 | |
List Price: $26.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 14987
Released: November 28, 2006 |
| Our Price: $16.78 |
| Used Price: $6.79 |
|
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: UN
Release Date: 28-NOV-2006
Media Type: DVD
Superman II (Two-Disc Special Edition) Reviews:
Not as magnificent as the first, but terrific nonetheless 
2009-09-07 - This one (and the Donner cut), after the original, is grand. Much controversy surrounds this because of Donner, but that does not matter with this version.
And The Adventure Continues...
2009-08-29 - Like the films that followed the original Star Wars, this is one of those rare moments that the sequel is just as good (or better) than the first. Whereas Superman I, there was little action but a lot of story, this had more action and a lot of story. Reeve again is superb as the Man of Steel, but this time he's faced with a dilemma of choosing between continuing as his superhero persona or giving it up for Lois. And after choosing a mortal life, he feels regret after seeing General Zod take over. Kidder is also excellent as Lane, also showing character depth. My favorite scene with the two is near the end, where she's telling him about how messed up her life is/will be now that she knows. Hackman is more of the co-villain and manipulates Zod and his cohorts into fighting Superman then tracking him down by coaxing the General's ego. The actors who play the villains (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) do it with menace and a very dry sense of humor. The effects are better than ever, especially during the fight in Metropolis and Ken Thorne does an admirable job of doing Williams' magnificent themes. What I don't like about this movie is Richard Lester. He inserts too many sight gags than are necessary for a superhero film (especially when the villains use their superbreath). And the flying scenes with Superman just feel flat (his cape moves more in the Fortress of Solitude than when he's flying at top speed to France). But if I had to pick which version of this film I prefer, it's this one. Not that Donner's version was bad. My main problem is the ending. Donner's is just a copout and the events that follow or that have preceded don't make sense. For instance, after spinning the earth backwards (again), the encounter with the bully is irrelevant (despite the fact that Superman remembers) and the destruction of the Fortress is redundant. The ending in this version makes more sense and the ending makes me feel very patriotic. Amazing that a movie about a fictional character can do that when our present government, especially the man in charge, can't. He just can't stir the feeling in me that I get when I see Superman fly the top of the White House back to the President.
A great sequel to an awesome superhero film 
2009-06-14 - Here is Superman II, the direct sequel to the 1978 classic superhero movie in the series. When Superman (Christopher Reeve) tosses a hydrogen bomb into outer space to save France, he accidentally frees a trio of Kryptonian villans, General Zod (Terrance Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and Non (Jack O'Halloran) from the Phantom Zone. When Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) go on an assingment in Niagra Falls, Lois becomes suspitious of Clark's secret identity as Superman. After a failed attempt to pretend to fall off a rail and wait for Superman, she ultimately discovers this when Clark tripped and his hand got in the fireplace and didn't burn. The two return to the Fortress of Solitude while General Zod, Ursa, and Non form an alliance with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) and the four plot to take over Earth, at first, thinking it was Planet Huston (Ha! Ha! Ha!) Superman decides to become normal to be with Lois, but restores his powers after realizing what went wrong and the villanous gang's plot and goes to save the day. Despite that this is a worthy sequel, its predecesor was a little bit better. The visual effects were still top-notch, a lot of main actors from the first returned, and it helped advance the storyline further. A downside is that it was a little bit more lighthearted, while the original was a bit more serious. I felt bad for the director of the first, Richard Donner, when the crew treated him badly and replaced him with Richard Lester. Even the main actors felt bad. This is still a good entry in the Superman franchise nonetheless.
Let's Raise the Stakes: 3 To 1
2009-05-07 -
Being perfectly honest, I didn't much care for the 1st "Superman." It was alright, but nothing I would watch over and over. Well, this 2nd chapter raised the stakes and the improvements were most certainly there.
At the start, Superman has to rescue Lois from terrorists in France. As he throws the terrorist's bomb into space, it explodes freeing 3 prisoners from the planet Krypton. (We of course met them briefly in Part 1. Superman's father Marlon Brando sentenced them to imprisonment.) So, we can suspect they will want revenge if they run into Superman. Of course, if they find their way to planet earth, they will have the same powers as Superman. Great suspense.
Back on earth, Clark Kent/Superman is having his own struggles with Lois Lane. The double life is starting to wear him down. (Lois loves Superman, but only likes Clark Kent as a friend.) He is then faced with the reality that if he wants to live a normal life with Lois Lane, he can no longer function as Superman.
Lex Luthor (captured in part 1) escapes from prison, and wonders if he can make some negotiations with the 3 villains from Krypton. (Well, we can't deny that Luthor has guts in this 2nd chapter.)
After certain personal struggles, Clark Kent/Superman realizes his true calling. He may of wanted a normal life with Lois, but realizes he can't let these villains (with his powers) take over the world. There is a climactic showdown, and we can see that even Superman is going to have trouble fighting 3 opponents with his powers.
Even if you didn't care much for Part 1, you should really give this 2nd chapter a chance.
Different Enough To Please, But Still Same Old Supes!
2008-12-18 - After viewing "Superman: The Movie", it is difficult to believe that any sequel could top the story, effects, and just the overall aura of that masterful film. Well, Superman II is at least as good, and some would argue better, for two main reasons:
First, the special effects (many of them filmed at the same time as scenes from Superman I) are still incredible (at least by early 1980s standards). The action scenes, where as many as four beings are flying through the air simultaneously, are even more exciting than those from the first film. Also, the comedic and heroic tone of the first film remains intact for this effort (likely because parts of both were filmed together). Thus, Christopher Reeve is still the same old bumbling, stumbling Clark Kent but wholesomely heroic Superman, Lois Lane is just as rambunctious, and Lex Luthor is just as comically maniacal. In essence, it wasn't as if there was a big break in shooting and the actors had to rediscover their roles again...and that stability is very refreshing.
Of course, the second reason the film succeeds so well is that it introduces enough change to not become old hat. Instead of thwarting Luthor, Superman dukes it out with three Kryptonian baddies (led by the merciless General Zod). Instead of fooling Lois, Clark reveals his deepest secret to her (and, ultimately, puts the world in grave danger for doing so).
I have always felt that most sequels fail due to one of two (or maybe both!) issues: Either the film is too repetitive, or the actors can no longer fully regain the passion for the roles as they once had. However, with the combination of a fresh plot and the fact that both the first two Superman films were mostly filmed together, this film was able to avoid those traps.
So, if you were enthralled by Superman: The Movie, Superman II will not let you down in any way. The visuals are still stunning, the drama is still palpable, the humor is still funny, and I can guarantee that the closing scene will have you on your feet and cheering at your television!
