| Overall Grade: |
A- |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A- |
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The way it was meant to be!
by Sean (movies profile)
Jul 16, 2007
2
of
2 people found this review helpful
Unlike the description says, this version is the closest Donner and editor Michael Thau could get to the original script for the sequel, which was directed by Richard Donner but not completed. He directed about 70% of Superman II at the same time he was directing Superman The Movie, in 1977. But the producers made the decision to stop filming, and release the first film, before completing all the scenes for part two. Later, after The Movie made record box office figures, the producers chose to replace Donner and hire Lester to RE-SHOOT scenes that were already done by Donner! Why? Marlon Brando had a percentage of the gross in his deal, so they cut him out of the sequel and shot the same scenes with Susannah York. Lester also changed the script so that he could re-work the film his way, adding a sequence in Paris and a river sequence at Niagara Falls. In scenes directed by Lester, Margot Kidder also looks older and the cinematography is far less impressive. Apparently, all the scenes with Gene Hackman were directed by Donner (Hackman refused to come back and reshoot his scenes with Lester), so Lester used a double for the fortress of solitude finale (certain wide shots).
I much prefer this Donner cut because it is a more streamlined continuation of the first film. While many scenes are still from the Lester version (like the silly fight scene in Houston), the scenes between Clark/Kal El and Lois are far superior and more moving than in Lester's campy version.
Sean Ellis |
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