Synopsis:

Perhaps the most exhaustive and complete reworking of Superman II to date. Combining footage from the original Lester cut, the 2006 “Donner Cut” and selected footage from Superman The Movie, along with extensive special effects corrections, this is the movie that Richard Donner never got to make, the movie you always wanted.

Intentions:

To improve on my first edit of Superman II. To create a cut that I can watch instead of the Donner cut, and as an alternative to the Theatrical Cut. To tie in with STM more closely than either the DC or LC.

Change List:

DC=Donner Cut, LC=Lester Cut, STM=Superman the Movie, DS=Deleted Scene Black and white WB logo, New Reeve dedication (to match Unsworth dedication STM) LC – space intro DC – Zod trial and Phantom Zone (poorer effects shots of the PZ removed, explosion shot flipped back to correct way around) STM – Lois dead/ SM turns back time (changed shots to show SM reversing his actions with XK-101 rocket, added extra “Forbidden” dialogue from STM theatrical cut) DC – SM chases XK-101 and launches into space (new shot of SM throwing rocket added) DC/LC – Villains released by XK-101 (DC poor star backdrops painted out, zoomed shot to remove planet) STM/DC – Credits (Reeve receives top billing, Fan-editors credit added) DC – Daily Planet intro (Lois goofy reaction cut, Lois jumping out of window cut, new newspaper close up added) DC – Lex and Otis in prison (added “Life plus 25? LC audio) LC – Moon sequence (trimmed Mission Control humour, Zod vs cosmonaut as in DC) DC – Lex escapes from prison (added LC wave to Otis, trimmed bickering in balloon) LC – Niagara rescue (trimmed for plot continuity, removed crowd reactions by rebuilding score and sound effects) DC – Lex approaches Fortress. DC – Lex enters Fortress (climbing with Eve cut) DC/LC — Lex activates control panel (Jor-El de-coloured, Villains are displayed in education crystal viewer, crystal viewer added to wide shot for continuity, NO full body Jor-El ) LC – Lex heads South (re-worked dialogue so that the 3 sets of alpha waves are just appearing, and not like Lex has seen them before but only just connected them to the villains) LC – Lois jumps into the river (“You’re what I thought was SM” cut) LC – Villains arrive (“a very strange surface” removed) DC – Blank bullets (removed changing Reeve appearance, removed reference to DP jump) LC – Cops encounter villains (“Holy skunk sweat” removed, Zod takes the gun of the cop a super speed (new effect added), end with cops reaction as in DC) DC – Lovers fly North LC – Non stands guard (75% audio completely rebuilt to remove Non’s grunts) LC – Bar confrontation (Added Motorhead’s “Metropolis” to the jukebox, ends at “These humans are beginning to bore me”) LC – SM shows Lois the crystal (removed Lois’ “Especially around dinner time”) LC – SM gets dinner DC – Newsbeat/ Army encounter 1 LC – SM & Lois have dinner (trimmed dialogue, “He is you, it’s kinda confusing” , “…go change into something more comfortable”) DC/LC – Army encounter 2 DC/LC – De-powering scene (trimmed SM “After all I’ve done for them…” and twitchy gestures after “humanity”, Lois from LC used, DC Lois removed from wide shot, new chamber emerging shot, Clark changes to SM shot added to allow for Reeve close-ups during de-powering, ends with LC “just say you love me”) LC – Zod faces General/ Mt Rushmore LC – Whitehouse approach DC – Whitehouse attack (bullet hits added, Wilhelm scream added) LC – Zod speaks to the President LC – Dons Diner (“He knew” added from DC) DC – Lex makes deal with the villains (Thorne cue restored) LC/DC – Re-powing scene (Removed CGI Jor-El crystal face, trimmed goofy Reeve & Jor-El dialogue, Jor-El fades away without side step, new shirt rip, new SM flies from Fortress shot) DC/LC – Daily Planet attack (Thorne cue restored, Non crushes camera cut) LC – Care to step outside (Lois reaction shot DC) DC/LC – Stand-off/ Slab throw (cut “Let him prove it”/ high pitched Reeve) DC/LC – Metropolis battle (Non’s grunts during chase cut, LC humour removed, Hackman voice double replaced, DC SM emerges from bus throw shot cut, New SM flies away shot) DC – Villains return to DP (ambient sound added from LC) DC/LC – Villains fly to the FOS (LC score, “Trust you are not wasting my time” added in) DC/LC — Lex drop off (“parachutes” cut), Villains land (Lex painted out) DC/LC – Fortress battle (Non attacked with heat vision, finger beams changed to heat vision, new Zod flies at SM shot) DC/LC – SM beaten (Lex’s finger painted out for continuity, LC SM in chamber added) DC/LC – SM triumphs (sweat patch removed) DS – Arctic Police (removed Smallville reference, dirt removed, music cue added) DC – SM/Lois Arctic talk (removed FOS destruction) DC – Balcony farewell. NEW ENDING [spoiler:2vvuaeiy]DC – Get a pizza scene (trimmed referenced to not remembering events, zoomed shot of Clark for continuity)[/spoiler:2vvuaeiy] DS – Jimmy/Clark/Bully (dirt removed, trimmed Clark entering closet) LC – Return to the Diner LC – Return flag to the Whitehouse (working fountain added) DC – Flyby and credits Many other smaller trims and extensions, re-timed shots, audio tweaks and flipped shots too numerous to mention.

Additional Notes:

Over 50 new or digitally altered shots, A new ending, 2 restored deleted scenes, Thorne music cue’s and LC audio used where possible, Removal of modern footage/ bad effects from DC, Extensive recolouring throughout, Soundtrack rebuilt in some sections.

Special Thanks: