Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman

I had just watched an episode of the 1950s Superman TV show and enjoyed it so much, I decided to learn more about this handsome, wholesome hero! Gosh, I think I have a little crush now, haha. Golly, gee, he sure is swell! A real gentleman and sweetheart.

I always thought I was not a superhero fan, because I'm not very big on action/adventure, which most movies and shows involving superheroes rely heavily on. Plus, I'm just not very fond of modern-day action and all that CGI and modern animation. But, I do like the old Superman cartoons of the 1940s and I especially like the old 1950s TV show, and special effects of the 1970s and 80s, I like too- so the Christopher Reeve movies are good to me. But, my distaste for modern-day superhero interpretations nearly killed my interest in the genre before I even realized my fondness for it! Fortunately though, I DID realize it, and now I know I am a superhero fan- just not a fan of every incarnation.

I realize now that superheroes are another sort of fairytale (and I adore fairytales!), like "The Little Mermaid" etc. And that's why I now know that I love them! And Superman is so worth loving- he's just such a good guy, and the 1950s-1980s version of him is tough and tender. There is a real coziness to those old incarnations of him on screen that is so great! This documentary really lets us know everything about the man of steel! After you watch it, you'll probably have a favorite incarnation too.

Side-note: It's amazing that George Reeves and Christopher Reeve shared the same surname minus a letter! Reminds me of the two actors who played Darin in "Bewitched": Dick York and Dick Sargent.

And on another note, I wish Stockard Channing had been cast as Lois Lane in the first Christopher Reeve movie, cause she's so good! Oh well. Nothing against the actress who was cast, but after seeing audition footage with Stockard in this doc, I just liked how she played Lois. I just like her. What a real treat to see her there!

And, just like actor Sean Connery (in the 1960s) playing the James Bond character - I personally think that actor George Reeves (in the 1950s) playing the Superman character was the absolute best of all when cast in his specific genre. To me - These 2 men epitomized their characters perfectly.

From comic books, to radio, to cartoons, to TV, and to movies - This entertaining, pop culture documentary covers the entire history of Superman who (back in 1932) suddenly became the world's very first comic-book superhero.

Superman (who was created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel) is definitely one all-American hero who has certainly had a pretty good track record with his many fans as his popularity has managed to endure, steadily, throughout these many decades.

So - If you are something of a Superman enthusiast - This 110-minute slice of total hero-worship is certainly worth a view.

This documentary is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about Earth's greatest hero. Whether they want to know more about the mythology behind the hero, the hero's creators, or his history in comics, movies, television or radio, "The Amazing Story of Superman" has it all.

Documentary master Ken Burns does a fantastic job exploring all of the aspects and mythos of Superman, beginning with the 1930s and going until the present day with the film release "Superman Returns." He explores who Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were, Superman in the proud Golden Age and the strange and not-so-proud Silver Age, and the current day. Burns does a superb job detailing the role that Superman has played in public over the years, and the different symbols he has stood for based on the current status of the country. He excels in making the audience realize that Superman in pop culture has had a very relevant place in society no matter if his popularity has wavered over the years.

The documentary is a high-quality work. Thanks to Burns, you will feel like you know everything about the hero once the film is finished.

I've never been a fan of Superman, but this enlightening documentary really allows you to respect what is, in my opinion, an out dated character. This film details the highs and lows of Superman in popular culture, and avoids being just an advertisement for his latest incarnation. There are interesting tidbits, such as many of the distinctive characters/traits coming from the early radio shows. We see Superman's effects on celebrities, writers, producers, a world at war, and much more. At times it places its feet where they're not wanted. Did we really need talk on September 11th? Probably more of a nice introduction to the character, or good for those looking to expand their knowledge. But most fans will be familiar with what's going on.

Originally broadcast on the A&E network, this excellent documentary covers the entire history of Superman. From the early 20th century comics to the modern-day television shows and movies, this Kevin Spacey-narrated piece covers much of the Superman mythos. Woven into this story was how all of this was affected by and reflected the culture around it, from World Wars to 9/11.

As a Superman fan, this is a must-see. The A&E (and later in2TV.com) program is 90 minutes. A full 2-hour DVD will be released on June 20, 2006. This viewer is looking forward to not only "Superman Returns", but also the release of A&E's documentary.