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

[FrankGrimes1970]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

This scene difference alone is why I can never support the Donner cut as anything but a curiosity. Lester's scene works so much better.

There are certainly several Lester scenes that work better than Donner scenes they replaced. I realize the point of the project was to restore all possible Donner scenes over Lester scenes, but I get the feeling if, had Donner not been fired, he might have reshot some scenes to improve them. Also, the new FX used to complete the space scenes in the opening (and in other places) do not match the look of the rest of the movie's FX. They should have tried harder to make them look like 70's technology FX.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Both cuts have their merits. When “Crisis on Earth X” did the “General, would you care to step outside” gag, I literally cheered at my TV .

[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.

[JediJones77]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

Oh, and after Eve flushes the toilet, she screams. Lex laughs and says "She found it", and begins walking away.

After 35 years, I guess we FINALLY know why Eve disappeared from the story after this scene. She fell victim to Superman's super-toilet lol.

Both the theatrical cut and the extended TV cuts show Eve leaving the Fortress and heading south with Lex. All scenes with Hackman and Perrine were shot by Donner. So Donner's originally intended version did not intend to have Eve die in the toilet.

[Monty Cora]

Originally Posted by JediJones77

All scenes with Hackman and Perrine were shot by Donner.

The location exterior shots of Lex/Eve approaching and departing the Fortress were not shot by Donner, they are part of the body/voice doubling that the did to join together the Hackman footage they already had. Perhaps discarding the Fortress exit was an attempt to minimize the Lester footage as much as possible, as they did with the Niagara Falls material.

[R0CK0X]

Originally Posted by WilsonBros

The Restored International Cut is a remastered version of the movie from when it played on Canada's Channel 12, which was the longest cut of the movie, more so than even the one which premiered on ABC.

This is the version I grew up on (taped it off the TV) and would most like to see again.

[drush9999]

The Restored International Cut would be awsome, weird how they didn't follow up the extended cut of the first with something. Either the % mix of Lester and Donner footage is not allowable, some footage no longer exists in the archives, or they somehow forgot. Bit of a mystery.

[TylerDurden389]

They did follow up the extended version of part 1. With the extended tv broadcast edit Supergirl, lol. I've been waiting for the RIC to get a remastered official release since before the Donner Cut was made (as that's the version fans like me were asking for in the first place by writing to WB all those years beforehand). The funny thing is, between the deleted scenes on the Donner Cut showing clips from the RIC in widescreen format AND the extended Hulu/Vudu (can't remember which) broadcast of the Donner Cut having more footage added in, that tells me that WB either still has a print with all those additional scenes, or they've remastered them already but due to the aforementioned rights issue between what Donner and Lester shot, it may never get released.

Donner unfortunately had to get involved with the process of the Donner Cut (Michael Thau wanted to keep a lot more of Lester's scenes in for continuity's sake AND use the amnesia kiss instead of rehashing the ending from part 1), and he's waaaay to close to his film. In spite of what he said earlier about not wanting to be involved due to no longer having the same ideas he had almost 30 years ago. Which means there'll never be a "50/50" edit to satisfy fans (at this point, the story can go in so many different directions, with so many different versions of essentially the same scenes, how the hell do you go with what count as "the best"? Especially since the director's vision is gone) and Lester, as far as I know has either disappeared off the face of the Earth, or flat out refuses to talk about his contributions to the original Superman franchise.

I'm dipping my toes into murky waters around here by saying this but I'm saying it anyway. There is one faneditor out there that's still working on an HD fan edit of Superman 2 that will satisfy all fans of this film. How? On top of being the only HD fan edit of S2 ever made (there's gotta be over 30 of them at this point. As fan editors have made a lot of them, and I've seen most of them over the years), it will also have branching options. So every time you watch the film, you can choose which direction the story will go. He'll also have an additional 3rd option for certain scenes that are his own creation (I helped him with a lot of ideas, and he has the skills to bring my imagination to life). This 3rd option will have things that neither directors did, but help 'fill in the gaps' for things still missing, so to speak. IMO, if Superman 2 is ever given a 3rd official release, this is really the only way they can do it. A fun exercise for people interested in a peak behind the curtains, in a way.

I'd post some clips here, but again, fan edits discussions can be tricky 'round here, lol. Let's just say, we WILL see Superman fly off to the Daily Planet once he gets his powers back, we WILL see Superman showing Lois his home movies from Krypton, we WILL see much better flying shots (replacing those obvious miniatures), and we WILL have a third ending that may satisfy fans more than either endings the film has.

[R0CK0X]

One of the first things I remember searching on the "new" World Wide Web in the mid-to-late 90s (while I was in University) was Superman II deleted scenes. It was a blast reading posts from other people AROUND THE WORLD that remembered those scenes. Good times, man.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Bolty

He basically throws the red light from the top of the cop car a mile and kills the kid causing an explosion(?!?)
Why is there an explosion?

I guess they put in an explosion because they weren't going to show a close up of the kids head getting caved in! It's dumb! LOL

it's like a meteor hitting the ground ?? [shrugs]

[TylerDurden389]

As a kid when I'd see the explosion I was pretty confused too. Funny thing is, with a quick edit and some voice work, they could've easily just used a shot of Non using his heat vision, and the sound of a quick screaming in pain and the horse falling down or whatever. Too brutal for a PG movie I suppose lol.

[david_blu]

What I don't get is if Non kills the boy to stop him getting help how did News beat and the army find out what was happening there and suddenly turn up? I don't think that ever really got explained.

[FrankGrimes1970]

Originally Posted by david_blu

What I don't get is if Non kills the boy to stop him getting help how did News beat and the army find out what was happening there and suddenly turn up? I don't think that ever really got explained.

Not because the boy was trying to get help, but because "no one may leave without my (Zod's) permission", which the boy did not have.

[OneWayFilms]

I remember the 3 villains arrival scene and the arm wrestle scene.

Is that in the theatrical version?

[david_blu]

Originally Posted by FrankGrimes1970

Not because the boy was trying to get help, but because "no one may leave without my (Zod's) permission", which the boy did not have.

Yes I know what Zod says but the boy says "come on Betty we gotta get some help" when he gets on the horse.
I know Zod had him killed because "no one may leave without my permission."

It still doesn't answer how the news team and the Army found out what was happening there.

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by david_blu

Yes I know what Zod says but the boy says "come on Betty we gotta get some help" when he gets on the horse.
I know Zod had him killed because "no one may leave without my permission."

It still doesn't answer how the news team and the Army found out what was happening there.

Telephones?