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Superman: The Movie (Widescreen)
 
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Superman: The Movie (Widescreen)

Christopher Reeve (Actor), Margot Kidder (Actor), Richard Donner (Director) | Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | Format: DVD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (196 customer reviews)

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Additional Features

Filled out with about eight minutes of additional footage, this deluxe Superman almost doubles Marlon Brando's screen time with added scenes on Krypton and in the Fortress of Solitude and fills out the early life of Clark Kent, contributing to a more mythic portrait of America's greatest hero. There is also more disaster footage during the earthquake climax, and Lex Luthor's "Gauntlet of Death" sequence (seen on network TV broadcasts) is reinstated.

The commentary by director Richard Donner and "creative consultant" Tom Mankeiwicz lacks the focus and detail of a filmmaker really grappling with his work (it has been almost 25 years, after all), but it's full of interesting asides, casting trivia (Goldie Hawn as Miss Teschmacher?), and the good-humored byplay of two old friends.

The three documentary featurettes hosted by Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) are essentially chapters of a comprehensive behind-the-scenes study, full of illuminating interviews (Donner and Mankeiwicz are more revealing here), special-effects tests (including all the failed attempts to make you believe a man can fly), and the bizarre true story of the unceremonious firing of Richard Donner after he had turned Superman into a worldwide smash and shot about 70 percent of the sequel.

A separate supplement features screen tests for Christopher Reeve and five different Lois Lanes (including a giggly Leslie Ann Warren and a snappy Stockard Channing), and two legendary, delightfully demented scenes featuring Lex Luthor's snarling "babies" (also seen on TV broadcasts) are featured in the gallery of Deleted Scenes. --Sean Axmaker

Amazon.com Essential Video

Richard Donner's 1978 epic about the Man of Steel showed how a film about a superhero could be a moving and romantic experience even for people who long ago gave up comic books. Beginning on the icy planet Krypton, the story follows the baby Kal-El, whose rocket ship lands in Smallville, Kansas. He is found there by a childless couple and raised as the shy Clark Kent (the young Kent is played by Jeff East). The film is perhaps most touching in these sequences, with expanses of wheat fields blowing in the wind and with a young man who can't figure out what part in destiny his great powers are meant to play. The second half, with Reeve taking over as Clark/Superman, is bustling, enchanting (the scene in which Superman flies girlfriend Lois Lane--played by Margot Kidder--through the night sky is great date material), and funny, thanks largely to Gene Hackman's sardonic portrayal of nemesis Lex Luthor. --Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

196 Reviews
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4 star:
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3 star:
 (9)
2 star:
 (5)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (196 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars The Only DVD of the Saga You Should Own!, April 12 2003
This review is from: Superman: The Movie (Widescreen) (DVD)
Yes, that's right. DO NOT buy any other movie in the Superman Saga besides this one.

Why?

Because it's the only one that actually takes full advantage of DVD's higher image quality.

For those of you who still haven't seen this film even 25 years after its original theatrical run, it's a very simple story. Superman (or Kal-El) is the last survivor of the planet Krypton, sent to Earth to help us with our problems--renegade nuclear missiles, evil geniuses and muggers.

If you have owned any copy of the film previous to this release, you will be amazed. Completely remastered for a theatrical release that never took place, it sounds and looks even better than it did in 1978.

Even more interesting is the audio commentary featuring director Richard Donner and Creative Consultant (a Salkind euphemism for screenwriter) Tom Mankiewicz, as well as two making-of featurettes which finally reveal more about the tensions between Donner and the Salkinds which resulted in his firing from "Superman II"--which took Mankiewicz, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman and composer John Williams with him, and almost scuttled the project when Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder threatened to quit as well.

In short, don't waste your money on the other three DVDs in the saga; this is the only one worth owning.

BTW, in "Superman II," most of Donner's footage was reshot, but all of his work with Gene Hackman (shot from the front; all back shots were done by Richard Lester with a double) remains.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Super DVD, May 8 2001
By 
Matt Howe "outloud98" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Superman: The Movie (Widescreen) (DVD)
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE falls into the "they-don't-make-movies-like-that-anymore" category. It is a hybrid of 60's "epic" movies, 70's all-star-cast disaster flicks, and the late-70's special effects films (like STAR WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS).

The DVD looks and sounds wonderful. The extra's are very interesting - 3 documentaries illuminate the journey from page to screen. The battles between director Richard Donner and his producers are fascinating. However, in all fairness, one wishes the Salkinds (or someone on their side) could respond.

There are some very cool early flying effects in the bonus stuff. The screen tests are hilarious - Stockard Channing as Lois Lane would have been a hoot. Lesley Anne Warren was an interesting choice as well. However, when Margot Kidder's screen test appears it is obvious why she was chosen. In her screen test she had a bad haircut and a 70's hippy dress on. However, she simply glows with energy and the magic required to help the audience believe a man can fly.

The film has held up well. It moves from Greek-like Krypton to the Americana of Smallville to the zippy, campy feel of Metropolis. Gene Hackman is hilarious as Lex Luthor.

The re-inserted scenes are fine. They are really minor additions to this great film. They only help make it better. (I'd really like to hear/see more of the SUPERMAN II cut scenes!)

SUPERMAN is a super DVD!

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Happy Customer..., April 1 2010
This review is from: Superman: The Movie [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)
To be honest, I have had every rendition of this movie available to me for home viewing, so this was to not put too much of a fine point on it, not really a necessary purchase. Nevertheless, It was my birthday and I was kinda feeling a bit down, so I went to the store and searched the Blu-ray section for some movies I might have missed. Then, what should my wondering eyes behold? SUPERMAN THE MOVIE on Blu-ray DVD! I thought, what the heck! Now the price was fairly decent, and there was a few extras on the disc. I watched that night after work, and found that the movie seemed kinda different with the added clarity and better sound, it was like a whole new movie. Now I know this movie pretty much backwards and forwards, but when a new format makes a old movie seem like new, that kind of purchase makes you sad day a bit happier. I recommend this movie for Superman fans and people like classic movies. Nuff said.
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