| Superman II [HD DVD] |  | Directors: Richard Donner, Richard Lester
Actors: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper
Category: DVD
This item is no longer available
Rating:  221 reviews
Sales Rank: 213797
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: HD DVD
UPC: 012569810112
EAN: 0012569810112
ASIN: B000I2JKDS
Theatrical Release Date: November 28, 2006
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Amazon.com essential video
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 deja 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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| Customer Reviews: Read 216 more reviews...
 At Least It's Different September 3, 2008
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.
 Superman II The Richard Donner Cut August 25, 2008
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!!!!!!!
The Version You've Never Seen! August 21, 2008
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!
 Completely overHYPED!!!!!!!! August 14, 2008
The version of the second movie was NOT worth it. Sure there were extra scenes with Jor-El, but there was definitive errors in editing. For example, in the end, Superman leaves Lex Luthor in the Fortress of solitude. WTF?!?!?!? Plus, at the end, Superman reverses time like in the first film, but then goes into the diner where he got is butt kicked to fight that guy Rocky; since he turned back time, it actually never happened. Plus, there were plenty of deleted scenes altogether.
Don't waste your money!!!! Stick with S1 and S3 (with Pryor).
A worthy follow up to a classic!!! August 7, 2008
Bear in mind, given the fact that Donner only shot 75 to 80 percent of the sequel, it is rough in places. That said, though, this is a superior film to Lester's follow up. The tone is right with the first film. It takes the subject matter seriously, but with a tongue firmly planted in it's cheek at times.
Let's face it. As good as Spider-Man and The Dark Knight were, the original 1978 Superman is the penultimate superhero movie. It's the standard by which so few can even come close. That is why it was so sad that the Salkinds and Spengler didn't wish to have Donner finish the second film...much less have Brando return. Donner made that first film what it was. Actually, I'd say it was Donner, Mankiewicz, and Reeves that really brought life to Superman.
I honestly believe that this cut, which includes screen tests in a few places to keep the plot cohesive, is a schematic of what could have been as great a film as the original Superman was. As much as I liked the Lester version as a kid, I watch it now and see how incredibly campy it was and just didn't have the pathos it's predecessor had. Lester is a fine director of slapstick and satire, that is a given. Donner was more respectful of the source material..verisimilitude is the term he uses. He really made me believe a man could fly when I was a nine-year-old in that darkened theater in 1978.
My only greivance with this film would be it's conclusion. I always had a problem with the "turning back time" conclusion with the first film. Doing the same here seems like a cop-out. It is, however, much better than giving Superman the power of an amnesia producing kiss.
All in all. I enjoyed watching Donner's vision much more than the action/comedy approach of Lester. I would recomend this version to the die hard fans of the original.
Only four stars because of the ending.
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