Customer Reviews
Not As Bad As It's Rap...But Not Too Great, Either 
2008-12-29
After the abysmal effort from Richard Lester that was Superman III, the fourth film in the franchise rebounded a bit, but still dragged in a few crucial categories.
The Good:
-The acting is back to the quality of the first two films. Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor is back to his nefariously hilarious ways, Christopher Reeve (Clark/Superman) is again the stoic, righteous hero he is meant to be, and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) is back in her enthusiastic mode.
-Also, the storyline is, in all actuality, probably the closest in form to the old Superman comics than any of the other films. In trying to rid the world of nuclear warfare, Superman takes the type of moral and ethical stand he is known for in his legacy. A very moving politically-charged plot along the lines of Rocky IV and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
The Bad:
-The special effects in this film were terrible. The flights, although I didn't notice any stray wires, were not as majestic as the first two films, while it was often much too easy to distinguish the matte background (like in space with no stars!). Plus, instead of really cool effects, the FX crew instead goes hokey, epitomized by Superman's "visual rebuilding" of the Great Wall of China that is just plain stupid.
-However, the pacing of the film is really what bogs the movie down. Many scenes were cut from the film in post-production, making the plot a bit herky-jerky and confusing. Halfway through the film, the plot is steadily progressing. Then, suddenly, Superman begins his fight with Nuclear Man, which essentially lasts the entire second half of the movie.
So, despite a more inspiring plot and much better acting, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is dragged down by cop-out special effects and directorial issues that never really allowed the film to inspire awe or hold the viewers' interest. Thus, this second straight sub-par Superman film effectively killed the Superman franchise for nearly two decades.
Horrible Film. The Villain is a SISSY 
2008-12-21
HORRIBLE.The villain's evil powers come from his long girly fingernails that emit lightning!!lots of car crashes and pileups don't make a good movie. Muriel Hemingway is useless here, why have both her AND Louis Lane?? Viewers are left wondering if Superman still likes louis lane or is he gonna hook up with Muriel?? Superman I and II were good, this is bad.
superman 4 
2008-11-05
i've enjoyed it very much; it was better than III. a lot of crucial scenes were cut out in 4. i hope they'll release a special edition in the future. i still want to see those scenes placed into the movie. there were a lot of flying sequences that were nice. Superman the movie 1978 will be 30 years old. enjoy. i still miss c. reeve.
The Quest for Peace 
2008-08-21
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a decent film that has good morals to its story. Unfortunately, the Golan-Globus decided to cut back on just about every thing and doomed Superman IV to a bad box office take making it the lowest grossing Superman film in the Christopher Reeve franchise.
Gene Hackman returns with his newest creation Nuclear Man. Personally I thought the character of Nuclear Man was good. Had more money been available they would have been able to do more with the character.
Christopher Reeve co-writes this film and in my opinion does a decent job on where he wanted this film to go. But you can't get past the fact that the original cut of the film was 138-Min and was edited down to a theatrical/home video/dvd release of 89-Min.
This DVD edition offers some great extras, the best being the deleted scenes which are 30-Mins!!!!! in length. This will give you a better idea as to what the original version of the film would have looked like. But there are still about 15-20-Mins of deleted scenes out there. Hopefully one day some one will do with Superman IV what was done with Superman II and we will get a Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Extended Edition.
Christopher Reeve gives a great performance and makes Superman IV a good addition to your Superman library.
Great but Missing Something 2008-08-20
I found Superman IV an improvement over Superman III. In 3, it's pretty much about Pryor's character than Reeve (don't get me wrong though, he did a great job). But the character just punches a few buttons when he's training and voila! He finds a hidden talent. That's not normal, you either know you have it or you don't. I found Superman's Great Wall of China Vision more believable. The one thing that should've been apart of the story is the paranoia of a god-like character being pretty much in control of the world. A being takes and destroys all of our nuclear weapons and nobody questions his authority? I don't think so. If they had went in that direction, along with Luthor introducing Nuclear Man, I think it would've made a better story. This way, Superman would have to regain the public's opinion of him, sort of like the series finale of the 90s animated series.
Sad ending to the Reeve Superman 
2008-08-09
Superman tries to rid the world of nuclear weapons but the evil lex luther creates nuclear man. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/08/2005 Starring: Christopher Reeve Jackie Cooper Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Sidney J Furie
The Super That Clearly Wasn't 2008-05-06
I can tell that the filmmakers were trying to correct some of the biggest weaknesses of the last outing--and I can't really blame them--but in doing so, they overlooked what made the first two movies so great, while trying to focus on what they thought had ruined the third one.
* For instance, the third one suffers from a lack of Lex. Introducing a billionaire Luthor wannabe just doesn't cut it. So they brought back the domed one himself.
* Additionally, there is not much sense that there is really much at stake in the third one. Sure, Webster was trying to control the worlds oil, but ... that's about it. Here, Superman takes on the threat of nuclear holocaust. That's a global problem if ever there was one.
* Then there's the fact that fans want to see Lois and Superman together and Lois had less than five minutes air time total in the third movie. Well, she's back now.
* And fighting a computer at the climax of the movie is not nearly as thrilling as reversing time or kicking the trash out of the Zod Squad. Here we get a super clone (sort of) of the man of steel himself.
And now the problems that they overlooked:
* The special effects plain suck. I know that good effects do not a good movie make, but they are very essential to this franchise. The main advertising for the first one was the line "You will believe a man can fly." If you can't actually believe that Superman is flying, you can't get pulled into the movie and lose yourself to it. Every bad effect just pulls you out of the movie and sets you back down in your seat, watching a sub-par superhero movie.
* The super clone couldn't act his way out of an open doorway. This is a far cry from Terrence Stamp who can effectively play both Zod (movie II) and Jor El (Smallville). Stamp is just such an imposing presence whenever he is on screen, but Mark Pillow, this former Chippendale's Dancer (it's right there on IMDB) can barely keep our interest, even at his evilest.
Of course there are many more things that could be brought up, but those are the biggest ones. Fortunately, this one is kept short at just 90 minutes (making it the only one that actually comes in under two hours).
Good idea, disappointing results 2008-04-20
Christopher Reeve's final appearance as The Man of Steel SHOULD have been a great way to close the Superman franchise. Reeve agreed to return to the role one last time, provided he could use his story idea about the controversy of nuclear disarmament. So, there was every good intention to make a terrific movie. But then, you know what they say: Good intentions do not necessarily make a good picture.
Its faults are biggies: 1. Cheesy special effects. 2. Gaping holes in logic from the script. 3. A corny villain. The original Superman film was a marvel in technical achievements compared to this shoddy sequel. Its cheapness (reportedly, a budget cut was made during production) is never so apparent than here. Bad back-screen projections, visible wires and god-awful flying scenes (a toy figure streaking through the skies??) succeed in undermining the film's integrity. And really...tiny figures bench-pressing the Statue of Liberty? Not amazing, just laughable!
On top of this, scientific logic is thrown out the window as: Mariel Hemingway seems to be able to breathe in the cold vacuum of space; the moon shifts from night to day; Superman succeeds in "corking" an active volcano; and Lex Luthor (how did Gene Hackman, great actor that he is, get roped into doing this film??) escapes---in broad daylight!---in a slow-moving vehicle, making it easy for Superman to catch him...and he's supposed to be a criminal genius?? And Nuclear Man is a one-joke idea; a grimacing, growling neanderthal (with bad 80's hair, no doubt) created to antagonize Supes. Luthor's correct when he comments: "Not one of your great thinkers!" I say: Bring back the criminals from Krypton, they were much more fun!
What saves this film from being a total disaster is the amusing Clark Kent moments, as well as the subplots: Clark doing a farcical quick-change routine with Lois Lane (the always-wonderful Margot Kidder) and Lacey Warfield (Hemingway),including his poignant scenes re-visiting the Kent farm; Jackie Cooper delivering a great send-off performance as irascible Perry White, buying out owner Warfield (Sam Wannamaker) and saving the Daily Planet from becoming a tawdry, irresponsible tabloid mag; cultural 80's references to "fad" gyms, corporate greed and, of course, the problem of the arms race as Supes faces a great moral dilemma.
It's a shame that "The Quest for Peace" wasn't better; Reeve and the entire cast deserved a more dignified send-off than this.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (A Noble Failure) 2008-04-07
After more than two decades, yes, it is still all too easy to pick apart this dreadful movie featuring Christopher Reeve's final appearance as the legendary Man of Steel.
However, I recently thought the special edition version was at least worthy of a cheap DVD rental, so my two-year old son could witness the real "Superman," Christopher Reeve, in action regardless of the film's shoddy editing and dismal special effects. While my little boy was fascinated at seeing a living, breathing Superman before him, I, too, became fascinated (albeit, for a different reason).
While watching the film, I developed a more insightful appreciation for what the late Christopher Reeve truly intended this movie to be, and he certainly deserves credit for some noble aspirations. Here's the premise once more: an initially reluctant Superman (Reeve) is inspired by a young boy to end the nuclear arms race once and for all; meanwhile, old nemesis Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) conjures up his own nuclear-powered super-villain (Mark Pillow). The end result is, of course, predictable, as Superman discovers why no single person (not even Superman) is ultimately up to the task, when only the human race can bring itself lasting peace.
Although this movie originated as Christopher Reeve's bargaining chip for a more substantive, gritty drama he starred in entitled "Street Smart," it appears, from viewing his earnest performance here, that he clearly gave "Superman IV" his best effort, even though he no doubt suspected it would be the franchise's last gasp. Still, when compared to the FX-driven mega-movies of today's generation, can any of them legitimately claim they have something positive to say about making a difference in the world? Since we know what the answer unfortunately is, Reeve's truly admirable legacy as Superman will indeed stand up for generations to come. "Superman IV," despite its laundry list of flaws, is proof positive of why his interpretation of the Man of Steel still matters.
If it had been gifted with a hefty budget equal to that of the first two "Superman" films, this fourth installment could have been a worthy addition to the franchise. However, the deficient budget isn't the only reason why this movie failed. Director Sidney J. Furie, despite some solid credentials at the time, had been reduced to making schlock movies by the mid-1980's (i.e. 1986's "Iron Eagle") and it clearly shows here. Since Richard Donner wasn't available, I can only imagine what other capable directors like Irvin ("The Empire Strikes Back") Kershner, Nicholas ("Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan") Meyer, or Lawrence ("Wyatt Earp") Kasdan could have done in reshaping the script and enhancing the actors' performances to a comparable level of the first two films.
Speaking of the actors, the original film's supporting ensemble of Gene Hackman (as Lex Luthor), Margot Kidder (as Lois Lane), Marc McClure (as Jimmy Olsen), and Jackie Cooper (as Perry White) all return with decent efforts, though Kidder and McClure clearly appeared too old by this point to effectively portray their characters. Newcomers Jon Cryer (as Lenny), Mariel Hemingway (as Lacy), Sam Wanamaker (as Mr. Warfield), and Mark Pillow (as Nuclear Man) are hardly noteworthy, but again, a more inspired director could have made a difference with them. Also, reliable Ned Beatty (as bumbling Otis) is sorely missed from this installment.
As for the DVD's special features, there are the following: a series of mostly unfinished deleted scenes, screenwriter Mark Rosenthal's insightful commentary, cast filmographies, and the obligatory trailer. Of the deleted scenes, the extended, unfinished sequence of Superman taking Lois on a flight across the country, which includes Lois "flying" on her own, is a nostalgic wink back at the original film's exuberant romanticism.
In today's world, "Superman IV" wouldn't have qualified as a theatrical release, but rather as a forgettable Sci-Fi Channel original movie. Still, at least this movie aspired to be far more than its end result. Fans of Christopher Reeve's timeless portrayal of the Man of Steel should fondly remember "The Quest for Peace," more for what it could have been and for what Mr. Reeve deserved it to be.
My Grade: a strong 2/5. All factors considered, including Christopher Reeve's heartfelt sincerity, I am being realistic here. However, let me put this way: try sitting through 2006's "Highlander: The Source," and you will see why "Superman IV" is an Oscar contender by comparison.
SILLY, SHODDY AND UNNECESSARY! 1 3/4 STARS! 2008-04-02
'SUPERMAN IV THE QUEST FOR PEACE' is entertaining on a pure camp level. The film is bad, the FX run from good to laughable(flying wires clearly visible)and some truly stupid decisions. I don't know what they paid Hackman to be in this unnecessary retread, but I hope he had fun spending the money. Everything in this film has a "been there done that" feel to it. The film is the shortest one in the series by at least 30 minutes but, I found myself dozing off a few time only to awaken with Mariel Hemingway breathing in outer space! LOL! It's sort of fun to watch if you know what to expect. I have heard there is a longer version.......I hope not! ....and I hope Spider-Man 4 doesn't come out this bad! I rated it 1 3/4 stars for a good laugh.
