I still remember the night back in 2006 I went to see ‘Superman Returns’ in Auckland, NZ in all its IMAX 3D glory, sick partly from the bad pizza I had just eaten but also from nervousness at finally getting to see a movie I had excitedly anticipated for over a year. All through its production, from its initial design to casting everyone involved were aware of the magnitude of the undertaking in adding to the story of such an icon. An event in my mind the movie nevertheless had a mixed reception and was considered to have underperformed at the box office. The movie captured in my mind the romanticism, escapism and wonder achieved back in 1978 when Richard Donner directed Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in ‘Superman : The Movie’.

Superman is a pure delight, a wondrous combination of all the old-fashioned things we never really get tired of: adventure and romance, heroes and villains, earthshaking special effects, and — you know what else? Wit,” wrote influential movie critic Robert Ebert in the Chicago Sun Times on Dec. 15, 1978.

I am a man inspired by images and I can hardly think of one more kinetic and powerful than a man flying. I have chosen only one clip to eipitomise what I love about these movies, bad and all as the Reeve series descended to. As introductions go this couldn’t be better, Superman’s debut on the streets of Metropolis, gellling tension, action and the humour and charm so associated with these movies. People who don’t enjoy this don’t deserve to watch movies.