Superman II The Richard Donner Version

[kennermike]

I just watched this last night for the first time on Dvd. I cant believe it its a total different film! They took almost all the comedy out of the Richard Lester Version man he butcherd that film .Donners version was fantasic this is the real part II! Terence Stamp was more of a badass then ever!!!
http://megomuseum.com/mmgallery/file...donnercut1.jpg

[Mikey]

I think Donner's version is a nice oddity watching it today ... but back in the day I don't think it would have been well recieved ... There's just too much violence - especially the part where they killed the kid.

I totally understand why the version we all know of was released.

Don't forget ...
Long before we knew of a "Donner version" most people listed Superman-2 as their favorite of the series.

Me personally, I always liked the first movie best

[Nostalgiabuff]

the first two movies were awesome. Donner made them together so it was really one long movie split into two parts....even with Lesters meddling. The Donner version of 2 is better but Mike is probably right that it would not have been as well received. the culture back then did not like dark movies....which is why classics like Blade Runner, The Thing etc did not do well at the box office

[BlackKnight]

Stamps More Bad Arse Role was Better ...
However I can't say I cared for it much else over the other 1..., It is a Must watch for any Superman Reeves Fan.

[thunderbolt]

Does the stupid *** chest emblem celophane trap still exist? That really ruined it for me as a kid, stupidest thing I've ever seen.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I need to rewatch the Donner cut again. I feel it is a far superior movie to the Lester/Donner version. I refuse to give all the credit to Lester since he only directed roughly half the movie. The Donner movie does take on a more serious tone, but there is still comedy, it's just more appropriate. Love the opening sequence where Lois tries to make Clark reveal he's Superman, and the reveal scene at Niagra Falls just makes more sense even if it is done with screen test footage. The real kicker is the actual scene with Reeve and Brando, which really drives home the tragic mistake Superman made and what he'll have to sacrifice to get his powers back. The Donner cut comes out and says what a bonehead, selfish move Superman made in giving up his powers. Jor-El even gives Lois a dirty look!!!

After watching this, the flaws and lack of motivational moments in the released version are really apparent. I still like the original, but I think if the Donner cut would have been released whole, it would have been a true "Empire Strikes Back" sequel that almost everyone would rank above the original.

My only gripe is they more or less kept the same ending from Superman:The Movie. I know it was originally supposed to be the ending to II, but I wish they could have come up with some alternate ending, or maybe even stick with Lester's super-kiss, which while contrived, did originate in the comics.

Chris

[kingdom warrior]

Does the stupid *** chest emblem celophane trap still exist? That really ruined it for me as a kid, stupidest thing I've ever seen.

No That was taken out......Yes i agree i hated that also

[kingdom warrior]

I need to rewatch the Donner cut again. I feel it is a far superior movie to the Lester/Donner version. I refuse to give all the credit to Lester since he only directed roughly half the movie. The Donner movie does take on a more serious tone, but there is still comedy, it's just more appropriate. Love the opening sequence where Lois tries to make Clark reveal he's Superman, and the reveal scene at Niagra Falls just makes more sense even if it is done with screen test footage. The real kicker is the actual scene with Reeve and Brando, which really drives home the tragic mistake Superman made and what he'll have to sacrifice to get his powers back. The Donner cut comes out and says what a bonehead, selfish move Superman made in giving up his powers. Jor-El even gives Lois a dirty look!!!

After watching this, the flaws and lack of motivational moments in the released version are really apparent. I still like the original, but I think if the Donner cut would have been released whole, it would have been a true "Empire Strikes Back" sequel that almost everyone would rank above the original.

My only gripe is they more or less kept the same ending from Superman:The Movie. I know it was originally supposed to be the ending to II, but I wish they could have come up with some alternate ending, or maybe even stick with Lester's super-kiss, which while contrived, did originate in the comics.

Chris

Ugh no..... I hated the Super Kiss! I'm Glad it was kept to what Donner originally had invisioned. I know that it is what it is. Putting together what might have been and I'm satisfied with it. I remember loving parts of two but never cared for somethings in the movie. When I found out there were two different directors, that's when I saw the difference. Donners cut looks like it belonged in the original Superman while Lesters looks like another film all together.

Plus you can see where they added parts......Lois has Flat hair and her voice is lighter in the original.......intercut with Fluffy hair, she was thinner, voice already changing because of her smoking Lois,,,,,,

[The Toyroom]

I need to check this out.....

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Yeah, I love the Brando footage in there. Also, I do love that screen test footage rather than the fireplace scene.

[Mikey]

Did the Donner version ever play on TV ?

The reason i'm asking ....

I never did see the Donner version in complete form ...
I watched all the Donner footage on youtube and edited it into the movie in my own head ... so in a way I did see the Donner version, but not in it's entirety at one time.

But, about 6 months ago I caught Superman-2 on cable ... Might have been on AMC or TNT ...

Anyway, I caught it 3/4's of the way through and noticed something interesting ...
The police were at Superman's Fortress of Solitude recovering the nasties after they had fell.

My question is, was that the Donner version ?
Also, did the Donner version imply the baddies did not die after falling ?

The Lester version makes it look like they died and Superman just left their bodies there ...

[VintageMike]

Havn't watched it in a while but I thought it was great. I loved the orginal cut as well and pleasantly surprised that I liked this even more.

[LadyZod]

There are now 3 versions of Superman II...

Theatrical
TV
and Donner cut (which wasn't actually cut by Donner, just inspired by the screeplay Donner would have used.)

The theatrical one shows the Kryptonian villains falling and the end.

The ABC Tv version had extra scenes, such as Ms Testmacher asking where the bathroom is in the fortress, the famous Souffle scene, and the cops at the Fortress ending plus added Superman/Lois break-up dialog (which were Donner shot scenes cut from the original movie). This was exclusive to ABC for a long time.

Then you have the new "Donner" cut which brings to light more archival footage, most famous being JorEl (Brando) retaking his position as the Kryptonian databank keeper.

I love the new "Donner" cut mostly because it opens up the possibilities of what could have been. Darker film.

What I would have loved to seen is the original script for Superman II on film. In that version, when Luthor and Ms Testmacher are in the fortress, Ms Testmacher pockets a crystal that Luthor does not see. That crystal turns out to be from the depowering chamber... which no one knows is missing. So the movie plays out, and JorEl warns Superman that the depowering is indeed permanent. And it is... except for the missing crystal. When the villains call out Superman in Metropolis, Clark who is depowered feels resposible and breaks into a costume shop and puts on a Superman costume and goes off to confront Zod, knowing he will die. Then his powers kick in and the battle starts. Luthor finds out Testmacher pocketed the crystal and deducing for the audience that because it was missing, Superman's power loss was not permanent.

This script is readily available online and makes for a great read. Only bad thing is the 4th Villain introduced: Jak-El who makes stupid pop culture remarks and is the "funny one."

[HapSlash]

Am I alone in saying that I can't stand the Donner version of the film?

Granted there are a few extended scenes that would have been nice to have in the theatrical release, but overall the pacing is just awful,... The opening of the film is extremely slow and uninteresting and just sets up everything else that is to come. many of the scenes are laughably bad... he battle in metropolis has a lot more to it, absolutely none of which should be watched. And the "climax" in the fortress of solitude is so very anti-climactic.

And while I love seeing Brando as Jor-El again, the scenes between him and Reeve in there are not as good in my opinion. Superman comes off as an angsty teen rebelling against his father, whining to get what he wants... I prefer the the more heartfelt... emotional conversation that he has with his mother. To me it just felt more in place with the dignity that the character usually portrays.

I made the mistake of watching the Donner cut with a friend who had never seen the Superman films before, and they couldn't understand why I liked it. So I had to track down and show them the theatrical version which they watched twice because they liked it that much more.

[kryptosmaster]

Am I alone in saying that I can't stand the Donner version of the film?

You don't have to like it. Nothing wrong with that.
I can see your points though. It's far from the perfect film but that's due to the availability of the source material for the most part. Donner never finished it so there were a lot of scenes that were never shot and they also used a lot of screen tests, etc to replace most of these missing parts so the film does have a bit of a disjointed feel at times.
That said it was still great (to me) and if you take the time to smooth over the rough edges with your mind and try to imagine I & II as one long film you can appreciate it more.
Rich