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>>FRIDAY 30th THE RIC EDITOR ON SR - SPOILERS DOWN BELOW! The Restored International Cut editor wants to share his thoughts on Superman Returns...there's a spoiler warning down below! Let's get to the nitty gritty, overall score, barely
7 out of 10, and I'm sorry to say I'm being generous. I liked the cast quite a bit, and the leads defintely deliver, but the script just doesn't give them enough to work with. I loved the idea of a returns story, but it just never followed through on that promise. Routh and Bosworth are very likable, and Huntington was excellent. The big surprise to me comes from 2 smaller performances, Lois's son, and Richard White. Both are superb, and add quite a bit to the story. But the bad, oh my the bad is just alarming. Some of the effects are just excellent, but boy do the bad ones stick out. Why anyone hires Sony Imageworks to do anything is just beyond me. Maybe someone was trying to save a buck, but they should never be allowed to try to do another CG human being, and I mean ever. Deplorable, rubbery, fake, and downright insulting. Some of the flying effects are great, but rarely is Routh ever allowed to be truly graceful. He just can't touch what Reeve did, and I hate to compare, but he isn't selling it enough. And how can anyone not compare? They have him at times literally doing the same exact scenes. Comparisons aren't just expected, the film makers basically ask you to do so outright. Routh's Clark is very charming, but I personally loved the very distinct separation of characters Reeve put into his dual roles. They seemed like completely different people, and it just worked better. Routh is quite good though to be fair. The opening titles, major letdown in almost every respect. The music felt muted, the titles moved way too fast to have any real weight, and the whole thing just felt too rushed all around. They're whipping around through space so much it felt like the opening to "3rd Rock From the Sun." And what about all the hullabaloo with regards to that damned Genesis camera. People may swallow this cardboard flat lifeless image, but this could never compare to beautifully shot film. The camera just never handled all the information properly, and the dark areas suffered the most. Gaping holes where film would easily cradle the darkest of the darks without losing them, here they're simply voids of black. The pallette all around is alarmingly dead, and the costume colors don't help things one damn bit. Singer and Mingenbach can keep singing their song about why they did what they did, but even their own marketing people disagree with them. Look at the colors in the posters! Oh and the music is just like everyone says, dull except for the borrowed bits, sad but true. Now on to the spoilers. Turn away if you must...
I actually liked the kid a great deal. He could so One small drop of crystal made a major problem early Anyway, I went in with very high hopes, I wanted to
>>TUESDAY 27th A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS SEEN SR - SOME SPOILERS A friend of mine, no, a very good friend caught SR last week in L.A. He's a big STM fan, so I was eager to read his comments. The film doesn't come out in the U.K. till July 14th, Wahhhh! I'm not running a review page but I wanted to post this one: I just got back from seeing Superman Returns. Here are my initial impressions: It is an absolutely sincere film. It likes and respects Superman and wants to be a good Superman movie. This respect and sincerity are it's biggest asset. It is very much a sequel to Superman The Movie. It is best viewed this way, rather than as an independent interpretation of the Superman legend. The crystals play a huge role in this film. Brandon Routh is playing Christopher Reeve's Clark Kent/Superman and Kevin Spacey is playing Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. In some ways, it is a remake of Superman The Movie (as well as, in a few aspects, Superman II). The plot structure is very reminiscent of STM and many of its best moments are direct echos (and at certain points, direct repeats) from the original films. Sometimes this is a strength, in that it provides familiar touchstones to play off of. At other times, it is a problem, because it gives the film a bit (and sometimes more than a bit) of a "been there, done that" feel. This "borrowed" quality also creates an interesting dilemma in viewing the new film -- some of the biggest audience reactions were to bits from STM, leading me to wonder -- were we reacting to the work of Bryan Singer and his writers or to the work of Richard Donner and Tom Mankeiwicz? When playing Clark Kent, Brandon Routh looks incredibly like Christopher Reeve playing Clark Kent. His voice is exactly like Reeve's. This is sometimes charming, but after awhile, it started making me feel really sad, because, of course, Chris is no longer with us and this reminded me of that every second. That said, Routh does a good enough job, although he at all times seems way too young. Routh's Superman makes less of an impression. In his best moments, he resembles Reeve's Superman both in appearance and performance. But much of the time, he is just flat. He's not bad, but he doesn't have much presence as Superman. His body is not impressive and he at all times seems way, way too young. Compared to Reeve's (and the film makes the comparison at all times inevitable), his flying style is uninspired. With all of that said, he gives a very sincere performance. The costume is terrible. Period. Kate Bosworth's Lois in not Margot Kidder's Lois. She is written as being very grim and serious. Bosworth plays all of this well enough. She's okay -- it's just not a very interesting character. Like Routh, she is way, way too young. Spacey does Hackman. At this he is fine, if not particularly interesting. He makes for a very ugly bald man. The guy who plays Jimmy Olsen is a bit broad, but okay in what is essentially a comic relief role. Frank Langella makes no impact at all as Perry White. The Superman-has-a-kid angle is not nearly as annoying as I thought it was going to be. In some ways I wished they had milked it more than they did. It provides a terrific moment in the middle of the film and a pretty touching moment at the end. However, it doesn't seem like it can go anywhere good in subsequent films. There are a couple of nice, character based comedy moments. Smart and sweet. From a visual perspective, the film is not particularly well directed. Almost the whole movie is shot in close ups or medium shots. None of the shots are especially well composed, which is an especially big problem when Singer is attempting to ape the epic feel that Donner gave Superman The Movie. Singer has no feel for how to shoot an epic. Because of this, there are several should-be cool or iconic moments that instead fizzle completely. Like most modern CG based epics, the camera never stops moving nor does it hold on any one shot long enough to make a decent impression. The action scenes are chaotically filmed -- shot mostly in close-up with a shaking camera and then chopped up into a billion different edits. Also like most modern films, it refuses to maintain its focus on a single incident from beginning to end. Instead, it intercuts major sequences in ways that cause each individual one to loose the power it might have if it would just let the damn scenes play though. I'm not sure if this is a script or editing problem. The production design and the cinematography are both dreary and at times downright ugly. Again, like most modern films, the colors are too desaturated and the images much too contrasty. Digital cinema continues to leave me cold. When the score quotes John Williams Superman score, it is quite good (the orchestrations are excellent). The film's original music is flat and unmemorable. CGI is CGI. You never believe a man can fly, although you do believe a plastic -looking digital model with Brandon Routh's face plastered on it can zoom around a digital landscape. The second half of the film drags considerably and at some points is strangely empty and lifeless. At times it is almost grim. Like all modern movies, SR goes on way too long. There are some fight scenes in the second half of the film that are very brutal, which is very much out of synch with the tone of the rest of the film. As a result, these moments border on ugly. Oddly enough, there's a bit that is stolen straight out of Goldeneye. So straight that it is even framed exactly the same way. It is so obvious that I have no idea why they left it in. Ultimately, the film is respectable, sincere, and
enjoyable to watch, but it lacks the fun and joi de vive of Donner's film.
If you'll forgive the hackneyed metaphor, the film never takes flight
the way Donner's did. It's a good film, but not a great one.
>>SATURDAY 24th A NEW BEGINNING FOR DONNER'S SUPERMAN II Following on from Thursday's post, I had a quick go at writing (call it a first draft) a new beginning for Donner's S2. Just a bit of fun: SUPERMAN THE MOVIE REPRISE The trial of the villains and their sentence by Jor-El. BEGIN CREDITS Briefly introduce characters. End with Superman redirecting the XK101 missile into the stratosphere. END CREDITS EXT. SPACE A miniscule spot in the black vastness becomes larger…LARGER. It's the XK101 missile, it thunders past, revealing in the B.G. Earth rotating backwards, sending out intense, rippling shockwaves across the -- -- GALAXY Seismic waves catch the XK101 missile and hurls it like rag doll on a collision course with meteorites. BOOOOOM!!! The XK101 missile explodes furiously sending cataclysmic shockwaves across the neighbouring galaxies. -- ELSEWHERE IN THE VOID OF SPACE The Phantom Zone wanders aimlessly and silently. The grotesque heads of the villains trapped flat in the prison. Then… Seismic ripples of the gigantic nuclear explosion
strike the Phantom Zone into a frenzied spin, shattering it into smithereens.
ZOD, NON and URSA are flung out. Their flat bodies take their 3 dimensional
shapes.
>>THURSDAY 22nd ILYA SALKIND HAS SEEN SUPERMAN RETURNS Ilya went to the premiere yesterday. On the phone, he sounded excited, "It's got heart, it's a love story, it's got feeling, it's 3-D." Compared to the recent crop of Superhero pictures, he feels this is the best. "I'm urging the fans to see this and support it. It's important to have Superman in our life." What do you think of Routh? "Aw man, he's brilliant." At the premiere he bumped into Tom Mankiewicz and Jack O' Halloran - a catharsis moment for everyone... I guess. Hey Jacob, hi to you too! ILYA ON A NEW BEGINNING FOR SUPERMAN II - DONNER CUT Ilya and me reckon the beginning of Donner's Superman 2 should open like this: As the credits come to an end, in the background we see the Earth spinning backwards. This sends out shockwaves, they ripple towards us, even skewing the final credits. The shockwaves from turning back the world cracks the phantom zone. Cut to an aerial shot of Metropolis. So now the ending of Superman carries more weight...in order to save one life, he has put the lives of millions in jepoardy. The stakes have risen dramatically, Superman can't turn back time again either knowing the dangerous pitfalls. What do you guys think? What does Michael Thau think? No chance now, but I strongly believe this is the way it should open. DVD BOXSET DESIGN
The above boxset design is apparently destined for European markets. No word yet if this will be used in the U.S. market. The French version is apparently 11 discs, probably won't include Superman Returns and Fleischer cartoons, but this has not been confirmed. I really like the concept, sleek and perfectly ties in with the Superman The Movie 1978 marketing campaign.
>>MONDAY 19th HOTDOG SCANS The main man, James Christie has posted scans of his article entitled 'The tale of two Dicks'. It features new quotes from Ilya, Donner, Margot and Mankiewicz. Go here to read it.
MARGOT KIDDER ON LETTERMAN 1987 Alex S has posted an
excellent Margot interview as she valiantly, or not, attempts to keep
a straight face about Superman IV. She looks way hotter in the interview
than in the film! Man, if '87 Margot was my friend's mother...I'd take
up permanent residence...you know what I mean?
ILYA SALKIND MEETS ROUTH... Ilya was sceptical if Routh could carry the torch, but once he met him -- no question, he's got what Christopher had. They hooked up at the documentary (Look, Up in the Sky!) party. The producer also met Bryan Singer and thinks he's a sharp kid. If I can get ahold of the photographs from the event, I'll post'em up. Ilya reckons the line, "The world needs a hero." will define the film.
Look, up in the Sky is available from the 20th on DVD
>>SUNDAY 18th INTERVIEWS WITH NON AND URSA CinemaInsomnia has posted up interviews with Jack and Sarah. The host stumbles upon an interesting idea, he thought that the consequence of turning back the world sent shockwaves across the galaxy thus shattering the phantom zone, you know...I think that's a great idea. Superman doesn't pay the price despite his father's warning, but he should and that host got it. Click
Here for the interview with Jack (Jack claims that the Salkinds didn't
want to pay Donner - this is strongly denied by Ilya Salkind; more on
that in my Superman 2 interview in the summer.)
>>SATURDAY 17th SUPERMAN II - A THEATRICAL RELEASE??? PLUS RATING AND WILLIAMS Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is the official title and has been
awarded a PG rating [sequences of action violence, some language and brief
mild sensuality] by the MPAA.
A limited theatrical release is not outside the realms of possibility.
This means that this is not a rough cut as such, but a film ready to be
shown on the big screen. John Williams has not been asked to score the
film. SUPPORT THE SUPERBOY RELEASE Superboy -- the first season is out on Tuesday. We need you guys to support it because future season releases depend upon good sales of the first season set. Currently, it's ranked #154 on Amazon, so it's doing well for a show that hardly received a fair crack of the whip on its original run. I hope to review the set myself in the coming weeks.
You can watch five episodes of Superboy from various seasons on AOL Television.
>>WEDNESDAY 14th SR WRITERS HAVE SEEN THE S2 RIC BOOTLEG The writers of Superman Returns mention that they have a copy of the RIC bootleg. It's a wonderful interview, they're big fans of the first Superman picture -- they mention it a few times. They give Donner and Mankiewicz a lot of praise but the Newmans get zero credit - a good portion of their [Newmans] work made it into the final picture! Q. Have you seen the new so-called “Donner Cut” of "Superman II" heading to DVD with the restored Richard Donner footage? MD: I haven’t seen the one they’ve put together. DH: I don’t think it’s finished yet. MD: I got a bootleg [of the “Restored International Cut” of “Superman II,” a fan-made edit that incorporates some footage broadcast on European TV] at a convention... [laughs] It’s really fun to watch. Any time you get to see an “Ultimate Version” of something you were raised on, it’s a fun bit of eye candy. DH: But the bootleg is not Donner’s cut — it’s a different thing. Q. Is Brando in the bootleg version? MD: Not in the version I saw. Q. I think he’s in the official version that’s coming out on DVD. MD: That’s possible. Click Here for the rest. Thanks to the artist formly known as the RIC editor.
>>TUESDAY 13th THAT MOVIE MAGIC INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL THAU - DONNER'S SUPERMAN II A few worried e-mails hit my mailbox wondering if Brando
will be in Donner's Superman 2. Don't worry about it, folks.
>>SUNDAY 11th MOVIE MAGIC SCANS - DONNER'S SUPERMAN II Thanks to MILO for scanning in the interview! Richard Donner’s Superman II The Man of Steel’s second live-action adventure of 2006 has been nearly 30 years in the making The Holy Grail of Superman history will be unveiled this fall with the DVD release of Richard Donner’s version of Superman II. Here’s a quick history lesson to put that statement in perspective: Back in the 1970s, Donner was shooting Superman: The Movie simultaneously with its sequel, but to meet the first film’s December 1978 release date, he focused on that effort, leaving the second incomplete. Donner’s acrimonious relationship with the film’s producers resulted in his being replaced by Richard Lester, who completed the sequel, jettisoning much of Donner’s footage and reshooting certain sequences to reflect his own directorial sensibilities. Overseeing the film’s DVD version, and working in conjunction with Donner himself, is producer/editor Michael Thau, who also oversaw the production of the Superman : The Movie DVD. MOVIE MAGIC: How much of Superman II had Dick Donner shot? MICHAEL THAU: Dick shot almost exactly 75% of his Superman II script. In November of last year, we brought over six tons of Superman II film that had been sitting in a vault in England. We started laboriously going through it, pulling together scenes that were going to be the hardest to cut. When I’d get a cut on a scene, I’d show it to Dick and he’d say, "I don’t like that line; that reading’s not good" and so on. With Dick it’s always, "Make it move faster." MOVIE MAGIC: I’d read an interview with him in which he said certain scenes were lost, such as when Lois tries to prove that Clark is Superman by firing a gun at him. MICHAEL: Nothing was lost. That scene was actually never shot, but he did shoot it back in early 1977 as part of screentests, one for Reeve, and another, three months later, for Margot Kidder. We managed to put together a scene that has Chris from the early screentest and Margot from the later screentest. MOVIE MAGIC: I assume you’re using Lester footage to finish the other 25% of the film? MICHAEL: Yes, but it’s less than 25%. The plot is essentially the same, but the tone is much more like a part two of the first film. Donner’s humor is completely different from Lester’s. I’m not saying that Lester’s stuff is not funny, but it’s a different type of humor. Our intent was to make things more real and not keep undercutting the tension with comedy.
MOVIE MAGIC: The real question, of course, is whether or not you’ll restoring scenes with Marlon Brando as Jor-El, which were cut from Lester’s version over money issues between the producers and Brando. MICHAEL: That issue is being addressed and negotiations are continuing, I will, however, say there are three scenes with Marlon Brando that absolutely anchor this film. They’re insane, wonderful Superman scenes, and that footage has not been scene by anyone for 25 years. Actually, there’s a lot that hasn’t been scene, but that’s the jewel of this film. MOVIE MAGIC: It sounds like this Superman II is going to be entirely different than the first version of it. MICHAEL: The people who have seen it have said
it truly feels like part two of the first film, which was the intent all
along. I think there are going to be some wonderful surprises for everyone.
Here are the scans of the above.
>>SATURDAY 10th COMPLETE HOTDOG QUOTES ON SUPERMAN II The latest issue of Hotdog is out today in the U.K. I was interviewed by James Christie for a Superman article, only a few quotes could be used in the context of the piece, so here are the complete quotes. How do you feel about soon being able to witness
Richard Donner's lost footage from Superman II? 10. Is it fair to say that there is almost as
much anticipation for this new Donner cut than there is for Superman Returns?
>>SATURDAY 10th NEW DETAILS ON DICK'S SUPERMAN 2 IN MOVIE MAGIC MAG Michael has spilled some beans on Donner's Superman II. I need the scans...like
now Here's the front page:
It might be details we already know, but nevertheless, it's helps to have it concreted. Michael confirms that everything was found; Donner completed 75% but I believe the film will feature more than 75% - what takes it over 75? New credits and possibly newly shot material??? Marlon Brando in three scenes, you know which. Blank Bullets was never shot, so they'll use the screentest - I believe they've come up with a wonderful solution that keeps everyone happy. I think Ilya told me that Dick shot 60% and 15% was shot by other units.
NEW SUPERMAN MOVIE WEBSITES AlexS, has taken the baton and come up with some tremendous work, which surpasses anything we've done here. Check his websites out here: http://www.superman-the-movie.com
>>WEDNESDAY 7th DVD NEWS ROUND-UP In yesterday's HTF chat, Warner Bros. confirm the following: All 17 Fleischer cartoons have been remastered and will be released later this year in the Ultimate Superman Collection. Terence Stamp has been interviewed. I'm not sure about this but I believe there will be a villains' commentary track on II. There's no confirmation that the television cut of Superman III will be on the DVD. It really needs to be in there. I believe the final decision has been made on Superman IV, no 134min cut -- only deleted scenes. I imagine it's a cost issue, of course I could be wrong but I'm not optimistic at all. The Superman IV producers will feature in the documentary. I'm not sure when they'll lock down the final discs - I think by the end of August everything will be finalised. Warner Bros. is treating Donner's Superman 2 with the utmost secrecy and may I add - with the utmost respect. I don't know when news will break cover. HOTDOG ARTICLE James Christie's latest Superman movie mega piece will be in the latest issue of Hotdog, it hits U.K. newsstands this Saturday! I'm sure someone will scan it for us.
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Seriously, I wouldn't do that to my friends, but if she was my neighbour...No,
no, no, let's not go there.
