Superman 2 (The Richard Donner Cut)
As originally conceived and intended, the version you have never seen.
You haven't seen all the Superman films until you've seen this! Superman 2 starring Christopher Reeve returns with a never-before-seen beginning and resolution. Director Richard Donner began shooting his vision of Superman 2 while concurrently filming Superman: The Movie. For the first time, his unique vision is here. Jor-El (Marlon Brando in recently found footage) appears in key new scenes that amplify Superman lore and deepen the relationship between father and son. Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plots more schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman. With so many changes, large and small, this version is an eye-opening alternate experience.
Member Reviews
A more super Superman - CaptainDave
Compared to the released version, this version of Superman II, by the original director, Richard Donner, is definitely the superior movie, despite the lack of some transitional scenes and the crudity and down right absence of some special effects. I watched the two -- first the release version and then the Donner version -- so I could have a fresh comparison. Richard Donner's cut doesn't make Superman II a really great movie, but it does make it a better one.
Gone are a lot of the juvenile jokes (although there are some different ones). And gone is a lot of the padding and stretching of the battle scenes. The result: we get a tighter, more serious and more suspenseful story. Oh, yeah, and Marlon Brando.
Aside from wanting to save money by not having to pay big bucks to Brando, it's clear why Donner got kicked off the movie: the producers clearly wanted more action (i.e., those fights and battles) and they wanted a more kid-friendly movie (i.e., those jokes -- see above).
It still has that 1970s kind of innocence to it, though -- this is definitely no The Dark Knight. So if you're looking for that, look elsewhere.loved it but.... - Saucypants1000
SPOILERS!!!!!!
Ok here's the thing. I really liked seeing new scenes to this film and alternate scenes, but for the most part it is still about 90% of the Superman 2 you have already seen. this is where the spoiler comes in ok so here's your warning. THE ENDING SUCKS!!!! it's the same ending from the first Superman, he spins the earth's axis in reverse like he did in the first superman movie, and you know what that sucked too. That always bugged me even as a kid, I could recognize then that spinning the earth would not make you time travel, the earth would be thrown into chaos, floods earthquakes we would all fall off. Other then that I guess I'm glad that they changed the whole kissing Lois Lane to remove the parts of her brain that knew Clarke Kent was Superman.Interesting Alternate Version of a Classic Sequel - Shawn1
For those not quite sure what this particular DVD is about, the story basically goes: Richard Donner, director of Superman: The Movie had filmed most of the scenes for Superman II before he was fired by the producers for various reasons; his replacement, Richard Lester, re-shot many of the scenes and changed others to give us the Superman II movie that was released in 1980. Over the years a fan base built up that wanted to see Donner’s unused footage and also what vision he had in mind, so that finally in 2006 Donner went to the archives and put together his version of the film, with new special effect shots, all with Warner Brother’s blessing. Is it a success? Yes, definitely; there was so much unused footage that it’s pretty much a new movie. There’s now a new beginning & ending, alternate versions of Superman’s fights with the Super-villains, a different take on the romance between Lois & Superman, less goofy humor & odd superpowers, and most notably, the return of Marlon Brando as Jor-El. Brando had filmed his scenes originally for use in Superman II but they were removed by the producers to avoid paying his multi-million dollar fee; his restored scenes make much more sense to the movie. The new version isn’t perfect though; Donner has a notable grudge against Lester (he won’t refer to him by name on the intro) and as a result tries to use as little of Lester’s footage as possible, even though sometimes Lester’s is better. Also, Donner’s ending is confusing and a little too similar to Superman: The Movie, while a key scene involving the Fortress of Solitude won’t gel with events in Superman Returns. It’s unfortunate Donner wasn’t in a more giving mood; incorporating the best of his footage along with the best of Lester’s could’ve resulted in the definitive version of Superman II. As it is, the movie won’t replace the original Superman II, although Reeve is as great as ever, but it’s certainly worth a look for, as Donner says "what might have been."
Member Reviews
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A more super Superman - CaptainDave
Compared to the released version, this version of Superman II, by the original director, Richard Donner, is definitely the superior movie, despite the lack of some transitional scenes and the crudity and down right absence of some special effects. I watched ...loved it but.... - Saucypants1000
SPOILERS!!!!!!
Ok here's the thing. I really liked seeing new scenes to this film and alternate scenes, but for the most part it is still about 90% of the Superman 2 you have already seen. this is where the spoiler comes in ok so here's your warning. ...Interesting Alternate Version of a Classic Sequel - Shawn1
For those not quite sure what this particular DVD is about, the story basically goes: Richard Donner, director of Superman: The Movie had filmed most of the scenes for Superman II before he was fired by the producers for various reasons; his replacement, Richard ...