DVD : The Complete Superman Collection

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Full screen versions should be offered!
The DVD releases of the Superman movies do not seem to offer full screen versions of each film. As a Superman fan, I find it upseting that standard versions haven't been added to the DVDs. The four Batman movies offer full screen and widescreen, so why is Superman being excluded from this? Like many other people, I do not like watching widescreen movies. Since Warner Bros has been able to release DVDs that offer standard and widescreen versions to fit people's tastes, why can't it do the same with Superman? I also feel that the price of the Superman collection set should be lowered since it lacks this feature. People who enjoy the widescreen version probably feel that they're getting their money's worth. Those who prefer the full screen may not be.

Rating:

- Movies are classic, DVD treatment a let down
Let me emphasize that the movies are still classics, and after more than 20 years, I still enjoy popping these in the DVD drive to get that superhero jolt going. Especially John Williams' soundtrack. He really made Superman the uplifting character in the movie that he is. Many times did I tie a blanket around my neck because of this movie when I was a kid!

That being said, I bought this collection because it was at 36.00 (pretty cheap for 4 DVDs) and because I thought that, with such a shiny cover and with the words DVD on it, i'd be treated to a THX, remastered and digitally enhanced version of the old classic. I was wrong. As others have written, only the first movie is given a semi-treatment (it looks BARELY above VHS) and the other three look like a VHS that you've owned for a LONG TIME (even with popping black dots and hairs, like in the old movies!). For a DVD, that's not acceptable. I'm disappointed Warner Brothers!

The music on the first is nicely done (if not the best ever digital treatment), but the other three are VHS quality (although that's harder to tell).

But most importantly, I couldn't watch the movies without thinking to myself, "Wow, this DVD is not what I thought it would be". A customer shouldn't feel this way. He should feel happy with the product, and with other classics like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and new classics like the Lord of the Rings out there in amazing THX sound and digital enhancement, this DVD collection falls short of the standard for the DVD medium.

If you don't have the movies and love them, get the collection. The movies are still worth it. But if you got VHS copies, skip this. Wait until Warner Brothers does the job RIGHT.

Rating:

- the complete superman collection
I bought this DVD set locally and immediately returned it. I will keep my VHS versions. I admit I should have checked "on-line" before buying it. It is widescreen. It does not say that on the the outside of the box. I only discovered that when I got it home. Even on my 27" TV, I found it very annoying that half of the screen was black. I had a LONG list of movies to buy on DVD, but this has certainly curtailed my enthusiasm. There should be full-screen options available too, and each DVD should state clearly which format it is in. Personally, I will not buy ANY widescreen movies on DVD.

I DID buy "Spiderman", and it was full-screen, thankfully. I will perhaps confine my DVD buying to old TV shows like the Dick Van Dyke series (purchased here at amazon.com) which is, of course, full-screen, since it was originally on the tube anyway.

Rating:

- The Man Of Steel Is Real!
This is the greatest thing to have if you're a Superman fan.
These Four Movies:
Superman-The Movie
Superman II (2)
Superman III (3)
and
Superman IV- (4) The Quest For Peace

star the most talented actors and actresses I know.
From Superman/Clark Kent played by Christopher Reeve to Lois Lane played by Margot Kidder these are unforgettable performences.

I would recommend them in this order.(stars in {})

Superman-The Movie {5}
Superman II {4}
Superman IV-The Quest For Peace {4}
Superman III (2)

Enjoy!

Rating:

- Avoid like kryptonite; buy only SUPERMAN I on DVD
This collection is an uneven offering, meant only for the SUPERMAN completist. While it is common knowledge that the films themselves are of varying quality, you might wrongly assume that the mediocre sequels might at least be redeemed in this collection by tons of extra features.

They are not.

Indeed, SUPERMAN II-IV are little more than VHS transfers to DVD. It's bad enough that SUPERMAN III and IV offended the sensibilities of even the most casual SUPERMAN fan when they were released theatrically. Here, Warner Brothers only deepens the insult. It's not just that there are no extra features on II-IV; it's that the transfer itself is of a much inferior quality on the three sequels. Where SUPERMAN is a gloriously enhanced, remastered gem, SUPERMAN II-IV show their age to the point that you'll blieve SUPERMAN I was made AFTER its sequels.

Unless you really need the convenience of being able to surf to a specific scene in Superman IV, save yourself some money. Get only the Special Edition of SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. Leave the other sequels to a nostalgic trip through your VHS collection.

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