Süpermen Dönü Yor AKA The Return of Superman

Superman returns!

After a mysterious prologue, Turkish Clark Kent is told by his parents that he is an Alien from space and that he must leave to accomplish his destiny. They give him a green gem (an early Infinity Stone?) which he takes into a nearby cave. There, Jor-El, minus half of his front teeth, appears and reveals to Clark that he is Superman...

Anyone familiar with Turkish cinema (at least the ones that have made it outside Turkey) know that Turkish remakes of popular American films are made with an extremely low budget and are filled with footage and music stolen shamelessly from the source material. "Supermen Dönü Yor" is no exception. Directed by Kunt Tulgar and starred by Tayfun Demir as Tayfur/Supermën, Güngör Bayrak as Alev, damsel in distress, and Yildirim Gencer as Ekren, the bad guy.

The plot generally follows the original (and official) 1978 version, but with numerous corners cut that are just plain laughable. For instance, the film opens in outer space. It's clearly Christmas ornaments hanging from strings in front of a black screen covered in glitter. The most-used and funniest example is watching Superman fly. A doll is held in front of the camera while stock footage is used over and over again in the background!.

Clark Kent is actually...

...Superman!

You can tell right away from the opening sequences that this will become a non-stop spitfire of hysterical laughter and stomach aches, and you don't even have to be wasted or pay close attention to the whole film. When we witness Superman flying for the first time, he looks like a fake Mego action figure hanging by a thread in front drawn clouds and people waving at him from the deck of a ship. It's brilliant, truly brilliant! Clark Kent, named Tyfun in Turkish, is a tremendous dork with a spectacular pair of glasses and he walks around like there's a cloth hanger stuck in his suit. His nemesis isn't bald like Lex Luthor is, but actually looks a lot like the Turkish version of Lee Van Cleef. 

The most striking thing about "Turkish Superman" is how very anti- spectacular it is! Our hero hides behind trees, doesn't bother much to hide his double identity and conducts the lamest rescue operations ever. Superman stops an out-of-control truck descending a mountain road, NOT by jumping in front of it, NOT by pushing it back up a cliff and NOT by pulling the rear end like he's an anchor… Superman stops the truck by taking place behind the wheel and using the brakes. Oh, how heroic! I guess the budget didn't allow them to wreck the truck. That's also the same reason why the lead actress drives a Lada instead of a real car(no pun intended). 

Clive Owen?

Oh yeah, a Mego TV ad, right?

The fight sequences are hilarious as well, since they look like a bunch of heavily mustached men group-hugging each other. The creators of "Turkish Superman" didn't just steal the plot of "Superman" but also the soundtrack of James Bond(!). The scene where Superman single-handedly prevents a train collision from happening is perhaps even the ultimate highlight of the film. According to the most rudimentary rules of physics his rescue act is just impossible, I don't care if you're a superhero or not.

As for the acting, I really can't fully comment, since I don't know any Turkish (but does it really matter?). However, the actor who plays Superman appears to be competent, and pulls off dual personas of Superman and Clark Kent. Superman in this film is quite mean. He is indirectly responsible for the deaths of three villains(for example, he throws a henchman into a wall, where he is impaled by an extended pipe).

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!

In the nick of the time!

Now, let's dig into some interesting facts you probably didn't (want to) know about this great artistic piece:

1. Popular movie soundtracks were used the complete the score: Some Superman (1978)'s main themes (by John Williams) and some scores from the 60's James Bond's movies (including the James Bond Theme composed by Monty Norman). 
2. According to the director, in the shot were Superman unveiled his identify opening his shirt, it was Tayfun Demir himself who had to re-sew the buttons of his shirt for the next shot. After take 4, the actor did not want to sew the shirt anymore.  
3. Also According to Kunt Tulgar, the director,  he advised the actor who played the Turkish version of Jor-El to join his upper lip so as not to show his lack of teeth. The actor refused to do simply by saying "But I am an alien from another planet." 
4. In addition, Tulgar said, Tayfun Demir was actually a friend him and he was not an actor. At that time Tayfun was doing military service, but the film team got him to ask for a week's permit to shoot the film.  
5. Filmed without sound, all the actors were dubbed with different people.

Watch out Superman!

Oh well...

The only disappointing aspect of this film that renders it a cut below its fellow Turkish remakes is a bland, generic super villain that bears no resemblance to Lex Luthor. Still, for the no-budget visuals and eye-popping incompetence, "Turkish Superman" is worth a look for Superman fans or fans of bad cinema.

Here's the movie trailer:

 Here's the movie in full Turkish language for your linguistic enjoyment: