Reeve was an excellent actor. Watch the scene in Lois Lane's apartment when Clark Kent considers revealing his true identity. All Reeve does is take off his glasses and straighten his shoulders, yet the transformation from mild mannered reporter to Superman is unmistakable. There aren't many actors who can pull that off.
And the way he shifts right back into Clark a few seconds later is just as awesome. The scene where they get mugged and Clark catches the bullet. The way he panics when Lois is about to drop her purse instead of just handing it to the guy, and his facial expression as Supes at the end just before he throws the bullet away is a close second. The thing about Superman is almost anyone can pull off Superman, but nobody can pull off Clark like Reeve. It’s not even remotely close.
@@3PiecesOfBread True because they never understood/understand the character. Clark Kent and Superman, Christopher Reeve KNEW that in order to hide behind Clark Superman had to BE Clark 100%. He did a tremendous job at humility and bashfulness.
"John Williams's iconic score became synonymous with the film." Ummmm, John Williams's iconic scores become synonymous with EVERY film he's ever scored, lol!
Kyle -- Truuuuue.... but that doesn't negate that the score became synonymous with Superman. Also, Superman might be his only film score for a movie not based on original material. At least, not based on a huge franchise before he came on board. So the point about it being synonymous with Superman means something different than Star Wars or Indiana Jones.
Not only that. He was way ahead of his time with the end credits scene that ended up in the beginning of Superman 2 instead now end credits are a staple of superhero movies.
Them firing Donner was what lead to horrible Superman 3 & 4. To me Superman 1 & 2 are the Gold Standard of Superman. No matter who they put into that suit, Christopher Reeve will ALWAYS be Superman.
Firing Donner and losing the screenwriters for Superman 1 and 2. Losing Hackman and Marlon Brando. They were all failures of the producers. Superman 4 on the other hand was a low budget Golan- Globus production and the Salkinds had nothing to do with it. They had failed with Santa Claus the movie and Supergirl. And had only held onto the rights for Superboy and made a tv series.
@@standupG1 Terrence Stamp was a popular actor in the late 60's & early 70's. Afterward, the great actor had inexplicably vanished. And I don't think this was a self-imposed exile. Check out The Hit and the Limey. He is fantastic in both films.
From all accounts, it sounds like Richard Donner created an excellent, supportive atmosphere for his cast and crew. There are so many horror stories about directors caring only for the final product, and not giving a damn about those working on their films. Donner's cast and crew really seemed to care a lot about him, with Gene Hackman going so far as to not return in support of Donner. And the fact that Donner did his best to keep the animosity between him and the producers secret from everyone else really says a lot about him. He suffered that burden alone, which I really respect.
@tyler durden hello and good morning I'm Peter from Hamilton Ontario Canada Tyler are you talking about me? Sorry I'm not sure that is why I'm asking sir?
@@bcgldnboy Tony32 was joking. The correct response would have been to chuckle and move on. Instead you chose to correct him without a hint of humor or irony.
The Donner cut is good except the awful re-used ending. Superman reverses time and then goes to beat up a trucker who doesn't even know who he is. @@RollingOrmond
Casting Christopher Reeve was the best decision made for these films. Because not only could he pkay Superman, but he could play Clark Kent. And make you forget they were supposed to be the same person.
After his accident, Reeve did an interview where he said that we all like to think we have a bit of Superman and Clark Kent within us and that’s why his Superman related so well with audiences because they saw themselves onscreen
Whenever anyone mentions that a pair of glasses and a suit shouldn't work. I remember the shot of Reeve, taking off the glasses, straightening his shoulders and saying, in a deep voice; "Lois," (Lois is out of the room) "I have to tell you something. I'm really..." Then Lois comes back into the room, he "chickens out" puts the glasses back on and becomes "Clark" again!
@@@roycastanon5754 That's your opinion, my opinion is that Man of Steel were better quality films obviously, and I'm a fan of Henry Cavill's take on Super Man. But I'm not that old and I like the score for the older films more. If you notice Star Wars films still use their original score to this day.... When it comes to music, newer doesn't always mean better either.
Man of steel has the better score plus the danny elfman score in justice league made the movie a retarded piece of absolute shite .....worse score ....superman lip problem and shit ton more problems thanks to WB and pedophile joss wheedon who by the way looks like phil michell from Eastender
Most of today's audience will find it a bore...? I don't think so; pretty sure it is still watched and re-watched by people of various ages. This is almost guaranteed given how beloved the character of Superman is coupled with the fact that there has yet to be an on-screen version that has captured the popular imagination in the same way that this version did.
@@johnjohns8863 it has lots of stuff that's in the comics. like almost every other superhero movie it has elements from many different comics to make an original story. If you don't like it fine but you're acting hostile for other peoples opinions which is childish.
I think it was a great adaptation of the comics, and is still a great watch today. My 8 year old little girl enjoys watching them, though maybe not as much as I do.
@@johnjohns8863 But it indeed was (based on the comics). Certainly it didn't include the additions to the Superman universe of Captain Marvel's creator ,Otto Binder, such as Superboy, Supergirl, etc., but wonderful as those were, they were at the end of the day, just that, additions, intended to bring to Superman some of the flavor of the (at the time) more popular Fawcett character. I can't really think of any major departures from the core Superman story, in fact.
There was a Captain America documentary on TV when Winter Soldier came out in which Jack Kirby's family and Joe Simon had the exact same reaction to the first Captain America movie.
I adored the original when it came out, and wish this video had given more credit to Christopher Reeve, who is in my opinion the ONE absolutely indispensable element. His Superman was magical. No one else has ever come close. My favorite film blooper comes from SUPERMAN II, when Lois falls into Niagara Falls and Clark, realizing he can't reveal himself but wanting to save her, uses his x-ray vision to slice the limb off a tree for her to grab onto. Reeve doesn't remove his glasses, which would have been shattered by the x-ray. Every time I see it, I chuckle. The original, to my mind, was the only truly worthwhile whole film. I loved the love story in the second, but that was all that was worth seeing. And to this day, Superman flying Lois around the world on their first date is the most romantic type of date I can imagine. LOVE that sequence!
@@coreyoz There's a bunch of great scenes, and great lines still quotable today. Sure, the special effects are ropey and don't hold up, but it's still a great movie.
I wonder why Superman is so hard to get right in movies. It could be that he is too earnest and genuine? Reminds me of Beowulf in that way: great source material; movies just couldn't make it to that level.
@@visaman I disagree a great deal with that foolish statement. He was created before the Second World War. He is a product of a time that has been far more hopeful and genuine. Today that is too much for filmmakers and audiences. Hell even comic book writers these days make this mistake repeatedly. Overall themes aside the next hurdle creatively speaking is the character’s power. How powerful do you make him? How do you create viable conflict with a character that powerful? Truth is you would have to find some core powers and ignore the rest. You tackle those two hurdles writing wise and you have yourself a fairly good Superman film.
Dick Donner is a legend, the guy just has a way with people. How he managed to control and direct the young acting cast of The Goonies and get them to perform is beyond me, it just looked crazy at times on set !
When Clark first opens up his shirt to reveal that S and saves Lois Lane with one hand catching the helicopter with the other I get nostalgic (Superman theme playing)
I still love hearing this story even though I've heard it before. A true example of the story behind the movie being as interesting as the movie itself. But I'll say this, I never knew about the bit involving John Williams feuding with Richard Leister.
Did you hear about Brando suing the Salkinds for the unpaid 11.8% gross of Superman 1 which was settled of course? Thus the real reason he never appeared in part 2 where a similar % would have had to be paid again
me too. I like to think I know all about the behind the scenes of Superman 1 and 2, but ive never heard of the Williams feud as well. I just assumed it was scheduling conflicts.
their still the best superman films to date, simply cause they are true to the character and tell a good story, it's really cool you can share and enjoy these movies with your grandkids, i think that's the real joy of watching movies is sharing that experience with the people you love
Nice profile pic, I loved MOS & BvS' I thought finally we've got a really good actor who looks the part [great new suit, better then that dumb S in Superman Returns, toy suit] we get to the 3rd movie & bam, dreams crushed, another dead midway Superman franchise & what could have been the Superman character's answer to The Dark Knight trilogy, I think the character is cursed to never have a great franchise
I'll tell you one thing, I saw the 'released' Superman II in the theater and it was ok. But, when I saw the "Donner" version of Superman II - it was awesome!! I made so much more sense and it had so much better continuity it was perfect!! The Lester and Co. damn near killed Superman.
Christopher Reeve was and still is the best version of Superman, hands down! Same with Margot Kidder as Lois! The chemistry between them just shot through the screen!!
Agreed, the Donner cut is far superior but having grown up with the Lester cut (multiple viewings on HBO back in the day) I can't simply forget about it.
DLRX actually the Lester cut is far superior cause the donor cut is a mess of a movie cause it's obvious that the gun scene is out of place cause if it being a test shot cause Christopher goes from having his bulk to not having it to having his bulk again I have both versions and I go to the theatrical version way more and superman 2 is my favorite of the Christopher Reeve superman movies
@@DLRX I am in the same situation I watched it so many times before Donner's cut. If I remember correctly Excuse me General would you care to step outside is Lester. Classic moment 👍
@@kevin10001 The Lester Cut is also a mess of a movie. Neither version completely works, since both were Frankensteined together. And it's really hard to fix the problem, since Lester consciously chose to shoot the film in a drastically different way than Donner did. In either version, the jump from one director's footage to the other's is utterly jarring, both visually and tonally. A proper Superman II will never exist.
Yes, Superman should be optimistic, not a pessimist. I don't think we need Supes to be Dark Knight 1.2. We need Batman to be dark and Superman to be light. Also, can we please get a tough Lex Luthor? Whimpy, teenage, schizo Lex Luthor is atrocious.
The one element that didn't work for me in the Donner cut was the hotel scene as, Clark would've felt a bullet hit him, hence there would be no need to reveal his Superman identity and two, Lois would be sitting in a jail cell for firing a weapon in a hotel room and not flying with Supes to the Fortress of Solitude.
@MGTOW Monkey From bing top result "Basically Kal El means lightweight God. “Kal” (קל) means both lightweight and easy, but in this context it’s more plausible that it means lightweight. Whereas “El” (אל) means God. That said, with an English accent, which both Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster held (both Jews by the way), it may also be possible that the original meaning was actually voice of God."
I never understood the mind kiss till I heard someone talk about it when I was older. I was confused when I saw it as a kid but didn’t ask anyone because I felt dumb for not understanding what was happening in that scene.
probably becuz of the Zod character...the effects though, as I see them now from superman 2 , were pretty aweful ,realllly bad ....the original 1st movie however , likely had a bigger budget and Brando..those krypton scenes still look cool today
@Nintariz Kinda questionable though how he basically kills Zod without a second thought. Seem to recall a similar thing being heavily criticized in MOS...
Back in 1980 I thought Superman 2 was the better movie, largely because of the action. Now I don't think 2 holds up as well as the original. Too campy.
Yes!!! If heaven happens to exist, hopefully we'll get a proper Batman Vs. Superman movie one day -- Reeve and Keaton directed by Donner with a script by Mankiewicz and Hamm (Tim Burton can serve as a creative consultant).
I don't think it would still work. It would be nice to throw in new special effects but it stole too much from the first two movies to be anything great. Love the soundtrack, though.
I can't believe they actually cut a lot of scenes out of IV (which made some of the plot disjointed in my opinion) later after the original was premiered. I remember watching on TV as a kid then seeing it recently on the Blueray release and got the feeling of bits "missing"...
@@handsolo1209 I say remake it - put Ben Affleck in the role of Superman, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Nuclear Man and Jim Carey as Lex Luthor! (that would be an interesting mix...or not.
DC will always reign supreme in my book because of Superman: the Movie. If that movie wasn't successful, I don't think anyone would attempt a superhero film ever again.
I feel like the '89 Batman might have been strong enough to jump start the super hero film genre, but that's certainly not to understate how important Superman was. No doubt, it paved the way.
you're right, but it took over a decade for Tim Burton's awesome 1989 Batman film to issue the next superhero movie. It's perfectly appropriate that Superman was the first Comic superhero and film. Subsequently Warner Brothers' Batman series deserves the credit for Hollywood's trend for all the Superheroes on the silver screen.
@@SupahFans Plus, who knows? Like you said, if Superman had been a bomb, maybe they never would have even made Batman. And that would have been a shame because that movie was everything when I was a kid.
Meh... they change any iconic character any time it suits some beaurucratic pc A-hole or drags out a crap story for 5 more movies. Gotta get the dollars! Nobody wants a great story to end, but a signature of a great story IS that it ends & has a GREAT end. It gives the audience closure.
Superman and Superman II were the first modern comic book movies. They were well made, had state of the art SFX (for their time), and took the source material seriously. Too bad Donner couldn't have finished the movies and edited them for the story he wanted to tell.
Superman I is my favorite superhero film of all time. I didn't know all of the bad stuff that happened behind the scenes due to Richard Donner not being able to finish the second film. We the audience were in love with the first film and welcome more of that movie magic that came with the first film. Honestly, really enjoyed the 3 villans in the second film which were part of the mythos found in the comics and help move the plot forward. I enjoyed these films until the third one. However, if you want to discuss the film that is truly a disjointed mess in this franchise even with the immortal Christopher D'Olier Reeve reprising the role of Superman, look no further than Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
Yeah, here's a perfect set of scenes of what Christopher Reeve *really* thought when they released Superman IV: The Quest for Peace... ruclips.net/video/jkPwc43-9ic/видео.html
The Donner Cut is like getting an alternate reality-version copy of Superman 2 dropped off in our multiverse timeline and finally seeing, almost 4 decades after-the-fact, what other parallel-universes already knew: It's Super, man!
True, and there were just so many huge, great movies around that time too. Between 78-82, we had Superman, The Deer Hunter, First Blood, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the original Halloween, Empire Strikes Back (commonly regarded as the best Star Wars film), Blade Runner, Alien, Apocalypse Now (probably one of the the best war movies ever made to this day). And more.
PeterSellers22 there are people I know who will find the film a bored, and that would be about 97% of my High School. I haven’t seen the whole movie, but it looks like a work of Art.
Superman 1978 has one great thing that is lacking in the modern blockbuster: Heart. The movie has heart, has dramatic moments, has great one liners and comedy that is authentic, not gags. The modern blockbuster is all about wowing the crowd and big set action pieces. That is why most modern Blockbusters are forgotten or don’t hold up well. Independence Day was THE Blockbuster of 1996 and now it’s looked at as utterly silly. The reason? The movie has no heart and no developed characters. Superman 1978, Star Wars, Jaws are all great movies because they are limited by technology so they HAD to focus on characters, the story and the script.
Spiderman 1 and 2 has heart. Man of steel has it but got overpowered by seriousness. You can see when ckark talking to his ma and pa. Also the end scene when clark got job in daily planet
No film HAS to focus on characters. Countless crappy "B" flicks have terrible scripts, action, costumes, and effects and yet still turn a profit for the producers. Most "action" flicks have lousy characters - but those movies aren't about characters, they're about ACTION - and super-hero fare falls in that catagory. We are indeed blessed when we get more that just action. Even today, action can be done well, but character?.....that's a fancy hat trick that DC still hasn't figured out for the most part.
When I saw the Richard Donner cut, I was amazed and how different it was and confused about how why it had the same reverse time ending. Thanks for clearing that all up!
Warner Brothers didn't learn from the mistakes made by the Salkinds and that left us with the horror that was Justice League. An unfinished film, mostly rewrote and reshot by another Director, resulting in a product that was a completely different feel from Zach Snyder's vision from MOS and BVS.
One thing to keep in mind is Warner Bros. for the last 60 years has been a film distributor. It even hands off its own films to other production companies to actually film. The studio makes deals and counts the grosses. But it trusted the wrong people to make its superhero movies.
Also keep in mind WB didn't fire Donner. This was the Salkinds. Unfortunately what happened to Donner has essentially happened to many directors in recent years under WB, Disney's Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and others. Directors are considered more interchangeable and replaceable than they have in decades now.
I've always wondered how audiences would react if someone went back to the basics of telling a well-crafted and truly finessed story without sacrificing the modern capabilities of special effects. I don't know. Maybe today's writers really think their stories are fantastic. That's not to say that there aren't some good recent movies. But I'm one who is easily entertained; if a movie has plot holes and inconsistencies, I would never notice it because I always live in the moment when I'm watching a movie; I don't sit there like a hawk looking for the slightest errors. Anyway, I'm digressing....
@@phaneserichthoneus8895 I do think Ready Player One succeeded very well as a classic 1980s-style adventure movie. It had the emotional subtext underneath the special effects that we remember was prevalent during that era. Audiences seemed to like it, but many just ignored it. Because a big difference today is how much audiences flock to sequels and brand names. Back in the '70s and '80s, people were very skeptical of sequels and seemed more open to new ideas and originality. The biggest hit movies of any year back then were rarely sequels. Now they almost always are.
Completely agree here. I'm an 80s kid and Reeve will always be my Superman. However, no one will ever be able to touch Tom Welling as far as the role of Clark Kent is concerned.
The older this film gets the better it becomes. Perhaps the best personification of intelligence, heart and perfect comedic timing. He makes you fall in love with his character that no other actor has done.His suit is so simple yet perfect for his time, iconic!!!
I've seen both versions of Superman 2, but in the non-Donner cut there is one scene that just stood out. That moment after Clark "falls" into the fire, and Lois finally realizes that he is Superman. That moment when he has his back turned to her, shoulders down. Then his shoulders straighten up, he turns around and takes off his glasses. The music starts playing...and just wow. THAT was such an incredible scene. It still gives me goosebumps. The scene in question:ruclips.net/video/mRbenFBoPwA/видео.html And again, no, this wasn't in the Donner cut.
I agree I prefer that version cuz there's so many other classic seems like the Niagara Falls scene with a little boy Falls that is one of the key scenes for me and also at the end where he's fine with the American flag with the Superman song in the background so many iconic scenes that that version had in it but that seemed that you were talking about to me was a very good way to reveal himself to her
I'd argue that Reeve and Kidder have better chemistry in all the new scenes they shot under Lester for Superman 2. I think this was just a result of them having more confidence and comfort with each other than they did in the first film. They are now feeling very sure that everything they're doing is working after they saw part 1's success. Kidder especially seems much more relaxed in these scenes than she did in Donner's scenes.
To be fair the Donner cut was made from test footage years later. If he had had the time to do it properly it would have been way better because as a story it’s by far better than the actual theatrical version we got. So many shit things wrong with it and although I do love it, in comparison to Superman the movie, Superman 2 is way off.
Nice work on this video, JoBlo. Superman II turned out great by both directors... I like both versions, partially due to when I grew up (with the Lester cut). But the Donner cut was certainly closer to what the movie was supposed to be.
😂”...Since then, Superman, the patron saint of comic books, has been treated with the outmost respect and care that I I I I can’t even finish this sentence...”
While the Donner Cut has many elements that are superior to Lester's version, it still feels more like an experiment instead of a complete film. I think the best possible version of "Superman II" would include footage from both in a careful balance.
I also agree. The Donner cut is a perfect example of letting grudges, understandable on Donner's part,change what should have been a fix of Superman 2,into making it almost fan fiction. I honestly think the Paris scene was a better opening then the Donner scene, because it suggested that more time had passed since the first film, allowing time for Lex to be tried and convicted. I also think its better that Superman's actions from that movie free Zod and not his actions from the prior film.Cut out the slapstick and add Jor-El back into the film. I like the Donner version of Lois revealing Clark's secret,but I have a hard time getting past it being screen test footage so I could go either way with the Lester version.Otherwise go with the Donner cut and John Williams score. But I would stick with the Lester ending involving the kiss because it makes the film an actual sequel to Superman The Movie and not more of an alternate version of Superman 2. I like a Donner/Lester version final battle at the fortress where the plastic "S" is removed and the Phantom Zoners are depowered and turned over to the authorities with Luthor before Superman destroys the Fortress, and takes Lois back to Metropolis before using "The kiss" to wipe her memory. It basically would be Superman severing his final connection to Krypton and resetting his relationship with Lois without wiping out the actions of General Zod. The Superman carrying the American flag scene when he is helping to repair the White House was a great ending to the Lester version as it had Superman admitting he had let the world down when he depowered himself and he was recommitting himself to defending his adopted home, Earth. By rolling back time to where Zod never left the Phantom Zone, the Donner version has Superman not really learning a lesson about never abandoning his mission and having the world pay for it.That should have driven Superman going forward into a third movie.
@@TheLAGopher Well said! Esp the part about Superman learning a lesson, recommitting himself. And that part carrying the flag! I saw the movie second night in sold-out theater and the audience jumped and cheered when that scene came on.
@@TheLAGopher I agree with everything, except where Lois tricks Supes into revealing himself. That makes him look like a fool for falling for it. Also he knows she's not stupid enough to attempt murder on a hunch. The rug tripping was better, because he wanted to reveal himself because he hated lying to her...as she explains in the movie.
Exactly! For example, I would use the Lester Paris opening, the scene at the Daily Planet with Lois calling Clark out, the entire Falls plot (including Lester's reveal), all of the Brando material, all of the Donnner Zod material (Some of Lester's is fine, but his Zod was generally goofier, whereas Donner's was terrifying all throughout), Donner's version of the final fight (Metropolis and Fortress), and Lester's ending (Kiss and White House). That, to me, would pretty much be a perfect version!
I don't ever recall seeing Terrance Stamp with anything other than gray hair so I never did the math on him being Zod, the first thing I've ever seen him in. Tricks on me
I believe Williams' statement was "I can't work with him" and that the issue was that Lester was simply pointing to cues Williams had done for part 1 and telling John that he wanted them cut and pasted onto certain scenes in part 2, exactly what Lester ended up having Ken Thorne do. The problem might've been that Lester had directed Beatles documentaries where he learned how to take existing music and place it onto new scenes. Obviously that is not the way Williams likes to score a movie.
Williams used the excuse that he was tied up with "The Empire Strikes Back" scoring sessions to get out of dealing with Richard Lester, but it was common knowledge that he quit out of loyalty to Richard Donner.
Reeve was an excellent actor. Watch the scene in Lois Lane's apartment when Clark Kent considers revealing his true identity. All Reeve does is take off his glasses and straighten his shoulders, yet the transformation from mild mannered reporter to Superman is unmistakable. There aren't many actors who can pull that off.
Darren Z that observation is spot on....
And the way he shifts right back into Clark a few seconds later is just as awesome.
The scene where they get mugged and Clark catches the bullet. The way he panics when Lois is about to drop her purse instead of just handing it to the guy, and his facial expression as Supes at the end just before he throws the bullet away is a close second.
The thing about Superman is almost anyone can pull off Superman, but nobody can pull off Clark like Reeve. It’s not even remotely close.
True
@@3PiecesOfBread True because they never understood/understand the character. Clark Kent and Superman, Christopher Reeve KNEW that in order to hide behind Clark Superman had to BE Clark 100%. He did a tremendous job at humility and bashfulness.
You see what you want to see! ;)
"John Williams's iconic score became synonymous with the film."
Ummmm, John Williams's iconic scores become synonymous with EVERY film he's ever scored, lol!
Kyle -- Truuuuue.... but that doesn't negate that the score became synonymous with Superman. Also, Superman might be his only film score for a movie not based on original material. At least, not based on a huge franchise before he came on board. So the point about it being synonymous with Superman means something different than Star Wars or Indiana Jones.
@MGTOW Monkey No one will be as good as the guy who wrote the original Lost in Space theme.
rsr789 Buck Rogers theme is better lol.
@MGTOW Monkey You know that those were all Williams as well right?
he actually said "character"
RIP Richard Donner. He was a great director.
Donner is a freckin’ genius 🙌
When you know of all the problems he faced during the production it is such an amazing achievment 👏👏👏
Not only that. He was way ahead of his time with the end credits scene that ended up in the beginning of Superman 2 instead now end credits are a staple of superhero movies.
They were right. Comic book hero movies are juvenile. It's like grown adults reading Harry Potter.
@@Jordan-Ramses
F*ck off troll.
agreed
And he has proved himself in so many different genres. He's a fantastic director and very versatile
Them firing Donner was what lead to horrible Superman 3 & 4.
To me Superman 1 & 2 are the Gold Standard of Superman. No matter who they put into that suit, Christopher Reeve will ALWAYS be Superman.
Ez Target 4 wasn't Lester. That's why Hackman came back
Ez Target exactly
Why did they fire Donner?
That type of thinking damages the character ...he needs to live on in New live action
Firing Donner and losing the screenwriters for Superman 1 and 2. Losing Hackman and Marlon Brando. They were all failures of the producers. Superman 4 on the other hand was a low budget Golan- Globus production and the Salkinds had nothing to do with it. They had failed with Santa Claus the movie and Supergirl. And had only held onto the rights for Superboy and made a tv series.
Decided to watch this after reading about Richard Donner's passing. Rest in Peace to the icon.
The chemistry between Chris and Margot was magic, may they both rest in peace.
they will always be superman and lois lane
They are dead. Not resting
^^^wtf?!? rip english comprehension, lol XD
@@zebunker should i say may they both dead in peace. 😅
@@xenoaltrax485 he obviously doesn't believe in an after life. Atheïst
"Kneel before Zod!". Terrence Stamp carried the sequel for me.
1qwasz12,he SURELY did!! “Who is this SUPERMAN!! Come to me, Superman! If you dare...I defy you. Come...and kneeeell b4 Zod! ZODDDD!!!!”
"Zod not good"
Great point. He did an excellent job and I feel he doesn't get the credit he deserves.
@@standupG1 Terrence Stamp was a popular actor in the late 60's & early 70's. Afterward, the great actor had inexplicably vanished. And I don't think this was a self-imposed exile. Check out The Hit and the Limey. He is fantastic in both films.
@@somercet1 I skipped "Priscilla ". Not a fan of the genre.
Reeve was just the best Superman ever and the soundtrack is impossible to beat .
Agreed, the best original, as he was the original, but Dean Cain the best modern (him from the series)
Agreed and Gerard Christopher was the best Superboy and Tom Welling the best Clark Kent Superboy.
@walk hard Yes he was . I also think Margot Kidder was the best Louis Lane she had a goofiness when it came to Superman that was classic.
@@mikemorris4548 Dean cain sucks
Reeves is the best original superman
Christopher Reeve IS Superman. He was the only celebrity whose death made me cry.
Wow, not even Freddie Mercury?
@@kbanghart or John Lennon?
Until I bawled my eyes out last year when Rutger Hauer died.
(Gasps)...Aww...
Barry White's death made many people cry. So did Donna Summer's. May they rest in peace.
From all accounts, it sounds like Richard Donner created an excellent, supportive atmosphere for his cast and crew. There are so many horror stories about directors caring only for the final product, and not giving a damn about those working on their films. Donner's cast and crew really seemed to care a lot about him, with Gene Hackman going so far as to not return in support of Donner. And the fact that Donner did his best to keep the animosity between him and the producers secret from everyone else really says a lot about him. He suffered that burden alone, which I really respect.
Kneel before Zod. Now do crunches before Zod. One before Zod. Two before Zod. Three before Zod.
LOL! Nice.
ruclips.net/video/qMbiLJ2aZuY/видео.html
Love this one!
Even Zod couldn't do crunches from a kneeling position!
(cool "Adult Swim" link, though)
Is Zod still selling kitchens , lol ?
and one day, YOGA!
The first two films were great and God bless Christopher Reeve
@tyler durden his name is Reeve not Reeves btw
tyler durden This is the funniest exchange I’ve seen all week.
@tyler durden hello and good morning I'm Peter from Hamilton Ontario Canada Tyler are you talking about me? Sorry I'm not sure that is why I'm asking sir?
@tyler durden sure bro LMAO
Back in the early 1970s Christopher Reeves was in a soap opera on TV. It's strange my mother said that he would make a good Superman, go figure.
That smile he gives the camera, no, gives us, as he flies above the earth, so perfect, so Superman. No one will ever surpass Reeves and Superman 1.
Christopher Reeve - no S at the end of his last name. George Reeves with an S played Superman in the 50's TV series Adventures of Superman.
@@bcgldnboy Used to be Reeves (with an s) the Mandela effect changed it to Reeve (no s)
Tony32 REEVE always has been, always will be.
@@bcgldnboy Tony32 was joking. The correct response would have been to chuckle and move on. Instead you chose to correct him without a hint of humor or irony.
Brandon Routh was the closest to reaching the level of Reeve, he was just let down by a terrible story. But I agree Reeve's was born to play Superman.
"they chose money over quality"
Sounds like this is the choice every single company makes, these days.
You are so right. They should have let Richard Donner finish it. The movie would have been better.
I think that's one of the reasons the Justice League Snyder Cut was ignored
Yes, but they often end up LOSING money by doing it.
Brando would have made them a lot more money than they saved by losing him.
I don't blame them, but it is terrible
Superman: The Story of how Richard Donner saved the production.
The original pre-Donner recut is still the best. Lester did a great job.
Rolling Ormond meh
@Razh 80 You gotta be kidding me! That would've been epic, and cyber lady in Superman 3 would've made so much more sense to be Brainiac!
The Donner cut is good except the awful re-used ending. Superman reverses time and then goes to beat up a trucker who doesn't even know who he is. @@RollingOrmond
Superman 2 The movie about how Superman will kill a woman if he cums in her.
Casting Christopher Reeve was the best decision made for these films. Because not only could he pkay Superman, but he could play Clark Kent. And make you forget they were supposed to be the same person.
Yes!!! Every actor since, has played both characters with the same personality. Reeve is the only one that played him with two personalities.
After his accident, Reeve did an interview where he said that we all like to think we have a bit of Superman and Clark Kent within us and that’s why his Superman related so well with audiences because they saw themselves onscreen
@@jennifersman7990 Roger Ebert mentioned the same thing in his review of Superman 2.
Whenever anyone mentions that a pair of glasses and a suit shouldn't work. I remember the shot of Reeve, taking off the glasses, straightening his shoulders and saying, in a deep voice; "Lois," (Lois is out of the room) "I have to tell you something. I'm really..." Then Lois comes back into the room, he "chickens out" puts the glasses back on and becomes "Clark" again!
Agreed and for me this was the main reason Cavills man of steel didn't work for me...the duality of Reeves performance is the selling point for me
_"By the time they started shooting, Reeve . . . was . . . Superman!"_
And he still is.
Nah, he's dead.
@@marcusmartin5758 oh shit we got an edgelord over here 🤣
@@GMOTP5738 keep walkin snowflakes.
@@GMOTP5738 Coming from the internet ubergeek who thinks it is still cool to say "edgelord"...
He was a passable Superman but lousy Clark Kent.
That John Williams score in the background is amazing.
not just that it as parade of the Ewoks from star wars the Return of the jedi
they should have used it for the Man of Steel Movies...smh
Cosmic Dark Matter but they have a better score for the man of steel movies. Sorry but older doesn’t mean better
@@@roycastanon5754 That's your opinion, my opinion is that Man of Steel were better quality films obviously, and I'm a fan of Henry Cavill's take on Super Man. But I'm not that old and I like the score for the older films more.
If you notice Star Wars films still use their original score to this day....
When it comes to music, newer doesn't always mean better either.
Man of steel has the better score plus the danny elfman score in justice league made the movie a retarded piece of absolute shite .....worse score ....superman lip problem and shit ton more problems thanks to WB and pedophile joss wheedon who by the way looks like phil michell from Eastender
This was the Best Zod. Regal, godlike, arrogant, and fun! A truly enjoyable villain.
👍👍👍👍👍
It was. But Gene Hackman in 1 was THE best Lex. Funny, charismatic, relatable, yet totally evil nut job.
kneel before zod.
Richard Upton ok daddy
Stamp made a fair Jor-El too in Smallville.
I have the Donner Cut and havent looked back at Lesters version since.
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Lester version is better. Easily.
@@FendersRule No crap. What the hell movies have these idiots been watching?
Don't you believe in freedom of the press?
MrCliffda3rd I like the original
The original is my childhood I don’t really like the dinner cut version
Most of today's audience will find it a bore...? I don't think so; pretty sure it is still watched and re-watched by people of various ages. This is almost guaranteed given how beloved the character of Superman is coupled with the fact that there has yet to be an on-screen version that has captured the popular imagination in the same way that this version did.
This superman was not based on the comics .......are you all retarded it was shit simple
@@johnjohns8863 it has lots of stuff that's in the comics. like almost every other superhero movie it has elements from many different comics to make an original story. If you don't like it fine but you're acting hostile for other peoples opinions which is childish.
@@johnjohns8863 That's why the creator's of Superman praised it and cried tears of joy? Ha.....
I think it was a great adaptation of the comics, and is still a great watch today. My 8 year old little girl enjoys watching them, though maybe not as much as I do.
@@johnjohns8863 But it indeed was (based on the comics). Certainly it didn't include the additions to the Superman universe of Captain Marvel's creator ,Otto Binder, such as Superboy, Supergirl, etc., but wonderful as those were, they were at the end of the day, just that, additions, intended to bring to Superman some of the flavor of the (at the time) more popular Fawcett character. I can't really think of any major departures from the core Superman story, in fact.
Hearing Donner talk about Siegel and Shuster tearfully thanking him for making the Movie made me get tearful
Me three!!
There was a Captain America documentary on TV when Winter Soldier came out in which Jack Kirby's family and Joe Simon had the exact same reaction to the first Captain America movie.
I adored the original when it came out, and wish this video had given more credit to Christopher Reeve, who is in my opinion the ONE absolutely indispensable element. His Superman was magical. No one else has ever come close.
My favorite film blooper comes from SUPERMAN II, when Lois falls into Niagara Falls and Clark, realizing he can't reveal himself but wanting to save her, uses his x-ray vision to slice the limb off a tree for her to grab onto. Reeve doesn't remove his glasses, which would have been shattered by the x-ray. Every time I see it, I chuckle.
The original, to my mind, was the only truly worthwhile whole film. I loved the love story in the second, but that was all that was worth seeing. And to this day, Superman flying Lois around the world on their first date is the most romantic type of date I can imagine. LOVE that sequence!
I kindly disagree.
I miss Donner...he was a fantastic director. Superman, Lethal Weapon franchise, Goonies, Scrooged, Maverick. All classic films.
... The Omen...
DeFHoez and is bus wife is carrying on that passion
Superman II was (still is) a great movie
that diner scene is one of the best in cinema if you ask 8 year old me
@@coreyoz There's a bunch of great scenes, and great lines still quotable today. Sure, the special effects are ropey and don't hold up, but it's still a great movie.
Christopher Reeve the only one Superman forever
Pedro Anibal Power amen to that
THE
PHANTOM ZONE
"I can't even finish this sentence"
Made me laugh out loud! 😂😂
I wonder why Superman is so hard to get right in movies. It could be that he is too earnest and genuine? Reminds me of Beowulf in that way: great source material; movies just couldn't make it to that level.
@@woodsplitter3274 zack got it right, Man Of Steel was great
@@woodsplitter3274 Superman was a product of WW2. Take that element away and it just falls flat.
@@visaman I disagree a great deal with that foolish statement. He was created before the Second World War. He is a product of a time that has been far more hopeful and genuine. Today that is too much for filmmakers and audiences. Hell even comic book writers these days make this mistake repeatedly.
Overall themes aside the next hurdle creatively speaking is the character’s power. How powerful do you make him? How do you create viable conflict with a character that powerful? Truth is you would have to find some core powers and ignore the rest.
You tackle those two hurdles writing wise and you have yourself a fairly good Superman film.
Made me chuckle as well.😀
Dick Donner is a legend, the guy just has a way with people. How he managed to control and direct the young acting cast of The Goonies and get them to perform is beyond me, it just looked crazy at times on set !
So, Richard Donner was the Superman behind Superman!
HE Was an ASSHOLE DIRECTOR that is all....
GREAT QUOTE SETH YOU ROCK SIR !!!!
@@DedByMonday ? How was he an asshole director??
@@robertdikes2435 Thanks mate! :)
@Daniel Olortegui Donner is Jewish. Salkinds are Russian, Polish, German, Mexican... everything BUT Jewish!
When Clark first opens up his shirt to reveal that S and saves Lois Lane with one hand catching the helicopter with the other I get nostalgic
(Superman theme playing)
What "S?" Should be, "When Clark reveals THE "S."
Damn right 🎶
This is not just a WTF Happened to this Movie. It's a great backstage look at both of the movies. It was very fun to watch.
Indeed
get the superman dvd. it has more accurate info in the extras.
The big takeaway from this I think is that the original Superman will always be the best superhero movie ever made.
As it should be.
I still love hearing this story even though I've heard it before. A true example of the story behind the movie being as interesting as the movie itself.
But I'll say this, I never knew about the bit involving John Williams feuding with Richard Leister.
Did you hear about Brando suing the Salkinds for the unpaid 11.8% gross of Superman 1 which was settled of course? Thus the real reason he never appeared in part 2 where a similar % would have had to be paid again
me too. I like to think I know all about the behind the scenes of Superman 1 and 2, but ive never heard of the Williams feud as well. I just assumed it was scheduling conflicts.
Hey! My grandkids don't find it "a bore"; they love it! All six of them, ranging in ages from 1 to 15.
I loved the first one, then the second one blew my mind! I'm glad your kids enjoy them
their still the best superman films to date, simply cause they are true to the character and tell a good story, it's really cool you can share and enjoy these movies with your grandkids, i think that's the real joy of watching movies is sharing that experience with the people you love
This reviewer is an idiot!
Yes! Respect!
6? You mean 5
Reeve is still the BEST Superman
yes he is...
Indeed... a real hero and a gentleman
I personally think him and Cavill were perfect
Yup Reeves was great back then Cavill is the perfect Superman now.
And Toby Maguire will always be the best Spiderman.
watched 1 and 2 easily over 100 times each & still feels better than any modern super hero movie
@MP E
You dare to admit that you weren't enchanted by *Captain Marvel?*
You must be a -normal Man- sexist, racist, transphobe!
Nice profile pic, I loved MOS & BvS' I thought finally we've got a really good actor who looks the part [great new suit, better then that dumb S in Superman Returns, toy suit] we get to the 3rd movie & bam, dreams crushed, another dead midway Superman franchise & what could have been the Superman character's answer to The Dark Knight trilogy, I think the character is cursed to never have a great franchise
I love Superman I and II. Much better than today
Other than the disco fever suits on Zod and friends, and Superman throwing a giant fruit roll up at Non
Totally agree. 1 and 2 are the best there is.. Followed closely by The Man of Steel IMO.
I always thought the continuity between 1 and 2 was awesome. Never knew they were filmed at the same time.
@daro2096 Which makes sense, as there weren't many lines for him to say. Probably in total about 4 pages.
Astro's Electronics Lab pretty good for 1 million dollars in the late 70s no less
Me either, and that was my childhood
"what if they teased a sequel no one wanted?" lol that would never stop them now.
Super Mario Bros The Movie of all things, has a sequel bait ending. So i'm pretty sure this is not a recent phenomenon.
Mac Smith and Night Star: Masters of the Universe (1987) sure did!
And I'm still waiting for Ryan Reynold's "Green Lantern 2."
Stop teasing us, Warner Bros, and tell us what happens next already!
Last Airbender had that scene with Ozai and Azula in its end, cliffhanging for the second movie that never got made.
Lesley Jones: "What's Zuul?"
Almost anyone can pull off Superman, but nobody can pull off Clark like Reeve did. It’s not even close.
Reeve was perfect in the role, a real childhood hero of mine, still is.
Superman 1 and 2 best ever
Mine too. He's forever superman, and who I looked up to as a boy.
The final comment about the current treatment of superman was hilarious!
I'll tell you one thing, I saw the 'released' Superman II in the theater and it was ok. But, when I saw the "Donner" version of Superman II - it was awesome!! I made so much more sense and it had so much better continuity it was perfect!! The Lester and Co. damn near killed Superman.
Christopher Reeve was and still is the best version of Superman, hands down! Same with Margot Kidder as Lois! The chemistry between them just shot through the screen!!
Man of Steel is the best Superman movie ever
@@jaylee8240 Please, with the overacting and hifalutin angst. No thanks.
@@jaylee8240 Reeve si the best Superman
I own both the original and the 2006 Donner cut. I love them both for different reasons.
Same 👍
Agreed, the Donner cut is far superior but having grown up with the Lester cut (multiple viewings on HBO back in the day) I can't simply forget about it.
DLRX actually the Lester cut is far superior cause the donor cut is a mess of a movie cause it's obvious that the gun scene is out of place cause if it being a test shot cause Christopher goes from having his bulk to not having it to having his bulk again I have both versions and I go to the theatrical version way more and superman 2 is my favorite of the Christopher Reeve superman movies
@@DLRX I am in the same situation I watched it so many times before Donner's cut. If I remember correctly Excuse me General would you care to step outside is Lester. Classic moment 👍
@@kevin10001 The Lester Cut is also a mess of a movie. Neither version completely works, since both were Frankensteined together. And it's really hard to fix the problem, since Lester consciously chose to shoot the film in a drastically different way than Donner did. In either version, the jump from one director's footage to the other's is utterly jarring, both visually and tonally. A proper Superman II will never exist.
Superman 2 with the 3 vilains is still the best out of all of the superman films!
Totally agreed
It’s the classic Superman
I loved it! I watched first time when I was like 8 and it was just amazing... It's like a live action dbz fight.
The fortress of solitude was in this one
the only formidable foes for a SUPER man. is Super people!
Superman I and II are still the best version of the characters represented in film.
Joseph and Smallville to me is also up there
These guys all get it. Symbol of Hope, not negative nancy is what this audience member wants from Superman.
Yes, Superman should be optimistic, not a pessimist. I don't think we need Supes to be Dark Knight 1.2. We need Batman to be dark and Superman to be light. Also, can we please get a tough Lex Luthor? Whimpy, teenage, schizo Lex Luthor is atrocious.
Agreed.👍
I. Prefer Zach Snyder Superman. Ya'll are way too cheery. I like sadness.
During the sequence when Superman's flying over the clouds I always like that little nod to the camera he gives breaking the third wall.
Superman, the first deadpool :-)
You mean the fourth wall.
Superman is flying over planet Earth. And is "BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL", not the third wall.
They did multiple versions of this, including one where he gives a great eye-wink.
@@saturninhabitant I stand corrected but you get what I mean.
Superman II is the best of the Superman movies. Christopher Reeve is the best Superman. End of review.
I love this film.
Superman 2 can’t top Lex Luthor as the villain and the Smallville act
Classic Film & TV Cafe yeah
Superman II the Richard Donnor cut is one of the best comic movies "never" made. What a shame.
Aaron Jones aaand here come the Snyder Cut crowd
Agreed. Those producers totally SUCK
I agree wholeheartedly. The "Donnor Cut" was quite superior.
The one element that didn't work for me in the Donner cut was the hotel scene as, Clark would've felt a bullet hit him, hence there would be no need to reveal his Superman identity and two, Lois would be sitting in a jail cell for firing a weapon in a hotel room and not flying with Supes to the Fortress of Solitude.
I thought it was just okay. I watched it once and definitely prefer the original cut.
"I can't even finish the sentence" LOL!
This times a million
@MGTOW Monkey From bing top result "Basically Kal El means lightweight God. “Kal” (קל) means both lightweight and easy, but in this context it’s more plausible that it means lightweight. Whereas “El” (אל) means God. That said, with an English accent, which both Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster held (both Jews by the way), it may also be possible that the original meaning was actually voice of God."
Christopher Reeve IS THE REAL Superman,forever.
I now know the story of that stupid cellophane S. I am gonna sleep so good tonight.
Right? I've always thought was so SO dumb.
I never understood the mind kiss till I heard someone talk about it when I was older. I was confused when I saw it as a kid but didn’t ask anyone because I felt dumb for not understanding what was happening in that scene.
Superman always had the power to throw his "S" at people, but he never really knew what it would do, before he tried it.
Luchador Beaux same
I like the cellophane S. Besides, It's his house, he could do what he wants!!!
I love the ending......when you say "I can't even finish this sentence"....lol.....so true!
I never understood why Superman 2 is hailed as the better movie. The original is iconic and just looks better.
probably becuz of the Zod character...the effects though, as I see them now from superman 2 , were pretty aweful ,realllly bad ....the original 1st movie however , likely had a bigger budget and Brando..those krypton scenes still look cool today
@Nintariz Kinda questionable though how he basically kills Zod without a second thought. Seem to recall a similar thing being heavily criticized in MOS...
Back in 1980 I thought Superman 2 was the better movie, largely because of the action. Now I don't think 2 holds up as well as the original. Too campy.
Superman I & II, along with Batman (Michael Keaton) will always be my favorite superhero films.
Yes!!!
If heaven happens to exist, hopefully we'll get a proper Batman Vs. Superman movie one day -- Reeve and Keaton directed by Donner with a script by Mankiewicz and Hamm (Tim Burton can serve as a creative consultant).
@@ThePoorBoy That would be epic!
I wish everybody felt this way!
I was JUST about to comment this! I'm an 80's kid and those movies will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart💙
@@ThePoorBoy What would've been amazing would have been a Dark Knight Returns adaptation with the older Keaton and Reeve playing the roles.
Still an awesome movie to this day.
TV Trivia: the gal on the train @ 2:20 is Noelle Neill, who played Lois Lane in the 50s television show 'The Adventures of Superman'.
Noelle was also in Superman Returns, her last appearance in a Superman film.
The guy is Kirk Alyn who played Superman in the 1950's, and the little girl is actually Lois Lane as the deleted scene mentions.
Louis: You got me, who's got you?
Superman: Richard Donner.
Lmao
Lois ...... spell it right for Christ's sake !
Superman: “Louis! Oh, gosh! I caught the wrong person! Sorry Louis, I have to drop you and go find Lois. Good luck, now!”
@@dbmusicproductions7568 Nice !
@@jamesclukey7488 Oh you mean.. a friend? :D
Your ending was just hilarious, and your sentiments widely shared.
Totally agree
I’ve always loved the take off and landing scenes with the Reeve films. Using cables makes it look like he’s actually flying.
Avengers age of Ultron - WTF happened to this movie?
Superman 2 is the best of the Reeve Superman movies.Great fun.
No. Superman 1 was the best, obviously. 2 sucked as did all the others...
WB should fix Superman IV, re-release it, and donate proceeds to spinal injury research in honour of Christopher Reeve.
Does WB have a trash can big enough for that shitfest of a movie?
I don't think it would still work. It would be nice to throw in new special effects but it stole too much from the first two movies to be anything great. Love the soundtrack, though.
Superman Returns is the REAL sequel to III as far as I'm concerned.
I can't believe they actually cut a lot of scenes out of IV (which made some of the plot disjointed in my opinion) later after the original was premiered. I remember watching on TV as a kid then seeing it recently on the Blueray release and got the feeling of bits "missing"...
@@handsolo1209 I say remake it - put Ben Affleck in the role of Superman, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Nuclear Man and Jim Carey as Lex Luthor! (that would be an interesting mix...or not.
Very nice behind the scenes and explanation of what went down. Thank you for this edit.
DC will always reign supreme in my book because of Superman: the Movie.
If that movie wasn't successful, I don't think anyone would attempt a superhero film ever again.
Somebody would’ve but it would’ve taken years.
I mean the 90’s was a very weird decade for superhero movies and they were seen as a joke too
I feel like the '89 Batman might have been strong enough to jump start the super hero film genre, but that's certainly not to understate how important Superman was. No doubt, it paved the way.
you're right, but it took over a decade for Tim Burton's awesome 1989 Batman film to issue the next superhero movie. It's perfectly appropriate that Superman was the first Comic superhero and film. Subsequently Warner Brothers' Batman series deserves the credit for Hollywood's trend for all the Superheroes on the silver screen.
@@SupahFans Plus, who knows? Like you said, if Superman had been a bomb, maybe they never would have even made Batman. And that would have been a shame because that movie was everything when I was a kid.
"While today's audience will find the film a bit of a bore..."
Actually, it's TODAY's comic movies that are a bore.
Meh... they change any iconic character any time it suits some beaurucratic pc A-hole or drags out a crap story for 5 more movies. Gotta get the dollars! Nobody wants a great story to end, but a signature of a great story IS that it ends & has a GREAT end. It gives the audience closure.
Agreed, 80% of the Marvel movies suck
Astro's Electronics Lab BS!!!! Guess that’s why they’ve made billions in revenue.
Completely agree - those marvel movies are unwatchable to me
@@AstrosElectronicsLab They are not that bad.
This was brilliantly done - thank you for creating.
Superman and Superman II were the first modern comic book movies. They were well made, had state of the art SFX (for their time), and took the source material seriously.
Too bad Donner couldn't have finished the movies and edited them for the story he wanted to tell.
Brian Max he did make his cut of the second one and it’s great
Superman I is my favorite superhero film of all time. I didn't know all of the bad stuff that happened behind the scenes due to Richard Donner not being able to finish the second film. We the audience were in love with the first film and welcome more of that movie magic that came with the first film. Honestly, really enjoyed the 3 villans in the second film which were part of the mythos found in the comics and help move the plot forward. I enjoyed these films until the third one. However, if you want to discuss the film that is truly a disjointed mess in this franchise even with the immortal Christopher D'Olier Reeve reprising the role
of Superman, look no further than Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
Yeah, here's a perfect set of scenes of what Christopher Reeve *really* thought when they released Superman IV: The Quest for Peace... ruclips.net/video/jkPwc43-9ic/видео.html
The Donner Cut is like getting an alternate reality-version copy of Superman 2 dropped off in our multiverse timeline and finally seeing, almost 4 decades after-the-fact, what other parallel-universes already knew: It's Super, man!
Had no idea there was a Richard Donner cut of Superman 2. I HAVE to find it.
Stupid cling wrap scene was embarassing
Kill Walker the S is for “Saran Wrap”
@@zeroman614 lol. I was gonna say Saran wrap but idk if that brand is everywhere.
Cling wrap rolls off the tongue better too
I bought it the day it was released and I haven't watched the Lester version since.
S1 really was a landmark event. Had to be there to experience it. I was
True, and there were just so many huge, great movies around that time too. Between 78-82, we had Superman, The Deer Hunter, First Blood, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the original Halloween, Empire Strikes Back (commonly regarded as the best Star Wars film), Blade Runner, Alien, Apocalypse Now (probably one of the the best war movies ever made to this day). And more.
lol Love the I can't finish this, while showing all the new Superman movies.
The last line absolutely slayed me. Nicely done!
Superman "a bit of a bore"!? You've completely lost me there 🤨
PeterSellers22 there are people I know who will find the film a bored, and that would be about 97% of my High School. I haven’t seen the whole movie, but it looks like a work of Art.
Really another hater of superman
Superman 1978 has one great thing that is lacking in the modern blockbuster: Heart. The movie has heart, has dramatic moments, has great one liners and comedy that is authentic, not gags. The modern blockbuster is all about wowing the crowd and big set action pieces. That is why most modern Blockbusters are forgotten or don’t hold up well. Independence Day was THE Blockbuster of 1996 and now it’s looked at as utterly silly. The reason? The movie has no heart and no developed characters. Superman 1978, Star Wars, Jaws are all great movies because they are limited by technology so they HAD to focus on characters, the story and the script.
👏👏👏👍👍👍
Spiderman 1 and 2 has heart. Man of steel has it but got overpowered by seriousness. You can see when ckark talking to his ma and pa. Also the end scene when clark got job in daily planet
@Felipe M 👍
No film HAS to focus on characters. Countless crappy "B" flicks have terrible scripts, action, costumes, and effects and yet still turn a profit for the producers. Most "action" flicks have lousy characters - but those movies aren't about characters, they're about ACTION - and super-hero fare falls in that catagory. We are indeed blessed when we get more that just action. Even today, action can be done well, but character?.....that's a fancy hat trick that DC still hasn't figured out for the most part.
When I saw the Richard Donner cut, I was amazed and how different it was and confused about how why it had the same reverse time ending. Thanks for clearing that all up!
Warner Brothers didn't learn from the mistakes made by the Salkinds and that left us with the horror that was Justice League. An unfinished film, mostly rewrote and reshot by another Director, resulting in a product that was a completely different feel from Zach Snyder's vision from MOS and BVS.
Why are the mistakes from 40 years ago still happening today?
It's like Warner Brothers never learns.
One thing to keep in mind is Warner Bros. for the last 60 years has been a film distributor. It even hands off its own films to other production companies to actually film. The studio makes deals and counts the grosses. But it trusted the wrong people to make its superhero movies.
Also keep in mind WB didn't fire Donner. This was the Salkinds. Unfortunately what happened to Donner has essentially happened to many directors in recent years under WB, Disney's Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and others. Directors are considered more interchangeable and replaceable than they have in decades now.
I've always wondered how audiences would react if someone went back to the basics of telling a well-crafted and truly finessed story without sacrificing the modern capabilities of special effects. I don't know. Maybe today's writers really think their stories are fantastic. That's not to say that there aren't some good recent movies. But I'm one who is easily entertained; if a movie has plot holes and inconsistencies, I would never notice it because I always live in the moment when I'm watching a movie; I don't sit there like a hawk looking for the slightest errors. Anyway, I'm digressing....
@@phaneserichthoneus8895 I do think Ready Player One succeeded very well as a classic 1980s-style adventure movie. It had the emotional subtext underneath the special effects that we remember was prevalent during that era. Audiences seemed to like it, but many just ignored it. Because a big difference today is how much audiences flock to sequels and brand names. Back in the '70s and '80s, people were very skeptical of sequels and seemed more open to new ideas and originality. The biggest hit movies of any year back then were rarely sequels. Now they almost always are.
@@jedijones Ah, I haven't seen that movie yet, but I've been wanting to. Yes, I imagine Spielberg still has it. lol
Fantastic work and research on this video. Thank you!
Superman 1 is THE GREATEST comic book film ever made! (even with the old effects) Spiderman 2, Ironman and The Dark Knight are close behind.
I don’t anyone will ever encapsulate Superman’s character as well as Christopher Reeve did it.
Completely agree here. I'm an 80s kid and Reeve will always be my Superman. However, no one will ever be able to touch Tom Welling as far as the role of Clark Kent is concerned.
Say what you want about II ... stamp hackman and reeve make this film a classic
Superman 2 is the superior movie, it's only hipsters who try and attack it
Superman flying off after he saves Lois and the helicopter is still the best bit of flying I have ever seen.
I can't help seeing these clips without hearing Lex Luthor yelling MS. TESSMACHER!!!!!!! hehe
every time I see a great superhero movie, I quietly thank RICHARD DONNER.
The older this film gets the better it becomes. Perhaps the best personification of intelligence, heart and perfect comedic timing. He makes you fall in love with his character that no other actor has done.His suit is so simple yet perfect for his time, iconic!!!
I've seen both versions of Superman 2, but in the non-Donner cut there is one scene that just stood out. That moment after Clark "falls" into the fire, and Lois finally realizes that he is Superman. That moment when he has his back turned to her, shoulders down. Then his shoulders straighten up, he turns around and takes off his glasses. The music starts playing...and just wow. THAT was such an incredible scene. It still gives me goosebumps.
The scene in question:ruclips.net/video/mRbenFBoPwA/видео.html
And again, no, this wasn't in the Donner cut.
I agree I prefer that version cuz there's so many other classic seems like the Niagara Falls scene with a little boy Falls that is one of the key scenes for me and also at the end where he's fine with the American flag with the Superman song in the background so many iconic scenes that that version had in it but that seemed that you were talking about to me was a very good way to reveal himself to her
It was better than her jumping out of the window.
I'd argue that Reeve and Kidder have better chemistry in all the new scenes they shot under Lester for Superman 2. I think this was just a result of them having more confidence and comfort with each other than they did in the first film. They are now feeling very sure that everything they're doing is working after they saw part 1's success. Kidder especially seems much more relaxed in these scenes than she did in Donner's scenes.
To be fair the Donner cut was made from test footage years later. If he had had the time to do it properly it would have been way better because as a story it’s by far better than the actual theatrical version we got. So many shit things wrong with it and although I do love it, in comparison to Superman the movie, Superman 2 is way off.
The donner cut came out months after I was born
I was born May 13 2006 and I’m 13 and I love superman
Of course mostly Christopher reeve
you're almost the same age as my daughter, her birthday is September.
@@lablueguy2000 that's a 400 year old man don't believe RUclips comments😂
@@insanenative445 a 400 year old man with a SON GOKU profile pic?? yeah right. 😜😜😜
Nice work on this video, JoBlo. Superman II turned out great by both directors... I like both versions, partially due to when I grew up (with the Lester cut). But the Donner cut was certainly closer to what the movie was supposed to be.
Good documentary. Your ending was hilarious. 😂😂😂
One of the greatest Superman movies of all time! Chris will always be the only Superman!
😂”...Since then, Superman, the patron saint of comic books, has been treated with the outmost respect and care that I I I I can’t even finish this sentence...”
This vid doc was Superbly done! I never heard about the Donner cut. Thank you!
Nor had I. Have to look for this cut now...!
While the Donner Cut has many elements that are superior to Lester's version, it still feels more like an experiment instead of a complete film. I think the best possible version of "Superman II" would include footage from both in a careful balance.
Agreed
I also agree. The Donner cut is a perfect example of letting grudges, understandable on Donner's part,change what should have been a fix of Superman 2,into making it almost fan fiction. I honestly think the Paris scene was a better opening then the Donner scene, because it suggested that more time had passed since the first film, allowing time for Lex to be tried and convicted. I also think its better that Superman's actions from that movie free Zod and not his actions from the prior film.Cut out the slapstick and add Jor-El back into the film. I like the Donner version of Lois revealing Clark's secret,but I have a hard time getting past it being screen test footage so I could go either way with the Lester version.Otherwise go with the Donner cut and John Williams score. But I would stick with the Lester ending involving the kiss because it makes the film an actual sequel to Superman The Movie and not more of an alternate version of Superman 2. I like a Donner/Lester version final battle at the fortress where the plastic "S" is removed and the Phantom Zoners are depowered and turned over to the authorities with Luthor before Superman destroys the Fortress, and takes Lois back to Metropolis before using "The kiss" to wipe her memory. It basically would be Superman severing his final connection to Krypton and resetting his relationship with Lois without wiping out the actions of General Zod. The Superman carrying the American flag scene when he is helping to repair the White House was a great ending to the Lester version as it had Superman admitting he had let the world down when he depowered himself and he was recommitting himself to defending his adopted home, Earth. By rolling back time to where Zod never left the Phantom Zone, the Donner version has Superman not really learning a lesson about never abandoning his mission and having the world pay for it.That should have driven Superman going forward into a third movie.
@@TheLAGopher Well said! Esp the part about Superman learning a lesson, recommitting himself. And that part carrying the flag! I saw the movie second night in sold-out theater and the audience jumped and cheered when that scene came on.
@@TheLAGopher I agree with everything, except where Lois tricks Supes into revealing himself. That makes him look like a fool for falling for it. Also he knows she's not stupid enough to attempt murder on a hunch. The rug tripping was better, because he wanted to reveal himself because he hated lying to her...as she explains in the movie.
Exactly! For example, I would use the Lester Paris opening, the scene at the Daily Planet with Lois calling Clark out, the entire Falls plot (including Lester's reveal), all of the Brando material, all of the Donnner Zod material (Some of Lester's is fine, but his Zod was generally goofier, whereas Donner's was terrifying all throughout), Donner's version of the final fight (Metropolis and Fortress), and Lester's ending (Kiss and White House). That, to me, would pretty much be a perfect version!
The beautiful blonde in the orange dress melon shopping is secretly one of the greatest lost pieces of film ever lol. #Truth
This was one of my favorite videos of yours. Well researched and presented nicely. More please!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
I don't ever recall seeing Terrance Stamp with anything other than gray hair so I never did the math on him being Zod, the first thing I've ever seen him in.
Tricks on me
At least we got the Donner Cut before his death
Hard to imagine John Williams not getting along with a director. He seems like such a quiet, good-natured guy that it's just difficult to imagine.
I believe Williams' statement was "I can't work with him" and that the issue was that Lester was simply pointing to cues Williams had done for part 1 and telling John that he wanted them cut and pasted onto certain scenes in part 2, exactly what Lester ended up having Ken Thorne do. The problem might've been that Lester had directed Beatles documentaries where he learned how to take existing music and place it onto new scenes. Obviously that is not the way Williams likes to score a movie.
Everybody has a breaking point , even the quietest meekest people
That they actually got into a fight!
Williams used the excuse that he was tied up with "The Empire Strikes Back" scoring sessions to get out of dealing with Richard Lester, but it was common knowledge that he quit out of loyalty to Richard Donner.