Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[MartinScorsesefan]

Just release the theatrical cut. Despite its flaws, it's a finished film, and it's also the version that most people have known and loved since 1981. I loved it in 1981, and still love it.

The Donner cut is interesting, but it's choppy, has poor special effects and an ending that makes no sense. Its very overrated, getting a higher score on IMDB than the theatrical cut. I would hate for someone to only know Superman 2 via the Donner version. It's an interesting experiment and I love seeing the Brando stuff, but it's not up to par as a theatrical substitute for the released film.

[Ben_UK]

What did they do to the opening scenes of Superman UHD? The bright flares of the Krypton suits look really subdued on the UHD, its almost as if they lowered the brightness or some kind of automation has reduced the glare of them...?

[motorheadache95]

I just look at the Donner Cut as an alternate “what if” film that gives you an idea of Donners version of the film, but with the caveat that it wasn’t finished. I honestly wouldn’t want anything removed because the point is to see what ideas they had for the film back then before Lester took over. I know the Superman reveal test screen footage is super awkward, but honestly I loved that they were able to have something to use at all to play out that sequence. Even the time reversal just so you could see how it was going to play out in 2 before bumping it over to the first film.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Ben_UK

What did they do to the opening scenes of Superman UHD? The bright flares of the Krypton suits look really subdued on the UHD, its almost as if they lowered the brightness or some kind of automation has reduced the glare of them...?

Not automation (?), that’s just HDR doing what it does by exposing highlight information. Usually I love what HDR does to the highlights but here it completely wrecks those Krypton scenes, whoever graded that needs a slap.

As for Supes II, I’d take a UHD of the theatrical cut any day but would like to see something done with the Donner Cut also. Trouble is, as it was completed on video IIRC (I’d say 2K maxx) then it’s not exactly pre-baked for 4K HDR. So just recreating the DC ‘as is’ in 4K might require an investment that Warners are not willing to make.

And as sacrilicious as this sounds, I’d love to have the special edition of STM on 4K as well, hopefully with someone correcting the grading of the Krypton suits but more for the C roll of visual fixes that they made because the 4K theatrical transfer is rough as old arseh0les in several spots.

[Ben_UK]

I agree that the Donner Cut is really rough in places. As well as the screen test blank bullets scene, there is also the awful looking CGI rocket with the mis-spelled name. The Villians getting released also has some iffy CGI effects. I don't mind CGI as long as some kind of effort was made to fit it into the existing film, I guess its quite hard to make good CGI and then "degrade" it to look like 1980s optical effects.

For me, if they were to do an extended cut or a final cut with all the Donner footage that will fit, plus any Lester footage needed to complete the movie, id vote for that. I guess that means more Lester footage than ideal, but needs must.

[Buckster666]

Plus one for a Hybrid Cut of Superman 2, I enjoyed the donner cut, but it needed more of the Lester footage to feel complete. Also want the Extended Cut of Superman 1 in 4K

[Torgon]

I don't see WB investing more money in the Donner Cut. They gave him his shot to create his vision and that's it. If we get a 4K for SII, it'll be the Lester version as it should be anyways. I enjoy both versions, but I just can't see the DC coming to 4K.

[captainsolo]

Any hybrid cut of II would be an experiment -and like the hybrid Donner cut someone made in the streaming division. It could be done but should always be presented as a non-official cut.

What is mind boggling is that WB has an extended director's cut of a comic book film as it was originally shot with darker elements in place and refuses to release it. That is the print of Batman Forever currently in the vault that has been officiated and seen by the second screenwriter. No matter how many petitions I've done to get the longer cut with original edit released or defended the film it never gets any traction. I've always used the Donner Cut as a valid point of reference-and it is possible the film would require much less work than that received.

[Ben_UK]

I guess the question is with SII and any additional cuts, its potentially a bottomless money pit. Where do you draw the line and who is deciding what gets through and how much money is spent. Do you need to get someone in to re-cut the awful re-used music cues? Do you need to shoot additional scenes? Do you need to rotoscope elements to create new scenes from existing footage? Do you need to shoot new VFX? Do you need to get actors in to ADR lines?

One of the most talented fan cut guys was that Selutron guy who made some interesting stuff. Some of it looked a bit goofy and not fit for a professional release, but I guess he was just working with what he had and zero budget.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Ben_UK

I guess the question is with SII and any additional cuts, its potentially a bottomless money pit. Where do you draw the line and who is deciding what gets through and how much money is spent. Do you need to get someone in to re-cut the awful re-used music cues? Do you need to shoot additional scenes? Do you need to rotoscope elements to create new scenes from existing footage? Do you need to shoot new VFX? Do you need to get actors in to ADR lines?

Exactly. While the TV cut of STM needed some intensive colour grading it was found as a complete interpositive so didn't need any special measures to 'restore' it.

[david_blu]

I mean they found all the scenes when they did the Donner cut in the first place.
So best option for II would be make a cut that conforms to the extended edition and release on Blu Ray. Release the Theatrical on 4k and leave the Donner cut as is.
Some of the music edits on the Donner cut are abysmal and the titles have that cartoony S and in the wrong font, then you have the releasing the villains poor cgi.
Fix those three and you improve it somewhat. There is nothing wrong in reusing the music cues it's what Ken Thorne did in the first place just create the scene to align with John Williams' music better. The depower and repower scenes are the worst culprits for music edits along with the stupid abridged main title to match Superman Returns.

[Christian Muth]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

[Show spoiler]Not automation (?), that’s just HDR doing what it does by exposing highlight information. Usually I love what HDR does to the highlights but here it completely wrecks those Krypton scenes, whoever graded that needs a slap.

As for Supes II, I’d take a UHD of the theatrical cut any day but would like to see something done with the Donner Cut also. Trouble is, as it was completed on video IIRC (I’d say 2K maxx) then it’s not exactly pre-baked for 4K HDR. So just recreating the DC ‘as is’ in 4K might require an investment that Warners are not willing to make.

And as sacrilicious as this sounds, I’d love to have the special edition of STM on 4K as well, hopefully with someone correcting the grading of the Krypton suits but more for the C roll of visual fixes that they made because the 4K theatrical transfer is rough as old arseh0les in several spots.

Not sacrilegious at all. Aside from the potential technical fixes you bring up, I really enjoy that extended cut. It's not egregiously longer, wrecking the pace, and I like the added moments.

Chris

[Jodi]

I'm interested in getting the 4K Blu-ray of Superman: The Movie. I mainly grew up watching it on HBO back in the early 80s and was also on ONTV (OTA) back in the day. Could some of you please clarify which version of the 4K Blu would be similar to "as I saw it on HBO"??

Thanks for your help....

[captainsolo]

That would probably be the Warner Archive TV cut BD. It's the most hands off master and is amazingly good looking.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

That would probably be the Warner Archive TV cut BD. It's the most hands off master and is amazingly good looking.

It is, it's just a shame that it's that good for that cut of the movie!

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

That would probably be the Warner Archive TV cut BD. It's the most hands off master and is amazingly good looking.

Interesting, was the extended television version used routinely for HBO, etc? I assumed it was just used for a one-off network screening, but I never saw the film on TV as a kid.

[DR Herbert West]

Love the look of the TV cut. I don't mind hanging out in that world for 3 hours.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Jodi

I'm interested in getting the 4K Blu-ray of Superman: The Movie. I mainly grew up watching it on HBO back in the early 80s and was also on ONTV (OTA) back in the day. Could some of you please clarify which version of the 4K Blu would be similar to "as I saw it on HBO"??

Thanks for your help....

Originally Posted by captainsolo

That would probably be the Warner Archive TV cut BD. It's the most hands off master and is amazingly good looking.

HBO would almost certainly have shown the theatrical cut, and that's the only version available in 4K, anyway.

The extended TV cut is a really interesting curiosity, but it is clearly the work of someone trying to pad the running time out to sell as many ads as possible.

[HuggyBear73]

Hopefully we get... Superman 2 .. on 4K with Donner Cut blu included.

Then have WA release the 3hr tv cut like they did with 1.

[Jodi]

So would this be it:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Super...lu-ray/189338/