Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

[huedell]

I think because the bullet came from the screen test version where Reeve plays Clark more awkward it comes across that he gives up his secret ID a lot quicker than in the fire version where it looks like he wants to almost give himself a super kick in the butt for being such a bonehead.

Yeah, you're right...of course, credit has to be given to that being
the final edit of a real movie.

The screen test version makes it virtually impossible to play it more slow and
deliberate because the actor/actors know its not going be in a final film,
as does the director, etc.

Maybe a better compromise would've been to take that screen test version
stuff and get a little "artsy" with it....slowing camera frames adding dramatic
music, etc. Maybe not.

[Jason73]

My biggest problem with the Donner version is pretty petty.

I hate that they removed the line "Geneal Zod, would you care to step outside?" and replaced it with "Whatever happened to freedom of the Press?" That is my favorite Superman II moment and to not have it there ruins it for me every time.

[HardyGirl]

I'm into the first hour, and I guess I'm just used to the other version. I liked the hand in the fire version better. This version was just too easy. And they're also omitting other scenes, that make this version look patched. The other scenes make it flow better.

[huedell]

My biggest problem with the Donner version is pretty petty.

I hate that they removed the line "Geneal Zod, would you care to step outside?" and replaced it with "Whatever happened to freedom of the Press?" That is my favorite Superman II moment and to not have it there ruins it for me every time.

I don't think that's petty because, for one,,,you're not the only one that feels that way (its mine too!).

As I mentioned earlier its back, in the fan edit I have.

[Mikey]

The Donner cut version is interesting just to see the unused footage, but I prefer the regular version best.

[jimsmegos]

Tonight was the first time I'd seen the Donner cut, and I got to say, I love it! I didn't get to see the whole thing but from the fight in Metropolis to the end, I really like it soooo much better. To cut out the fight sequence that was in the Fortress was so nice. That was absolutely horrible IMO. The big cellophane "S" thing was the dumbest thing I had ever seen even being 6 years old at the time. Plus with the Donner cut's dialog the story simply flowed better to be. The only big "goof" I noticed is at the end when Supes blows up the Fortress, we never saw what he did with Lex. You know he didn't leave him there even though I did make mention that when it came to preserving human life he could make one exception.
Still this was so much better to me than the Lester cut. I'm actually going to buy the DVD real soon.

[huedell]

The big cellophane "S" thing was the dumbest thing I had ever seen even being 6 years old at the time.

Someone here once said that the reason the cellophane "S" was so
dumb to so many, was that it wasn't a "typical" Superman thing to do---
I could buy that, I guess...at least for a reason that comicbook diehards
felt "off" about it.

Other than that, I never understood the cheese factor of it.

To me, when you have a dumb ultra-powered being come at you,
and you use a tool to slow him down/buy some time,
it seems pretty sensible to me...and to me at 9 years old....
well, it was probably the bees knees to see something fancy like that
color up the movie screen out of nowhere like that.

That being said, altho' I don't have the Donner Cut, the fan edit I have
omits the Fortress games as well. Like you, I don't miss it...and I agree
that the movie is better for it.

[huedell]

The only big "goof" I noticed is at the end when Supes blows up the Fortress, we never saw what he did with Lex. You know he didn't leave him there....

My version has cops in vans/jeeps there....I can't remember if the
Donner Cut has this.

[Jason73]

I don't think that's petty because, for one,,,you're not the only one that feels that way (its mine too!).

As I mentioned earlier its back, in the fan edit I have.

I'd love to see your fan edit. Sound really cool.

[huedell]

I'd love to see your fan edit. Sound really cool.

It really is Jason...almost all the choices I would've made.

[thunderbolt]

The cellophane S was lame, why in the world would Superman even have junk like that? Maybe to wrap up the brownies he made for the JLA bake sale?

[thunderbolt]

My version has cops in vans/jeeps there....I can't remember if the
Donner Cut has this.

SO in your world, you can drive to the Fortress of Solitude? Kinda voids the whole solitude thing.

[huedell]

SO in your world, you can drive to the Fortress of Solitude? Kinda voids the whole solitude thing.

I think they tried to salvage that with some kind of trench.
It was a very short scene too, so there's that.

[thunderbolt]

Superman located the Fortress in a place only he could access thru flight, That's why Lex needed the Phantom Zone guys to get there. Unless Lex is more of an idiot than he thinks, he could have rented a Yugo to get there in Donner's world.

[huedell]

The cellophane S was lame, why in the world would Superman even have junk like that?

For the same reason some might have rubber bullets or something...
...as in a bit of a more humane deterent to buy more time in a fight????

I could go either way on the "S"...and obviously this fan edit
I've come across chose what the majority feel...to cut that bit out
because most view it as stupid.

I've made multiple points about this fan edit I have in this thread...
but basically summed up, its much like the Donner Cut,
i.e. they cut out all the cheesy schlock that they could.

I prefer it that way...otherwise its too "Lestery" and is one step away from being SUPERMAN 3 as far as I'm concerned, and that'd be all fine
and good except in later years for me, ts so obvious that the core of the vibe
of SUPERMAN 2 is the tone Donner set, free of clowny
over-the-top moments....and I like trying to steer it back to something l
less goofy as it feels at its core.