Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[BluBonnet]

They really should have had the whole series out on 4k in time for the new movie coming out in theaters, imho.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

All of them use the 2000 color timing and effects enhancements, which keep Superman's costume the same color (it faded from blue to shades of blue, teal, and green; and from red to shades of red, pink, and orange during the unaltered scenes), remove wires, and smooth over mattes. In addition, the DVD has a 5.1 mix created in 2000, which is not even remotely close to either of the three original mixes (six track (LCRS+Baby Booms), 4/2/4 Dolby Stereo (most say the LCRS tracks in the six-track mix are 1:1 versions of the Dolby Stereo mix, but I haven't verified this), and mono). The first 4K contains the old 5.1 mix and a better Atmos mix, but no original sound. The second 4K includes a DTS-HDMA 2.0 track, but I have no clue what it even is.

Originally Posted by Dr. T

Your definition of "theatrical cut" is puzzling. The current UHD has the 143 minute theatrical cut of the movie. There is no footage missing or additional footage. The Atmos track is a remix, best to be avoided, but the 5.1 track on the 2018 disc is original, as is the anemic 2.0 track on the repressing.

Indeed. Questionable color grading notwithstanding, the 2006 4-Disc DVD, the 2011 BD Anthology, and the 2018 and 2023 UHDs all include the 1978 theatrical cut of SUPERMAN, as we understand the term around here. And all of them include some form of the original audio mix, albeit in varying degrees of quality.

For what it's worth, I still believe the 2.0 stereo track that's been around since the 2006 DVD has some kind of phasing issue, which makes it sound even weaker than it would otherwise, but it's still taken from the original stereo mix.

[david_blu]

Originally Posted by Mick B

Hi,
I too would love a bluray copy of the extended Superman II. I am surprised WAC have not released it yet as its been a few years now since STM got released and I believe that sold well.

With regard to SII. It would be nice if WB could ask Richard Lester to do a commentary track for SII as that would be interesting. I think I read somewhere that he is not interested, but it would still be a great extra for the fans.
It would have also been great if WB had sorted some of the bad FX in SII the same was they sorted the ones in STM back in 2000. Not on about changing anything, just sorting several of the bad mattes. Lucas did it for Star Wars etc. SII deserves similar treatment. Didn't really mind BITD when I had small TV and film on VHS, but now I project Blurays onto a 8 foot screen so everything now shows up even more.

Maybe when WB have put out better versions of STM and SII in UHD, I may buy a new player and upgrade to them. Until then, I will stick with the boxset from 13 years ago.
Isn't it odd that WB have not bothered in 13 years to revisit these 2 films on Bluray when you look at other films that made far less money for them get multiple re-releases that sometimes aren't even necessary, whereas STM and SII are calling out for re-mastering for Bluray (and UHD reading some of these posts).
And... if they do get re-done, please can they both at least feature their original 6 track sound in DTS MA.

Oh, one strange thing, In SII when Clark and Lois return from the Fortress, the car scene is taken from STM (where Lex overturns the car). However, in the Donner cut a different version is used and that also featured in the extended TV cut of II.
I assume Richard Donner filmed both versions so it seems odd to re-use footage from STM when this was surely filmed and available.

Mick.

For now stick with the blu rays of Superman The Movie and II. I think they both look terrible on 4k, probably in the minority but I think all three films truly suck in terms of colour. However Superman 3 and 4 look great, but 4 is screwed up by using the German orchestra for every music cue rather than the mix with the London orchestra on cues that weren't so great by the German orchestra.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by david_blu

For now stick with the blu rays of Superman The Movie and II. I think they both look terrible on 4k, probably in the minority but I think all three films truly suck in terms of colour. However Superman 3 and 4 look great, but 4 is screwed up by using the German orchestra for every music cue rather than the mix with the London orchestra on cues that weren't so great by the German orchestra.

But at least the 2.0 stereo track on 4 is authentic, with the correct musical cues in there.

[david_blu]

Originally Posted by BNex99

But at least the 2.0 stereo track on 4 is authentic, with the correct musical cues in there.

Yes, let's praise WB for one of the things they didn't screw up on the set.

The problem I have THIS was my set, other people have Star Wars, Star Trek, Bond, Back to the future, etc but this is the one that mattered to me and the fact they screwed up so bad on colour and audio is heartbreaking for me.

I don't think everyone agrees with me but seeing Superman as a kid and watching a VHS at 6 years old and being gripped by it. Now in my forties, it's hard to let these screw ups go.

It was one of three VHS my Dad bought for our first VHS player in the 80s. The others were Tron and Pete's Dragon in the yellow case versions.

You don't forget memories like that, I believed a man could fly!

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by david_blu

Yes, let's praise WB for one of the things they didn't screw up on the set.

The problem I have THIS was my set, other people have Star Wars, Star Trek, Bond, Back to the future, etc but this is the one that mattered to me and the fact they screwed up so bad on colour and audio is heartbreaking for me.

I don't think everyone agrees with me but seeing Superman as a kid and watching a VHS at 6 years old and being gripped by it. Now in my forties, it's hard to let these screw ups go.

It was one of three VHS my Dad bought for our first VHS player in the 80s. The others were Tron and Pete's Dragon in the yellow case versions.

You don't forget memories like that, I believed a man could fly!

I have to see pictures of them. Unless they're foreign tapes (I'm in the US), I've never heard of Tron, Pete's Dragon, or any Disney release in an originally yellow case (though yellow over time is de rigueur with clamshells).

[david_blu]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

I have to see pictures of them. Unless they're foreign tapes (I'm in the US), I've never heard of Tron, Pete's Dragon, or any Disney release in an originally yellow case (though yellow over time is de rigueur with clamshells).

Tron yellow case, yes all UK releases

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by david_blu

Tron yellow case, yes all UK releases

The video store in my town in the UK never had a yellow covered Tron like that. I'm pretty sure it was white.

[Mick B]

VHS, DVD and Blu all had the 2.0 mix of SIV on them, but I can remember seeing this back in 1987 and remember it sounding much better in the cinema. I remember the Jerry Lee Lewis song having loads of bass. Not sure if Cinema's were able to do some sort of magic, but I don't think the film ever had a 6 track mix made.
Also, in the UK when this film came on TV it had a "Cannon Group Inc, Presents" instead of "Warner Bros" at the start, plus the Cannon logo instead of WB.
Not holding out for WB to sort the Atmos screwup out anytime soon, so yes, I'll stick with my Blu's.

Oddly enough, even though I do not plan to upgrade to 4K anytime soon, I would have probably have purchased the boxset if they had included remastered Blu's with Atmos etc. So Warners have lost out on my cash, and I wonder how many more would have upgraded too?

Maybe in 2027 WAC will release the 134 minute cut of IV and maybe a new Atmos track with correct music cues will accompany it. If they do and it's done right and only on 4K then I may upgrade.

Mick.

[milo bloom]

I knew I remembered some kind of scene with him cooking a souffle, I don't really care about whose name is on the film, I just want a TV cut with all that stuff restored.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by david_blu

Tron yellow case, yes all UK releases

[Show spoiler]

Makes sense, I didn't figure foreign releases into the equation.

I also didn't know Rank did the UK Disney releases, despite knowing Song Of The South forwards and backwards. (TL;DR, you guys got a tape and us Americans got squat.) You learn something new everyday.

Originally Posted by Martoto

The video store in my town in the UK never had a yellow covered Tron like that. I'm pretty sure it was white.

Just a theory, but considering the tape up there^ has a post-1984 cert (post Video Nasties), perhaps you saw the pre-cert tape, that or a significantly later release.

Originally Posted by Mick B

VHS, DVD and Blu all had the 2.0 mix of SIV on them, but I can remember seeing this back in 1987 and remember it sounding much better in the cinema. I remember the Jerry Lee Lewis song having loads of bass. Not sure if Cinema's were able to do some sort of magic, but I don't think the film ever had a 6 track mix made.
Also, in the UK when this film came on TV it had a "Cannon Group Inc, Presents" instead of "Warner Bros" at the start, plus the Cannon logo instead of WB.
Not holding out for WB to sort the Atmos screwup out anytime soon, so yes, I'll stick with my Blu's.

Oddly enough, even though I do not plan to upgrade to 4K anytime soon, I would have probably have purchased the boxset if they had included remastered Blu's with Atmos etc. So Warners have lost out on my cash, and I wonder how many more would have upgraded too?

Maybe in 2027 WAC will release the 134 minute cut of IV and maybe a new Atmos track with correct music cues will accompany it. If they do and it's done right and only on 4K then I may upgrade.

Mick.

The reason I still haven't labeled the worst superhero movie ever (I'm between the TC of SIV and Batman & Robin) is because I've heard that the rough cut (the originally intended cut before it got cut to shreds) of SIV was way better than the TC, even with the unfinished effects. I'd love to see that cut one day.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by Mick B

If they do and it's done right and only on 4K then I may upgrade.

That'll be a relief.

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

The reason I still haven't labeled the worst superhero movie ever

Don't take that title away from Steel and Catwoman.

[david_blu]

A whole page about that Tron release with more pictures of the video.

https://www.videocollector.co/tron/49503

Pete's Dragon


https://ebay.us/m/N7gK3f

And finally this is the Superman VHS in the UK that started it all.

They haven't really done this design since, but I think it captures the magical quality of STM that I can't see being matched in terms of artwork.

This is what started it all for me, 4:3 and mono, the 1986 release. If that version could convince me a man can fly, WB have no excuse for screwing up the picture/and or Audio since. Prefer Blu Rays to 4k, would watch 2001 dvd ovee the 4k because of how rubbish it looks, after watching this for almost 40 years.

https://ebay.us/m/NhXpKP

[THUNDERSTRUCK]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Is this a joke I don't get?

Separately, doofus.

[rubystone356]

https://toyhabits.com/spin-master-19...und-at-target/

An update on the new spinmaster action figures.

Jacob

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by rubystone356

https://toyhabits.com/spin-master-19...und-at-target/

An update on the new spinmaster action figures.

Jacob

Actually saw those at a Target just the other day, and yes it seems that the white robe Jor-El isn't being included, or may be just a chase figure.

It's such an incredible time for Superman collectors...

[rubystone356]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Actually saw those at a Target just the other day, and yes it seems that the white robe Jor-El isn't being included, or may be just a chase figure.

It's such an incredible time for Superman collectors...

where they in the action figure section or in the back with the funko toys section?

Jacob

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by rubystone356

where they in the action figure section or in the back with the funko toys section?

Jacob

The action figure section, but other Targets might put them somewhere else

[Ben_UK]

I have the original 2018 release so i'd only be into buying it again if it had the Krypton scenes fixed with the correct amount of bloom / brightness applied to the suits etc.

[rubystone356]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

The action figure section, but other Targets might put them somewhere else

thank you.

Jacob