you should watch the original movie. you'll be annoyed because that Lex Luthor is more comedic and less overtly evil (but Ned Beatty is Otis! And he rocks!) but you'll see why they played this movie like they did -it's really an homage to the original, starting with the music and credit sequence and ending with the dedication to the Reeves. I can't remember, but I think there was only one scene with the arms stretched ahead - at the end, and I think that was supposed to be a nod to the tv show Superman. I could be wrong about that.