Superman 2: The Richard Donner Cut has an extended version?

[Bobbyjoe766]

The SUPERMAN films almost rival BLADE RUNNER in number of alternate edits. There may be three different TV edits (?) of the first sequel, plus the original 1980 theatrical cut, the 2006 Donner cut and now the Vudu hybrid.

A massive box set collecting ALL versions of the SUPERMAN films - along with SUPERGIRL would be an instant buy.

[TylerDurden389]

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

The SUPERMAN films almost rival BLADE RUNNER in number of alternate edits.

Funny you mention that. Given that the new edits of BR were done around the same time as the Donner Cut, I'm almost convinced that the reason everyone was so pleased with BR: Final Cut (and the alternate versions in the box set that came with it), and disappointed with the Donner Cut of S2 was because Warner Brothers put all their money into BR, and left Donner/Michael Thau with nothing to work with. Which is funny given that BR, depite being a cult movie now, didn't do so well in theaters, yet Superman 2 was HUGE back in 1980-1981 when it was first released. You'd think that the suits at WB would think that it'd be a better investment to put whatever money they were willing pay for these projects would get better returns putting it into S2 instead of BR. (And folks, please, let's not turn this into a debate about which is a better movie that deserves more money put into finishing them properly. I'm just discussing this in regards to supply and demand, and investment vs. returns, which is all the suits care about at the end of the day, anyway).

Think about it, Ridley Scott himself oversaw the entire project and *I believe* filmed some new shots/scenes, while Donner had almost no involvement, other than "remove those scenes" (hence why the DC is similar to the theatrical version in regards of which director has more of their scenes in their version of the film). Heck, even Thau himself said in the interview on the special features that he did plan on using the amnesia kiss scene, but Donner told him to re-use the "reverse time" ending from part 1 (so that more of his footage was there instead of Lester's. He won't even refer to the man by name, so there's obviously still some friction there regarding the situation after all these years, unfortunately. Though to be fair, Donner has said a million times how near and dear to his heart this project was for him, so I sorta understand still being bitter about it).

Given what we've seen now with this Vudu version, I wonder if there's even more alternate choices that the DC originally had.

I've said this before when the Vudu version first aired and we discussed it here a while back, the Donner Cut, as-is, is maybe a 3/10 in regards to feeling like a complete film (1 point for Brando, 1 point for removal of slapstick humor, and 1 point for flat out existing/finally being released). The Vudu version honestly gets it up to a 5/10 for me. More footage from the theatrical version makes it feel more like a complete film, more Brando/Lex scenes at the FOS (so just more Donner footage in general), and an actual 'ending' for Miss. Teschmaker that explains why we never see her again after that scene. It was silly and juvenile, yes, but it was something, dag-burnnit. Oh, and Non killing the boy at least helps with making the villains actually feel like a threat. I honestly wonder why Lester removed it in the first place.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

Funny you mention that. Given that the new edits of BR were done around the same time as the Donner Cut, I'm almost convinced that the reason everyone was so pleased with BR: Final Cut (and the alternate versions in the box set that came with it), and disappointed with the Donner Cut of S2 was because Warner Brothers put all their money into BR, and left Donner/Michael Thau with nothing to work with.

No, the reason is because Donner never finished the film and removed everything possible that Lester did to get director credit. So it's an unfinished cut. Blade Runner's final cut is just a refinement on Scott's originally presented version. Not a mystery.

[TylerDurden389]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

No, the reason is because Donner never finished the film and removed everything possible that Lester did to get director credit. So it's an unfinished cut. Blade Runner's final cut is just a refinement on Scott's originally presented version. Not a mystery.

Was only a hunch. No need for condescension.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

Was only a hunch. No need for condescension.

Didn't mean it condescendingly.