DVD Review: Superman 2 - The Richard Donner Cut

Superman 2: The Richard Donner Cut (Richard Donner, 1980, 2006, USA).

So my review of Godzilla will be up some other time but for now...

Superman 2 had a troubled production as Richard Donner, the man responsible for Superman 1, was kicked off the production by the producers and it was taken over by Richard Lester. Fans have known for years that the material Donner shot was still intact and so, after much petitioning, and coinciding with the forthcoming DVD release of Bryan Singer's affectionate remake Superman Returns, this cut has been assembled by editor Michael Thau under Donner's supervision.
This cut has some of the footage found in Lester's finished film but also contains some amazingly revealing stuff. One of the things about the original release was that while fun in a comic-book way, it felt like the seriousness Donner, along with the man who created the story Mario Puzo, was lost in exchange for a slightly more campy tone (Although who cannot love Terrance Stamp's incredibly hammy performance as General Zod, KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!). While the campiness remains in this version, we also see what could have been. The reintroduction of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, highlights the struggle which forms the backbone to the movie: Can Superman have what he wants while still upholding his duty to man? The debates he and Superman have reinforce this issue. The presence of Lois Lane dressed only in Superman's shirt during this scene also heightens the mature tone. It is not just this which has changed. The opening in Paris has been cut completely and to me this is a good thing as it always seemed like a throwaway sequence in the context of the movie.Lois Lane trying to prove that Clark is Superman is a far better opening as
it adds to as I mentioned before is the main theme of the movie. Also thank god that the frankly bizarre fight at the end with the attacking S's had been cut and replaced with something far more down to earth. However, the reuse of footage from the end of Superman 1 is jarring, although it makes sense in the context of the individual film (Although in terms of continuity, the last scene really does not make sense!) The same goes with the reuse of part of the score but as it really is one of the best film scores ever, I ain't complaining! There is far more which I won't go into here, but it really is amazing how much was found and restored. The footage has been very well restored and the gaps in the film do not ever really jar.
In all, a fascinating look into a film which could, and should, have been but it is very very nice to see it avaliable for anyone interested.