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dolariThe reward: "Superman II The Richard Donner Cut" I can already see the rolling eyes out there, since I talked about it so much.
Basically, the guy who directed the first Superman Movie, Richard Donner, also filmed about 75% of Superman II. He was fired, and another director was brought in to refilm the movie and filmed his own 75% of the movie (and dropped Marlon Brando) because the producers wanted Donner's name off the film (and didn't want to pay Marlon).
The result was after a very respectful and "believeable" Superman I you got a rather campy Superman II (which was always the producer's original intent, you should read the horrifying original script to Superman I, complete with Telly Savalas cameo). Unlike most people who are interested in Donner's version, I don't think the Richard Lester version is bad at all - it's just really campy, which is jarring after the very respectful and honest first movie.
For more info on the ins and outs of what happened in 1977, check out the Wikipedia Article for Superman II.
Anyways, the Richard Donner version was finally officially released. 75% of the movie is his movie, with the other 25% being new CGI footage and assorted Richard Lester Shots (even with all the film assembled, there were large gaps in the story where no footage was filmed).
That said, this is a totally different movie and restores a LOT of that "honesty and respect" feel to movie. Lois no longer stumbles into finding out Clark is Superman, she actively seeks out proof. Non isn't a cute big lug anymore, he's a menace. The romance is deeper, and the new Jor-el/Clark scenes really echo "rebellion" and "realization." It's a slower, more methodical picture like the first. Time is taken to tell the story, and make it work, versus keeping the pace up. In general it's a much better told story. Kinda like seeing an old friend with a new dye job.
Best of all, most of the campiness is GONE. Lois' orange juicer scene? Gone. The guy talking to his mom on the phone in the superwind laughing all the way? Gone. The hick town scenes of the baddies strutting around what seems to be 1890's Wyoming? Gone...mostly. The only real victim of the de-campy-ness is Zod. I rather liked his queeny acting in the Lester version, and while now he's also a real menace...he's not Queen Zod.
That isn't to say it doesn't have it's flaws, mostly due to sequences that weren't filmed, or effects that weren't finished. The CGI used in several several places is very bad. There are more scenes of the heavies on the Phantom Zone, and while the elements are from 1977, the effects look very cartoony. A scene with the washington monument being destroyed looke more like a polygon being toppled over. Scenes of the villains being freed honestly look like they were done in Celestia, and don't match other space scenes at ALL.
The middle of the movie is very choppy. Scenes that were meant to be filmed of the bad guys destroying the world were never filmed as well as the romance between Lois and Superman in the Fortress. Instead, they showed the baddies destroying East Houston, and cut out much of the silliness (and to Michael Thau's credit, it looks devastating). But the romance scenes were hurt by the cuts, since they're Lester Footage and cut to the bare minimum to tell the story.
Major changes from Lester's Superman II and Donner's:
No Eiffel Tower scene, instead the scene involves Lois figuring out Clark is Superman at the Daily Planet. The villains are released by the XK101 Rocket from the first movie, and not the Eiffel Tower elevator.
Lex and Eve and the Fortress of Solitude are extended, and instead of the Kryptonian Elder and Lara talking to Lex and Eve, it's Jor El.
The Niagra Falls scenes are cut drastically. The scene where Lois discovers clarks secret is completely different (and better, in my view), although done from screen tests.
The East Houston shots are drastically cut, removing all the camp, and focusing on Zod's destruction of the town.
Entirely new scene of Clark rebelling against Jor El, then being depowered.
Extended Zod Destroys the White House scenes. Much more violent.
Entirely new scene of Superman meeting the last remnants of Jor El, and being "repowered."
Extended Daily Planet scenes of the baddies wrecking the place.
The Ursa/Non/Zod/Superman fight has two new scenes (the only ones filmed my Donner). The rest of the lester footage has been cut to remove all the sight gags.
The Fortress scenes at the end are heavily extended, along with two extra scenes after the fight
Superman turns back time to make everyone forget, fix the world, and reimprison the bad guys. Everyone walks around in a daze of deja vu.
My only major dissapointment in this is the director/scriptwriters's commentary. In the commentary for the first movie, it was a wonderful experience. Two friends getting togther and having a good time. This time, there's tension there. Donner at times refuses to say the name of Richard Lerster, he is often agitated at the producers and the "Other film."
During Richard Lester scenes, there's often uncomfortable pauses, or what sounds like a scripted commentary where he apologizes/explains that "Other directors have different views of movies, and this part isn't mine." The poor guy is still bitter 30 years later, and while I dont' blame him, I'd simply rather not have any commentary there, than listen to people who sound like they're holding back a tirade.
This has been one of my holy grails for a long time, along side the original script for TV Movie version of Star Trek the Motion Picture and the extended version of Dune. I'm VERY happy with the movie on this disc, as it's the Superman II that SHOULD have been. It's got the heart the first one had, and the Lester version was missing.
VERY VERY happy with it. :D
Basically, the guy who directed the first Superman Movie, Richard Donner, also filmed about 75% of Superman II. He was fired, and another director was brought in to refilm the movie and filmed his own 75% of the movie (and dropped Marlon Brando) because the producers wanted Donner's name off the film (and didn't want to pay Marlon).
The result was after a very respectful and "believeable" Superman I you got a rather campy Superman II (which was always the producer's original intent, you should read the horrifying original script to Superman I, complete with Telly Savalas cameo). Unlike most people who are interested in Donner's version, I don't think the Richard Lester version is bad at all - it's just really campy, which is jarring after the very respectful and honest first movie.
For more info on the ins and outs of what happened in 1977, check out the Wikipedia Article for Superman II.
Anyways, the Richard Donner version was finally officially released. 75% of the movie is his movie, with the other 25% being new CGI footage and assorted Richard Lester Shots (even with all the film assembled, there were large gaps in the story where no footage was filmed).
That said, this is a totally different movie and restores a LOT of that "honesty and respect" feel to movie. Lois no longer stumbles into finding out Clark is Superman, she actively seeks out proof. Non isn't a cute big lug anymore, he's a menace. The romance is deeper, and the new Jor-el/Clark scenes really echo "rebellion" and "realization." It's a slower, more methodical picture like the first. Time is taken to tell the story, and make it work, versus keeping the pace up. In general it's a much better told story. Kinda like seeing an old friend with a new dye job.
Best of all, most of the campiness is GONE. Lois' orange juicer scene? Gone. The guy talking to his mom on the phone in the superwind laughing all the way? Gone. The hick town scenes of the baddies strutting around what seems to be 1890's Wyoming? Gone...mostly. The only real victim of the de-campy-ness is Zod. I rather liked his queeny acting in the Lester version, and while now he's also a real menace...he's not Queen Zod.
That isn't to say it doesn't have it's flaws, mostly due to sequences that weren't filmed, or effects that weren't finished. The CGI used in several several places is very bad. There are more scenes of the heavies on the Phantom Zone, and while the elements are from 1977, the effects look very cartoony. A scene with the washington monument being destroyed looke more like a polygon being toppled over. Scenes of the villains being freed honestly look like they were done in Celestia, and don't match other space scenes at ALL.
The middle of the movie is very choppy. Scenes that were meant to be filmed of the bad guys destroying the world were never filmed as well as the romance between Lois and Superman in the Fortress. Instead, they showed the baddies destroying East Houston, and cut out much of the silliness (and to Michael Thau's credit, it looks devastating). But the romance scenes were hurt by the cuts, since they're Lester Footage and cut to the bare minimum to tell the story.
Major changes from Lester's Superman II and Donner's:
No Eiffel Tower scene, instead the scene involves Lois figuring out Clark is Superman at the Daily Planet. The villains are released by the XK101 Rocket from the first movie, and not the Eiffel Tower elevator.
Lex and Eve and the Fortress of Solitude are extended, and instead of the Kryptonian Elder and Lara talking to Lex and Eve, it's Jor El.
The Niagra Falls scenes are cut drastically. The scene where Lois discovers clarks secret is completely different (and better, in my view), although done from screen tests.
The East Houston shots are drastically cut, removing all the camp, and focusing on Zod's destruction of the town.
Entirely new scene of Clark rebelling against Jor El, then being depowered.
Extended Zod Destroys the White House scenes. Much more violent.
Entirely new scene of Superman meeting the last remnants of Jor El, and being "repowered."
Extended Daily Planet scenes of the baddies wrecking the place.
The Ursa/Non/Zod/Superman fight has two new scenes (the only ones filmed my Donner). The rest of the lester footage has been cut to remove all the sight gags.
The Fortress scenes at the end are heavily extended, along with two extra scenes after the fight
Superman turns back time to make everyone forget, fix the world, and reimprison the bad guys. Everyone walks around in a daze of deja vu.
My only major dissapointment in this is the director/scriptwriters's commentary. In the commentary for the first movie, it was a wonderful experience. Two friends getting togther and having a good time. This time, there's tension there. Donner at times refuses to say the name of Richard Lerster, he is often agitated at the producers and the "Other film."
During Richard Lester scenes, there's often uncomfortable pauses, or what sounds like a scripted commentary where he apologizes/explains that "Other directors have different views of movies, and this part isn't mine." The poor guy is still bitter 30 years later, and while I dont' blame him, I'd simply rather not have any commentary there, than listen to people who sound like they're holding back a tirade.
This has been one of my holy grails for a long time, along side the original script for TV Movie version of Star Trek the Motion Picture and the extended version of Dune. I'm VERY happy with the movie on this disc, as it's the Superman II that SHOULD have been. It's got the heart the first one had, and the Lester version was missing.
VERY VERY happy with it. :D
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Date: 2006-12-03 11:47 pm (UTC)Something of interest to you, maybe - a review of the 8th Doctor TV film (http://dfordoom.livejournal.com/322701.html").