Page 1 of Superman II Richard Donner Cut

I got this yesterday and have watched it and thought it`s a lot better version than Richard Lesters. The story was a lot better and I liked the ending aswell.
Has anyone else got this version and if so what did you think of it?

I watched it last night too, and I didnt like the very end. SPOILER:
Just a repeat of the first movie, turning back time so Louis forgets everything. Great story headlines though, "Superman has day off", make me chuckle..

Prefer the begining sequence though, it helps tie the two movies together. I fact I reckon you could take 1 and 2 and edit them into some kind of 3 hour long epic super movie.

Having the Brando scenes re-instated also helps to keep things flowing from the first film and really helps to show the love his father has for him.

Quote:
I watched it last night too, and I didnt like the very end.
FYI. The end of Superman II was supposed to end that way. They stole it for Superman I.

Oh, Ok, so what was the ending to the original going to be? To make it clear, I dont hate that ending, but to use it twice was obviously wrong. But as that wasnt the intention then it would have been ok, if you see what I mean

actually the ending from superman 1 was going to be used for 2 as they were filming back to back,however richard donner then changed his mind and was going to film something else but then the muppets called the salkinds sacked him.

It`s difficult to compare the two considering the DC is cobbled together using what footage they had available, but there are some serious pacing issues with it. If you combined the Donner and Lester cuts you could make a kick arse movie, but as it stands the DC isn`t that film.

Are you saying you`re not so impressed with the Donner cut? I`ve been hearing very conflicting stories about it around the net, but the overall impression I`m getting is that the original Superman 2 is still the better movie, mostly because it just hangs together better.

Camp Zod FTW!!

Seriously though, I loved the original cut of Supes 2, and though I`d have loved to have seen Donner do it, something tells me that this cut of the movie isn`t going to fulfill that wish.

I found it a bit of a chore to sit through. Unfinished effects, entire scenes lifted from rehearsal footage (Clark`s hair changes from shot to shot at the honeymoon retreat, as do the performances) and a lot of problems with the quality of the audio/video. Basically the entire first half of the film, from the release of the Kryptonian rebels up until Clark and Lois get it on, feels incredibly rushed.

Donner cut out a lot of the `meat` of the story; the stuff that really built Zod and co up to be proper villains. However the stuff with Jor-El is good, and fits the tone of the film better than the stuff with Lara. Reeves performance in these scenes is among the best in the entire series. There are a few nice additions and alterations, but on the whole the story doesn`t make a whole lot of sense (especially if viewing without any knowledge of the existing cut).

I`m sure it would have been more coherent had Donner been allowed to complete the film back in the 80s, but as it stands the Lester version is the better film. You can`t make a silk purse out of a sow`s ear and all that...

And that pretty much sums up what I`ve been hearing too Chris. I`d like to see it, and I`m going to borrow it off a workmate who`s getting it for Christmas, but I don`t reckon I`ll buy it. Shame, but as you say silk purse....some ears......thingy.

Just Superman Returns for me then this Xmas.

VM - it`s definitely worth getting if you can - they really have done a fantastic job with the footage available. There is quite a lot of the Lester footage cut out/replaced, and it`s fascinating playing "spot the differences", lol. It`s a shame that Donner never got to film a lot of the stuff he wanted - but at least things like the screen-test footage is there, so it gives you some idea. And it`s a shame that he never came up with/filmed an original ending, rather than sticking with the old "turn back time" one. The new beginning is excellent though - as are the restored scenes with Jor El, and the tone is much more in keeping with the first Superman movie - making it feel like one big two-part movie (as it was intended to be). The commentry track from Donner is also well worth hearing - you can tell it still p***es him off that he was replaced as director - he doesn`t like to mention any of the Lester footage or give him any credit. It`s nice hearing him talk about Reeve though, saying he was the main aspect of the movies` overall success.

I`ve no doubt if Donner were to have completed his movie at the time, it would be the best version. As it stands though, the best Superman 2 is a mixture of the two - basically the theatrical cut, with Donner`s beginning, Lester`s ending, the Jor-El scenes restored, plus a few more minor changes.

And if you`re clever like me (ie. a bit sad with too much time on your hands... ;) ) you can always edit together your own "ultimate" version of the film, combining both cuts. It`s taken a bit of time, but it`s nearly finished... :D

This item was edited on Sunday, 26th November 2006, 23:47