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quick question anybody seen this on dvd how much different is it from The Richard Lester 1981 version
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Quite different. Obviously some of the footage needs to be the same, but they even put in some screen tests because they didn't film the actual scenes. The ending is the same as the first movie because that was what they were originally going to do on two. Worth getting just to have IMOIt's all good! -
I watched it about a year ago.
It was awesome, if you're a Superman 1 fan you'll be pretty depressed that Donner and Puzo weren't able to continue with the series. It's amazing how much unused Donner stuff wasn't used originally.
Turns out all the good scenes in 2 were actually shot by Donner and all the jokey dated nonsense was Lester.
In the original part 2 I was always bothered by the fact that Superman can seemingly turn his superpowers off and on at will with his crystal machine - so his dilemma about getting his powers turned off makes no sense. The original plan Donner had for the plot not only fixes that problem, but adds a brilliant aspect to Supe's character and ties in perfectly with the themes from part 1. I really don't want to ruin that for you.
Donner had so much more quality control over all the small details in his scenes - the shots at the end of Superman with sweat stained arm-pits are gone in the new cut, for example.
It's a little rough around the edges in some places - a scene in a Niagara Falls hotel is actually a digitally doctored screen test, because that scene was never properly shot. Also, there is no real ending - so it can't really replace the original part two, unfortunately. (Still, no ending is still better than the "super-kiss" ending, in my opinion.)
One thing that's always bothered me about part 2 (both versions); how do Clark and Lois find a car in the north pole after he looses his powers? Also, why doesn't Lois just give Clark a ride back to the north pole when he decides to become Superman again? Why does he have to hitch?Comment
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It was good - I have it on HD-DVDComment
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I agree with everybody else, the Donner version was far superior. Would have been even more so if Donner had been able to film everything he had wanted. As it was he had to incorporate some minor Lestorism's as Brazoo has mentioned.
Still enough changes to move it from my ehh! list to my I likee! list!"Crayons taste like purple!"Comment
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Good but a bit choppy at times. To be expected considering what they had to do to piece it together. Would've been a much better film had they left Donner to do it all (1 & 2).
I have only watched it once since I got it and have been meaning to watch it again so I can't recall exactly why but I seem to remember being a bit disappointed in one of my favorite scenes. The one where Clark comes back at the end and beats up that bully in the Diner. Seems I recall that whatever they did earlier in the film somewhat lessened the impact of that confrontation or perhaps it ended up making no sense? I think it was because Superman turned back time (in Pt. 2 instead of Pt. 1) so actually the original beat-down never really occurred? Am I recalling that right?
RichComment
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Being a Superman Fan,.. & a Huge Chris Reeves as Supes Fan,.. I enjoyed it. However,.. I am in the Minority,.. as far as I liked the other version better.... The Original Knight ..., Often Imitated, However Never Duplicated. The 1st Knight in Customs.
always trading for Hot Toys Figures .
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Ha! You're totally right - I forgot about that scene. Yeah, instead of cheering for Clark it just feels like he's a jerk for picking on a guy who didn't even know who he was, and then he says 'I've been working out' (or whatever the funny line is), and it's not funny because you're distracted by the fact that everyone there must be thinking 'oh, that's nice, who the hell are you?'
Then again the 'super-kiss' ending never made sense to me either.Comment
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As lame as the super-kiss was, I do believe it had some precedence in the comics, unlike super-cellophane power.
Getting to see Reeve and Brando share a very powerful scene together is worth the price of admission for me. Plus the opening sequence at the Daily Planet is great. The bully part did seem like a huge time paradox in this version though.
I do miss the alleyway running change scene from the begining of Lester's version. I've always loved that. It's like a Curt Swan comic panel come to life.
Oh and Donner's version is missing the classic "General....Care to step outside?" line as well.
But overall, you see that Donner's version would have been far superior to what we got. Even though Lester's II is still a good movie, despite it's Frankenstein-like nature. It's half Donner's anyway!
ChrisComment
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the donner cut. like stated above. is unfinished and patchworked together with what was available. had donner stayed on it would have been very different.
it is not great in itself because it is incomplete BUT it is NECESSARY viewing for any superman fan. i think of it as a n extras disc rather than a complete movie. lots of deleted and alternate scenes.Comment
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I enjoyed watching Superman I and II together in the Donner boxset with the understanding that Superman's answer to Every Problem he encounters is to turn back time (including this week's Smallville). Didn't save Lois? Go back in Time. Let the Phantom Zone Villians loose? Go back in Time. Revealing your Identity to the World was a bad idea? Go back in Time. Forgot to pick up your dry cleaning? Go back in Time.
I think Superman III is a great Richard Pryor movie. Kind of like the George Reeves appearance was a great I Love Lucy episode.
Using Superman IV as a coaster currently, although a buddy of mine was telling me the other day that the commentary was worth checking out in terms of following how all the best intentions of Christopher Reeve and co became such a trainwreck in the end.Comment
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superman iv is a train wreck but watching th eextras actually makes the film make sense and gives you bizarro (though he isn't called bizzaro) - must watch footageComment
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Superman 2, whether it's the Donner version or the regular version, is a very hard movie for me to sit through.
Back in the day I thought Superman 2 was one of the best, coolest and most entertaining movies of all time ...
Today,
I can't explain why, but I just can't sit through it.
It seems to go on forever and it's a chore to finish.
WeirdComment
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