Superman: The Movie (1978) (Extended Cut & Special Edition)

[Oscar Rothman]

Superman: The Movie Blu-ray

Announced on FB:

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE - EXTENDED CUT & SPECIAL EDITION 2-FILM COLLECTION (1978,2000)
Run Time 188 Minutes-EXTENDED CUT (NEW 2017 1080p HD MASTER)
151 Minutes-SPECIAL EDITION
Subtitles Spanish, French, English SDH
DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 – English (EXTENDED CUT)
DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 - English, DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND 5.1 - French, DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND 5.1 - Spanish
ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 2.40:1, 16 X 9 LETTERBOX
COLOR
2-BD 50
Special Features (on Superman The Special Edition Disc): Commentary by Director Richard Donner and Creative Consultant Tom Mankiewicz; 3 Documentaries Taking Flight: The Development of Superman, Making Superman: Filming the Legend and The Magic Behind the Cape; Screen Tests; Restored Scenes; Additional Scenes; Additional Music Cues; Music-Only Track

Decades before blockbuster Extended Cuts were common, Superman proved a true “Man of Tomorrow.” Superman: The Movie received an ahead-of-its-time makeover for its television premiere – nearly 40 more minutes of story, creating a two-night television event. Audiences had already been swept off their feet by Christopher Reeve’s Last Son of Krypton, and now there was more to enjoy. Unseen in decades, this version is paired here with Richard Donner’s definitive vision of his film, the Special Edition Director’s Cut (2000), to create a supersized celebration of Metropolis’ favorite son that preserves the director’s intent while feeding superfan demands.

[Darth Marcus]

[WorkShed]

Never thought I'd see the day! Can't believe this comes out just months after The Mask of the Phantasm to boot!

[Darth Marcus]

[kidglov3s]

I had to read that like three times to figure out it was more than just the Extended cut they've already released on DVD/BD.

Day one, only bummer is that it's not a 2 pack of STM and SII tv cuts.

I wonder why this why now why not UHD why WAC not WHV where's Supergirl already those DVDs suck?

[dallywhitty]

I didn't even realise this was a thing.

Pretty rad announcement, though. A sign of even more DC goodness to come via WAC?

[Petey Parker]

Absolutely picking up on day one.

[MifuneFan]

Pretty cool. Surprised a little that it's not getting the WHV treatment, but sign of the times. The cover art is terrible though, they could have done something way more tasteful than that, a shame.

[mca213]

so this wont be apart of the anthology set coming out? seems strange to release it separate.

[Brightstar]

I have never heard of a Extended Version of superman what is there to see that has never been seen before ?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

I have never heard of a Extended Version of superman what is there to see that has never been seen before ?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/alternateversions

[ImAWalkingCorpse]

I will have to pick this one up.

[kidglov3s]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

I have never heard of a Extended Version of superman what is there to see that has never been seen before ?

This website has all kinds of details as well as TV spots and newspaper ads for the ABC airing.

http://www.capedwonder.com/superman-the-movie-extended/

Every time a new sequence was added into the film, my eyes perked up. New footage of the Kryptonian council’s discussion with Jor-El, added bits and pieces of the destruction of Krypton, a longer look of the Smallville sequences, more footage of the creation of and look inside the Fortress of Solitude, more of Metropolis, all of this was a set-up for more footage of Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. His first flight through Metropolis; more moments of interaction with residents, criminals, and Lois Lane alike; and more action throughout the film’s second half – all of this served to expand the tapestry that Richard Donner and company created during 1977-78.

This coming from WB is a pretty big deal as there's all kinds of stuff from the TV cut that wasn't incorporated into the 2000 extended cut.

Having time to process this news, my big question is WHURS SUPERMAN TWO!? Given that some stuff exclusive to the SII TV cut randomly showed up on the DigitalHD Donner Cut in scope and HD for the first time recently it stands to reason that they might have done some work toward that as well.

[Nailwraps]

Makes me wonder if they can do Jason Goes to Hell now.

[tonylopez]

Nice!

[baheidstu]

Awesome. This was the first version of the movie I ever saw during the two-part network TV airing talked about in the 1st post.

[MifuneFan]

The one included here is slightly longer than the one that aired on ABC, if I read correctly.

[stvn1974]

Superman's yearly TV showing was like my Christmas as a kid. My year revolved around it.

[Phobics]

This is really cool, I hope it looks good

[Mose Harper]

Still one of my all time favorite films.

Both the theatrical cut and the extended cut are less than optimal Bds, no doubt hampered by the constrictions of having been authored to fit 30GB HD DVD as well (a least that goes for the extended cut). I notice in comparing the two directly, that fine detail waxes and wanes in different shots across the two versions. I can't help but think that's a bit rate anomaly.
The nice thing about having this come from WA instead of the regular studio label, WA has put a primacy on PQ/AQ in the past. That's something that's been hit and miss from the regular studio brand releases for catalog.

I just wish the theatrical cut was getting a revisit and fine tuning as well. The 40 minutes of extra footage is interesting to watch once or twice, but the pacing of the original feature I still often find superior to most sequences in the extended cut