Let me tell ya, I've been anticipating this release since I first read about the controversy Richard Donner & the Salkinds went through while filming it in 1977-78.
As a young boy in the early 80's, I loved Superman 2.
Now, as an adult, I absolutely cannot stand Richard Lester's version.
In fact, I loathe it.
I watched it again recently and it just disgusts me.
The unnecessary slapstick humor is now gone and the more serious and foreboding tone that Donner originally intended has been restored.
Behold!
(http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6904/sup2donnerdvd4e0cb19pv8.jpg)
Wikipedia has a huge article on this upcoming release.
I definitely recommend that you read it.
It's quite fascinating.
Not only does it delve deep into what all happened between Donner, the Salkinds, the writers and the actors involved, it also provides you with info as to what scenes have been removed and what new, never-before-seen scenes have been included.
Check it out here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_II:_The_Richard_Donner_Cut)
I've already pre-ordered my copy from CDuniverse.com.
And it's selling for under $20.
What a deal!
Back of DVD:(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6098/s2donnercoverartbacklarrd1.jpg)
Donner's Intro:
(http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8413/cwdonnercutcomicsad4df1by0.jpg)
It's scheduled to be released on November 28th...the same day as Superman Returns.
What do you think?
Will you buy this?
I've actually seen the Donner cut, apparently. Or at least some odd cut of the film that had more Donner material in it than the currently available DVD. Most of the scenes listed on the IMDB that were cut, my family and I distinctly remember seeing back when it was out on VHS for the first time (circa '83).
I'll check out the article you have linked.
I'd like to see it to compare, but not sure it's an owner for me.
I read a biography of Lester, he was always uneasy about his involvement with the first two Superman films. Said he doesn't normally like comics or superheroes, has no feel for fantasy in storytelling and the slapstick bits were his attempts to add some of the common life of regular folks since he had no sense of how a fictional city like Metropolis functioned (Lester poured tons of research into settings and what life would be like in them in his films when he had prep time), and was originally only involved since it was a way to get the money the Salkinds still owed him from the Musketeers films.
I've been awaiting the Donner release of this film for a whie now as well. I liked Superman 2, but I always felt that something was not right about it. There always seemed to be something missing from the film, and I'm hoping that this new version will in fact fix that. If I'm not mistaken, they are also releasing a super-box set with all of the Superman films. If that box does contain the Donner cut of SM2, I'll be picking it up, rather than each film seperatly.
Skaboi Wrote:
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If I'm not mistaken, they
> are also releasing a super-box set with all of the
> Superman films. If that box does contain the
> Donner cut of SM2, I'll be picking it up, rather
> than each film seperatly.
From what I've read thus far....Yes, it will be included.