DVD Review: The Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition

Wow, this is quite possibly the most comprehensive box set release of any movie series ever. You thought that 9-disc Alien Quadrilogy (horrible name) was expansive? Warner Brothers' 14-Disc Ultimate Superman Collection blows it away.

Here's some quick thoughts on the movies in this set:

Superman: The Movie - To this day, still ranks as one of the best superhero movies of all-time. Didn't have the slam bang action of II, but holds up remarkably well. I can and have watched this film from start-to-end many times, and will continue to do so. Available in its original 1978 Theatrical Version or the 2000 Expanded Edition.

Superman II: Theatrical Version - The first time we saw real big comic book action on the big screen. Zod is not only one of the greatest comic book movie villains of all-time, but of all cinema. ZOD!!! Doesn't hold up as well as the first movie, but still very, very fun.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut - a fanboy's wet dream, read my previous post.

Superman III - Richard Pryor is no doubt a comic genius, but so out of his element in a Superman movie. Evil Superman was cool though.

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - one of those movies that's so bad, it's good. Like III, it's camp factor is high, and it's fun for a laugh. As I read somewhere else, this is Mark Pillow (Nuclear Man's) greatest triumph.

Superman Returns - I enjoyed this but was dissapointed at the same time. If anything, this helped but Superman back into the public spotlight and helped raise interest in him again, and that's never a bad thing. Let's give it a decade or two and see how well it holds up.

Here's some of my favorite features that make this set worth buying (besides the inclusions of all the feature films):

The 1940s Max Fleischer Superman Cartoons - all 17 are available here. They are so interesting and such a joy to watch mostly due to its unique art and animation style. One of the true gems of this set.

You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman - Available only in this box set, this documentary chronicles the making of Supermans I through IV (and Supergirl!). Contains very candid comments from much of the cast and crew involved in the making of all the films. Of most interest are the segments that deal with the Donner/Lester/Salkind madness that occurred during the making of the first two films.

Look, Up In The Sky! The Amazking Story of Superman - this great documentary chronicles Superman's history throughout time since his birth to the present across all forms of media including newspaper, comic book, television, film, musical, etc., etc.

All movies save Superman Returns have commentaries (6 in total). Returns makes up for its lack of commentary with an expansive 3 hour making of documentary.

And that's just the best stuff, there's loads of more extra features piled into this set. Here is a complete list of all extra features.

This is one of those sets that promises 20 hours of extra features, but I bet there's even more than that. Honestly, there's so much stuff here, some things you've never thought about, but end up really liking (Warner Brothers Cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy that spoof Superman) and some things you've never thought about, and still wish you didn't think about (The Adventures of Superpup - a live action TV puppet show with Superman as a dog/pupper, you've gotta see it to believe it).

For any Superman fan, this is truly the Ultimate in DVD sets. Even if you're only a fan of the Donner/Reeve Superman 1 & 2, and hate the rest, the extra bonus material justifies the extra money you'll be paying. If you do the math, you're really not paying that much more. And gosh darnit, that shiny metal box sure is purdy.

The REAL Superman Returns, A Fan's Appreciation of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

This review is taken from the viewpoint of a person (me), who's favorite movies since his childhood were the first two Superman films. Even today I hold them in very high regard. Also, you may understand this review more if you have an understanding of what happened with the first two Superman films, very accurately described in detail and at length at the Superman Cinema homepage. Give it a read, it's very interesting especially since we've got a quarter century of hindsight. Now onto the review/appreciation.

A brand new Christopher Reeve Superman movie. If that line alone doesn't sell you on this, then you, kind sir, or ma'am have no heart. Forget Bryan Singer's well-intentioned but ultimately dissapointing Superman Returns, this is where the REAL Superman Returns.

I don't remember much of what my science professor taught me in high school, but what little I did retain was all wrong, because Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve show us really what real chemistry looks like. You can't just put some hot broad in a film and expect chemistry like that (See Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four....actually on second thought, don't). Unlike Alba, Kidder was not a knockout-type beauty, but had more of a subtle beauty, she had a nice smile that wasn't really big or overly exaggerated like we tend to see these days and her eyes could catch you off guard at so many turns. As much as Reeve brought to Superman, Kidder was right there behind him. Without her, Superman would have been and is a completely different beast, and an ugly one at that.

Christopher Reeve is most heartwarming and charming as Superman and Clark Kent. He exudes a quirky attitude as Clark Kent, and an airtight confidence as Superman. He is so likable I can't help but smile everytime he's on the screen. His portrayal of Superman and Clark Kent has been so ingrained in my mind, that everytime I read a Superman comic book I hear his voice saying the words on the page inside my head.

One of the most pleasant surprises was the never before seen Marlon Brando footage. Now I know why I was so dissapointed with the Brando footage in Superman Returns, it's because they saved all the good stuff for this flick. The scenes with Brando and Reeve are so essential to the film that its a surprise the theatrical version worked without it. In fact, their many new scenes together address one of the biggest plot holes in the theatrical version, namely how Clark/Superman gets his powers back after he gives them up for Lois.

Among the other new scenes of note are a new opening, where Lois thinks she figures out that Clark's really Superman. The second time's a charm though as another new scene shows her finally figuring out Superman's true identity. It's a lot more clever and rewarding than the original theatrical version where Clark just stumbles into the fireplace.

Gone are some of the things that most fans have always hated about the theatrical version. The two biggest are the finger beams that the Phantom Zone criminals use, and their much shortened invasion of a small American town. The former because it was just seemed silly and untrue of the comic, and the latter because of its heavy-handed way in which it protrayed the small U.S. town as being populated with stereotypical hicks.

The movie isn't without it's problems. While most of the new footage fits like a glove, some of the it sticks out like a sore thumb. Unfortunate but forgivable given the circumstances. It's a real shame this movie can never be fully completed. It brings up the interesting question, how awesome would the Superman series have been if Donner had stayed on board to guide the ship? Donner says himself that he would've been in for the long run if he had the opportunity.

For people who never enjoyed or watched Superman, you might watch this and wonder what all the fuss is about. This isn't for you, this is for the hardcore fans of the original films, who believe it or not, are actually the biggest reason this "new" film even exists. This is proof positive that online fan campaigns CAN work, when done PROPERLY. For fans of Superman, Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a revelation. It's something we've wanted forever, but never truly thought we would ever get. And now that it's here, we're pinching ourselves. This is a must buy. You'll believe again that a man can fly.