Studio: Warner BrothersRelease Date: May 9, 2023Rating: PGFilm: See Below PlotSuperman: The Movie (5/5)Academy Award winners Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman head an all-star cast in the fantastic, action-packed film that made Christopher Reeve an international star playing the greatest superhero of all time. From the doomed planet of Krypton, two parents launch a spaceship carrying their infant son to earth. Here he grows up to become Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. But with powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman.
An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner (The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, The Lost Boys), the film stars Academy Award winner Marlon Brando (On the Waterfront, The Godfather) as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman (The French Connection, Unforgiven) as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Music (Original Score) and Best Sound. The film also received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects. In 2017, Superman was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Superman II – Theatrical Cut (4/5)Unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three superpowered Planet Krypton criminals Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) plan to enslave Earth – just when Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Gene Hackman also returns as Lex Luthor in this sequel that features a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction, and visuals that astound and delight.
Directed by Richard Lester (A Hard Day’s Night, The Three Musketeers), the film stars Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (4.25/5)Director Richard Donner began shooting Superman II while concurrently filming Superman: The Movie, though the theatrical version of the film was ultimately directed by Richard Lester. In 2006, Donner’s original unique vision was released for the first time. Jor-El (Marlon Brando in footage cut from the theatrical version) appears in key scenes that amplify Superman lore and deepen the relationship between father and son. Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plots more schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman (Christopher Reeve). With so many changes, large and small, including a different beginning and resolution, this version is an eye-opening alternate experience.
Directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the film was produced by Pierre Spengler and Michael Tau from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, and Leslie Newman. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Sarah Douglas as Ursa, Jack O’Halloran as Non, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher, Susannah York as Lara, and Terrence Stamp as General Zod.
Superman III (2/5)Meet Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a naive computer-programming natural. For him, a keyboard is a weapon – and, as a result, Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his life. Christopher Reeve reprises his signature role, deepening his character’s human side as Clark Kent sees Lana Lang (Annette O’Toole) at a Smallville High class reunion. And when the Man of Steel becomes his own worst enemy after exposure to Kryptonite, Reeve pulls off both roles with dazzling skill. Relive Superman III with all its heart, heroism and high-flying humor.
Directed by Richard Lester, the film stars Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman and Margot Kidder as Lois Lane.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the film was produced by Pierre Spengler from a screenplay by David Newman and Leslie Newman. Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Jackie White as Perry White, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang, and Robert Vaughn as Ross Webster.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1/5)Christopher Reeve not only dons the title hero’s cape for the fourth time but also helped develop the movie’s provocative theme: nuclear disarmament. To make the world safe for nuclear arms merchants, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) creates a new being to challenge the Man of Steel: the radiation-charged Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow). The two foes clash in an explosive extravaganza that sees Superman save the Statue of Liberty, plug the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China.
Directed by Sydney J. Furie (The Ipcress File, Iron Eagle), the film stars Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the film was produced by Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan from a story by Christopher Reeve & Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal and a screenplay by Konner & Rosenthal. The film also features Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Jon Cryer as Lenny, Sam Wanamaker as David Warfield, Mark Pillow as Nuclear Man, and Mariel Hemingway as Lacy Warfield.
My ThoughtsSuperman: The Movie will always have a soft spot in my heart since its release in 1978. It was the “guilt movie” that my dad took me and my sister to after informing us that he and our mom were splitting up. Granted, that was probably for the best since they argued like a couple of lawyers over a pretrial motion, but it still hurt.
As a film, this one definitely stands the test of time. Sure, it’s a little slow by today’s standards, but the slow burn really works to unravel the story as it assumes you know nothing about the Man of Steel and gives you a fresh look at the iconic character. One reason why the film works so well is the casting, which is perfect. In my mind, there’s no other Superman than Christopher Reeve and Margo Kidder as Lois Lane. Throw in Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and you have the perfect combination to make a classic.
Of the two versions of
Superman II, I prefer the Donner cut by about a quarter of a point score. The history of the production is fascinating, and most don’t know that Superman II was shot concurrently with Superman: The Movie. Infighting between director Richard Donner and the movie producing team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind resulted in Donner being shown the door and a new director, Richard Lester, being brought in. This resulted in many of the already shot scenes were reshot or rewrote for one reason—to get to less than 50% of the used footage from Donner so they could take his name off the credits. Eventually, over 6 tons of material were found from the original shoot and Warner decided to revisit the movie and “show it how it was originally intended by Richard Donner.” As a viewer, you are greeted with this message before the beginning of the film.
As a kid, I loved the original Superman II, but it didn’t age very well and I find it a bit silly today. The good news is that many of these scenes have been removed such as the ending fight sequence in the Fortress of Solitude. Other scenes have been added and blend right in except for a pivotal scene where Lois proves that Clark was actually Superman. The studio had to use screen test footage for this scene and the A/V quality is pretty poor compared to the rest of the film. Also, the ending isn’t exactly how Donner wanted it and he had planned to reshoot it before he was fired, but never got the opportunity.
In the end, the Donner Cut ties into the first film better and it has a more serious tone. I would have loved to have fully seen Donner’s vision come out, but we have to live with what we have. Not that it matters much, but Superman Returns is supposed to take place five years after the end of Superman II, but a certain surprise plot point in that film now doesn’t work due to the ending of the Donner Cut, but I’m not sure most people care.
Unfortunately, the next two films are really worth wasting time reviewing because they are not very good. In fact, The Quest for Peace is completely unwatchable and ruined the franchise for nearly 20 years. I popped it in to check out the A/V quality, but I didn’t waste my time watching it because time is a precious commodity and sitting through this film as a teenager was rough enough—I couldn’t imaging doing it nearly 40 years later.
Superman: The MovieVideo 9/10
Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Superman II - TheatricalVideo 7/10
Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Superman II: The Richard Donner CutVideo 6/10
Audio 7/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Superman IIIVideo 9/10
Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Superman IV: The Quest for PeaceVideo 9/10
Audio 7/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Special Features: Superman: The Movie • Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spangler
• The Making of Superman – vintage featurette
• Superman and the Mole-Men – vintage featurette
• Super-Rabbit – 1943 WB cartoon
• Snafuperman – 1944 WB cartoon
• Stupor Duck – 1956 WB cartoon
• TV Spot
• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer
Superman II • Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
• The Making of Superman II – 1980 TV Special
• Superman’s Soufflé – Deleted scene
• Fleischer Studios’ Superman vintage cartoons
o First Flight
o The Mechanical Monster
o Billion Dollar Limited
o The Arctic Giant
o The Bulleteers
o The Magnetic Telescope
o Electric Earthquake
o Volcano
o Terror on the Midway
• Theatrical trailer
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut • Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz
• Introduction by Richard Donner – featurette
• Superman II: Restoring the Vision – featurette
• Deleted scenes
o Lex and Ms. Teschmacher head north
o Lex and Ms. Teschmacher head south
o The villains enter the fortress
o He’s all yours, boys
o Clarke and Jimmy
o Lex’s gateway
• Famous Studios vintage cartoons
o Japoteurs
o Showdown
o Eleventh Hour
o Destruction, Inc.
o The Mummy Strikes
o Jungle Drums
o The Underground World
o Secret Agent
Superman III • Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
• The Making of Superman III – 1983 TV special
• Deleted scenes
o Save my baby
o To the rescue
o Making up
o Going to see the boss
o Hatching the plan
o The con
o Rooftop ski
o Boss wants this to go
o Superman honored
o Gus’ speech
o Hanging up on Brad
• Theatrical trailer
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Commentary by Mark Rosenthal
• Superman 50th anniversary special – 1988 TV special
• Deleted scenes
o Clark’s morning
o Jeremy’s letter
o Superman’s visit
o Nuclear Man’s prototype
o Metropolis after hours
o Lex ponders
o Flying sequence (extended scene)
o Battle in Smallville
o Battle in the U.S.S.R.
o Nuclear arms race
o Superman’s sickness
o Red alert
o By my side
o Lark and Lacy say goodbye
o No borders
• Theatrical trailer
ConclusionWhen this similar set was released on Blu-ray I didn’t request it mainly due to the last two movies, which I’m not a big fan of, but I felt like I needed to give it a look in 4K. The first two films hold up pretty well and never delve too deep into camp, but the last two definitely make up for it. In fact, by the fourth film it became just a payday for the actors and you could tell they weren’t into their roles anymore. Regardless, this 4K offering is quite good if you’re a fan of the franchise and there are loads of supplements as well including Blu-ray and Digital Copies of each of the films.
Reference Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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