SUPERGIRL (1984) Revisited - Superhero Movie Review

[@AnthonyP73]

I enjoyed this film for what it was - and I loved Helen Slater as Supergirl. She captured that unearthly, wide-eyed innocence so well.

[@dilzaaaa]

I still love this film. Yeah it has its faults but it's just soooo much fun. I remember being so excited to go to the cinema to see this.

[@videovoidtv]

@@dilzaaaa This was a VHS and DVD piece if gold for myself. I cant imagine how funny it was in cinema.

[@alancarnell2747]

I saw this by myself in the theater because Temple of Doom was also playing and my friends wanted to see that.I regret nothing.

[@Hernandez3181]

DAMN u old.

[@UniQ.Kamruz]

As a kid who grew up late 80s during the craze of TMNT. I also remember watching it and loving the movie especially the actress who was super cute

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

I saw it at the cinema too - thankfully my memory of it has been almost completely erased

[@austintrousdale2397]

Bruh

[@alancarnell2747]

@@austintrousdale2397 that was my friend's reaction. They kept chanting "Temple of DOOM!!!" over and over.

[@davekennedy6315]

I had a crush on Supergirl when I watched it as a kid, I thought she was gorgeous. Watching this I still do today.

[@rbswords2353]

Darn right.Helen Slater's one of the more beautiful women of cinema of the 80's.

[@Law2120]

There wont be a better looking super girl on screen ever.

[@rbswords2353]

@@Law2120 Amen.

[@tiutiu859]

Me too

[@joeyjansa7726]

Who could Blame you?

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

The best thing this film did was perfectly showing what drives her as a person. Her sense of endless wonder which leads her to fall in love with Earth during the flying around the world scene.

[@MattSaysHello]

This film was camp as hell, and I loved it! The Supergirl theme was brilliant!

[@markoutwithmark]

I had a huge crush on Helen Slater during this time. She looked amazing in that costume.

[@wstine79]

Technically, Magic does exist in the Superman world. Its one thing that dies hurt the kryptonians in the comic book.

[@heeeeeresrossy]

Despite all it's flaws, there's one thing you cannot deny...Helen Slater looked damn hot as Supergirl! And she did the best with the script she was given.

[@tur74d56]

And what would you say are the flaws ? It seems the Americans didn’t get the story line 😂yet the Uk and the rest of Europe did

[@heeeeeresrossy]

@@tur74d56 I’m from Scotland, and actually there was really only one major flaw, & that was the script. It just wasn’t very good. I did however love it as a kid because I didn’t know any better 🤷‍♂️ I just feel it was a waste of a great cast 👍

[@eon001]

First Superhero movie to do the shared universe thing. I remember having my mind blown when I saw Jimmy Olson from Reeves films.

[@neilprice513]

I read somewhere that Supergirl: The movie was "Studio Interference HELL!". Everyone from the director, to the cast and even the crew were fed up with the Salkind's and Warner Brothers before production ended. Christopher Reeve, Margo Kidder, Terrence Stamp and Annette O'Toole played characters in the Smallville TV series.

[@iwasanangryyoungman]

Helen Slater herself plsyed the adoptive mother of Melissa Benoist's Kara Zor-El in the recent Supergirl TV series

[@disneyerapowerrangers2923]

@@iwasanangryyoungman she was also in smallville.

[@ceikaiyiacheeksthedirector2920]

I love how the actress who plays her became the adopted mom of Supergirl the TV series lol they even made a reference to it at the end of the series

[@wstine79]

The movie is still fun to watch for its campy charm. Peter O'Toole is a "drunken" manner, the bulldozer fight, the weird magic spells, and Supergirl herself are great.

[@mikeshirleyforever]

The score by Jerry Goldsmith is definitely worth commending too. ⭐

[@nimblehealer199]

@@mikeshirleyforever the score was THE only good thing about the movie

[@Neil070]

O' Toole was a famous drunk. One friend told a story about a drunken afternoon rendezvous. O'Toole took him to a stage play, said "you'll love this part, this is where I come on. Oh, b*llocks!"

[@DarrylMurray]

Peter Cook, not Peter O’Toole

[@DarrylMurray]

Actually never mind they were bother drunk peters in this one :-)

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Supergirl was my first ever movie crush. So beautiful!

[@hylianbatman3153]

I dont care what anyone says. I grew up with this movie and I love it

[@MisterUnknown707]

Of course, you would. You like it out of simple blind nostalgia.

[@JessicaChastainFan]

@@MisterUnknown707 Just like morons who love No Way Home for the EXACT same reasons. Supergirl at least had film craft, a story and a likable hero who tried to fix her mistake. Oh, and she didn't try to put Selena through rehab. And what memorable scores are there in today's comic book schlock climate? Zero. Jerry Goldsmith scoring Supergirl makes the film a better experience by default, and that's just one thing. Hylian may love it blindly, but at least he or she knows why it's enjoyable. With the exception of the two Wonder Woman movies, every comic book film and show today is nothing more than an assembly line production born from marketing tools of now old properties. Nothing more. Marvel Studios is more guilty of this than DC. But in the 80s, the idea behind superhero movies weren't franchises, toys and loser neckbeards podcasts. They were making motion pictures first and foremost.

[@MisterUnknown707]

@@JessicaChastainFan I'm sorry, but you lost all your credibility when you started defending the piece of excrement that is this movie. This movie makes all modern day superhero movies look masterpieces. Honestly, I don't care what you think about modern day superhero movies. I wasn't even talking about that. Move on, old man. And get with the times already. I'm just assuming that you're an old man, cause I'm getting a geriatric vibe from you. No offense. Okay, maybe a little offense. Mostly because you seem like a bit of a fool.

[@Law2120]

@@MisterUnknown707 Ya and you have so much credibility on the internet because youre an edgelord douchebag..

[@MisterUnknown707]

@@Law2120 Sure, whatever you say, little fella.

[@chrisbeer4233]

My Nan took me to see this at the movies in 84. I was 6 years old and loved Superhero’s and I loved it.

[@erikthewriter]

I love Supergirl, it's not even close to perfect. But, I have a soft spot for how magical it is.

[@tendoukiryu6989]

I watched this a few months ago, it’s goofy but Helen Slater is still the hottest Supergirl

[@arncoo63]

Last thing this movie is is goofy it's totally far from being goofy it's really too bad people back then never understand that Supergirl was just as good as Superman was that starred Christopher Reeve RIP! He will always be Superman although can't leave out George Reeves who starred in the original TV series back in the mid to late 50s!

[@alphacause]

While Supergirl the movie was laughable, the actress playing her - Helen Slater - was perfectly cast. Despite all the amazing women who have inhabited superheroine roles over the years, Helen Slater and Lynda Carter are still the only two actresses who have an otherworldly quality to them that made you think they were supernatural in some sense. They both had an angelic air about them that few actresses can project.

[@MachineHead783]

True

[@MichaelPoage666]

While it's not a superhero movie, really, I'd add Milla Jovavich in "The 5th Element" to that list. Between that and her "Resident Evil" role it's almost impossible to believe she's a normal human, lol.

[@jugg9140]

yep, that's what i think the movies is not that good although it's part of my childhood and i love it so much. Yes, she is the perfect cast, because she was so good in it that after like 25 years i still have some fragments of memories about it. She is the best female superhero ever.

[@lizardqueen7052]

she was and will always be the perfect actress for the role, sweet, naive and gentle enough to play kara but also fearless and determined, too bad she was casted in a moment where no one believed in the potential of her as kara or in supergirl as a standalone franchise

[@PungiFungi]

Although the movie was not received well, Slater is still the quintessential Supergirl.

[@blue-12316]

@@PungiFungi the most iconic

[@Law2120]

I loved this movie. It came out when I was 3 years old. Helen Slater was so gorgeous. There wont ever be an on screen supergirl as good looking and charming

[@milosvlatkovic116]

None of the bad stuff you mentioned has no significance to me personally on emotional level. This movie WARMS MY HEART even today as it did when I was a kid. Everything else is noise or blur or whatever. Nostalgic sentiment wins me over

[@milosvlatkovic116]

But I respect your work, otherwise I wouldn't be subscribed ;)

[@JessicaChastainFan]

Helen Slater being the best on-screen Supergirl, great practical effects, Faye's hilarious performance, the Christopher Reeve poster scene, the expansion of the ReeveVerse with Argo City and what happens INSIDE the Phantom Zone and Jerry Goldsmith's score makes this film an underrated gem. Thanks to the Crisis crossover, we know this, 3, 4 and Returns are all connected to I and II. The Richard Donnor Cut of Superman II is the only film that's an alternate reality, like Zack Snyder's 4 hour sloth schlock.

[@integrity101]

The donner cut and the Snyder cut are the real films. The other versions were butchered by crap directors.

[@blue-12316]

@@integrity101 exactly 💯

[@Dr_Madonna]

BIANCA!!!!!!!!!! - still quote this gem of a movie to this day!

[@alleahsasseville]

Blanca.....NEEDS to get the door

[@Dr_Madonna]

@@alleahsasseville B: “it was nice talking to you Nigel”… S: NO IT WOZZZAARRRNT

[@alleahsasseville]

@@Dr_Madonna (Bianca to Nigel) MY SUITE!!!!! ....as she flicks her cigarette in his direction narrowly missing his head to toe grey ensemble. 😅

[@Dr_Madonna]

@@alleahsasseville oh! I thought she sarcastically says “Nice Suit”. Lol

[@alleahsasseville]

@@Dr_Madonna not 100% but it was the 80's I think either one could apply!! 🤣

[@Jabberstax]

This movie used to be on TV every Christmas in the UK when I was a kid.

[@megansavage7152]

Helen slater was my first crush

[@pong86r]

maybe it was growing up with a single mom, but this movie always meant so much to me because, my mom was like a superhero to me and it was like this proof that women can be strong too. i was ~5 but that was what always stuck with me about Supergirl

[@MrLucasD123]

Kara Zor-El is her Krytonian name. Linda Danvers is the name she adopted on Earth, according to the original comics. Once you know this, it isn't all that confusing

[@pallafox]

at 10:00, i'm sorry, but i disagree with this statement about slater being the reason the flying scene "didn't" work when it fact it did. a lot of people who saw this film remember it mostly because of the flying scenes. If you watch the making of Supergirl she was given directions to frolick while flying during the flying ballet scene. Not sure why you decided to blame Slater for something you oddly didn't like when it mostly praised for it.

[@waynedaniel]

I was 10 yrs old when i saw this at the cinema when it first came out and i remember really enjoying it but as an adult its just a guilty pleasure film.

[@drewchase6577]

Maybe Faye Dunaway can reprise her ICONIC role on the Superman and Lois show?😉👍🏾💯

[@Terelon]

There's suppose to be a 150 min version lost in the vault or destroyed reportedly

[@davefsmith6040]

I don't agree with your assessment of Helen's flying.. I thought her "air ballet" was well done. In fact, I think it's the highlight, cuz there ain't much else to recommend about this movie.

[@randallguzik3764]

Hart Botchner was a voice in Batman Mask of the Phantasm

[@operationgoldfish8331]

I loved this movie back in 1984 when II saw it in the cinema in the UK. It's actually the one of the original cinema series that I'm happy to watch again. The UK version had the scene with her exploring her powers, which was fun and established Kara as an ingenue, delighting in all the new experiences around her. It was important to show that she wasn't like her cousin, who grew up with his powers. I also like the villains in this. They're petty, low level magic users who suddenly get a taste of real power and it turns their nastiness into real evil. I found the Lex Luthor emphasis of the Superman movies a bit bland - but then I find Superman bland. He's one of my least favourite super heroes. The introduction of magic was a big plus for me in this movie. It added some real threat to the heroine. Yes, it's goofy but the entire franchise from that era is goofy and at least this one has some excuse for its goofiness. I don't care if the critics and die-hards didn't like it.

[@lucywillis4535]

Peter Cook was a comedy legend in the UK. But, he let his alcoholism and the jealousy he felt that his comedy partner (Dudley Moore) had become a big thing in 80's films ruin his legacy...

[@incredibilistic]

It's interesting that you singled out Kara having a different name for Earth being confusing when Superman's actual name is Kal-El but he goes by Clark. Not all confusing to me other than maybe the name Kara not being as well known in the early 80's but is pretty commonplace these days. But even in the 80's, Kara wouldn't come across as otherworldly as Kal-El. If anyone should be blamed for the naming convention it's the original writers who went with a somewhat generic girl's name rather than something more like Kal-El's original Kryptonian name. I remember watching Supergirl several times when I was a kid and while it was clearly a horrible film there was still something endearing about it. Pretty sure I watched this movie no less than 4 times and could probably quote a bit of it. The issue with this movie is that it doesn't hold up in the slightest. The original Superman, despite the era it was created and the aging effects, is still a good time versus Supergirl, which I probably couldn't sit through today.

[@TroyPacelli]

Yeah, it's part of the disconnect of the film. Just like Superman's human ID of Clark Kent, Kara's alter ego was Linda Lee Danvers (Danvers being the name she received from her adoptive parents). Since there was no "Clark finds Kara's rocket, gives her a secret identity and takes her to Midvale Orphanage," there is no explanation for the name in the film. Note, what I described above was Kara's origin in the comics as of the time the film came out. She was killed off in the comics shortly thereafter and underwent a butt-load of reboots and retcons.

[@incredibilistic]

@@TroyPacelli -- Okay, yes. I understand your logic now and you're right, since she just appears out of nowhere, rather than being rescued/adopted by a family on Earth, it doesn't seem necessary for her to change her name. I don't recall her having a family name on her "home planet" (or whatever that funky tent on a floating rock is called) so she could've simply said she was Kara Kent and everyone would've believed her because, well, why not? They bought Linda Lee, might as well stick with her real name first name of Kara to keep things simple. But I guess the writers felt like she needed a secret identity because that's just how superheroes operated back then. Come to think of it the MCU is the first universe of superheroes that didn't rely on a secret identity. The only hero in the MCU, at this point, that operates under an alter ego is Spider-Man. The DCEU for better or worse is still holding onto that trope because I guess you can't have a Batman that everyone knows is a psychopathic vigilante. His mystique is part of his character. This is completely off-topic but I'm gonna say it: Iron Man is better than Batman. Not only do we know who he is (or was) but he's way smarter. I never saw Bruce develop the ability to travel through time, create a new compound on the chart of elements or create nano technology so he can change into his suit by just tapping his chest. But I digress. Supergirl was kind of a mess but I grew up with it so it'll always hold a special place in my heart.

[@Neil070]

@@incredibilistic For some reason lost in the mists of time, many Superman associated characters had the initials "LL". Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Lee Luthor and many others. Hence Linda Lee, adapted to Linda Lee Danvers when the character found adoptive parents. Stan Lee had a similar quirk. Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, etc. He said it just sounded better. Oh, and Kara is officially called Kara Zor-El.

[@Jabberstax]

I remember this being on TV every Christmas in the UK in the late 80's / early 90's.

[@cityman2312]

Helen Slater really was beautiful back in the day. It's a pity the script htey went with was a rough draft.

[@RainePhoenix]

Hart Bochner lent his voice to Councilman Arthur Reeves in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, so he did fature in another DC project.

[@videovoidtv]

ive seen this movie 50 times… Ive loved it every time.

[@zhicaofang2354]

Still feels gut-wrenching to see such a wonderful cast wasted by all the production and script writing SNAFU. Helen Slater, despite her greenhand performance, was perfect for the SG role. If only we could have seen more of her in the SG universe during her prime.

[@natsohigh5552]

So Selina is still out there. Floating around in the Phantom Zone 😂

[@davidmcmahon4633]

Linda Lee was the name Supergirl used in the comics when she first arrived. Then she was adopted by the Danvers and became Linda Danvers.

[@munozali1]

Jerry Goldsmith was Gold!

[@Tecnicos-qj8pb]

Love Helen Slater:)

[@cernstormrunner7263]

"Omegahedron" sounds like the next Covid strain

[@ICONICPARIS]

Sure does

[@QuixoteX]

I think this film is underrated. It's campy but fun to watch. Magic has played a major role in the DC Universe. Kara is obviously not going to fly like Kal-El. She is a different person with different experiences.

[@tom66909]

She was so hearts-stopping I loved this as a young boy…I watched it again with my daughters and they adored this. So how can I hate this? Supergirl the movie did it’s job. Popeyes is better than KFC.

[@balddanny]

Superboy wasn't on CBS. It was produced for first run syndication.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

Linda was her alias in the books.

[@wonyangs3458]

I grew up watching this movie and it is still the absolute best. I never watch any movie as much as this one!

[@Dented_Battle_Armor]

The soundtrack was pretty sweeping and awesome

[@drakocarrion]

Superman's mother's name is not Lara El. It's Lara Lor Vann. Kryptonian women have their father's name as their surname.

[@theswan1852]

7:40 I don't think this is how it happened. Also, it was 3 years later that he made the worst Superman movie ever, so I guess he doesn't always read the writing on the wall. Linda Lee was Kara's alter ego from the comics since the 60s. Her flying was so awesome.

[@joakimsjosten8999]

Supergirl has more great effects than Superman movies has? When Superman fly it doesn’t even look fast, like when supergirl fly for the fortress on the top of the mountain. The thing I loved most in Superman was the flight around the earth and exactly the same as supergirl do when she create the whirlwind around Selena.

[@peraperic9405]

What I liked about this movie and this specific version of Supergirl with respect to any other, is that, in this version, Supergirl is not simply a female copy of Superman. She does not have the exact copy-pasted timeline as Superman, she does not fight the same villains as Superman, etc. While Superman fights against an evil scientist (Lex), an evil Kryptonian (General Zod), etc. she fights an evil witch who basically summons a demon. In this movie, they try to give her own original story, adding more fantasy elements in the film, so it's not the classical action-driven superhero movie that people might expect. Sure, it has its flaws, but you should also take into account that in the original script, Christopher Reeve's Superman should have appeared in the film, but he changed his mind. So the writers had to figure a way to change some parts of the story. That's why some parts might seem illogical.

[@stingrey1571]

It is benoist. Not benoit, she has a n S in her name.

[@randyacuna3248]

Helen was a perfect Supergirl, too bad the movie disappointed. A lost opportunity, there could have been a sequel because helen had more then enough screen presence to carry it.

[@johnnyj7007]

Hart Bochner was a voice in Batman mask of the phantasm, so that’s kind of a return

[@edwardbloecher4563]

Supergirl's secret identity in comics was Linda Lee as well. Ugh research

[@PaulMurphyMusic]

The casting of Supergirl is great but the rest of the cast phoned it in. You can tell they didn’t take the movie seriously. And the villain was awful. Off-course as a child I never noticed any of that lol

[@MemphisTiger]

This film was a disaster, imo. Helen Slater did the best she could with the mediocre material she was given but was horribly miscast.

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

@14:43 Tobey Maguire automatically knew how to use his powers. Plus youre literally showing us footage of Supergirl almost crashing

[@MachineHead783]

I remember Peter O'Toole saying in one of his interviews that this movie was the lowest of the low. In fact, he refused to discuss this movie ever again, just like Michal Caine did with The Island

[@tur74d56]

Why he played it very well

[@DarrylRuiz-s1w]

Helen Slater deserved a better movie She had the right amount of innocence and strength as Supergirl and was gorgeous

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Despite it's flaws, Supergirl is a great movie.

[@Dohsoda]

The biggest problems I have with this movie is just how dull and cheap looking it is. The camp value from the actors save this movie from being nearly unwatchable. And looking back, its very disappointing to see how Superman III, Supergirl, and Superman IV really hurt the Superman film franchise. Christopher Reeve and company deserved better, especially after the quality and good will of the first two movies.

[@suedenim]

I really disagree with you regarding the flying effects. Overall, I think it's the unusual bad movie that could have been decent with "only" a page one rewrite.

[@Charbear25]

Helen Slater is gorgeous

[@JustJames83]

Who is Melissa Ben-wah?

[@sauronbagginsd8032]

I don’t even think they explained about Argo City and why the architecture is so different to Krypton from the Donner movie

[@kirstys5601]

Nope, not in any version I saw. Maybe that hit the cutting room floor.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

Say what you will about how zany the film is, this film didn't deserve the soundtrack for this film. Jerry Goldsmith was a legend who rarely had a bad soundtrack that he composed. Also I didn't know he composed the Universal theme

[@NBK1122]

I don't know her original secret identity from 1959, but when I read the comic books in the 1970's, Supergirl's Earth identity was Linda Lee, and later Linda Lee Danvers. I always wondered why the CW show didn't use Linda Lee Danvers.

[@MrStarbuck27]

I still love this film (watched it last night). In europe we allways had the supergirl learning to use her powers scene. It adds to the whole innocence of supergirl who unlike superman didnt grow up on earth.

[@toddponton2407]

I LOVED this film and saw it when it first came out. I totally believed Helen Slater portrayal to be Superman's cousin. Although it has 80's camp, it's still a fun 'origin' story. I hate hate hate the new story where she was sent ahead of Kal-El. I like the actual original where Argo City came in. I own the actual Anchor Bay version with the 137 minutes. It is more darker. I recommend it.

[@darryl3422]

Helen Slater was perfectly cast and perfectly gorgeous she deserved a better movie

[@georgemason4921]

Recon as the fantom zone.

[@shainewhite2781]

The only good thing about Supergirl The Movie is the music Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith.

[@markdichiera7283]

Shes in supergirl tv show as her foster mum .. With cain as foster dad such wasted potential..

[@wingchundragon]

I thought Helen Slater was so beautiful. Demi Moore wouldve been great also

[@Terry.W]

I love this movie ..it's an indulgent pleasure..

[@shsrpr]

6:59 I also know him as the smarmy executive bad guy from Mr Destiny with Jim Belushi.

[@davehandelman2832]

I only saw this once it aired on TV. I was like 9i guess. I LOVED it only because it was all we got! It wasn't ANYWHERE near as good as Superman but it was comic book SOMETHING!

[@Alexandrashepiro]

in the movie the OmegeHedron was pronounced Omega-Head-ron..Not Omega-He-dron.

[@Lordmij]

She was my first crush as a kid

[@munozali1]

I disagree about Helen Slater. I think she did very well given what she had to work with.

[@alleahsasseville]

Still one of my favorites ❤ 💙

[@tomedmonds8347]

At least try to pronounce Melissa Benoist’s name right.

[@kurtfranklin2680]

Actors wanted what Superman did for Christopher reeves career. Mission accomplished.

[@retroghetto7646]

Smallville done this story pretty well.

[@zonesproductions]

I watched this way too many times as a young kid.

[@spunkybrewster1972]

6:52 That was Ellis?? No fuckin' way...hahaha.

[@Nillon24]

4:43 Whoa! What kind of movie is this again?

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

I disagree about her flying. Her style was intentionally dance-like. It's different. Not terrible. The visible wires are bad though.

[@alienmoosestudios]

Still, after all this time, I still l LOVE Supergirl!!! 🤩💖🎥🍿💥 Thanks for sharing 😊

[@Neil070]

Kara called herself Linda Lee in the comics. When she was adopted by the Danvers family she was Linda Lee Danvers. Not confusing at all! Unless you think the TV series came BEFORE the movie!

[@solaceboy]

According to Stan Lee, back then, nobody believed in comic books let alone movies as profitable. Helen Slater herself knew how bad this script was. The sad thing is that till this day, Warner Brothers has never learned how not to ruin DC comics movies and their related materials.

[@ivane5110]

What gets me is that Peter O'Toole just wore a sweater and slacks? After seeing Kryptonian silver glowy suits, this was quite a let down. Slader is great as Supergirl, with look and energy (just not in flight). Wish they'd given this better quality digesting and writing. It could've led to something special

[@rogermorris9696]

You can tell Peter O Toole and Peter Cook must have took their roles fora a quick and easy paycheck. Peter Cook just looks bored and/or pissed off in every scene he is in . Also ithardfor these two actors to do anymore DC IP's being dead .

[@onlyme219]

It was OK, just. That said I thought the actresses looked and were perfect for what they were given to work with