Superman II Theatrical & Donner Cut 4K Steelbook (Zavvi Exclusive) (UK)

[cyclorama]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

I imagine this was explained a while ago but I can't seem to find the answer; Was it always the plan to have Supes go back in time in both films? If not which one?

The original plan was for it to happen at the end of Superman II but after Richard Donner was fired before Superman II was finished shooting they decided to release Superman I with the turn-back-time ending.

[BenjaminG]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

I imagine this was exaplained a while ago but I can't seem to find the answer; Was it always the plan to have Supes go back in time in both films? If not which one?

If memory serves it was planned for film 2, but when an ending couldn't be sorted for film one, they stole it and planned to rewrite/ shoot something else for two. But then Donner got the boot and rest is history.

[figrin_dan]

Thanks, that makes sense as to why there was no STM Donner Cut. So did he start shooting a movie with no ending or was there an ending that was no good (STM)? Or maybe it was supposed to end on a cliffhanger?

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Thanks, that makes sense as to why there was no STM Donner Cut. So did he start shooting a movie with no ending or was there an ending that was no good (STM)? Or maybe it was supposed to end on a cliffhanger?

STM was originally planned to end on a cliff-hanger with Zod, Ursa and Non escaping the Phantom Zone and making their way to Earth. And the original ending for SMII was the time travel ending as seen in the Donner Cut and STM.

When relationships between Donner and the Salkinds broke down and they got cold feet about the budget they and WB told Donner to rework the ending of SMII onto the ending of STM. Partly because the thought it was a better ending than the cliff-hanger, but also just in case STM wasn't successful enough to continue filming SMII.

So, other than the one Lester shot there was no other ending for SMII for the Donner Cut.

[Owsler]

Anyone ordered and got word from Zavvi yet?

[simon333]

Superman.II.1980.COMPLETE.UHD.BLURAY
Disc Size: 63,454,234,818 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00800.MPLS
Size: 62,558,281,728 bytes
Length: 2:07:28.682
Total Bitrate: 65.43 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 54472 kbps / 2160p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 10 bits / HDR10 / BT.2020
Audio: English / Dolby TrueHD/Atmos Audio / 7.1 / 48 kHz / 2413 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -27dB)
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2009 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: French / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: Italian / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: Spanish / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: Spanish / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: Japanese / Dolby Digital Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB / Dolby Surround
Subtitle: English / 26.820 kbps
Subtitle: French / 17.802 kbps
Subtitle: German / 24.406 kbps
Subtitle: Italian / 27.529 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 23.861 kbps
Subtitle: Dutch / 22.743 kbps
Subtitle: Korean / 17.685 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 22.026 kbps
Subtitle: German / 0.053 kbps
Subtitle: Italian / 0.080 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 0.321 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 0.077 kbps
Subtitle: Japanese / 14.872 kbps
Subtitle: Japanese / 0.569 kbps
Subtitle: Japanese / 38.811 kbps



Superman.II.1980.RICHARD.DONNER.CUT.COMPLETE.UHD.B LURAY
Disc Size: 60,168,525,766 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00800.MPLS
Size: 58,818,011,136 bytes
Length: 1:55:52.028
Total Bitrate: 67.68 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 60052 kbps / 2160p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 10 bits / HDR10 / BT.2020
Audio: English / Dolby TrueHD/Atmos Audio / 7.1 / 48 kHz / 2776 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -27dB)
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB / Dolby Surround
Subtitle: English / 27.748 kbps
Subtitle: French / 20.605 kbps
Subtitle: German / 26.972 kbps
Subtitle: Italian / 29.234 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 25.229 kbps
Subtitle: Dutch / 24.881 kbps
Subtitle: Korean / 20.268 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 25.398 kbps
Subtitle: Danish / 22.171 kbps
Subtitle: Finnish / 22.937 kbps
Subtitle: Norwegian / 23.426 kbps
Subtitle: Japanese / 15.972 kbps
Subtitle: Japanese / 32.105 kbps
Subtitle: Swedish / 21.509 kbps

[Mose Harper]

Originally Posted by Jezza

STM was originally planned to end on a cliff-hanger with Zod, Ursa and Non escaping the Phantom Zone and making their way to Earth. And the original ending for SMII was the time travel ending as seen in the Donner Cut and STM.

The whole point of (turning back time), and why it's never bothered me in the first film, is because I always saw it as a manifestation, or expression, of extreme will prompted by immediate grief and anger.
It's fully an in-the-moment response, executed by a being with unnatural, unfathomable abilities.

It works terribly in the Donner cut because (not only is it redundant to the first film now) it's an extreme solution used simply as a well after-the-fact clean up for messy plot points.
Even had they kept the original cliff-hanger, I can't see it working without a lot of changes to the third act events. Since all the Zod/Luthor scenes in the Fortress were Donner, as was the de-powering resolution for the villains, it was never going to be anything more than tidying up inconvenient plot points.

Something like that works (as well as it can) for the first films finish.

I can criticize Lester for a lot of stuff but the fairytale inspired super-kiss resolution isn't one of them.
In fact, it's an appropriately lighter touch version of that same physically turning back the earth to turn back time vibe, to effect the change needed for the plot. That makes it an even more perfect coda to the first film's resolution, in retrospect.

Superman II disappointed me terribly as a kid. I was never one who saw it as superior to the first film. For me, it was always a bargain basement affair that promises so much more than it ever delivers. The super-kiss was always the least of it's problems.

[GreatGreg]

I saw both as a kid.

I did think S2 was better than S1 because it had more action. As an adult now, I appreciate S1 more for its story and cinematography.

Back in the 70s and 80s, S2 delivered what the public wanted which was a more action based movie for a sequel, but the first movie broke the mold on what could be done and was very much a leading-edge technology movie even though a lot of that is lost to viewers now.

It's hard to believe that so much was created in miniatures back then. I know as a kid I was completely convinced there were massive sets made for all of those movies back then.

[Filmmaker]

If anyone would be willing to offer me their J-card for this release, well, that would be…

[Hammerlover]

R.I.P. Terence Stamp (1938-2025).

[merlinjones]

I don't understand why this has not been available in the USA. Even the Superman !! theatrical blu ray as stand alone? What is their rationale?