Ìý User Rating 
"Superman III" cashes in on what was then the novelty of computers controlling every facet of life. Multimillionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) uses the innate talents of computer programmer Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) to rig the world's markets in his favour, bringing him into conflict with Superman.
Following two wham-bam predecessors, "Superman III" feels slow and uninspired. Feisty Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), such a linchpin in the first two films, is relegated to a cameo appearance and Annette O'Toole as Superman's old flame, Lana Lang, is a lame substitute. Vaughn just reprises Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor role in all but name.
The tongue-in-cheek humour and running gags are still there, although there is more reliance on slapstick, particularly in the pseudo "Keystone Kops" opening sequence. One saving grace is Pryor, who gets several opportunities to clown around, but even he is not in top gear, hindered by a plot that is little more than a string of set pieces.
But it is diverting enough, and the final confrontation makes for some fun viewing. But it's clear the film makers were scrabbling around for new ideas to keep audiences entertained, coming up instead with the same old convenient plot devices. Kryptonite, anyone?
Read reviews of "Superman: The Movie", "Superman II", and "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace".
