Superman III [4K Ultra HD] [1983] [Blu-ray] [2023] [Region Free]

Okay here's how it works: Richard Donner and the producers of the Superman films fell out. As a result, Donner did not complete Superman 2 and in order for the producers to be able to claim that Donner was not the director, Richard Lester had to film a certain amount of scenes, which meant that some of Donner's footage was thrown out. Years later, people reassemble Donner's footage and based on his notes try to put together the film he would have made.Now, I am a huge fan of Superman 2, the story of Superman's conflict with the Kryptonian criminals and Lois Lane's discovery of Superman's dual identity. The first film you get is the one that you've watched on Bank Holidays. It is a lot of fun, very knockabout and irreverent, but it has a couple of plot holes and it has the Kryptonians displaying powers that seem a little off. I still love it though. Then you get the Donner version. This is not quite the film Donner would have made because it wasn't finished but it gives you a good idea of it. And it is still highly enjoyable. It removes the plot holes (such as how Superman gets his powers back), makes Lois more intelligent and has the wonderful scene between Clark and Jor-El. That's a great scene. It's much the same story, but staged differently.So which film is better? I dunno. I like them both. There are scenes in Lester's film, like the Eiffel Tower bit or the bit where Clark burns his hand, that I love. Similarly there are bits in Donner's film that I love too. However, there are also bits in both films that could be improved on. In fact, if there was a way to edit together your own version of the film, that would be perfect. Simply the fact that we get more of Chris Reeve playing the definitive Superman is enough for me.But you get so much more with this set. There are some TV specials, one of which is Superman's 50th anniversary - a tongue in cheek show set in Metropolis presented by Dana Carvey (Garth of Wayne's World). It's silly but fun. Much better is the inclusion of Fleischer Studios' Superman cartoons. They're very 40s in their styling but the animation is fantastic. Such care is taken. And the writing! Such adventures!You're getting a lot of stuff here, it's a fantastic collection.

Old but kept the kids bizzy

If you love Superman II you'll love this!The original version was directed by Richard Lester and a superb film it was too. BUT a little known fact; Is that the original director was replaced.Richard Donner who directed Superman also started work on the sequel. But was replaced for a number of reasons, by Lester.'Most' of the footage that Donner shot, was discarded by Lester and re-shot!NOW Richard Donner's version is here.All the footage that Donner shot was stored carefully as unedited film, is put together to present the film as originally concieved by Donner.To tell a complete tale though, Donner cleverly uses different 'takes' of footage he originally shot for scenes that Lester later used.This gives a feeling of familiarity, whilst re-telling a story of a slightly different Superman. At the same time, still delighting the afficionados of detailed movie making, who can tell the differences between the two versions.Included though is the original Superman II from Lester, so you can really see the differences.The Donner version is not for everyone though, It is a little rough in places, and some shots were lifted from the 1st Superman movie. But it is complete, coherant and a lot of fun to watch.If you are a Richard Donner fan, or a massive Superman fan you will enjoy it the most!NOW THE BEST PART...Christopher Reeve! Was, Is, and always WILL be the man of steel for us!There is footage here, lots of it, of Reeve as Superman, that you have never seen before. An absolute delight. It's like Christopher Reeve lived again to do this version. A dream many fans may share. Keeping the memory of Reeve alive even brighter than before.A real collectors item!

First the cons, just two. There is the worst transition between layers I've seen on a DVD for a long time. Have patience if this is common to all discs.There is a scene reconstructed using test footage, as acknowledged in the opening credits. The editing is good, but in the test footage, Chris Reeve wears a pair of glasses with a frame noticeably thicker and a different shape.Now the pros. The remastering is good, and the "new" material added seamlessly. The film flows much better, makes more sense, and the plotholes are largely absent. Lois is portrayed as a much more intelligent woman, picking up on the obvious physical resemblance between Clark and Superman.Several scenes are thankfully missing, like the Niagara Falls scene in which Lois jumps over the railing (a small boy is rescued by Supes instead).The extra, unnecessary fight in the Fortress of Solitude is gone, along with the non canon "powers" involving levitation beams from the Kryptonians' fingers, and the bizarre cellophane symbols which wrap around the villains for no apparent reason or purpose.In summary, this is the film Richard Donner wanted to make, and is far superior to the theatrical release completed by Richard Lester.Perhaps if the Salkinds had kept Donner on board, the franchise would have not gone downhill.