Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 22nd, 2007, 17:34

After listening to a couple of people speak very highly of this I had to check it out myself.

[img size=282]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... er-dvd.jpg[/img]

I'm not a huge Superman fan or anything (although I do like to watch most of the hero based films), but I think many people will have fond memories of watching the old Superman films as a kid. At least the first two and maybe the third but I think even a child could see how shit the forth one was. So I'm willing to watch again with thick, rose-tinted glasses perched on the end of my nose.

This new version is as close as possible to how the original Director envisioned the film. Richard Donner was supposed to direct both the first and second films but he was replaced during the making of the second for some reason by Richard Lester. Having watched both versions it's obvious there was a lot differences in the two Directors visions. Lester's is camp and full of "gags", where as Donner's is more serious and in keeping with the first Superman film. While Lester's version is fun and still enjoyable, especially due to nostalgia, Donner's feels more like a proper film and less of a kids movie.

There's quite a few scenes removed in the Donner cut, the Eiffel Tower at the start is gone and the way in which Lois tests if Clark is Superman is changed, but there are also some added. Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Superman's Father, is restored and these scenes are some of the best in the film. Many of the "gags" are removed and replaced with more mature and subtle jokes.

While it's not a perfect film it's a very good effort and worth checking out if you've ever enjoyed Superman. It's certainly better than that overly long and charm-challenged Superman Returns.

IMDb page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0839995/

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 10:14

I suppose I should have expected this kind of response, ie. none.

It's worth watching, honestly. It's like a whole new film and if you haven't seen Supes 2 for a while you will very probably enjoy it. Ah well, your loss.

Post by **Dog Pants** » January 24th, 2007, 10:17

Sorry. Always hated the superman films.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 10:19

Dog Pants wrote:Sorry. Always hated the superman films.

I demand that you validate that statement with an explanation. I'd be interested to know why/how someone can hate The S Man.

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » January 24th, 2007, 10:46

Dog Pants wrote:Sorry. Always hated the superman films.

I found them pretty rubbish as well, even as a kid, as they were shown so much on TV that I got bored of them.

I probably really enjoyed them the first time as a kid, but I could never watch one now.

Post by **Dog Pants** » January 24th, 2007, 11:07

spoodie wrote: I demand that you validate that statement with an explanation. I'd be interested to know why/how someone can hate The S Man.

Well, I don't much like Superman as a character - not enough vulnerablity and too clean-cut. I don't like the kitsch comic book plots to the films (shame on you Richard Pryor), and the bland 70s look to them just makes me really really want to avoid them.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 11:58

Dog Pants wrote:Well, I don't much like Superman as a character - not enough vulnerablity and too clean-cut. I don't like the kitsch comic book plots to the films (shame on you Richard Pryor), and the bland 70s look to them just makes me really really want to avoid them.

Well that's fair enough but you may be pleasently surprised by this version of the film. This new cut shows the vulnerable side of Supes better than the original, in fact it does everything better.

Superman 3 was a Bryor vehicle, not a proper Superman film and was directed by the same hack that took over and fucked up Superman 2.

Post by **Grimmie** » January 24th, 2007, 12:03

Bill, from Kill Bill wrote: As you know, I’m quite keen on comic books. Especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology surrounding superheroes fascinating.

Take my favorite superhero, Superman. Not a great comic book. Not particularly well-drawn. But the mythology… The mythology is not only great, it’s unique.

Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there’s the superhero and there’s the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he’s Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone.

Superman didn’t become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he’s Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red “S” - that’s the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that’s the costume. That’s the costume Superman wears to blend in with us.

Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He’s weak… He’s unsure of himself… He’s a coward.

Clark Kent is Superman’s critique on the whole human race.

Grimmie likes Bill quotes.

Post by **Dog Pants** » January 24th, 2007, 12:47

spoodie wrote: Well that's fair enough but you may be pleasently surprised by this version of the film. This new cut shows the vulnerable side of Supes better than the original, in fact it does everything better.

Superman 3 was a Bryor vehicle, not a proper Superman film and was directed by the same hack that took over and fucked up Superman 2.

I'd be prepared to watch it on your recommendation, but I'm still sceptical enough to not warrant putting much effort into getting to see it.

Interestingly (to me) the superhero revival of recent times has been much more sloped towards the anti-heroes and underdogs. Maybe it's because the young adult population are now cynical generation-xers and so they fit our outlook better, and at the time of the production of Superman people wanted more innocent and optimistic cinema. Having said that, many of my favourite films are from the 70s so it's more likely just to be an aversion to superheroes that I have.

cashy · Post by **cashy** » January 24th, 2007, 13:25

Grimmie wrote: Grimmie likes Bill quotes.

So do i, he makes a great observation there. But this still cannot hide the fact that superman sucks the big one

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 14:33

Dog Pants wrote:I'd be prepared to watch it on your recommendation, but I'm still sceptical enough to not warrant putting much effort into getting to see it.

In that case I also recommend you watch .. um ... Calendar Girls.

I may be being a bit aggressive in my "selling" of this film but it surprised me so much and was so different from the original it mostly warrants it. Although if you have an aversion to Superman it may not work for you.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » January 24th, 2007, 14:36

I really like the first one, 2nd one was alright I guess so I'd be interested in watching this new version.

Although I recently watched Superman 2 so don't really feel inclined to seek out the director's cut any time soon.

I think I might be one of the only people to actually quite like Superman Returns

Edit: Tangent - I meant to write up a post for this Forum on 'Children of Men' but can't really be bothered now, suffice to say I thought it was amazing, that doesn't really justify it's own post though

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 14:47

cashy wrote:So do i, he makes a great observation there. But this still cannot hide the fact that superman sucks the big one

[img size=320]http://www.themot.org/gallery/d/2632-1/nouguy.jpg[/img]

mrbobbins wrote:Although I recently watched Superman 2 so don't really feel inclined to seek out the director's cut any time soon.

It's not a Director's Cut in the usual sense, like a few scenes added or whatever, it's very different. I watched the original and the re-cut a week later without getting bored. Once I get some dual-layered DVDs I'm going to be burning the copy I took so I can watch it again.

Post by **Dog Pants** » January 24th, 2007, 16:36

mrbobbins wrote:Edit: Tangent - I meant to write up a post for this Forum on 'Children of Men' but can't really be bothered now, suffice to say I thought it was amazing, that doesn't really justify it's own post though

I was thinking of starting a mini movie review thread - I've got over 350 DVDs so I reckon I could make quite a post - but I got distracted by work.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » January 24th, 2007, 16:49

Dog Pants wrote:
I was thinking of starting a mini movie review thread - I've got over 350 DVDs so I reckon I could make quite a post - but I got distracted by work.

Good Plan, like the games mini reviews, I think it'll suit films better though

Post by **FatherJack** » January 24th, 2007, 17:44

Dog Pants wrote:I was thinking of starting a mini movie review thread - I've got over 350 DVDs so I reckon I could make quite a post - but I got distracted by work.

Good idea, we can make some stickies copied from the games mini-reviews. Should we have one for everything, or separate for Movies, TV, Music, Books?

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » January 24th, 2007, 17:51

FatherJack wrote: Good idea, we can make some stickies copied from the games mini-reviews. Should we have one for everything, or separate for Movies, TV, Music, Books?

Seperate I reckon

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 24th, 2007, 19:11

Never mind all that.

http://www.sendit.com/video/item/7001000128486

Post by **Joose** » January 24th, 2007, 19:57

Ive never liked Superman. It was a bad idea (a character thats just great at everything) done badly (really early comics = teh poo) that was fixed badly (er...make him allergic to his home planet! yeah!) and was then turned into a few films. Which I dont particularly like.

In fact, about the only bit of the superman franchise I liked was the early stages of the Smallville series. Him finding out his powers was frequently bloody funny. Especially good was the heat vision thing. Apparently, the trigger for that particular power is him getting the horn.

Post by **Roman Totale** » January 24th, 2007, 20:44

Joose wrote: In fact, about the only bit of the superman franchise I liked was the early stages of the Smallville series. Him finding out his powers was frequently bloody funny. Especially good was the heat vision thing. Apparently, the trigger for that particular power is him getting the horn.

This. I've always thought Superman was a bit of a smug cupcake to be honest. I like my superheroes to be human, with all the frailties inherent with that. I could just never connect with Superman (alien git that he is - send him back home!). Like you say though, Smallville was very well done. Best episode was when Lana went mad (or something) and did a strip in the swimming pool. Frilly knickers!