[Drew Reiber]

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With the campy lameness taken out that can't add up to more than the amount of donner stuff in the existing version? A "Donner-ish" cut would simply be balancing out the universe.

Exactly! More of the original tone of the series would be restored, not to mention much of the oscar-caliber photography. I know I'm tired of watching Superman reveal his identity by TRIPPING ON A BEAR RUG!!! Ugh.

[Will Krupp]

I've been fascinated by the missing Donner footage for a few years now, ever since stumbling upon supermancinema.net in 2000. I managed to get a video of the 154 minute edit featuring the various television additions and am more likely to watch that, with all its visual imperfections, than the dvd.

I tend to think that we, if anything, would get a double disc set of a "suped up" (pardon the pun) theatrical cut on one disc and a second disc featuring something along the lines of a Donner "reconstruction". I'm thinking the existing Donner footage with text screens to fill in the missing gaps? Could happen.

Warner could make the set a "limited edition" and then jettison the second disc if they wanted for future sales.

And as for getting people to buy it....I was so blinded by hype that I plunked down good money on the double disc of "Legend" and I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'm SURE there are others out there like me. :b

I, for one, am just DYING to see the Donner directed Daily Planet sequence when Lois discovers Superman's identity and jumps out the window!

[Dharmesh C]

For sure, some on-set special effects were used for the Fortress sequences, but hard to say how much extra work will be required for WB to enhance those scenes; are they prepared to invest a few million? You are talking 2-3million minimum to enhance the entire picture.

Stuart Baird reckons that he only cut an estimated 60% of Superman 2. Is there footage that was never cut?
When Lester's editor cut the Donner footage, did he throw away the original negatives?

Someone needs to do an inventory immediately.

If all the footage is available, then the followiing Lester sequences will be required to complete the picture, which will be in favour of Donner:

Niagara Exteriors
Flight to Fortress (unsure if Donner shot this)
Villains take over little America
Majority of the battle (Donner shot very little; Superman's return to Metropolis was filmed)
Memory loss kiss

[Frank@N]

Watched S2 last night, hadn't seen it in ages.

Theatrical version holds up fairly well, but some effects could really use updating.

As reported, the S2 DVD is weak indeed (damn soft and thin audio).

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talking 2-3million minimum to enhance the entire picture.

Is this the kind of money they spent updating S1 on DVD?

At the very least, WB could fix some effects, create a topnotch A/V transfer for DVD, and include all the unused footage as supplemental material.

[Bill Williams]

I like Will's suggestion of a reconstruction of the film using newly-inserted title cards in place of the missing footage. When I picked up Kino Video's excellent reconstructed restoration of "Metropolis" last year, some of the lost scenes were filled in with new title cards, so it could be possible.

Then again, DC's suggestion of utilizing those necessary Lester sequences to fill out a complete edition is also a good one as well. As long as some of those raunchy Lester shots that were in the international extended cut never see the light of day (specifically, the trashy woman fussing over losing her football game, the Japanese girl telling her father to shut up, and the doofy guy having camera trouble at Niagara Falls), I'll be very happy.

[Dharmesh C]

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Theatrical version holds up fairly well, but some effects could really use updating.

They were bad even in 1980/1981; the f/x was rushed 'cos they had to meet the October/November 80 deadline; the film opened in Austraila - November 1980, their summer.

Bill, those scenes are awful.

The turning back the world was taken from the ending of Superman 2; according to Lester, the 1st film lacked an emotional impact, so Donner took the ending of 2 and put it on 1.

[CraigL]

So what was the ending supposed to be for 2 according to Donner? Did he ever shoot an ending for 2 before he was fired?


Btw...does anyone else have the 2 DVD set that has the TV footage mixed in with the theatrical version?

[Moe*A]

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Btw...does anyone else have the 2 DVD set that has the TV footage mixed in with the theatrical version?

Huh is this available on DVD?

[WillG]

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So what was the ending supposed to be for 2 according to Donner?

I believe the original ending for II was that Lois Lane is killed during the showdown with the villians. It is then that he reverses the rotation of the Earth the bring Lois back