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Dear Warner Home Video: How about taking a page from the Blu-Ray releases of "Blade Runner" and "Close Encounters"..? - Feel free to dole out all the the extended or director's cut versions you have... But PLEASE INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION. Do really expect fans of this movie to sit down with VHS or laserdisc, if they simply want to see the 1978 classic???
Rating:  -
The Blu-ray edition gives you the "Extended Version" edit, without telling you anywhere in the packaging that this is not the original release edit. The added scene where Superman tries to give Marlon Brando's ghost a hug is unintentially hilarious. There's a reason Donner cut it, and the decision to restore it is poor. We already have to deal with the Margot Kidder voiceover during the romantic flying sequence...we don't need to add more groaners to this movie. Donner's already stated he prefers the release version...why can't they give us a good release of that?
Rating: -
I remember watching this movie at home and thinking wow, this is great! However, I was 12, the special effects were good for the time and I had nothing to compare it to (remember,I was 12). Anyway, this movie came free with my PS3, so no harm, no foul, let's see how it looks... The transfer is not that good, especially the early scenes with Brando. But that's not the only problem. Unfortunately, for me, I've seen Batman Begins, X2, Iron Man, Spider Man, just to name a few. When comparing current comic book based movies now, with Superman then, it's not even a contest. Gene Hackman and the rest of the cast did what they were supposed to, ham it up. I mean, it's a comic book, right? I'd compare Superman with the first Batman with Jack Nicholson, another really bad movie. The Donner take on things, compared to Christopher Nolan, Bryan Singer or, hell, even Brad Bird, is hokey, pure and simple. I don't get how Margot Kidder ever got the part as Clark's love interest. The special effects are cheesy (especially the Mr. Roger's neighborhood that almost gets washed away when the dam breaks. I know this is heresy, but face it, the movie has aged badly and noone should fork out any money for the blu-ray version if they already have the DVD. Even then, go rent it first. If you're honest with yourself, you'll realize that your tastes and expectations have changed, for the better.
Rating:  -
You would be hard pressed to come up with a better introduction of Superman to the big screen. Under the direction of Richard Donner, Superman flies not only on film, but in our imaginations. This is not the first attempt at a live-action Superman, and it is far from the last, but with a lot of work, it was the first realistic portrayal of the man of steel's powers. They knew going in that sub-par effects work would kill the magic of this movie, which is why they spent more R&D on making Superman fly than on any other single element of the movie. In the end, the tag line in the advertising boiled it down succinctly: You will believe a man can fly.
Superman speaks to the most basic part of the human imagination. He is what we all wish we could be, both in body and in spirit. He is perfectly good as well as perfectly formed. But if we couldn't believe in his powers, we would never be able to be pulled completely into the fantasy.
A perfect hero, however, requires a perfect villain. Gene Hackman brings the right amount of charisma to the cruel and villainous Lex Luthor. You know he is planning the deaths of millions, but there is a part of you that almost roots for him because you just love to watch him berate his underlings.
Rating:  -
The blu-ray version of "Superman: The Movie" leaves out one of the most important features of the DVD version: the original stereo sound mix. In order to make a 5.1 mix for the DVD release, the studio had to re-create the sound effects for the entire movie. Unfortunately, they did a terrible job. Everything sounds over done, like in the THX/The Audience Is Listening short. Imagine if they "re did" the sound effects for Star Wars? That would be stupid right? At least give us the option to have a stereo mix.
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