Superman The Movie / Superman II (Theatrical) on BD (2 Viewers)

I'm not sure how many people feel the same way, but I was very disappointed to see that Warner Home Video have no plans to re-release Superman The Movie on Blu-Ray or release Superman II (theatrical version) on Blu-Ray. Their response was along the lines of "...been there, done that to great success 2 years ago."

As Superman Returns was recently given a BD re-release (with lossless audio replacing the lossy version) - why does this classic film get left on the sidelines?

The Ultimate Superman Collection (in 2006) was a dream for DVD owners, but surely it cannot be as good as a well thought out and solid Blu-Ray release?

For those of us who would like to see the first 2 Christopher Reeve movies released properly on Blu-Ray, with good encodes, lossless audio and in their original theatrical versions, show your support here on this thread!

To Warner Home Video:

Superman The Movie was given a fresh master for the theatrical version on DVD in 2006, and it looks fantastic. Lossless audio is part of the hi-def experience, but unfortunately the Blu-Ray released in 2006 of Superman The Movie had a lossy soundtrack. I'm sure it would please many fans if you would consider releasing the Christopher Reeve Superman films on Blu-Ray, with the same attention to detail as was given to 'The Shining', '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Blade Runner.'

Thank you for your time!

I actually wanted to ask a technical question re: Superman IV during the chat but I never got called:

What the hell was that bleep-bloop score that played during the deleted scenes?...

...and since Film Score Monthly released the complete Superman soundtracks (including the unearthed complete score for this film), would it be possible to include the deleted scenes on Blu-Ray featuring the original music? http://filmscoremonthly.com/cds/deta...man--The-Music

I'm sure WB will do some kind of Superman Blu-Ray promotion if/when they make a new Superman movie but God only knows what's happening on that front. Right now, I'd settle for the first film, featuring both versions, lossless audio, and all the existing DVD extras (plus any additional features and deleted scenes).

And there are plenty of Superfans who'd love for WB to take another shot at the Donner Cut but I doubt this would ever happen. That ship has sailed.

+1 on that for sure!

maybe the question should have been? what about the theatre version of superman the movie and superman 2 on bluray?

Jacob

I'll go for all of it. I don't think Superman is quite done on home video just yet.

I remember WB saying that Superman 2 theatrical cut was definately coming to hidef back in 2007 but it went MIA eversince. It needs to get a hi-def makeover as with respect to Dick Donner his cut of 2 is just not as entertaining and even flat in places as WB did not give him enough budget to make it the way he wanted so he compromised and did what he could with the footage available (the Brando footage they bought for Superman Returns). They should put both on a seamless branching BD but the cost would be high as the theatrical cut has very poor sound so would need extensive remastering and the movie also looks very grainy and poor so it would not be a cheap project to do as it needs a lot of fixing to make it 1080P friendly.

I imagine Warner is going to want to tie in any Superman BD release to the next movie which is scheduled for 2011.

I watched the current BD the other night and am pretty happy with it. I prefer it to the theatrical cut and from a PQ standpoint, I doubt this film is going to look much better although I agree a TrueHD track could help a bit with the audio, but the 640kbs DD track is not too bad either.

HDnetmovies played the theatre of superman 2 a while back.. it looks fine.

Jacob

Theatrical cuts should always be available. Always.

Superman: The Movie was one of my favorites growing up (actually, it WAS my favorite, and still is to this day) and when I watch it, I always go to the theatrical cut. The Extended is interesting and all, but the Theatrical is the only one I watch.

I have both Superman Returns on Blu and Superman: The movie on blu and they both look and sound fine.

Are the BD big improvments? I have the 2006 14-DVD set and I think the PQ is great with a good scaler.

The BD has far better, more natural color rendition than the 06 DVD. If you A/B, the difference stands out quite noticeably. In addition, the typical improvements of BD exist such as greater detail, resolution, being able to see actual film grain instead of DVD compression grain, etc.

thanks for that info on the BD, I appreciate that - that's good to know. I just wonder what a modern encode would look like of the theatrical version, on BD

I also want the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II in BD (along with the other sequels and the theatrical cut of I). The "Donner Version" should've been a supplement on a DVD package containing the original version, I realize they did the "best they could" with the footage that was there, but trying to sell that as a standalone "movie" experience was lame. Outside of flipping through it to see the great Brando scenes it's impossible to sit through at any one time as a standalone movie -- because it really isn't, and shouldn't have been sold that way either IMO.

the overseas dvd of superman 2. it included both theatre and donner cut. the special edition with 3 disc set.

Jacob

I do not like the Superman II version that is out right now. It's not the one I grew up loving and I have been waiting and waiting for the theatrical version. Seems like Warner doesnt care from their answer.

Good to know, thanks. One day i'll get S1, S2 and SR on Blu so.

I would bet that within 12 years, the technology will exist to efficently and economically make convincing digital stand ins of all the principals- at the very least for use in long shots- which would allow them to finally do a Metropolis smack down justice (with some well thought out and creative editing and newly shot crowd scenes). Unfortunately, there is so much else that always was and always will be conceptually silly and far beneath the quality of the first film.

I agree, after reading the chat, the question posed wasn't specific enough. In fact the first time I read the question, my first thought was: the Blus are already out there.

I agree we need to see the theatrical versions on Blu.

I agree. I think of that film as a curiosity, nothing more. It's just a hodgepodge of unmatchable footage, really. Historically interesting, but I'd not want to sit through it again.