Superman Part II

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superman2_front.jpg
Faneditor Name:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1980/2006
Original Running Time:
111
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
106
Time Cut:
15
Time Added:
10
Subtitles Available?
Brief Synopsis:
A fan edit of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. I've endeavored to use the best takes of Donner's scenes to tell his story. Complimented with a greater use of Ken Thorne's score and inserting several scenes from Lester's theatrical version to complete the film. Featuring a new opening and ending, this edit picks up where the original left off and ends bittersweet. Open to a continuing saga had Donner remained at the helm.
Intention:
Whilst I'm forever grateful for the Donner cut of Superman II, the quality of the assembly often left much to be desired. Including clunky editing, overly padded out scenes, poorly cobbled together score, cheap visual effects and reused ending from the first film.
Other Sources:
'Superman II - Donner Cut' PAL DVD
Additional Material from 'Superman II - Theatrical' PAL DVD
Special Thanks:
Booshman: For his continual support & permitting me to use some footage & portions of audio from his fan edit Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Redux. Including two shots with planets painted out during the release of the villains & a corrected shot with the fountains working when Superman returns the flag to the White House.
Phineasbg: For creating the Christopher Reeve dedication card as seen at the start of this film.
Red Krypton Son: For portions of audio used to add menace to the villains during the invasion of East Huston Idaho.
Tomahawk: For much valued support and feedback.
Neglify: For all his helpful advice and designing the cover art.
Release Information:
  • Digital
  • DVD
Editing Details:
In terms of the Donner scenes which did feature in the theatrical release, I felt the editing and takes used were generally better. I've long suspected that Stuart Baird (the editor of 'Superman: the Movie') would have been rough cutting Superman II whilst Donner was still involved. These cuts may well have rolled over when it came to assembling the theatrical cut under Lester. Too often scenes as presented in the Donner cut feel padded out. Especially in the case of scenes between Lex and Ms Teschmacher. Therefore I've tried to structure these familiar Donner scenes similar to how presented in the theatrical cut.

The same applies to the line readings for which the Donner Cut uses mostly on set recordings. These often come across quite staged and have a different rhythm to the theatrical cut. This is especially true of Lex and Zod whose line reading simply aren't as memorable in the Donner Cut.
Cuts and Additions:
2023 Version*

KEY:
STM=Superman the Movie, DC=Donner Cut, LC=Lester Cut (theatrical)

- STM: WB logo
- New Christopher Reeve dedication card to match STM style, created by Phineasbg.
- DC/LC/STM: Condensed Kryptonian trial. LC audio used with Ken Thorne score as Phantom Zone floats away. Cut to LC green crystal and transition into DC main credits with music edit.*
- DC: Credit sequence. Reeve receives top billing followed by Hackman, then Brando.
- STM: DC ‘S’ logo has been replaced with the STM ‘S’ logo.
- DC/LC: Zoom into earth, cut to Superman chasing rocket and release of the villains. Cut out the really bad CGI and used LC shots where interchangeable. Inserted two shots created by Booshman which paint out the fake looking planets. Removed Zod’s line "Free". Fade to black as villains fly towards the moon with Ken Thorne cue.*
- DC: Re-scored the Daily Planet jump with Ken Thorne cue. Sound effects are recreated and audio has been replaced for Lois screaming and the poorly dubbed Reeve with authentic takes.
- DC: Lex in prison.
- DC/LC: Villains on the moon. LC audio and Ken Thorne cue used for the first half of the sequence. LC shot added of Ursa landing in front of the astronaut rather then just sidling into screen.
- DC: Sound effect added when Zod kicks the astronaut on the moon.
- DC: End dialogue between those guys in the control room has been trimmed.
- DC/LC: Lex escapes. Added in shot from LC of hot air balloon going over the prison wall. Reduced bickering between Lex and Eve over city.*
- DC/LC: Niagara Falls exteriors. Cut Lois and Clark entering honeymoon haven. When Lois sees Clark without his glasses after taking them off to clean, repurposed a reaction shot of Lois making a wry smirk.*
- DC/LC: Superman rescues boy minus corny dialogue. Removed loop in music cue from the DC. Minor edits to Lois's dialogue after Superman flies away and she realises Clark isn't around as usual.*
- LC: Added Superman landing behind the stall followed by his explanation with Lois.
- DC/LC: Dialogue extended as Lex and Eve head north, "Ice and snow is this your idea of a good time".
- DC/LC: Lex and Eve enter the Fortress. Editing is very similar to the theatrical cut. No bickering outside the Fortress or stumbling around. Better line readings with Eve mimicking Lex is included from the LC. Ken Thorne cue is used right up until Lex inserts the first crystal.
- DC/LC: Replaced Lex and Eve’s dialogue relating to the trees poem with the superior takes from the LC.
- LC: "No possibility for parole" is put back in.
- DC: John Williams cue added as Lex thinks out loud with toilet flush removed.
- DC/LC: Villains descend on earth. Added in Ken Thorne cue and new sound effect.*
- DC: Blank bullets scene.
- DC/LC: Encounter with the Sheriff. Additional LC footage and Red Krypton Son audio added. "Holy skunk sweat" dialogue removed.
- DC: Lovers fly north.
- LC: Villains encounter with the people of East Idaho. Red Krypton Son audio to start the scene. Isolated music to play only inside the bar. Trimmed arm wrestlers line ‘you only smell strong’ but kept ‘only because I didn’t want to loose my place in the orchestra’.*
- LC: Cut away from "These humans are beginning to bore me" to Superman showing Lois around the Fortress, minus the green crystal being left on the floor.
- DC/LC: Television crew show up. Added back in several shots from the LC, including seeing the Jeep go through the billboard and a few extra shots after Zod blows the fire towards the building.*
- DC/LC: Cut from "Where’s Superman, and why doesn’t he do something" to Superman and Lois having dinner.
- DC/LC: Non catching rocket, then cut from "Is there no one on this planet to even challenge me" to DC Superman and Lois in bed.
- DC: Zod's speech with LC audio and Ken Thorne cue.
- LC: Villains deface Mount Rushmore replaces the fall of the Washington monument from the DC.*
- DC: De-powering scene. Several trims to Reeve/Brando's dialogue and reordering of some lines so Superman doesn’t come off so bratty. Cut lines including; ‘and if I no longer wish to serve humanity’, ‘selfish’, ‘will there ever come a time when I’ve served enough’.*
- DC/LC: Reeve’s delivery of the line "I love her" replaced with the LC take. Added Ken Thorne cue.
- LC: Villains fly over the Whitehouse.
- DC/LC: Villains enter the Whitehouse. Used the LC take of Ursa kicking the guy on the floor. Ken Thorne cue used when villains enter the oval office with the "ribbons and jewellery" dialogue cut.
- DC/LC: Diner scene fades into LC Clark’s trek to the Fortress.
- LC/DC: Re-powering. First half of the scene is LC minus the reference to mother, then it switches to DC when Clark finds the crystal. Green hue added to DC footage up until Jor-El appears. Trimmed the end part of the scene to remove unnecessary Reeve shaking.
- DC: Removed shot of Superman laying on the floor after getting his powers back and sound effect added as Fortress powers down.*
- DC: Lex at the Whitehouse. Opens with Ursa playing with the revolving planets gizmo, thus Non's confused reaction with Newton's cradle is cut. Ken Thorne cue plays over the first half of the scene.
- DC: Back at the Daily Planet.
- DC: Daily Planet invasion with Ken Thorne cue added.
- LC: Lex's door knob line is put back in.
- LC: "Yeah you could do with a tuck in their yourself sister" to replace inferior DC take.
- DC/LC: Tried to use LC Zod dialogue wherever possible.
- DC: Lex’s end dialogue, "You ought to have that thing fixed" is removed.
- DC/LC: Superman returns. LC audio including "would you care to step outside" and Ken Thorne cue added.
- DC/LC: "I’m not a coward Zod" audio has been fixed.
- DC/LC: Freezing the tanker with Ken Thorne cue added.
- LC: Included lady on the ground crying "Superman help us".
- DC/LC: Battle with Zod on the car with Ken Thorne cue added.
- DC/LC: Villains return to the Daily Planet. Mostly DC but with LC audio due to the superior Zod and Lex takes. The scene plays more like the theatrical cut which employs much tighter editing.
- DC/LC: To the Fortress. Cut the dialogue between Zod and Lex "I trust you are not wasting my time…".
- DC/LC: Most of Zod and Lex’s dialogue is replaced with the superior LC takes. Reworked Lex’s exchange with Zod after Zod proposes ‘kill him’. Swapped out DC audio for LC as Zod shouts ‘silence’.*
- DC/LC: Superman defeats Zod with Ken Thorne cue added.
- DC: Cut Superman destroying the Fortress.
- DC: Break-up scene/Dropping Lois back home.
- DC: Back at the daily Planet (go get the pizza) scene. Re-edited to suggest Lois knows Clark's secrete but will continue to play out charade.
- DC: Return to the diner with LC audio.
- LC: Superman returns flag using Booshman's restored shot with the fountains moving.
- LC Fly over, DC fly bye
- DC: End titles with Ken Thorne cue.
Cover art by Neglify (DOWNLOAD HERE) image

User reviews

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Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.6(7)
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9.6(7)
Visual Editing
 
9.3(7)
Narrative
 
9.7(7)
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9.7(7)
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Overall rating
 
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
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10.0
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8.0
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9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
The fourth version of Superman II I have seen (after Lester, Donner and Booshman's Redux cuts) and probably the best. Cutting straight to the villains being freed is bold and energetic, but I think a brief recap (just the trial and banishment) would help reinforce who these people are, over two hours (at least) having passed since we last saw them.

Otherwise almost perfect. A couple of edits feel a little noticeable, and I do miss the extra scenes at the ending contained in Booshman's Redux (Arctic Patrol and Jimmy's new camera), but as far as I am concerned this is my go to version for now.

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Digital
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Top 50 Reviewer 82 reviews
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Overall rating
 
10.0
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10.0
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10.0
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10.0
I really like how this plays off the first one better than a lot of versions of II does. It's also a good move I've seen rarely, leaving the secret known. A brave choice and a less clumsy way to deal with the problem of how Lois was to forget. I have no complaints, and was very happy I got to see it.

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(Updated: June 16, 2018)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
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10.0
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10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I loved it. A wonderful job by Ollie, who's created a version of SMII I can enjoy instead of watching and thinking "If only they hadn't fired Donner, what could have been..."

I think Ollie's done a great job in selecting which scenes to use in from the wealth of material available. The blank bullets scene may be my favorite of those first two films (continuity issues aside).

Ideally, this film would include the trial scene - IF that scene hadn't already appeared in the first one. Because it did, I completely agree in cutting it. I do have some quibbles. I thought some of Lex and his minion's humor could have been toned down a little (maybe cut out the search for the bathroom in the Fortress entirely). I also thought the battle of Metropolis could be trimmed a bit more (for pacing reasons and to reduce the product placement). My two other small quibbles is that I think the scenes jumped back and forth between Zod/Ursa/Non's attack and the Superman/Lois at the Fortress maybe bit too much, and while I love the dedication in the beginning, it sounded *slightly* wordy to me - maybe "He made us believe a man could fly" would be enough.

But again, those are quibbles. I'm rating this a ten out of ten in every category. This is a high quality edit with amazing pacing and seamless cuts. It opens with a punch, and really holds your attention until the very end. With the more distracting elements of the Lester cut gone and with vastly improved editing in comparison to the Donner cut, this film allows the audience to truly engage with the movie and Clark's struggle. I would be remiss if I did not also give some high praise to the new ending, courtesy of booshman, who's own SMII Redux edit I'll soon be watching.

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DVD
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Top 500 Reviewer 6 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.4
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9.0
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10.0
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9.0
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10.0
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9.0
All right, for starters: sorry for having let so much time pass by. Now, I was really trying to look after a version of "Superman II" that could be the right version, not aversion which was good but felt incomplete, or a version finished by another director and furthermore absolutely ignored the feel of completeness that was due, since Richard Donner had planned the second one not as a 'sequel' to the first one, rather the second episode, "Part II", which would have completed his storyline. This was an incredibly well done edit, and really did give a lot of what was needed. I was never a big fan of Superman, but was always willing to sit through the first two films as Richard Donner had intended them. But then "The Richard Donner Cut" made me wish "Superman: The Movie" didn't have the same ending as its sequel. Then, your cut. This really solved many, many of the problems I originally had with both the original cuts, let alone the blank bullets scene, which I would have probably edited differently, to cut out Clark's changing hair, but I don't even know if it would have been possible. The cuts were always seamless, and the film was satisfying. Continue with this!! Go on! And I loved the fact that the ending wasn't recycled!! Congratulations!!!

Canon Editor

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Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Wonderful. Ollie's edit felt very organic and flowed a hell of a lot better than Thau's edit or the let's-invent-thirty-new-superpowers original edit that I grew up on. The streamlining aspects of the piece and the inclusion of some of the best bits of Thau's at-times abysmal reworking along with some of the Lester pieces definitely felt natural. And that was the key. Nothing felt...jarring. Rather, it was quite smooth in transition and execution. My gripes are few, if any, and have ZERO to do with the implementation of such scenes. Instead, my gripes are with the original source material. They revolve around the blank bullets scene, which has always stuck out like a sore thumb to me and which I've never liked (even the acting and dialogue felt forced...as a screen test likely should). The other is in some of the fight-scene FX in Metropolis. Primarily the usage of the Statue of Liberty (which I also thought looked much less realistic than it's counterpart flight-and-kick sequence from Lester's cut).

Other than that, any flaws inherent to the source were Thau's fault (herky-jerk music editing in a couple of portions to support use of Williams' original music) or the issue of having to use as much Donner footage as possible. But this was leaps and bounds better than either released version.

The thing I lament the most is that some of the old Superman Cinema regulars (hell...even me) weren't invited to help save Thau from himself when he cut the thing together. Otherwise, if I could get this in Blu-Ray with lossless audio, I'd have it replace the versions in my Motion Picture Anthology in a heartbeat.

Kudos to you, Ollie. Nice work. :)

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