Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

The Richard Donnor Cut is definitely the superior version of Superman 2. A lot of the silly moments from the theatrical version have been left out and scenes that were vital to the story have been put back in. The Best thing about this movie is the fact that they put Marlon Brando back in as Jor-El and it was wonderful to see new footage of him. Also if you own the theatrical version of Superman 2, you can still get this cut because so many scenes were reshot that it's almost a completely different movie, the only thing that's the same is the story. The only problems with the movie is the fact that it's unfinished and they had to put scenes from the theatrical version in the place of scenes that were never filmed. unfortunately since these 2 movies are different, putting in scenes from the theatrical cut made some pretty big plot holes. nevertheless the Donner cut is way better than the theatrical version.

I, like many others have been waiting for this cut to come along. I got the DVD yesterday and expected a film with missing holes, missing scene title cards and un-easy editing due to the footage used.

What people forget is that Richard Lester's version was pretty hot in 1980 minus a bloke getting blown around while on the phone in the heat of a battle.

Well ... I was shocked, and I clapped at the end. Superman II now feels like a different film. The new scenes are very good (and just show what Chris Reeve could do - what a wonderful actor he really was), Marlon Brando scenes are superb to watch, new music cues - from Superman one, lots of new funny scenes, and new special effects that don't look out of date in what is supposed to be a 1980 film. Gene Hackman's part seems more fleshed out here than before - witness the Fortress of Solitude crystal scenes. lovely and funny.

This shows the power of DVD and show special it is. This cut simply could not have been made. You will find that some of the new edits jump from scene to scene in a flash - that because we already know the film from Richard Lester's version. Watch this like is was new and you would love it more. You, if you are a Superman fan, will fall in love with the new opening scene with a new look at the Phantom zone capture (new camera angles you see) and get this - new credit sequence up to the standard of the original supe adventure.

So it really like a fantastic new look at a old film. You could point out the faults in lines dubbed or the odd bit of tinkering even the ending but this really is a new Chris Reeve film you though could never have been made. Bonus.

Masterful piece of reimaging - Superman is back

Lee

This should have been the original Superman II! When you watch it, you finally understand what the hell Superman and his father have been saying all these years. It all makes sense now. Having grown up on Superman, I feel cheated!!! I had to wait until now to finally understand one of my favorite film series! It's just a crime!

Not only does Donner's film flow better and enlighten the viewer, it even makes those annoying villains have more purpose. Even as a kid, I thought they were ridiculous. They're still ridiculous in this film, but Donner links them more clearly to Superman's past, so you get pulled into the plot line more.

Watch this film and you'll see my point.

Superman 2 the Richard Donner cut is an unfinished movie that appears to be more of a special feature then an actual concrete movie despite what some might say.

This movie/cut of Superman 2 came about due to the infamous behind the scenes drama of the original Superman 2 (1980).

Originally Richard Donner (who directed the 1st Superman movie) was going to direct the 2nd one as well and even shot a lot of scenes for 2 while he was still making the 1st one.

However due to rising tensions between Donner and the producers he was let go and replaced by Richard Lester who proceeded to finish the movie using some of Donner's scenes while shooting his own which were re-written to some extent. Despite this Superman 2 (1980) ended up being very good and one of the best superhero sequels ever.

Still fans wanted to see what Richard Donned would have done if he had stayed on the project so as a result in 2006 we got the Richard Donner cut.

Now the plot of the Richard Donner cut is essentially the same as the original Superman 2 released in 1980 except there are some differences here and there.

For example in the original Superman 2 the movie opens with Superman saving Lois in Paris from terrorists who are about to set off a hydrogen bomb. Superman throws the bomb into space where it explodes and accidently releases Zod and his cronies from the phantom zone which they were imprisoned in by Superman's father Jor El.

In the Richard Donner cut however we see it is the missile that Superman launches into Space in the 1st movie that sets Zod and co. Loose.

The movie has several alterations like this in the 1st act and the 3rd act which while varying in quality it is still interesting nonetheless.

By the time we get to the 2nd act though where Clark Kent aka Superman and Lois Lane go to Niagara falls and Zod attacks earth that's when the movie really starts to falter.

This is because Donner only shot about 50% of Superman 2 due him being let go before he could finish it so as a result he uses little snippets of footage Lester had shot for his version as well as even screen tests which weren't made to be seen in any capacity to finish the film. You see why this doesn't work right?

I mean I'd be okay with him using the Lester footage since those were actually completed but like I said he only uses snippets if it. So for example let's say a scene in the original Superman 2 (1980) was 2 minutes long, well Donner only uses 30 seconds of it making it appear really rushed. Especially the romance of Superman and Lois.

In the original Superman 2 (1980) Lester shot the relationship between Lois and Superman in well fleshed out and developed scenes meanwhile in the Donner cut it's very rushed and feels under developed since again he only uses snippets of what Lester had shot as well as screen tests.

Which to me is maddening since he could have just used whatever Lester had shot to mitigate that problem.

Like I said there are even times where he uses screen tests to fill in the holes which again are unfinished and barely expectable.

It also doesn't help that all the stuff in the Lester cut was just better than any of the stuff Donner had shot in my opinion.

For example the Paris scene at the start of the original Superman 2 (1980) was a far better opening for the movie vs the missile recap we got in the Donner cut not helping that because this cut was made in 2006 and had a small budget they used really bad cgi to complete the missile scene which looks awful. In fact they even uses stand ins for Christopher Reeve and Margo Kidder at certain points which of course is very distracting.

Due to the unfinished nature of this movie they even re-use the ending of the original Superman (1978) to complete this movie which is completely stupid and makes no sense.

There are literally only 2 good things in this cut.

1. The Marlon Brando scenes which were cut from the original 2nd movie were put back in this cut and are pretty good. The only reason they didnt use any of the Marlon Brando scenes in the original cut was because the producers didn't want to pay Brando again.

2. The fight in Metropolis in the Donner cut is also better then the original cut as it not only has better action but it also cuts out any of the original slapstick humor Lester put in for some reason.

Besides those 2 things however the original Superman 2 (1980) cut by Richard Lester is much better and more worth your time.

Only watch the Donner cut after watching the original cut.

I've just seen this 'Richard Donner' cut of Superman II after getting the Christopher Reeve box set for Christmas. Its great. Really great. But heres the thing. There is material in the Richard Lester version that has been airing in the UK for years that i love and when you see the Donner cut its either edited out or the music is completely changed! The scenes i'am talking about are really around the Krypton villains. Their arrival on the moon and attack on the astronauts was one of the best sequences in the movie and the villains' theme by Ken Thorne (originally by John Williams) which plays over that sequence and whenever they are on screen was fantastic...the soundtrack is not in that sequence in the Donner cut!

Also, the hand wrestling scene between the farmer and Ursa in the coffee shop is gone! Please don't get me wrong, this version is superb and i guess it is as close to seeing what Richard Donner originally intended for the sequel before he was replaced with Richard Lester. Also the 'new' footage which i have never seen is really great, especially the opening sequence with Lois Lane throwing herself out of the Daily Planet office window in an attempt to get Superman to save her, as is the small new inclusions of the attack on the White House, making it a little longer and more violent was the right direction and you can clearly see where the makers of the X Men got their inspiration from in this sequence.

The final battle at Superman's address in the North Pole is slightly disappointing. More a battle of super minds than super powers.

However, this is really fascinating if you are a Superman fan and thankfully because of the box set i now have both versions. One is not better than the other, they are both flawed brilliance.