Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (DVD, 2006)

I would actually give this movie a rating of 'Really Good' instead of just good. I enjoyed the first version, since I saw it in the movie theatre as a kid and marveled at Superman facing three villians from his home planet with the same powers. This version, the Richard Donner vision, tells the story a little better and has some wonderful scenes that were not part of Richard Lester's Superman II. Most of the scenes Donner has replaced from the Lester version, take up about half the movie so it is almost as if you are watching a completely different Superman II. The dvd has some great deleted scenes, as bonus material, that were also never put back into the movie. There is also a new introduction from Richard Donner about this version.
The movie is worth watching alone for the inhanced color, sound, and Brando scenes that were never used in the first release. The sound effects are much better as well. One example is from the Lester version, Non, one of the villians that is a mute, makes whimpering sounds in one or two scenes from the first version. They have cut those sounds from this movie as well as other snippets that did not help the first one in my opinion. So you also get great sound effects and what I think to be a better definition of the characters through this movie.
If you have never seen Superman II I would recommend watching both versions and see which one you like best. Growing up with the first version for twenty-five years, it was surprising to see how Donner filmed a few scenes, but a nice surprise to a wonderful sequel. It's a movie, have fun.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a movie that I have serious problems with. I did not like these things about this movie which are: (1)This movie has Nonsensical editing or Confusing editing when it suppose to be a continuation from Superman: The Movie: Expanded Edition. (2)The villains Zod, Ursa and Non dying when Superman eye blast the Fortress of Solitude with them in it would have work better in Richard Lester's Superman II. (3)Superman near the end flies around the Earth to turn back time which made NO sense seeing as how that was done in Superman: The Movie: Expanded Edition. (4)Now after Superman turns back time which erases everybodies' memories Clark Kent went back to the diner to get back at that guy that beat him up in which that guy and the owner remembers Clark Kent. I Love Superman therefore I will say rent it for ALL the Deleted Scenes.

If you're a fan of the Superman movies, then you have to see this "original" version of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. It's definitely a different beginning with different schenes in the middle and a different ending. There are things I like about both and things I don't like about both. If I had my way I would go back and make a third Superman II version that combines my favorite parts from both versions.

One other notable part is that many people feel that Superman I and Superman II were the best Superman movies and that Superman III and IV were just too darn goofy or comic book like. With that said, and recognizing that Superman I had to spend a lot of time establishing the characters, the Richard Donner Cut of Superman II is even more special. I'm so glad it was made and am so glad I purchased my own copy. No Superman movie collection would be complete with out it.

I was interested in this version after hearing about it from a friend, and I have to say The Donner Cut is a MUCH better film! There is more realistic interaction between Clark and Lois. Spoiler: Lois learns Clark's secret but the reveal in The Donner Cut is 10 times the scene Lester's is!
The only thing I would warn is that this movie, although 80% + complete is composed of many angles of the original shoot and some Screen Test material that had been filmed. So the film is far from perfect, but I do believe that if The Donner Cut had been allowed to be completed at the time, the Superman francise would be astronomical! I very highly recommend buying this DVD!

Richard Donner shines as director of his version of the sequal of his Superman movie which no one ever saw. Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Terrance Stamp pull this version of with flying colors. New sceens, new plot directions, new visions. Well done Mr. Donner!!!