What's new

WHV Announcement: Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

Founder
Owner
Moderator
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 3, 1997
Messages
66,786
Real Name
Ronald Epstein
SUPERMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE ANTHOLOGY (1978-2006)

DEBUTS ON BLU-RAY™ JUNE 7 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO





Collection Includes All Five Films in the Theatrical Franchise, Two Alternate Versions and 20 Hours of Bonus Features


Burbank, Calif. March 31, 2011 –Superman, the cultural icon and quintessential superhero, is back in a big way. In a powerhouse year marked by the theatrical releases of several major superhero films including Warner Bros.’ Green Lantern, his arrival couldn’t be more perfectly timed. Warner Home Video (WHV) is celebrating the year of the superhero with the June 7 release of Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006) on Blu-ray. For the first time, fans will be able to own one super-entertaining Blu-ray collection with all four original theatrical Superman films starring Christopher Reeve (available for the first time in high def), Superman Returns, and the two alternate versions of Superman I and Superman II.



Available now in superb hi-def, with new digital/hi-def film masters, the must-own comprehensive Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006) on Blu-ray includes all six versions of the films in the original Superman theatrical franchise -- Superman: The Movie – Original Theatrical,Superman: The Movie – Expanded Edition, Superman II – Original Theatrical, Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III – Original Theatrical, Superman IV – Original Theatrical, plus Superman Returns. The Collection also boasts 20 hours of bonus features including the never-before-seen original opening to Superman Returns. Also included are two documentaries in hi-def, Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Supermanand The Science of Superman, as well as You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman, deleted scenes, and much more. Fan-boys and technophiles will especially appreciate that all of the Superman films are being released with English DTS-HD-MA soundtrack for superior sound quality.Also included is Movie Cash good up to $8 off one admission ticket to see the newest Warner Bros. superhero film, Green Lantern, at participating theaters between June 17, 2011 and July 3, 2011[1]x-msg://24/#_edn1. The eight-disc collection will be available for $129.95 SRP. Orders are due May 3, 2011.



Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology is also available On Demand and for download through online retailers including iTunes and Amazon on Demand.



The new trailer for Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006) on Blu-ray can be seen at[COLOR= rgb(51, 51, 51)]http://raincloud.warnerbros.com/wbol/us/whv/med/superman/supermancollection/tvspots/203_Brace_Yourself_WVSUP_A2071-720p178.mov[/COLOR]









About The Films

Superman: The Original Theatrical Movie (1978) and Expanded Edition (2001)

A box-office smash, an Academy AwardÒ winner and a fan favorite since it first flew into theatres in December 1978, Superman: The Movie assembles a cast and creative contingent as only a big movie can. At its heart (just as in three sequels) is Christopher Reeve’s intelligent, affectionate portrayal of a most human Man of Steel.



Variety called Superman “a wonderful, chuckling, preposterously exciting fantasy.”

The movie’s legacy soared even higher when director Richard Donner revisited this beloved adventure 22 years later and integrated eight additional minutes into the film. Enjoy more footage of the Krypton Council, a glimpse of stars of prior Superman incarnations, more of Jor-El underscoring his son’s purpose on Earth and an extended sequence inside Lex Luthor’s gauntlet of doom. Reeve, Marlon Brando (Jor-El), Gene Hackman (Luthor) and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) give indelible performances that fuel the film’s aura of legend.



Disc #1

· Superman: The Movie, Original Theatrical

· Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (Original Theatrical Version)

· The Making of Superman: The Movie [1978 TV special]

· Superman and the Mole-Men [1951 feature]

· Warner Bros. Cartoons

o Super-Rabbit [1943 WB cartoon]

o Snafuperman [1944 WB cartoon]

o Stupor Duck [1956 WB cartoon]

· Trailers



Disc #2

  • Superman: The Movie, Expanded Edition

  • Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz (Extended Version)

  • Taking Flight: The Development of Superman

  • Making Superman: Filming the Legend

  • The Magic Behind the Cape

  • Screen Tests


    Superman

  • Lois Lane with Optional Commentary

  • Ursa

[*]
A Selection of Restored Scenes
[*]
Additional Music Cues


  • Main Titles

  • Alternate Main Titles

  • The Council’s Decision

  • The Krypton Quake

  • More Mugger/Introducing Otis

  • Air Force One

  • Can You Read My Mind (Pop Version)

[*]
Music Only Track (Donner Cut)




Superman II (1980 and The Richard Donner Cut)

“I thought the original Superman was terrific entertainment,” the Chicago Sun-Times’ Roger Ebert wrote, “and so I was a little startled to discover that I liked Superman II even more.” Unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three super-powered Kryptonian 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 (as Lex Luthor) also returns from the first film and with a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction and visuals that astound and delight.



Superman II -The Richard Donner Cut delighted fans who, for years, had been imploring Warner Home Video to release the Donner cut. In fact, the director had already shot most of the Superman II footage during Superman: The Movie. But as production on the sequel continued, creative differences between the director and the film’s producers became irreconcilable and Donner left the project. Although Richard Lester was hired to finish production, he chose to make major changes to the film, leaving only vestiges of Donner’s original vision and concepts in the version of Superman II that was ultimately released to theaters.



Nearly thirty years later, Warner Home Video was delighted to grant the wishes of countless Superman fans. With this DVD release, Richard Donner had become the first director in history to be able to complete a film he left during production with nearly all his footage “in the can.” Adding back a substantial amount of that unused footage, the director has seen his original vision restored and brought to fruition.



Most notably, the “Donner cut” restores the Marlon Brando role, filmed for, but not included in the final theatrical release version of Superman II. The legendary Brando’s performance as Jor-El has finally been restored in key scenes that amplify the Superman lore and deepen the profound relationship between father and son.



With so many other changes, large and small, including a variety of Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman, thisSuperman II proved to be an eye-opening experience and an important addition to film history.



Disc #3

· Superman II, Original Theatrical

· Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (Original Theatrical Version)

· The Making of Superman II [1980 TV special]

· Deleted Scene

· First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series

· Fleischer Studios’ Superman

o Superman

o The Mechanical Monsters

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



Disc #4

  • Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut

  • Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz (Donner Cut)

  • Introduction by Richard Donner

  • Superman II: Restoring the Vision

  • Deleted Scenes

  • Famous Studios’ Superman


    Japoteurs

  • Showdown

  • Eleventh Hour

  • Destruction, Inc

  • The Mummy Strikes

  • Jungle Drums

  • The Underground World

  • Secret Agent





Superman III Theatrical Version (1983)

After Superman: The Movie’s epic storytelling and Superman II’s awesome battles, how could the first two hits be topped? In Superman III, meet Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a half-witted computer programming natural. For him a keyboard is a weapon – and Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his life. Christopher Reeve reprises his most beloved role, deepening his character’s human side as Clark Kent reunites with old flame Lana Lang (Annette O’Toole) at a Smallville High class reunion. And when Superman becomes his own worst enemy after Kryptonite exposure, Reeve pulls off both roles with dazzling skill. Incredible visual effects abound – but above all it has heart, heroism and high-flying humor. All in superabundance.



Disc #5

· Superman III Theatrical Version

· Commentary by Iilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler

· The Making of Superman III (1983 TV Special)

· Deleted Scenes

· Theatrical Trailer



Superman IV The Quest For Peace Theatrical Version (1987)

Christopher Reeve not only dons the cape for the fourth time but also helped develop the movie’s provocative theme: nuclear disarmament. “For me, it’s the most personal of the entire series,” Reeve said. “It directly reflects what Superman should be, and should be doing.” Superman does a lot this time around. 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 a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China.



Disc #6

· Superman IV The Quest For Peace Theatrical Version

· Commentary by Mark Rosenthal

· Superman 50th Anniversary Special (1988 TV Special)

· Deleted Scenes

· Theatrical Trailer



Superman Returns (2006)

He's back. A hero for our millennium. And not a moment too soon, because during the five years (much longer in movie-fan years!) Superman sought his home planet, things changed on his adopted planet. Nations moved on without him. Lois Lane now has a son, a fiancé and a Pulitzer for "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." And Lex Luthor has a plan that will destroy millions - no, billions - of lives.

Filmmaker Bryan Singer (X-Men) gives the world the Superman it needs, honoring the legend everyone loves while taking it in a powerful new direction. Brandon Routh proves a perfect choice to wear the hero's cape, leading a top cast that includes Kate Bosworth as Lois and Kevin Spacey as Lex. And the thrills - from a sky-grapple with a tumbling jumbo jet to a continent-convulsing showdown - redefine Wow.






Disc #7

· Superman Returns

· Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns

o Pt. 1 Secret Origins and First Issues: Crystallizing Superman

o Pt. 2 The Crystal Method: Designing Superman

o Pt. 3 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman- Superman on the Farm

o Pt. 4 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman- Superman in the City

o Pt. 5 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman- Superman in Peril

o Pt. 6 The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman

o Pt. 7 He’s Always Around: Wrapping Superman

· Resurrecting Jor-El

· Deleted Scenes including the never-before-seen original opening to Superman Returns

· Bryan Singer’s Journals – Video production journals

· Trailers



Disc #8 Additional Bonus Material

· Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman [Hi-Def]

· You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman

o Pt. 1- Origin

o Pt. 2- Vision

o Pt. 3- Ascent

o Pt. 4- Crisis

o Pt. 5- Redemption

· The Science of Superman [Hi-Def]

· The Mythology of Superman

· The Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve

· The Adventures of Superpup [1958 TV pilot]



SUPERMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE ANTHOLOGY
 

Carlo_M

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 31, 1997
Messages
13,392
Wow, $129 is a little rich for my blood, especially since I own about 1/3 of the movie content already on Blu. If this streets on sale at $60-$70 I might be tempted, but I'm thinking it will come in at $89.99 street and that's just a bit high considering the quality of #3 and #4.
 

TonyD

Who do we think I am?
Ambassador
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 1, 1999
Messages
24,333
Location
Gulf Coast
Real Name
Tony D.
I don't want to rebuy much of that again. I would buy the theatrical Superman the Movie but only if it includes the original effects track in true HD or DTs hd ma. I would buy Returns again for the opening maybe, Hoping it is't just a 30 second to a minute tiny scene. Just bought the Aliens set of movie for the third time. at some point I have t draw a line and stop re-buying sets and since the third and fourth films are so so awful I don't need them in HD I'll never watch them again anyway.
 

MattAlbie60

I Work for Mr. E. H. Harriman of the Union Pacific
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
Messages
561
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Real Name
Stephen Lilley
Originally Posted by TonyD

I would buy Returns again for the opening maybe, Hoping it is't just a 30 second to a minute tiny scene.


If it's truly the "Return to Krypton" sequence, its six minutes long and reportedly cost between $8 and $10 million dollars. One shot from it is all we've ever seen, and its in the very first teaser.


There were a lot of deleted scenes for SUPERMAN RETURNS that didn't make it onto the original Blu-ray, most of which had to deal with a deleted subplot that ultimately revealed Lex tricked Superman into leaving Earth to try to get him to die in space. The original opening was essentially that -- Superman almost dying in space. If they're putting "Return to Krypton" on the new disc, here's hoping the rest of them are there as well. They read really well in the shooting script and add quite a bit of weight that the final movie was lacking. They also give context to some of currently unexplained moments from the movie -- like during his beating when he yells "I'm still SUPERMAN!"
 

MattBradley

Second Unit
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Messages
448
Real Name
Matt Bradley
Give me a new transfer of Returns, original sound on the first movie and clean them both up and I might bite. Hard to do though.
 

cafink

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 19, 1999
Messages
3,044
Real Name
Carl Fink
According to the digital bits, of the previously-released-on-Blu-ray films, only the first Superman is getting a new tranfer, and the Fleischer shorts are in standard definition.
 

Paul_Warren

Supporting Actor
Joined
Oct 15, 2002
Messages
518
Location
London, England
Real Name
Paul
Sounds okish.........


I hope that on Superman Returns Return To Kypton sequence is worth the cost though as Superman 3+ 4 are horrible & 4 is pratically unwatchable as is Richard Donners Superman 2 cut (sorry but to me it just does not work at all as they were not given the money to do it properly so it reuses Superman1 ending & other elements to save money not service the story!). I already own Superman1, Superman 2 RD Cut, Superman Returns (on HD-DVD & BD as HD-DVD has the best sound on this one!) so the price needs to be very competitive for me to bite on this one!
 

TonyD

Who do we think I am?
Ambassador
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 1, 1999
Messages
24,333
Location
Gulf Coast
Real Name
Tony D.
Paul I'm not sure I get what you mean by the re using the end of 1 for the Donner Supes 2. The end of 2 of the Donner cut was the original ending of 2 and Donner needed to use it for the end of 1. I'm sure someone will chime in on it because I can't remember why Donner needed to use two's ending in part one. Also why do you say the HD DVD of returns has better sound? Do you know the Blu ray of that also has. True HD track now?
 

WillG

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2003
Messages
7,567
I would buy the theatrical Superman the Movie but only if it includes the original
effects track in true HD or DTs hd ma.
Yeah, it's not really clear if the original audio is being used for the theatrical cut of S:TM is it?


so the price needs to be very competitive for me to bite on this one!

Yeah, as I mentioned, I think Warner should strongly consider a rebate offer as many people already own as much as half the films in this set and two of the other films in the set are mediocre to awful.
 

cafink

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 19, 1999
Messages
3,044
Real Name
Carl Fink
I'm pretty sure Superman will contain the original audio track. The last DVD release did, and Warner even created an exchange program for it when the first batch of discs accidentally included the remix in its place.


The question is whether or not it will be lossless.
 

Scott Merryfield

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 16, 1998
Messages
18,893
Location
Mich. & S. Carolina
Real Name
Scott Merryfield
Like others have mentioned already, I own the BD's of Superman: The Movie and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, and have no desire to buy films III & IV -- they are awful. I would like to own the theatrical versions of I & II, but not at this price. I can take or leave Superman Returns.
 

Worth

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
5,258
Real Name
Nick Dobbs
Looks like I'll be picking this up in Britain. Amazon UK is taking pre-orders of the set for 37 pounds, which works out to about $58.
 

Adam Lenhardt

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Messages
27,030
Location
Albany, NY
You guys can thank me for the announcement of this set, since I just bought the original BD of Superman: The Movie. I'd been holding out for a release of this nature, but finally bit the bullet.
 

John Stockton

Second Unit
Joined
Jan 9, 2000
Messages
391
I heard that the DVD version of this Box set contained the deleted scenes from the first Superman which were around 35 min. Are these scenes ported over to the BD set??
 

Jason_V

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 7, 2001
Messages
8,984
Location
Orlando, FL
Real Name
Jason
Aside from the really nice tin of the entire set, the only film I have on BD is Superman Returns. So yeah, assuming the reviews are good, I'll be looking for a good deal on this one when it comes out. III and IV ARE terrible, as most people have mentioned, yet I am a completist (see: X-Men 3/Wolverine, Jurassic Park III, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Saw: The Final Chapter, Smallville Season 9, Doctor Strange).


The only thing that would keep me from getting this is my gut which says a brand spanking new set, with all deleted scenes and whatnot will be released around the time of Snyder's new film. Notice how the press release mentions a "selection of restored scenes" for the first movie. Yeah, that just screams "re-re-re-release" to me.
 

Lord Dalek

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Messages
7,107
Real Name
Joel Henderson
Originally Posted by Jason_V Notice how the press release mentions a "selection of restored scenes" for the first movie.

Yeah those are the ones they actually put back into the movie. Not a special feature at all.
 

MattAlbie60

I Work for Mr. E. H. Harriman of the Union Pacific
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
Messages
561
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Real Name
Stephen Lilley
SUPERMAN IV is legitimately abysmal, but I've warmed up to SUPERMAN III as I've aged. Its just an alright Richard Pryor movie that happens to have Superman in it occasionally.
 

Lord Dalek

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Messages
7,107
Real Name
Joel Henderson
If anything Superman IV at least has its awesome audio commentary where the screenwriter spends the entire 100+ minute running time bashing Golan-Globus. Vastly supperior than Schumacher's Batman and Robin mea culpa.
 

AlexS2

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Oct 10, 2010
Messages
57
Real Name
Alexander
Originally Posted by MattAlbie60





If it's truly the "Return to Krypton" sequence, its six minutes long and reportedly cost between $8 and $10 million dollars. One shot from it is all we've ever seen, and its in the very first teaser.


There were a lot of deleted scenes for SUPERMAN RETURNS that didn't make it onto the original Blu-ray, most of which had to deal with a deleted subplot that ultimately revealed Lex tricked Superman into leaving Earth to try to get him to die in space. The original opening was essentially that -- Superman almost dying in space. If they're putting "Return to Krypton" on the new disc, here's hoping the rest of them are there as well. They read really well in the shooting script and add quite a bit of weight that the final movie was lacking. They also give context to some of currently unexplained moments from the movie -- like during his beating when he yells "I'm still SUPERMAN!"


Was hoping we could one day see an Extended cut of Returns


But whatever, I was already convinced we might never see teh opening, but its finally here.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Sign up for our newsletter

and receive essential news, curated deals, and much more







You will only receive emails from us. We will never sell or distribute your email address to third party companies at any time.

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
357,059
Messages
5,129,805
Members
144,281
Latest member
acinstallation240
Recent bookmarks
0
Top