large net in outer space. Where the Hell did this come from? And here we're seeing possibly the worst special effects I've ever seen. Seriously, The Ten Commandments looked better than this. He then takes the entire net of missiles and throws it into the sun. And this music is one again giving me a migraine!

    At Lex Luthor's headquarters (I think it's a penthouse, but I'm not 100% sure on that) he gives his master plan. He's gonna take some gooey material he grew from Superman's hair, mix it with some chemicals, strap it to a missile, and make a baby out of it. I'm dead serious. And Lenny mentions that he & Lex are gonna be parents. Yeah, the idea of Lex & his nephew having a baby isn't creepy. Also, if the cops know where Luthor's penthouse is, why don't they just go and arrest him?

    So, after revealing his plan, Lex fired a missile (and almost kills himself in the process) and Superman catches it and throws it into the sun. It makes the baby Lex wanted and within seconds grows into a full grown adult. And it includes a costume for some reason. He also has Sabretooth like nails for some reason. In case I haven't mentioned it, this guy's name is Nuclear Man.

    We then cut to Clark and some woman whose name I forget. I should be paying more attention, but I don't care. And why the Hell do I want to watch Clark Kent working out? And what is wrong with that woman's face? God she's ugly. Pretty much nothing happens here except me yelling.

    Nuclear Man then flies towards Earth and shows up at Lex's penthouse. They end up getting into an argument over who has who's voice. We also learn Nuclear Man's weakness: He needs sunlight. I suspect this is foreshadowing.

    At Lois' (or that other woman's) aparment, Lois & the woman and getting ready for a double date (the woman with Clark and Lois with Superman). The woman wears a slutty outfit for no reason. I don't care how much cleavage she's showing, that God ugly face will prevent anyone anywhere thinking she's even semi-attractive. And no one's smart enough to realize that the exact moment Clark disappears Superman shows up? Clark goes through needlessly complicated stuff to keep his identity, and you're asking yourself "How stupid are the people on this movie?" And how the Hell did he ring the doorbell when he's on the inside of the apartment!?!

    Lex then uses his own frequency to talk to Superman (like in the first movie). Superman goes to Lex's penthouse to confront him. And Lenny really sounds high right now. I guess this movie was so bad he was forced to use drugs to make it bearable. Superman tells Lex that if a bomb was really planted, Lex would be miles away, thus Lex is lying. They go on a pointless conversation, and you're just wondering why Superman doesn't just grab him and take him to jail. He's Superman, Lex is not going to overpower him.

    Superman then meets the Nuclear Man, and if I recall correctly, the rest of the film is a fight between them. This is one of the worst fight scenes ever filmed. I'm not joking. Awful special effects, punches, attacks, etc. I won't go into major detail of the fight with the exception of specific stuff that's worth mention.

    They end up in China and Nuclear Man destroys a portion of the Great Wall of China. Superman saves a few people then uses his Fix the Wall of China Vision to fix the Wall of China. I understand Superman is powerful, but where the Hell did this power come from?

    After fighting in space some more, Nuclear Man goes inside a volcano and causes it to erupt. Lava pours down the streets and Superman arrives to save them. He uses his heat vision to create a giant cork from a mountain to plug the volcano with. Superman then uses his freeze breath to freeze all the lava in the streets and leave them with all the clean up. Why doesn't he use his Fix the Wall of China vision? Does it only work on the great Wall of China?

    In space, Nuclear Man begins to basically slap Superman various times and Superman just holds up his arms and looks down. Superman is able to then kick him back down to Earth. On Earth, Nuclear Man picks up the Statue of Liberty and carries it through the city. He throws it to the ground, but Superman is able to pick it up and bring it back into the air, saving everyone! :( I'd kind of like to see them die. It'd make things more interesting.

    As Superman is flying the statue back, Nuclear Man could easily attack him which would cause him to drop the statue and still kill a lot of people. Instead, Nuclear Man takes his nails and scratches Superman across the neck. I'm serious. I understand it hurts when a cat does that, but what the Hell!?! Nuclear Man then kicks him into the air, and Superman's cape falls off.

    At the Daily Planet, that ugly woman is named publisher and finds Superman's cape on her desk. After Lois sees an article about Superman dead, Lois quits her job and steals Superman's cape.

    Lois goes to Clark's apartment, where we see the same crap we've seen over the course of the four movies (Except Superman III since Lois was a cameo) and gives Clark Superman's cape. Clark then goes somewhere (Smallville?) and takes that Green crystal from earlier and just kind of strokes it. It should be said that Clark not looks old with grey hair, is weak, and is pale.

    We then learn that Nuclear Man doesn't set his standards too high since he's going after that ugly woman. He goes in the middle of the streets demanding her and just kind of does random crap. Superman barely attempts to stop him. And if a police car crashed into a van, how would either of them explode!?!

    Anyway, Superman eventually lures Nuclear Man into a trap by saying he'll take him to her. Superman then lures him into an elevator and disconnects the power, causing Nuclear Man to lose his powers. Superman then takes the elevator out of the building and takes it to the moon. You can tell the screenwriters just stopped caring at this point.

    Superman takes it to the moon and just drops it there. And instead of just going to Earth and rapping up the plot, he notices the American flag is crocked and decides he needs to straighten it. This epic, heroic music plays in the background until Nuclear Man attacks him in slow motion and causes the flag to collapse. After fighting in slow motion for no reasoning, Nuclear Man then just kind of buried him in the moon and leaves. Why would you think this would stop Superman? And why doesn't he just scratch his neck again?

    Nuclear Man then goes to Earth, grabs the ugly woman, and flies off. Superman then pulls himself out of the moon and instead of going to Earth to finally beat Nuclear Man, he has to show his patriotism (despite being an alien) by putting the flag back up straight.

    Nuclear Man then flies up into space, and this makes no sense. How the Hell is this woman breathing in space? This is just a major plot hole (though I'm not saying the entire movie isn't). Superman then pushes the moon and causes a total eclipse (is that the correct name?) to drain Nuclear Man of his powers. Even if they had some explanation (which they didn't) that Nuclear Man was somehow letting the woman breathe in space, he's now powerless and using logic, this woman should die. But this film doesn't follow logic, it follows its own messed up rule system. And how is she falling in space?

    Superman takes Nuclear Man and drops him into a nuclear power plant. I think this kills him, but I'm not sure. Perry White is then given control of the Daily Planet again, but we don't care.

    In the final moments, Superman gives a speech. Everyone watching this movie has stopped caring and even some of the actors in the crowd appear to have lost interest. Superman takes Lex to Prison and Lenny to a "Boys Town" telling the owner that Lenny has been under a bad influence. I think the influence was drugs and he should be taken to rehab. Seriously, am I the only one who noticed how high he seemed through out the entire movie? And like every other Superman movie in existence, he has to fly off above the Earth and give that creepy smile to the camera. The credits then role, and the Superman franchise is ruined for 26 years (unless Superman Returns is good, which I seriously doubt).

    Overall

    This is better than I remember, but still awful. It's not as atrocious as Superman III, but still just bad. The acting wasn't even that great. Reeves was still okay as Clark/Supes, but the woman who played Lois (whose name I forget and don't feel like looking up) has already started to go crazy which is really messing with her acting skills. Also, did I mention that they use the SAME SHOTS OVER AND OVER!?! Seriously, there was one shot of Superman flying that they used about 12-18 times, with the only different in most of them being a different background.Overall, this is an awful film. I don't even see why this exists. Superman III was an obvious money grab, but this clearly wasn't even an attempt. There is nothing to recommend about this film.My Overall Rating: 1/5 Stars.Tomorrow will be the final live action Superman movie before Man of Steel, Superman Returns.

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