A 14 DVD boxset !!

It is supposed to have 3 versions of Superman 1, one running for 3 hours, and 3 versions of Superman 2...and one of those versions is using unused footage that lay in the vault of a film studio somewhere.

It will also have Superman 3 & 4 and Supergirl.

Might be worth hanging on.....it should be around the same time as the new movie !!

THE Super Hero Movie...
Review date: 2003-10-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

Where do you start with THE seminal super hero movie? This set the benchmark that all subsequent have had (and in may cases failed) to live up to. Before Michael Keaton put on the Cape and Cowl of the Dark Knight, and before Eric Bana went all green and angry, Christopher Reeve was the Man of Steele and we all believed that a man could fly.

I needn’t burden you with the plot; we all know that by know – especially those of us who have been watching ‘Smallville’. This movie is pitch perfect, capturing the tone and tempo of the comic books known to millions – it begins with bucolic scenes of the small Kansas town in which Clark Kent is discovered and grows up, evoking a simpler age of long summer days spent in rolling corn fields. This is not rushed (as filmgoers were used to a less frantic pace in films) and we are permitted some time in the company of the young man discovering his powers for the first time and not knowing what to make of them. We follow him North where he finds the Fortress of Solitude and learns the truth about his identity. These scenes are both well constructed, magnificently shot, and provide a real contrast for the deliberately comic book style of what is to follow as we find Clark (like a fish out of water) in Metropolis (like Gotham this is essentially a re-named New York City) working for the Daily Planet. The pace of the film then shifts gear, introducing Lex Luthor who provides both comic and villainous elements to the film, (it is worth a look just to see what a great comic actor Hackman can be) and his bungling sidekick (played for laughs by Ned Beatty).

The finale is superb as Luthor executes his dastardly plan (when movie villains still had dastardly plans) to trigger an massive earthquake along the San Andreas fault, and has our hero flying all over the place trying to save the day.

Basically the second movie is part two – picking up from an early scene in one, we see three super villains banished to the Phantom Zone accidentally released by Superman after saving the Eiffel Tower (and the superbly cast Margot Kidder as love interest Lois Lane), who reek havoc when arriving on earth. Not now needing any introductory scenes this is comic book style all the way and in many ways exceeds the first movie in terms of humour and plot. It is a pity that they felt the need to ruin the memories of these fine films by carrying on with two further movies – Warner’s have a tendency to do this (see Batman Forever and the truly dire Batman & Robin). There are rumours of another one on the way and the name McG has been mentioned – and given the Charlie’s Angels movies one can only pray that he won't defile the names of these movies still further.

The extras on the DVD are excellent, and particularly so when you recall how paltry these extras were at the time of release, the features take you through each part of the film process, including the acrimonious departure of Richard Donner (replaced by Richard Lester after having shot a great deal of Superman 2 already) which is dealt with in a frank and refreshing manner.They are all introduced by a cheery (and hardly aged) Jimmy Olsen.

If you love your comic book movies do yourself a huge favour and add this to your collection – you’ll be enjoying it for years to come.

A must for every Superman fan!
Review date: 2001-10-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

You probably already have these two videos, I have, but the way Superman 1 opens with the original movie trailer left me with a tear in my eye and sent me straight back to life as a 4 year old! There are so many things they cut out of the original edit that a true fan can easily spot (Luthor's lair of death, Superman chatting to his Dad about saving Lois etc.) which makes you ewonder what the hell they were thinking cutting them out in the first place! The sounds are re-mastered and sound even more impressive, and the screen tests at the end of Lois and Clark make you wonder why the hell they got the jobs in the first place! (Superman with underarm sweat patches put's you off!) However, this is a must have for any avid Superman fan, and you can live the dream all over again!

Superman DOES fly
Review date: 2001-09-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

A truly classic film. I bought the video version of Superman I and II today. I was mainly interested in the deleted scenes. The extended beginning was very good indeed - the kryptonian council was great.

There is more information about the Phantom Zone which is also interesting since it is mentioned more in Superman II. There are other deleted scenes which I won't spoil. However, you can see why they were cut out in the end from some point of view, but they're still great viewing. The dolby surround sound is excellent.

Besides what is mentioned on the video and DVD, they were clever enough to add some more deleted scenes which weren't mentioned on the back of the video. It's Superman that has the main extras, here. Superman II is just an added bonus.

However, no film goes without credit but this one gets much credit. Superman and Superman II still live up to their great expectations. Gene Hackman is rather amusing as Lex, but the fact you don't know much about his past makes him interesting. Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine make great sidekicks and the comic is still there. Marlon Brando even has an extended welcome as well in the special edition. Great addition to your video collection - Superman and Superman II. Buy it now. A word of warning: the VHS version is much more elusive than the DVD edition. Enjoy the films!

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