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Men of Steel: The Epic Battle Over Superman: The Movie
To make a film is immensely difficult. To make a great film is almost impossible. This is especially the case for The Movie . It has become a classic, revered as one of the great works of fantasy cinema and the beginning of a new genre that has redefined the American film industry. But its making was a mammoth undertaking that nearly crushed those involved beneath the sheer weight of its creation.
The result was a decades-long battle between the film's director Richard Donner and its producers, Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Their war of words resulted in years of enmity and hatred, the ruin of Superman II , and recriminations that continue to this day.
Throughout, the parties involved have cherry-picked facts, distorted the record, and attacked each other in vitriolic terms. What, however, is the real truth? Here, for the first time, is an attempt to fairly assess both sides of the battle over The Movie .
BENJAMIN KERSTEIN is a film critic who has written for The New Ledger , Senses of Cinema , and Azure . He lives in Tel Aviv.
The result was a decades-long battle between the film's director Richard Donner and its producers, Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Their war of words resulted in years of enmity and hatred, the ruin of Superman II , and recriminations that continue to this day.
Throughout, the parties involved have cherry-picked facts, distorted the record, and attacked each other in vitriolic terms. What, however, is the real truth? Here, for the first time, is an attempt to fairly assess both sides of the battle over The Movie .
BENJAMIN KERSTEIN is a film critic who has written for The New Ledger , Senses of Cinema , and Azure . He lives in Tel Aviv.
237 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2016
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About the author
Benjamin Kerstein
14 books10 followersBenjamin Kerstein is an Israeli-American writer, editor, and novelist. Born in Boston, he has lived in and written about Israel and the Middle East for over a decade.
Michael J. Totten, the prize-winning author of The Road to Fatima Gate, has called him "one of the finest American-Israeli authors of his generation."
His work has appeared in Azure: Ideas for the Jewish People, The Jerusalem Post, Senses of Cinema, Cbs.com, The New Ledger, Jewish Ideas Daily, The Times of Israel, Haaretz, PJ Media, and others. Jay Nordlinger of the National Review has referred to his work as "some of the most intelligent, clearest, most honest writing I have read in a long time."
His fiction is deeply influenced by French depressionism of Michel Houellebecq, the fantasias of Jorge Luis Borges, and the dystopian landscapes of J.G. Ballard.
He lives in Tel Aviv.
Michael J. Totten, the prize-winning author of The Road to Fatima Gate, has called him "one of the finest American-Israeli authors of his generation."
His work has appeared in Azure: Ideas for the Jewish People, The Jerusalem Post, Senses of Cinema, Cbs.com, The New Ledger, Jewish Ideas Daily, The Times of Israel, Haaretz, PJ Media, and others. Jay Nordlinger of the National Review has referred to his work as "some of the most intelligent, clearest, most honest writing I have read in a long time."
His fiction is deeply influenced by French depressionism of Michel Houellebecq, the fantasias of Jorge Luis Borges, and the dystopian landscapes of J.G. Ballard.
He lives in Tel Aviv.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 14, 2019
It's all in here, from the first dream to make a Superman movie by Ilya, to the second Superman.. and all the wars in between, that ended in making the iconic film..
I read the paperback version..
If you wanna know who wrote, rewrote, re-rewrote, made changes.. added details.. and the many directors and actors that would participate in the pre-production.. and what the hell happened to Superman II... you know, and the epic production and filming of the first one.. Then this is the book for you..
S
and happy reading to all..
I read the paperback version..
If you wanna know who wrote, rewrote, re-rewrote, made changes.. added details.. and the many directors and actors that would participate in the pre-production.. and what the hell happened to Superman II... you know, and the epic production and filming of the first one.. Then this is the book for you..
S
and happy reading to all..
December 25, 2017
I have for a long time known that there was some controversy around the two first Superman movies.
Not much more.
A couple of years ago the «the Donner» version got released on DVD. I bought them, but haven’t seen them yet. But I will soon, including the documentary.
It is difficult making a movie, especially two.
The book covers everything from early financing to the final theatrical movie.
A bit slow in the start and suddenly I could’t put it away.
Not much more.
A couple of years ago the «the Donner» version got released on DVD. I bought them, but haven’t seen them yet. But I will soon, including the documentary.
It is difficult making a movie, especially two.
The book covers everything from early financing to the final theatrical movie.
A bit slow in the start and suddenly I could’t put it away.
December 7, 2024
Fantastically well researched, but it is at its weakest when it goes to extreme lengths to defend the producers - I hadn’t heard of them before this book but by the end I was wondering if the author might have been paid off by them!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews