Superman II (Theatrical Cut/2-Disc Special Edition
DVD-Video)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Film: C+
Is it
weird that every time the John Williams Superman Score starts, I get
chills? It is too bad the Salkinds were
cheap, uncreative, bastards that kicked ‘Johnny Boy,’ among others, to the curb
with this feature film. Anyway, after a
look at two versions of Richard Donner’s reconstructed version, here is a look
at the older theatrical cut of Superman
II: 2-Disc Special Edition. Firstly,
here is a summation of the storyline that is Superman II. Since Superman: The Movie, Clark Kent
(Christopher Reeves) has fallen in love with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), who has
fallen in love with Superman (Christopher Reeves). At the beginning of the film Superman saves
the day (and sadly France) as well as Lois Lane from a Hydrogen Bomb attack
atop the Eiffel Tower.
Unbeknownst
to Superman, in his disposal of the Hydrogen Bomb he accidentally released
three Kryptonian prisoners from their Phantom Zone Cell. Eventually, Lois Lane figures out that Clark
Kent is actually Superman (man, those glasses were pretty tricky) and in turn
Superman confesses his love to Lois and she reciprocates the emotion. From this gooey love fest, Superman rather
quickly decides to take Lois to his Fortress of Solitude and give-up his
supernatural powers in order to marry a mortal.
Meanwhile
back in ‘reality,’ the rest of the world is in great peril due to the
Kryptonian Criminals running amuck and overthrowing all rulers of the
world. Lex Luthor has also managed to
escape prison and join up with the Kryptonians to destroy Superman. From here an epic battle of good versus evil
is spawned, with many entangled physical and emotional dilemmas.
Well,
there is a great deal to say about this film, but this reviewer feels very
similarly to another reviewer’s opinion on this site. Essentially, Superman II turned into a huge debacle
under the Salkinds creative control. They
went cheap, they went uncreative, and they went against all that made Superman: The Movie a success under the
creative control of Richard Donner. The
only saving grace of Superman II is the actors.
The combination of Reeves, Kidder, Hackman, and Stamp made the film,
great acting makes a film (hence why so many independent films turn success
story even with loose plots). This
reviewer overall can not give the film a bad review somewhat due to
nostalgia. Until recently with the Richard Donner Cut of the film, there
was no other version and audiences dealt with what was there and while not
perfect, reuniting the cast and basic premise was exciting. This reviewer, however, does recognize the
array of errors that flow throughout the plot, faulty/cheap special effects,
and elimination of prime elements that made the first film wonderful. I would not say do not watch this version,
but most definitely look into the Richard Donner Cut.
The
technicals of this DVD 2-disc set are adequate for the Salkind’s version. The picture is presented in 2.35 X 1
Anamorphic Widescreen that is clean but some of the footage looks too light and
has a washed presence. The sound is also
adequate for this standard release in its remastered Dolby Digital 5.1, but not
as impressive as one would hope for often sounding too distant and light, with
an unusual sense of harmonic distortion and compression throughout. You can find out more about the sound design
on the review of the Richard Donner Cut
review at the link listed below.
The
extras are nice on this 2-disc set. Disc
One’s extras are boring and useless to a degree, offering a deleted soufflé
scene and the theatrical trailer. Also
on disc one there is commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler, I was
hoping at some point they would just go ‘I am so, so, so, so sorry.’ A public apology would be nice. Disc Two is where the bulk of the interesting
features exist including extras such as a vintage TV special of the making of
Superman II, a new featurette entitled ‘First
Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series’ which was well made and enjoyable. Also on this disc was a compilation of the
last eight 1940’s Famous Studios Superman Cartoons, which were surprising
pretty well remastered. These are the
anti-Axis WWII shorts that are not as good as the previous Fleischer shorts
from the 4-DVD Superman – The Movie
set, but the featurette makes up for that.
In the
end, not what it could have been but Superman
II still holds 1981 nostalgia as well as a key point in the Superman
series. Let’s learn from other’s
mistakes.
You can
read more about other Superman releases on DVD and HD-DVD at the following
links:
SUPERMAN
1978 MOVIE HD-DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4633/Superman+–+The+Movie+(1978/HD-DVD)
Standard
DVD 4-Disc Set
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4633/Superman+%E2%80%93+The+Movie+(1978/HD-DVD
SUPERMAN
II – RICHARD DONNER CUT HD-DVD + DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4620/Superman+II+–+The+Richard+Donner+Cut+(HD-DVD+++DVD+Versions)
SUPERMAN
RETURNS (HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format Edition)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4759/Superman+Returns+(HD-DVD/DVD+Combo+Format)
SUPERMAN
RETURNS SOUNDTRACK
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3932/Superman+Returns+–+Music+By+John+Ottman+From+The+Motion+Picture/Sound+Of+Superman+(CDs
SUPERMAN
RETURNS THEATRICAL REVIEW
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3931/Superman+Returns+(Theatrical+Film+Review)
SUPERGIRL
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4690/Supergirl+–+International+European+Version+(1984/Warner+Bros.)
- Michael P Dougherty II
