Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Redux

Quality as good as can be expected, a couple of edits (audio and video) stood out a little but none majorly so.

A very accomplished edit, definitely an improvement on either of the two main official versions. However I am not entirely sure if mixing certain elements of the Lester and Donner cuts, mainly the story of Lois realising Clark is Superman, work too well. In the mentioned case, she seems to forget her initial discovery (between her doodling on the newspaper and the two of them chatting at Niagara Falls before the boys is rescued) and decides to test him with the blank bullets after he seemingly proved his lack of powers during the river scene.

As for improvements, the ending is probably the most visible, am frankly surprised that this was not considered in 2006! Turning back time in STM is iconic to me, but just felt lazy when done again in the Donner Cut, as if that is how Superman can always solve a problem whereas here it felt like the villains escape could be a consequence of that "fix".

Looking forward to seeing other Superman II edits, not the least Booshman's upcoming new cut!

I saw Superman 2 when it was originally released and since I was 10 years old at the time I just loved it. It was not until years later that it didn't feel right to me. Why was the Father /Son aspect suddenly gone and replaced by his mother? I was not aware of the removal of the director until the commercially available release of the Donner Cut. So now we had two unsatisfying versions of a potentially great movie. The theatrical cut was not consistant with the first movie...and the Donner cut was plagued by bad CGI and a forced ending. I always knew that if someone was able to edit the 2 together that the movie would be almost perfect...certainly stronger than the 2 existing.

I was very excited about this version when I heard about it and by the time I became aware of the cut is was hard to find....luckily Booshman made it available again and I was able to experience it myself.

I will have to say it is just wonderful. I have some minor nitpicks but I believe they have to do with personal taste because I am sure that there are valid reasons to do it the way he did.

I suppose that there are no great solutions on how to handle the recap from STM in an effective way so it is overlong....and because there is no satisfying ending an editor either has to include the memory kiss (with a different office than has been establised earlier and a frailer looking Lois) or the silly turn back time ending, or do as Booshman has done and edit the Donner ending to appear as if the inconsolable Lois from the previous scene on the balcony has suddenly gotten it all together and is willing to play out the daily charade with Clark. Not any of them work. I suppose I would have preferred the "Super Kiss" version because although it is an absured super power (and how did he find out he could do that?) it is at least an ending that wraps it all up without turning back time again. Which seems callous that every time Superman has an issue he can just spin back the world and fix it. The ending used here makes Clark look like a jerk because he comes in with the same ol' bumbling having just seen the night before that Lois has a broken heart.

The added scenes while well done don't work for me either...especially Lex at the Fortress of Solitude. You mean to tell me that Superman's place of solace from his earthly worries is now acessible to the rest of the world including the police?

I have one last nitpick and that is the scene with Jor El when he is seeking to have his powers restored. It seems a lot of new cgi has been done to show Superman flying away after he is repowered. I don't know if that is necessary. First it looks worse than any of the phantom zone stuff in the Donner Cut...and also I think it is much more powerful to not show what happens ...so it adds excitement to him flying into Metropolis to confront the villians "Would you care to step outside?" I would have left the Donner version in tact or cut to the Daily Planet after the flash so we don't know what has happened.

Like I said this is an extraordinary edit and clearly a lot of hard work has gone into it. I will use it as my Superman 2 of reference from now on.

Any quibbles that I have with it are minor...and for that matter I could get rid of with a snip of my own.

It is just really excellent work and very enjoyable.