2006 Movie News Archives

November 28, 2006: Superman DVDs On Sale Today!

Today is Superman DVD Day!

While there have been some problems (already noted), today is a very exciting day for Superman fans, with the release of a wide range of Superman DVDs. As of today, you can buy the following Superman DVD releases:

Superman Back Cover Superman: The Movie

Superman: The Movie (1978/2001) Four-Disc Special Edition

A box-office smash, an Academy Award winner and a fan favorite since it first flew into theatres in December 1978, Superman: The Movie assembles a cast and creative contingent as only a big movie can. At its heart (just as in three sequels) is Christopher Reeve's intelligent, affectionate portrayal of a most human Man of Steel. Watching Superman again isn't just like being a kid again. It's better. The movie's legacy soared even higher when director Richard Donner revisited this beloved adventure 22 years later and integrated eight minutes into the film. Enjoy more footage of the Krypton Council, a glimpse of stars of prior Superman incarnations, more of Jor-El underscoring his son's purpose on Earth and an extended sequence inside Lex Luthor's gauntlet of doom. Reeve, Marlon Brando (Jor-El), Gene Hackman (Luthor) and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) give indelible performances that fuel the film's aura of legend.

Disc One

  • Original 1978 theatrical version with soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Commentary by producer Pierre Spengler and executive producer Ilya Salkind
  • Theatrical trailers
  • TV spot
  • Languages: English & Français
  • Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

    Disc Two

  • 2000 expanded edition movie with commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz
  • Music-only audio track
  • Subtitles: English, Français, Español & Português (feature film only)

    Disc Three

  • Three documentaries: Taking Flight: The Development of Superman, Making Superman: Filming the Legend, The Magic Behind the Cape
  • Restored scenes
  • Screen tests
  • Audio-only bonus: additional music cues

    Disc Four

  • Vintage TV special The Making of Superman: The Movie
  • 1951 Movie Superman and the Mole-Men, starring George Reeves
  • Nine Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements: Oscar nominee Superman, The Mechanical Monsters, Billion Dollar Limited, The Arctic Giant, The Bulleteers, The Magnetic Telescope, Electric Earthquake, Volcano, Terror on the Midway

    Order this DVD collection, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    DVD Artwork Superman II

    Superman II: Two-Disc Special Edition (1980)

    "I thought the original Superman was terrific entertainment," the Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert wrote, "and so I was a little startled to discover that I liked Superman II even more." Unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three super-powered Kryptonian criminals (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) plan to enslave Earth - just when Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Gene Hackman (as Lex Luthor) also returns from the first film and with a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction and visuals that astound and delight, Superman II saves the day any day you watch it.

    Disc One

  • Movie with commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
  • Soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Languages: English & Français
  • Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

    Disc Two

  • Vintage TV specials The Making of Superman II and Superman 50th Anniversary
  • New featurette First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series
  • Eight Famous Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements: Japoteurs, Showdown, Eleventh Hour, Destruction, Inc., The Mummy Strikes, Jungle Drums, The Underground World, Secret Agent

    Order this DVD collection, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    Superman III Back Cover Superman III

    Superman III: Deluxe Edition (1983)

    After Superman: The Movie's epic storytelling and Superman II's awesome battles, how could the first two hits be topped? In Superman III, meet Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a half-witted computer programming natural. For him a keyboard is a weapon - and Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his life. Christopher Reeve reprises his most beloved role, deepening his character's human side as Clark Kent reunites with old flame Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole) at a Smallville High class reunion. And when Superman becomes his own worst enemy after Kryptonite exposure, Reeve pulls off both roles with dazzling skill. Incredible visual effects abound - but above all it has heart, heroism and high-flying humor. All in superabundance.

  • Commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
  • Vintage TV special The Making of Superman III
  • Additional scenes
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Languages: English & Français
  • Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

    Order this DVD, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    Superman IV Back Cover Superman IV

    Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - Deluxe Edition (1987)

    Christopher Reeve not only dons the title hero's cape for the fourth time but also helped develop the movie's provocative theme: nuclear disarmament. "For me, it's the most personal of the entire series," Reeve said. "It directly reflects what Superman should be, and should be doing." Superman does a lot this time around. To make the world safe for nuclear arms merchants, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) creates a new being to challenge the Man of Steel: the radiation-charged Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow). The two foes clash in an explosive extravaganza that sees Superman save the Statue of Liberty, plug a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China.

  • Commentary by screenwriter Mark Rosenthal
  • Additional scenes
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Languages: English & Français
  • Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

    Order this DVD, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    DVD Artwork DVD Artwork

    Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980/2006)

    Superman II will delight fans who, for years, have been imploring Warner Home Video via voluminous numbers of petitions, letters, phone calls and e-mails to release the Donner cut. In fact, Donner had already shot most of the Superman II footage during Superman: The Movie. But as production on the sequel continued, creative differences between the director and the film's producers became irreconcilable and Donner left the project. Although Richard Lester was hired to finish production, he chose to make major changes to the film, leaving only vestiges of Donner's original vision and concepts in the version of Superman II that was ultimately released to theaters. Now, nearly thirty years later, Warner Home Video is honored to grant the wishes of countless Superman fans. With this DVD release, Richard Donner has become the first director in history to be able to complete a film he left during production with nearly all his footage "in the can." Adding back a substantial amount of that unused footage, the director has seen his original vision restored and brought to fruition. Most notably, the "Donner cut" restores the Marlon Brando role, filmed for, but not included in the final theatrical release version of Superman II. The legendary Brando's performance as Jor-El has finally been restored in key scenes that amplify Superman lore and deepen the profound relationship between father and son.With so many other changes, large and small, including a variety of Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman, this Superman II will prove to be an eye-opening experience and an important addition to film history.

  • All new introduction by director Richard Donner
  • Commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz
  • New featurette Superman II: Restoring the Vision
  • Additional scenes
  • Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

    Order this DVD, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    Supergirl Back Cover Supergirl DVD

    Supergirl

    "Supergirl" (starring Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole and Mia Farrow) will retail for $14.99 and is presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The only extra material will be a commentary by director Jeannot Szwarc and Scott Bosco, and the theatrical trailer.

    Order this DVD, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    Superman Returns

    The film will be available to own in single and double-disc editions. Each will carry a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The single-disc edition will also be available in a full-screen transfer. The single-disc will be featureless, whereas the two-disc edition is filled with over three hours of bonus features, including more than ten revealing additional scenes with characters and plotlines never before seen and a "Resurrecting Jor-El" featurette. A multi-part, nearly 3-hour documentary, "Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns" takes you on an in-depth, behind the scenes journey of the making of this momentous film with visionary director Singer and crew. Viewers will experience what it was actually like to be part of the production on location in Australia. The documentary uncovers the secrets behind some of the most astonishing, effects-laden scenes in the film, including the shuttle accident, the Metropolis disaster and the formation of New Krypton. The Two-Disc Special Edition comes encased in collectible, embossed, gold foil o-sleeve packaging.

    DVD/HD-DVD Combo - disc config: HD-15C or HD-30C (TBA), VC-1/1080p video (2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen), 2006 Theatrical Version of the film, Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio (English, French, Latin Spanish), special features (ALL Two-Disc DVD features will be included on the HD side, but NOT in high-definition - movie-only on the standard DVD side), subtitles: English SDH, English, French and Spanish, Closed Captioned.

    Blu-ray Disc - disc config: BD-50, VC-1/1080p video (2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen), 2006 Theatrical Version of the film, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio (English, French, Latin Spanish), special features (ALL Two-Disc DVD features will be included, but NOT in high-definition), subtitles: English SDH, English, French and Spanish, Closed Captioned.

    Warner Home Video HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The new formats also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

    The Single Disc version of Superman Returns contains the theatrical version of the film.

    The Two-Disc Special Edition contains the theatrical version of the film on Disc 1 and over three hours of special features on Disc 2, including:

    -- Additional Scenes

    • The Date: Ma Kent plays a game with her new man
    • Family Photos: Clark reminisces over family photos
    • Crash Landing/X-Ray Vision: Clark discovers he can fly and he has x-ray vision
    • Old Newspapers: Clark realizes what happened while he was gone
    • Are You Two Dating?: Clark discovers his mother is dating
    • Martinis and Wigs: Lex and Kitty bicker
    • I'm Always Right: Once again, Lex is right
    • Jimmy the Lush: Jimmy and Clark discuss Lois at the bar
    • Language Barrier: Japanese talkshow makes fun of Superman
    • Crystal Feet: Having a bad day
    • New Krypton: Lois names the new planet
    • Easter Egg: Lex Luthor's "Wrong" Montage

    -- "Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns" multi-part documentary
    • Secret Origins and First Issues: Crystallizing Superman
    • The Crystal Method: Designing Superman
    • An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman
      • Superman on the Farm
      • Superman in the City
      • Superman in Peril
    • The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman
    • He's Always Around: Wrapping Superman

    -- "Resurrecting Jor-El" Featurette
    • 3D rendering of Marlon Brando's face for the Fortress of Solitude scene

    Order the Single-Disc editon DVD or the Double-Disc edition DVD , and help support the Superman Homepage.

    DVD Artwork DVD Artwork DVD Artwork DVD Artwork
    Single Disc Single Disc [Back Cover] Double Disc Double Disc [Back Cover]
    Superman Returns Superman Returns
    Superman Returns DVD (Single Disc fullscreen) Superman Returns HD DVD and DVD Combo Format

    DVD Artwork Christopher Reeve Superman Collection

    Christopher Reeve Superman Collection (8 Disc)

    • "Superman: The Movie" Four-Disc Special Edition (4 Discs)
    • "Superman II" Two-Disc Special Edition (2 Discs)
    • "Superman III" Deluxe Edition (1 Disc)
    • "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" Deluxe Edition (1 Disc)

    Order this DVD collection, and help support the Superman Homepage.

    Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition (14 Disc Region 1)

    The 14-disc set, priced at $99.92, contains Superman Returns: Special Edition, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman: The Movie Four Disc Special Edition, Superman II Two Disc Special Edition and Superman III and IV Deluxe Editions. The set also offers 20 hours of extra content, including the documentaries You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman and Look Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman and Returns director Bryan Singer's video journal.

    14 Disc Set 14 Disc Set 14 Disc Set
    14 Disc Set 14 Disc Set 14 Disc Set

    Superman: The Movie (disc 1)
    Theatrical cut
    Commentary track by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
    Original sound
    Dolby Digital 5.1

    Superman: The Movie (disc 2)
    2001 director's cut
    Commentary track by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz
    Music-only audio track
    Dolby Digital 5.1

    Superman: The Movie (disc 3)
    Taking Flight: The Development of Superman
    Making Superman: Filming the Legend
    The Magic Behind the Cape
    Restored scenes
    Screen tests
    Audio-only bonus: additional music cues

    Superman: The Movie (disc 4)
    Vintage TV special The Making of Superman: The Movie
    1951 Movie Superman and the Mole-Men, starring George Reeves
    * Nine Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements:
    - Oscar nominee Superman
    - The Mechanical Monsters
    - Billion Dollar Limited
    - The Arctic Giant
    - The Bulleteers
    - The Magnetic Telescope
    - Electric Earthquake
    - Volcano
    - Terror on the Midway

    Superman II (disc 5)
    Theatrical cut
    Commentary track by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
    Theatrical trailers
    Dolby Digital 5.1

    Superman II (disc 6)
    Vintage TV special The Making of Superman II
    Vintage TV Special Superman 50th Anniversary
    New featurette First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series
    Eight Famous Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements:
    - Japoteurs
    - Showdown
    - Eleventh Hour
    - Destruction, Inc.
    - The Mummy Strikes
    - Jungle Drums
    - The Underground World
    - Secret Agent

    Superman II (disc 7)
    The Donner cut
    All new introduction by director Richard Donner
    Commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz
    New featurette Superman II: Restoring the Vision
    Additional scenes
    Dolby Digital 5.1

    Superman III (disc 8)
    Commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
    Vintage TV special The Making of Superman III
    Additional scenes
    Theatrical trailer

    Superman IV (disc 9)
    Theatrical cut
    Commentary by screenwriter Mark Rosenthal
    Additional scenes
    Theatrical trailer

    Superman Returns (disc 10)
    Theatrical cut
    Dolby Digital 5.1

    Superman Returns (disc 11)
    Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns. 3hr documentary.
    Deleted Scenes

    You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman (disc 12)
    All-new six-part documentary about the original theatrical franchise.
    Forging the Man of Steel - Superman in the media, and the challenges the Salkinds faced
    Creating the Vision - creating the right script, choosing the right director and casting the right actors
    Believe - the production and launch of a new kind of fantasy film
    Crisis - complications and conflicts between the creative forces behind Superman II
    Downfall - criticisms and burnout of Superman III and Superman IV
    Legacy - filmmakers, writers and artists reflect

    Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman (disc 13)
    Kevin Burns documentary - history of the character.

    Bryan Singer's Video Journals (disc 14)
    All the web blogs plus two never-before-seen.

    The Ultimate box will be encased in a keepsake tin and includes a reproduction of the Superman comic book issue No. 7, a Superman overview booklet and a mail-in offer for five Superman theatrical movie posters.

    Order this DVD collection, and help support the Superman Homepage.



    2006 Movie News

    Listed below are all the Movie News items archived for 2006 organized into various categories:

    “Superman Returns” Movie News:

    Christopher Reeve Movie News: Hollywoodland (George Reeves) Movie News: Direct-to-DVD Animated Movie News: Other Movie News:

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