Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut [HD DVD]

Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut [HD DVD]
by Richard Donner, Richard Lester

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DVD details

Actor: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty
Director: Richard Donner, Richard Lester
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Director's Cut, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.40:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-28
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Reviews of Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut [HD DVD]

DVD Review: RICHARD DONNER ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars

The script, the acting, Marlon Brando...all combined- cannot even touch the Superman II that was released in America back in the early 80's. After seeing this version of the film, I want a refund for seeing the other one. You can't even commpare the two. It's like comparing an Academy Award Winning Film to Sesame Street. The CEO of Warner Bros. should have been put in jail or fired for releasing that crap and making us pay money to see it.

DVD Review: Horrible, Just Horrible
Summary: 1 Stars

I bought this DVD because it says "Donner Cut", which means remade by original director that was fired by the studios and after viewing this dvd, rightly so. Ok, first Superman movie #1 is awesome, but I'm not sure whether it's old age or he just lost it, but this cut is horrible, just horrible. I almost didn't recognize the first Superman movie I watched as a kid (I saw Superman #1 later) Gone is the spectacular Eiffel Tower scene and in its place a poorly done prologue of the first movie?! That was ghastly. Gone is the famous Lois falling off Niagra Falls scene and in its place, a shotty screen test involving Lois and a pistol? Yikes! Actually there were so many action shots gone, a lot of Brando shots included which even though is Brando, does not really add to the story at all and is quite boring because it's just a halogram of his head! Gone is the kiss that Clark gave Lois so she forgets everything and in its place is something we see in first movie, but just presents plot holes galore it this movie. Lastly, gone is the satisfying ending with Superman bringing back the roof of the White House. What the... Anyway, avoid this at all costs whether you have seen or not seen the original Superman II.

DVD Review: At Least It's Different
Summary: 3 Stars

Having seen the Richard Donner cut of Superman II, I seem to like the original Richard Lester cut better because it's more fun to watch, even with the silliness such as the Phantom Zone villains being able to project force beams from their fingers and Superman throwing a Saran Wrap "S" shield at one of the villains during his fight in the Fortress of Solitude. Some fans of both movies have made their own fan cuts using both versions of Superman II to show what should have appeared in the actual theatrical release, which is probably the best way to go for seeing this movie.

DVD Review: Superman II The Richard Donner Cut
Summary: 5 Stars

GREAT!!! Much Much better then the original. Would recommend this to any Superman fan. Story was awsome. I'd say that this is the best superman movie ever made!!!!!!!

DVD Review: The Version You've Never Seen!
Summary: 5 Stars

Superman II - The Richerd Donner Cut is the long awated version of Superman II, Richard Donner was unable to bring to lite. This is a very interesting and entertaining film that has been a hot subject for many Superman fans. Now we have the chance to see what Superman II would have been if Richard Donner had not been replaced by Richard Lester.

Although I am more partial to Richard Lester's Superman II this version of the film is entertaining. However there are times when the film seems to move too fast and some of the original material that helped the story has been deleted. So for some this film might be disappointing in some areas.

The special features are limited but offer a brief glimpse into the making of this film. The audio commentary is interesting in certain segments but unfortunately rehashes the commentary in the 2000 Extended Edition Commentary of Superman: The Movie.

All in all it is a decent film that has been restored for brillant sound and picture. You'll Believe a Man Can Fly, Again!

Description of Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut [HD DVD]

Warner Brothers Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut - HD-DVD
The Version You Have Never Seen!
Unwittingly released from "Phantom Zone" imprisonment, three super-powered Planet Krypton criminals (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) plan to enslave Earth - just when "Superman" (Christopher Reeve) decides to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Gene Hackman (as Lex Luthor) also returns from the first film and with a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction and visuals that astound and delight. "Superman II" saves the day any day you watch it.

The Richard Donner cut of Superman II is an infamous legend come to life. Director Donner shot most of the sequel at the same time as his first blockbuster film, but somewhere along the line, the producers and studio lost confidence and brought in Richard Lester (The Three Musketeers) to rework the film, and receive sole credit. For years fans speculated on how different the final film was from Donner's original until an underground copy appeared showing a fully formed feature. In an unprecedented move, Warner Brothers officially embraces this alternate version. For those who have not been part of the rumor mill, know that Donner shot all the footage with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman). You can find blow-by-blow descriptions of what is new/changed elsewhere, but most of the changes deal with Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder as the comic-book couple. Donner's cut provides alternate scenes for how Lois tests her hunch that Clark is Superman, the moment he reveals his identity, and how Lois unlearns that truth. Thing is, Lester's reshots are stronger, adding weight to the romance between the two, lifting the picture's stature. Lester also added the dandy Eiffel Tower opening. Donner's chief additions are in the Fortress of Solitude, where Marlon Brando returns to teach (Susannah York, as Superman's mom, appears in the Lester cut). The producers cut Brando's footage so they wouldn't have to pay him millions. The Brando/Reeve scenes continue the father/son dynamic of the first film. There is a great lesson in editing--Lester's less is better than Donner's more--when you compare how Kent turns back into Superman after losing his powers. The Donner cut is completely formed but does use some rehearsal footage, new effects, and some pieces shot by Lester. The history of cinema has many of these stories of movies reshot, hijacked, and changed from the original version, but here the underdog wins and Donner gets his chance to change history, even adding a note in the end credits about the use of fur and smoking as regrettable choices of the time.

Director Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz have a jolly good time revisiting their past on the commentary track. You get a clearer picture of who shot what, but the two have nothing good to say about Lester's edition. Donner doesn't go much into why he was dropped, just a difference of opinion and the need not to pay Brando. He also explains why the d?j? vu ending of this edition was used in the first movie and a new ending would have been thought up for part 2. A quick featurette looks at how Michael Thau and a small crew reconstructed the film and compares several scenes from both versions. Also added are additional scenes shot by Donner but not used, most with Hackman. --Doug Thomas

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