THE COMPLETE SUPERMAN COLLECTION with Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty, Terence Stamp, Richard Pryor and Annette O‘ Toole. Directed by Richard Donner.

PROBABLY one of the best loved comic heroes of our time is Superman. And for fans of the iconic red-caped hero, The Complete Superman Collection DVD set is a must which includes the 1978 hit Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman III, Superman: the Quest for Peace and the recent blockbuster Superman Returns.

Superman: The Movie stars the late Christopher Reeve as the bumbling Clark Kent and his alter ego Superman (real name Kal-El), who hails from the destroyed planet Krypton.

The original film revolves around Kal-El who as a baby is sent to Earth in a space ship to escape the destruction of his home planet. After crash-landing during a meteor shower, Kal-El is adopted by a humble couple, farmer Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha. They name him Clark.

The movie shows Clark adapting to his adoptive planet and discovering his super powers: amazing strength, ability to fly, X-ray vision and speed, among other abilities.

We also meet his arch enemy Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) and love interest, quirky journalist for the Daily Planet Louis Lane (Margot Kidder).

The story and adventures of Clark/Superman continue throughout the series of films with Reeve donning the Superman suit for most of the franchise. Brandon Routh plays the hero in Superman Returns, also starring Kate Bosworth as Lane and Kevin Spacey as Luthor.

Reeve made a guest appearance in the hit TV series Smallville about Clark growing up, shortly before he died in 2004.

On each DVD there are special features that include the making of Superman and the challenges that the crew faced in making people believe that a man could fly. Technology wasn‘t as great in 1978 as it is today so it was interesting to see how they made all the special effects and stunts with the basic technology they had. Some of the effects look so fake but in 1978, they were “ahead of their time”.

There is also an interview with the original cast, including the late Reeve.

Worth getting if you are a Superman fan! – Catherine Richards