Post by Rob W. Case on Jan 4, 2007 3:40:29 GMT -6
2006 marked the return of Superman, both to theaters (with Superman Returns) and to DVD (With the Superman Christopher Reeve Collection, and the mega-tin 14 disc collection). Another which was also released (and can be bought either with the 14 disc tin or separately) is Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.
Originally filming both Superman the movie and Superman II simultaneously, director Richard Donner tried to incorporate his vision in creating the ultimate movies. Eventually, Richard Donner's relationship with the Salkinds (Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the main financiers of this movie) soured and director Richard Lester moved in and shot scenes that were incomplete, and replaced some of Donner's scenes with his own vision.
Since 1978 and 1980 the Richard Donner scenes were placed within the studio vault, never to be released, until the internet revolution demanded that there is a marker for Donner's cut.
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a refreshing look at a movie that is new to the eye, especially if you are like me and have grown up watching these movies time after time again. Warner Bros. has gone into their vaults and has pulled out nearly 200 pieces of footage, unused sound effects, and screen tests that have been restored, enhanced, and have been re-incorporated in the style which Richard Donner had intended. Of course, to his dismay, Richard Donner had to leave a few Richard Lester scenes in the movie because without those scenes, the film would be incomplete.
What's Different?
While watching this movie, you notice the difference right away.
The Beginning:
The Richard Lester version began with the main titles recapping old scenes from the first film. The Richard Donner verison began with refresher clips (scenes from the first film) that are vital to remember to understand the context and direction of the second film.
The Lester version opens with terrorists threatening to detonate a nuclear bomb in an elevator within the Eiffel tower in Paris. Lois Lane is in Paris covering the story, so Superman goes there to watch out for her. In the process, Superman takes the elevator with the bomb enclosed, and sends it into space. The blast then releases the three villains from Krypton shown at the beginning of the first film from the Phantom Zone, their prison for trying to overtake Jorel's government.
The Donner version opens where (from the first film) Lex Luthor launches the first missile, and Superman stops it and throws it into space, only to explode and release the three villians from Krypton.
Also, unlike the Lester version, Lois suspects that Clark Kent just might be Superman right after the opening credits roll. She is so willing to bet her life that Clark Kent is Superman that she jumps out of the Daily Planet just to prove it.... because, after all, Superman would not let the woman he loves die (as vibrantly displayed in the first film). As the film progresses, she pulls a gun on Clark, willing to prove that he is Superman. In the Lester version, she finds out later and jumps in Niagra Falls to try and "prove" that Clark is Superman.
Marlon Brando:
Actor Marlon Brando, in the late 70's shot all of his scenes for Superman I and II all at once, but his financial demands were heavy (even requesting a stake in the film) and expensive, and so to cut costs, Marlon Brando's scenes were scrapped entirely from the second movie, locked in the studio's vaults, and lines were re-shot with Susannah York (Superman's mother in the first film), whose ghost tries to persuade Superman not to enter the chamber in which he will lose his powers.
With Brando back in this scene, you not only have a father and son dispute, but the scene is more intense. I will stop right there, for I am afraid that I will spoil all of the surprises.
Superman II has a lot more surprises than mentioned. It is not like one of those movies which adds on a minute or two and is labeled as a director's cut. This is like watching, in many ways, an entirely different movie.
As you see on the special features in the DVD, Richard Donner is reunited with the shots he took (forgotten even in his own mind), as he works to read the script and reincorporate was was once taken out, back into the film.
A few of the major players were reunited in the re-assembly of this version and intends for this version to replace the Lester version, as it is technically a "second half" if you will to the first film... PART II (much like Back to the Future was one story spread out into three movies).
Donner or Lester?
Now, would I replace the Donner version with the Lester version? Although I still like the Lester version a lot, I think the Donner version goes deeper story wise, so it may be wise to watch the Donner Cut after watching the first movie, and watching the Lester version for leisure.
I highly recommend Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut to any Superman fan. I enthusiastically give this version four stars.
Originally filming both Superman the movie and Superman II simultaneously, director Richard Donner tried to incorporate his vision in creating the ultimate movies. Eventually, Richard Donner's relationship with the Salkinds (Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the main financiers of this movie) soured and director Richard Lester moved in and shot scenes that were incomplete, and replaced some of Donner's scenes with his own vision.
Since 1978 and 1980 the Richard Donner scenes were placed within the studio vault, never to be released, until the internet revolution demanded that there is a marker for Donner's cut.
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a refreshing look at a movie that is new to the eye, especially if you are like me and have grown up watching these movies time after time again. Warner Bros. has gone into their vaults and has pulled out nearly 200 pieces of footage, unused sound effects, and screen tests that have been restored, enhanced, and have been re-incorporated in the style which Richard Donner had intended. Of course, to his dismay, Richard Donner had to leave a few Richard Lester scenes in the movie because without those scenes, the film would be incomplete.
What's Different?
While watching this movie, you notice the difference right away.
The Beginning:
The Richard Lester version began with the main titles recapping old scenes from the first film. The Richard Donner verison began with refresher clips (scenes from the first film) that are vital to remember to understand the context and direction of the second film.
The Lester version opens with terrorists threatening to detonate a nuclear bomb in an elevator within the Eiffel tower in Paris. Lois Lane is in Paris covering the story, so Superman goes there to watch out for her. In the process, Superman takes the elevator with the bomb enclosed, and sends it into space. The blast then releases the three villains from Krypton shown at the beginning of the first film from the Phantom Zone, their prison for trying to overtake Jorel's government.
The Donner version opens where (from the first film) Lex Luthor launches the first missile, and Superman stops it and throws it into space, only to explode and release the three villians from Krypton.
Also, unlike the Lester version, Lois suspects that Clark Kent just might be Superman right after the opening credits roll. She is so willing to bet her life that Clark Kent is Superman that she jumps out of the Daily Planet just to prove it.... because, after all, Superman would not let the woman he loves die (as vibrantly displayed in the first film). As the film progresses, she pulls a gun on Clark, willing to prove that he is Superman. In the Lester version, she finds out later and jumps in Niagra Falls to try and "prove" that Clark is Superman.
Marlon Brando:
Actor Marlon Brando, in the late 70's shot all of his scenes for Superman I and II all at once, but his financial demands were heavy (even requesting a stake in the film) and expensive, and so to cut costs, Marlon Brando's scenes were scrapped entirely from the second movie, locked in the studio's vaults, and lines were re-shot with Susannah York (Superman's mother in the first film), whose ghost tries to persuade Superman not to enter the chamber in which he will lose his powers.
With Brando back in this scene, you not only have a father and son dispute, but the scene is more intense. I will stop right there, for I am afraid that I will spoil all of the surprises.
Superman II has a lot more surprises than mentioned. It is not like one of those movies which adds on a minute or two and is labeled as a director's cut. This is like watching, in many ways, an entirely different movie.
As you see on the special features in the DVD, Richard Donner is reunited with the shots he took (forgotten even in his own mind), as he works to read the script and reincorporate was was once taken out, back into the film.
A few of the major players were reunited in the re-assembly of this version and intends for this version to replace the Lester version, as it is technically a "second half" if you will to the first film... PART II (much like Back to the Future was one story spread out into three movies).
Donner or Lester?
Now, would I replace the Donner version with the Lester version? Although I still like the Lester version a lot, I think the Donner version goes deeper story wise, so it may be wise to watch the Donner Cut after watching the first movie, and watching the Lester version for leisure.
I highly recommend Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut to any Superman fan. I enthusiastically give this version four stars.