And now, Davidde Gelmini takes a look back to compare the Richard Donner cut with the original.
With Zack Synder’s Man Of Steel hitting cinemas soon, let’s get nostalgic and look back at Superman II, which is considered by many to be the first great superhero sequel. Released in 1980, two years after the original, the film grossed $108 million dollars worldwide, which was substantial at the time, and was a hit with both critics and fans.
The film had a notoriously troubled development history. Originally, it was being filmed back-to-back with the first Superman film, with both being directed by Richard Donner, but partway into filming it was decided that only the first film should be shot. After the first film was released in 1978 to critical and financial acclaim, the studio decided that the sequel would be directed by Richard Lester, who claimed to have never heard of Superman before, instead of Donner, and using only some of Donner’s footage.
Donner then released his own version in 2006, titled Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, using any footage he could find including audition footage and rehearsals. Despite the obvious lack of footage, as much of what Donner wanted to film was never filmed, his version is considered to be vastly superior.
Donner’s extensive changes included heavy re-editing of the action sequences, alternate footage of the Fortress of Solitude, additional footage showing the relationship between Lois and Clark, more footage of Lex Luthor and much, much more.
One of the things that made Superman II so entertaining was the was that it expanded on many elements that had been present in the previous film. The special effects, which were groundbreaking at the time, had been improved, the welcome humour was still intact (although sometimes it descended into slapstick, not to mention Gene Hackman chewing the scenery as Lex Luthor) and ultimately, we got a superhero film in a time when the genre had not yet conquered Hollywood and they were few and far between.
What is a great hero without a great villain? Sure, Hackman was fun as Lex Luther, but the character was portrayed more for laughs than a serious, sinister villain. Enter General Zod, played by Terrence Stamp, Superman II’s primary antagonist and one of the elements that made the film so memorable. It was interesting to see Superman faced with someone who had the same powers but was essentially the opposite, a villain who takes delight in threatening to kill innocent civilians and wants to be seen as a god. And who can forget that immortal line “KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!” It is often said that people who refer to themselves in the third person have superiority issues, and here this is clearly very true. Stamp went on to have a successful career, with Zod being one of his most recognisable roles. It will be interesting to see what Michael Shannon will do with the role. Hopefully he will offer a completely different portrayal rather than imitate Stamp’s.
Superman II also explored Superman’s human side, both literally and metaphorically. After deciding that he wants to become human because the world has no further need for Superman, he transforms himself into a human, so that his powers cannot interfere with his love for Lois Lane. The idea of a superhero willingly giving up their powers is almost unheard of, and allows the viewer to feel a bond with Superman, as he would willingly sacrifice his incredible powers in order to become the same as us. Spider-Man 2 contains one of the few other instances of this happening, in which Peter Parker briefly abandons Spider-Man, and although this was based on a storyline from the comics, it was still clearly influenced by Superman II.
The Lois and Clark relationship is also more developed this time around. This is mainly because it has more focus because the first film needed time to develop Superman’s backstory. As Lois begins to suspect that Clark may be Superman (ignore the fact that Superman does not wear a mask so everyone can clearly see who he is, it’s only a film) and goes to great lengths in order to prove her suspicions, including jumping out of a river in the hope that he will rescue her (or out of a window in Donner’s version). The fact that he sacrifices hi powers so that he can continue his relationship with her adds a strong element of tenderness. In the theatrical cut, they both sleep together before he gives up his powers, but in the Donner’s cut he had him loose them after he sleeps with her. Which of these ways is more effective is debatable so it should be left up to you. Both Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder are also on top form, strengthening the realism of the characters.
One reason why the film gets a bad rap is because if the fact that repeated the sequence where Superman goes back in time by flying around the world twice. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, or, if it’s a classic scene from the first film, don’t lessen it’s impact by repeating it in the second.
But although this sequence was needlessly repeated, the film had many new and exciting sequences to make up for it. Who can forget Superman preventing terrorists from destroying the Eiffel Tower, Clark painfully walking through a storming and cruel blizzard in the North Pole so that his powers can be restored, or seeing the villains defiling Mount Rushmore and replacing it with their own faces?
Although most would agree that Superman II is not as good as its predecessor, it still helped to set the benchmark for the thousands of superhero films to come. The film had a great mix of action, humour and romance, which enabled it to work so well, a formula that would be used in the countless superhero films to come.
