'Superman' isn’t flawless, but it possesses a certain appeal and simplicity that I found enjoyable while watching. The film gives the impression of being assembled from separate parts, with each section feeling somewhat disconnected. The backstory is presented in a substantial segment, followed by an extended look at Clark’s early life on Earth. Then he becomes Superman, and we see him performing his superhero duties for quite some time before the villain finally appears. I realize this sounds like many movies, but watching it felt strangely disjointed. The humor feels stiff, and Lex Luthor is very cartoonish. However, what I’m saying isn't meant as criticism because I had a genuinely pleasant experience viewing this 1978 production. It’s simply a nice film from beginning to end, even if it has some rough patches. Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Luthor is excellent. While I like Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex in the DCEU movie, I do prefer this version—mainly because he's so entertaining; it just works well. Honestly, I wish they had made a more direct Superman versus Luthor film. Maybe that will happen in the sequels, I suppose I’ll see. Christopher Reeve embodies the main character very well; I actually enjoyed his performance as Clark Kent even slightly more. Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine and Jackie Cooper are memorable among the supporting cast, which also includes Marlon Brando—someone I had only previously seen in 'The Godfather' - I need to watch more of his films! For a movie that runs over two hours, it goes by surprisingly fast—despite the aforementioned awkwardness. Every time I glanced at the clock nearby the television, it was getting closer and closer to the end. That’s as good an indication as any that I enjoyed this one. Now I need to check out the sequels!

Source on TMDB