SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 485 Min. +
Disc 1 features Superman: The Movie on Side A and Superman II on Side B. Disc 2 has Superman III on Side A, with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace on Side B. All four films are presented in their theatrical versions.
REVIEW:
Experiencing Christopher Reeve’s run as Superman in one affordable DVD set makes ideal sense. Yet, watching these Super-movies epitomizes how a comic book franchise descends Hollywood’s slippery slope. Foreshadowing the same fate as the first four Batman films, the real arch-enemy of these DC Comics icons were increasingly moronic sequels meant as instant cash cows and/or glorified toy commercials.
Setting its dated costuming aside, 1978’s Superman: The Movie remains spectacular — director Richard Donner justifies its grandiose hype of making viewers believe a man can fly. 1981’s Superman II, despite its complicated history, mostly delivers the goods as well. Its most glaring detriments are inexplicable continuity gaffes/omissions (i.e. must viewers infer that Lois & a powerless Clark simply walk out of the Fortress of Solitude to the North Pole’s nearest rent-a-car outlet?), and far too little of the first film’s classy humor.
Despite budget-skimping in various departments (i.e. the Grand Canyon finale’s cheesy special effects), 1983’s hapless Superman III still had some potential. For instance, there’s the Clark Kent vs. a corrupted Superman showdown (though it makes too little sense); Annette O’Toole’s charm as a grown-up Lana Lang; and, of course, Christopher Reeve’s appeal as the Man of Steel. In one of his best franchise moments, Reeve is seen in III timelessly soaring above the Atlantic Ocean to rescue a crippled oil tanker; this brief scene is as close as to a real movie Superman as there can be. However, a stupidly crass storyline squanders Reeve’s unmatched big-screen presence for no good reason.
Among the detriments are Richard Pryor & Robert Vaughn’s paycheck-only efforts, which are far too ordinary for any Superman movie, especially considering their sizable screen time. The reverse applies to a neglected Margot Kidder being reduced to a cameo, as her Lois Lane is inexplicably M.I.A. when the evil Superman is flying amok. The lazy exclusion of a DC Comics threat (i.e. Brainiac, Parasite, or even Bizarro) is another major cheat, as far as succeeding Terence Stamp’s General Zod & Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor. A giant Atari-like system dubbed ‘The Ultimate Computer’ instead proves a horrible choice as Superman’s latest challenger. Lastly, a tone-deaf approach to campy humor seals III as an unforced error in judgment.
Among so many flaws, 1987’s cheapo Superman IV repeats one of III’s worst self-inflicted gaffes: far too much reliance on the screenwriters’ bland new characters (i.e. Nuclear Man, the Warfields, & Lenny Luthor). While III wastes its sufficient budget on an awful script, IV at least aspires for a better story (including Gene Hackman’s return). Sadly, the fourth film’s kryptonite extends far beyond grossly insufficient resources for special effects. It’s telling that franchise regulars Margot Kidder/Lois Lane and Marc McClure/Jimmy Olsen now appear far too old for their roles — a mere ten years after the original film. This factor contributes to why IV’s good intentions at rekindling Lois & Clark’s romance and depicting a Daily Planet sub-plot fall far short. Evidently sensing all the ingredients for a disaster, Reeve’s fading enthusiasm in IV is unmistakable. It’s really a lamentable finish to his decade-long run as the big-screen Man of Steel.
Ultimately, this double-disc DVD’s appeal is a timeless opportunity to witness Reeve suit up as Hollywood’s best Superman — no matter how putrid the second and third sequels really are.
BONUS FEATURES:
4 Film Favorites merely copies over goodies from previous Superman DVD’s. Like the films, these contents mirror the franchise’s steep decline.
- Superman: The Movie’s 143-minute version offers an optional commentary by producer Pierre Spengler & executive producer Ilya Salkind; theatrical trailers; and a TV commercial.
- Superman II’s 127-minute version has Spengler & Salkind’s optional commentary; a rare deleted scene entitled Superman’s Soufflé, as Lois & Superman cook dinner at the Fortress of Solitude; and the theatrical trailer.
- Superman III’s 125-minute version has Spengler & Salkind’s optional commentary; the complete Making of Superman III TV special (narrated by actor Al Matthews); some deleted scenes; and the theatrical trailer.
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’s 90-minute version has co-screenwriter Mark Rosenthal’s optional commentary; several deleted & unfinished scenes; and the theatrical trailer.
To summarize what one really gets:
- The first film’s trailers and TV commercial offer some fun nostalgia.
- The lost Superman II cooking scene (with Reeve & Kidder) is an obscure treat. It’s a fun reminder of the innocent charm this franchise once had.
- Al Matthews (who also plays III’s beleaguered fire chief) convincingly narrates III’s making-of TV special to help hide how awful the film is. The deleted scenes are okay viewing, though none would have helped the film. The trailer, ironically, is a public service announcement — it forecasts the entire plot. Watching this amateurish (and far too long) trailer leaves zero doubt that III is in deep, deep trouble.
- Deleted/unfinished scenes for IV (especially a stunningly pathetic Bizarro-like fight sequence) confirm Superman has hit rock bottom. Only an extended/unfinished Superman & Lois cross-country flight sequence hints at the 1978 film’s magic. Though it doesn’t divulge too much of the plot, IV’s trailer openly concedes its inferior special effects. Rosenthal’s insightful yet somewhat self-serving commentary blames Cannon Films’ slipshod approach for ruining the movie (and betraying Reeve’s ambitions).
QUALITY CONTROL:
The films are presented in widescreen (16×9, 2.4:1) format, with Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 for the first two films and Dolby Surround Stereo for the third and fourth films. At least, that is what the packaging claims. The remote control access is easy to navigate, as are the scene selections and special features for each film.
PACKAGING:
Warner Bros. crams the standard title credits and all the technical information in barely-legible small print on the back cover. The dual discs have a white ring on Side A, only identifying in microscopic print which film is on which side. The discs are well-protected on separate holders rather than being stacked together.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Notes: A recommended option is finding 2006’s Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. Its storytelling is imperfect, but Donner’s intended vision finally linking I and II as a two-part epic is worth exploring.
