DVD
Review: Superman: The Ultimate Collector's Edition
Reviewed
by Craig Byrne
For
many people across the world, today (December 25) is Christmas
Day. Hopefully many of those same people were lucky enough to
find this gem in their Christmas stocking.
Superman:
The Ultimate Collection contains 14 (!!) discs full
of almost every Superman theatrical film ever made. The biggest
highlight of this set, of course, is Superman
II: The Richard Donner Cut - which finally brings to
light the sequel vision of original director Richard Donner,
who was replaced by Richard Lester before filming was completed.
In
this review, we'll take a look at the general packaging, etc.
before moving on to talking about the individual discs.
Packaging/Design:
The
Ultimate Collector's Edition comes in a special, unique
tin. It is very classy, although I must say I actually liked
the design on the individually-released
discs that were also put out in November a little bit better.
Still, it'll look good on the shelf, where people will say "I
wonder what is in here?"
The
box containing the individual discs is within. It has a lenticular
cover wrapped around it that is VERY nice looking. Then, we
have the set, which is laid out like the pages of a book, with
all 14 discs within. On the inside cover, housing an exclusive
comic reprint and the booklet detailing the discs, is a very
nice, shiny Metropolis skyline. Also classy.
The
individual disc art is nice, although I really wish they had
redesigned Disc 12 (Look! Up In The Sky!) to match the
other thirteen. Nitpicky, I know. I also found it kind of annoying
that the Superman Returns discs felt the need to say
"A Bryan Singer Film" on them above the title, which
again was giving me the same issue I had with the initial discs,
that Warner Bros. or Bryan Singer feel that he is a bigger draw
than Superman himself. You'd think that the fact that X-Men:
The Last Stand made more money than Superman Returns
did would teach WB or Singer a little humility.
The
DVD menus look good - not as nice as the collection that came
out a few years ago, but still pretty nice. And it's nice to
see that all of the discs come with a ton of extras.
And
now, for the individual discs:
Disc
One: Superman: The Movie Theatrical Version
This is the theatrical cut of the original Superman film. Extras
include commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer
Pierre Spangler, plus theatrical trailers and a TV spot. If
you want to see where it all began, and see a great movie event,
this is it, but it isn't the highlight of this collection.
Disc
Two: Superman: The Movie Expanded Edition
Basically, this is what came out on DVD a few years ago, with
some extra scenes and a music-only audio track. Richard Donner
and Tom Mankiewicz do commentary.
Disc
Three: Superman: The Movie From The Archives
A ton of extras, screen tests, and more from the first Superman
movie. Some of this material was seen before in previous collections.
There are some deleted scenes on this disc as well.
Disc
Four: Superman: The Movie From The Superman Vault
Includes a vintage TV special, The Making of Superman: The
Movie. Also insider are 9 classic Fleischer cartoons, and
George Reeves' Superman movie debut, Superman & The Mole
Men.
Disc
Five: Superman II Theatrical Version
This is the original version directed by Richard Lester. Contains
a theatrical trailer and commentary by Salkind and Spangler.
I watched this one again after watching the Donner Cut, and
while this was one of my favorite Superman films originally,
the Donner Cut is even better. I will say, though, that some
of Lester's new scenes, such as the Niagara Falls rescue, ARE
a lot of fun.
Disc
Six: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
By far the highlight of this set. It really was like seeing
a new movie, and at best - spoiler warning! - there's no magic
kiss as a reset button. Really, this felt like a completely
different production, with better planning... whoever decided
not to go with Donner the first time around really missed out.
The DVD also contains commentary by Donner and Mankiewicz, an
intro by Donner, and deleted scenes. Richard Donner seems humble
and even surprised that there was such interest in releasing
his version. Michael Thau edited this as great as he could with
the available material. Unfortunately, one of my favorite scenes
exists only as a screen test, but it still fits into the film,
and there are one or two times where the continuity is a little
bit messed up just because all of the right materials were never
shot. I will say too, that the "messages" coming from
Jor-El rather than Lara or random Kryptonian scientists make
so much more sense this way. The other thing that really hit
me watching this is how much Christopher Reeve was Superman
- I don't think anyone has personified the super-heroic version
of the character in the same way Reeve had.
Disc
Seven: Superman II From The Superman Vault
There are a ton of extras on this DVD. There's The Making
Of Superman II TV special, the Superman 50th Anniversary
TV special, a featurette on the Fleischer cartoons, and more
cartoons. The video quality on the Superman 50th Anniversary
TV special leaves a bit to be desired, but there are some highlights
for fans. For example, Fred Willard plays a politician who's
talking about Superman nearly a decade before he played the
President on Lois & Clark. The late Peter Boyle,
who played Bill Church Sr. on L&C, also appears.
Disc
Eight: Superman III
Word of warning: If you order the Ultimate
Collector's Edition you may have received a bad disc,
as some of the Superman III DVD's erroneously are just
the versions released a few years ago. The proper version contains
a commentary by Salkind and Spangler, a Making of Superman
III TV special, deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, and
more - make sure you have the right one. The set I received
for review had the WRONG version of the DVD, which is disappointing.
The Christopher
Reeve collection has the right disc. But anyway, this movie
is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. And it features Annette
O'Toole as Lana Lang. And Annette = love. Replacement discs
can be obtained by calling 800-553-6937.
Disc
Nine: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
I haven't checked out the deleted scenes on this disc yet, mostly
because the scenes that do exist are horribly, horribly bad.
Think "Ageless" or Lois & Clark's Season
4 finale level bad. I've never even been able to finish this
one. In addition to the deleted scenes, there's a commentary
and a theatrical trailer.
Disc
Ten: Superman Returns
Same as Disc One of the 2-disc set. Again, WB had to pander
to Singer's ego in the booklet by including "A Bryan Singer
film" over the movie's title in the booklet. (Click
here to read our Superman Returns DVD review)
Disc
Eleven: Superman Returns From The Archives
Same as Disc Two of the 2-disc set. (Read
that review)
Disc
Twelve: Look! Up In The Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
One of the best documentaries I've ever seen on the subject
of Superman. Produced by Bryan Singer and Ken Burns (The
Civil War - the original documentary, not the Marvel Comics
crossover), it features interviews with many, many influential
Super-people, including Smallville's Al Gough, Miles Millar,
and Annette O'Toole. Disappointingly, Tom Welling isn't interviewed,
but this is still one of the best looks at Superman ever. (You
can also order this feature individually)
Disc
Thirteen: You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
The highlight of this disc is a tribute to Christopher Reeve
including interview clips with actors like Marc McClure and
Jack Larson. Reeve's Somewhere In Time co-star Jane Seymour
(who appeared on Smallville as Genevieve Teague) talks
about her wonderful friend, as does Margot Kidder (Reeve's "Lois
Lane" and "Bridgette Crosby" on Smallville).
Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar also talk
about getting Reeve for the episodes "Rosetta" and
"Legacy." Reeve - Margot Kidder too - Al Gough and
Miles Millar talk about getting Reeve on the show. This disc
is exclusive to this 14-disc set only. Also on this disc are
classic WB cartoons with a Super-twist, a bonus on the Mythology
of Superman, and the documentary You Will Believe: The Making
of a Saga highlighting the ups and downs of the movie franchise.
Also on this disc is the so-bad-you-can't-turn-away Adventures
of Superpup TV pilot.
Disc
Fourteen: Bryan Singer's Video Journals
These journals (many originally posted at BlueTights.net)
are a fun look at the production of the Superman Returns film,
and REALLY should have been included on the Superman Returns
set. But hey, at least they're on here!
-----
All
in all, this DVD set offers hours - if not days - of entertainment
and is the perfect gift for a Superman fan. If you've got some
gift certificates, this is definitely one to pick up, as I give
it a 5 out of 5. Let's hope this one sells well so we get a
Superman: The Ultimate Superman TV Collection containing Smallville,
The Adventures of Superman, Lois & Clark, and Superboy.
Hey, I can dream, right? Highest possible recommendation - and
if the price tag is too steep, at least give the Donner Cut
a look, and see if you love it as much as I did.
