Rating: 
Summary: A Tale of Two Richards...
Review: I'm a big fan of director Richard Lester's work. There's an element of satire and black humor in the majority of his films that make them truly special (he's the only director other than Kubrick that I could have pictured working with Terry Southern on Dr. Strangelove). Nevertheless when I first heard about this being released in 1981 I was a bit surprised that Lester was the director. Despite his considerable talents the Superman films are very much beyond his talent. Original director Richard Donner recognized the most important element in making the first film work; buying the story hook, line and sinker without making fun of the comic book genre. That's not to say that Donner's film didn't have it's comic elements; it worked well on both levels which is something that can't be said for any of the films that followed. Superman 2 has its moments and the best of them are in the scenes directed by Donner and retained for the original release. Certainly Lester did a competent job of putting the final film all together but the uneven tone and the gaps in the narrative prevent Superman 2 from surpassing the first film. Certainly Superman had its flaws; the whole sequence with Lois Lane's inept poem should have been cut or at least trimmed in the original film. It goes on too long. The same can be said for some of the more comic scenes that Lester introduces to this chapter of the Superman saga. Superman 2 isn't a disappointment just an underachiever. The original script had much promise. It's a pity that Warner chose not to research the deleted sequences (many of which appeared in the television premiere)and adding them to this film. These scens brought considerable depth and improved an already shakey production. It's also a pity that Warner chose not to let Donner go back and take the sequences he completed putting them on a second disc (or layer) for comparison to the finished final version Lester put together. The footage reportedly still exists and with a bit of research Warner could easily put the material back together. My guess is that it has more to do with legal issues (something that has prevented Warner from doing the right thing before--such as releasing the final three Badfinger albums on CD in the US). A pity as this film would benefit from the TLC shown the first film. Maybe some upstart like Anchor and Bay can license it from Warner and do this fine but underperforming sequel the justice it deserves.
Rating: 
Summary: Good sequel; Has it really been 20 years?
Review: Alas, it's been 20 years since this film hit the big screen and here it is in its widescreen glory, plus a trailer, to help recapture the fun of the summer of 1981. The liberties this film takes with the Superman saga are forgivable, because as storytelling goes, this is one of the best comic adaptations ever. Zod and the Kryptonians come across as real terrors, and the humor of Lex Luthor saying "Thank God," when Superman arrives after losing his powers is priceless. Richard Donner probably would have added extra spark to this film had he been allowed to finish directing this, but there are few things you can nitpick with in terms of this film.
Rating:
Summary: Deleted scenes?
Review: The movie itself deserves 4 stars. But the DVD only 3. Its only stereo unlike the first one. Additional features are pretty much non-exsistance. In my youth I recorded this movie and watched it every week. I recall a scene when the three villians come to the small American village- the little kid cycles away to get help. The talest of the villians throws a police car's syren at the child and literally blows him up. The police man says "He was just a boy"- followed by the women vilin saying "Yes, and he will never become a man". I remember that scene so well as it rather violent for 5 year old viewing and is inprinted on my mind. But its not on this DVD- not even on a deleted scene selection. Perhaps never shown on American T.V but definitly shown on Australian T.V. Whats the point of these movies but to exprience better sound and vision + gaining bonus features. One of which this DVD seriously lacks. Unlike the first one which blowed my mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Richard Donner should have been allowed to finish this one!
Review: After buying the original(my favorite of the two)forget III or IV. I now understand why this one was somewhat inconsistent with the original, the dvd of the original digs deep into the friction between Donner & the producers Salkind in its loaded special features, i like many fans wonder what might have been, don't get me wrong i think this is a great sequel, but Marlon Brando's presence is really missing here, not to mention the score, it becomes clear that Donner directed bits and pieces of SUPERMAN II, but after delivering a great film(the original) i got to wonder if the Salkinds were somwhat jealous of Donner's creative magic, that is the impression you get when you watch the special features, they fired Donner after the first was released, with half of the second done, this is where Warner Bros. should have stepped in and told the Salkinds to allow Donner to finish no matter what after all they were backing it financially, it is still a mystery as to what really went on, but it is just a prime example of out-of-control egos in hollywood, I would bet it was a decision that Warner eventually would regret, maybe that explains why he had total creative control over his "Lethal Weapon" films.
Rating:
Summary: Oh... My... Zod...
Review: There's probably a few of you out there who went to see STAR WARS EPISODE I at the bijou a couple years back, and heard a fanboy or two call out, 'Kneel before Zod!' during the scene that introduced the Senate Chancellor. Aside from wanting 'em to shut up (not to mention telling them where they can put those lightsabers), you probably asked yourself, 'Just what does that mean, anyway?', inwardly ashamed that you didn't understand the reference. Well, thanks to the release of SUPERMAN II on DVD, your guilt trip over this little quandary has reached its final destination. Terence Stamp, who played the part of the no-confidence-voted Chancellor Valorum in SW-I, made his first mark on celluloid pop culture as General Zod, leader of a trio of Kryptonian criminals in 'Supe II'. He really chews up the scenery with his alternating moments of diabolical calm interspersed with occasional bouts of arrogant assuredness. His part was a redeeming quality in a movie that, while not quite living up to the original, held its own as a fun camp classic in the super-hero genre of cinema. Unfortunately, when it comes to adding extras, Warner Bros. decided to not look beyond the DVD release of the first 'Man of Steel' movie. While that film got the full treatment, this sequel only registered a trailer for an extra. No restored/deleted scenes (including The seen-on-TV 'Lois teaches Superman to bake a souffle' scene), documentaries, or anything else for that matter. Adding insult to injury, 'Supergirl' gets a 2-disc Special Edition treatment with nearly 15 minutes of extra footage, commentary tracks, & all the extras you can bear. Sometimes life can be so unfair... Still, there is an upside to the whole matter- I had the good fortune of receiving my copy of this DVD three days before it was supposed to hit the street! Needless to say, I rubbed this little development into the faces of all my fanboy cronies, making 'em real jealous... 'Late
Rating: 
Summary: Warner Brothers cheats us again.
Review: I can understand not giving us 5.1 Dolby Digital on III and IV, as they are a travesty, but II deserved better treatment, as it is a fine sequal, regardless of the controversy in the firing of Richard Donner. WB better wake up and smell the coffee. If you can't do it right, don't do it all.
Rating:
Summary: Richard Donner Should've Been Allowed To Direct!
Review: Ever since viewing the original Superman DVD and learning that director Richard Donner was fired while he was still working on Superman II, and then replaced by inferior director Richard Lester, who was the one who gave us all the cheesy scenes of Part II (and all the cheesy scenes of part III), I felt that the world was robbed of a truly great Superman series. Alexander & Ilya Salkind should be ashamed of themselves. They took a promising franchise and basically flushed it down the toilet just so they could have things done their own way. Typical Bad Producers as usual! The film itself is still strong, though it would've been stronger with Donner at the helm. Can't help but cringe when Sarah Douglas grabs a NASA patch off of one astronaut on the moon, destroying his space suit, watching him crash to the ground as if the gravity was the same as Earths. Pretty unrealistic. Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, & Gene Hackman are fantastic. My favorite scene by Chris is after he's lost his powers and is beaten up by a truck driver at a diner. As he watches the Television and learns that General Zod has taken over the world you can see the horror flooding through him. Even though it seems futile he persuades Lois to go back to Metropilis while he journeys on foot to the fortress of solitude to look for any way to get his powers back. Chris is just so great in the role, you can't imagine anybody else. By the way, I was disappointed that the scene of Superman destroying his fortress of solitude (since people are now aware of its location) was not included in this DVD version. People still look at the first two Superman movies as being the superiors (though the original is Gold, thanks to Richard Donner). Warner Brothers could've at least given us a Special Expanded Edition of Superman II like they gave its predecessor. I mean all you get on all the Superman sequels is the theatrical trailer and cast & crew information. Maybe one day they'll get around to including the bonus features and added scenes we Superman fans would love to have. Again, it's a shame that Richard Donner was not given the opportunity to finish directing Superman II (and perhaps even taking on Superman III & IV, which he would've made so much more enjoyable). The Salkinds didn't even give him a co-directing credit for Part II. It makes me wonder how any good films are made when somebody's always throwing a wrench into the works? Superman II is still a very good movie, but I'll always wonder how much better it could've been.
Rating:
Summary: A Super Sequel, But Not Invincible
Review: This sequel to 1978's "Superman" was planned from the beginning, tying into the fate of the three Kryptonian criminals banished by Superman's father Jor-El in the original. Most people know how "Superman II" had a troubled production, with original director Richard Donner fired by the producers, Richard Lester brought in as his replacement, John Williams bowing out as composer, and Marlon Brando's scenes cut because of a contract dispute. Mario Puzo's story, which logically continues the plot that began in the first "Superman", keeps the film together and makes it far superior to the subsequent sequels, but the viewer gets the feeling that the film could have been better. The original "Superman" was over two and a half hours long as it recounted Superman's origin and introduced all the characters. By comparison, "Superman II" runs at a lean two hours and gets straight to the action. Superman (Christopher Reeve) saves reporter Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and Paris from nuclear terrorists. He tosses a detonating H-bomb into outer space, unwittingly freeing three renegade Kryptonians, the megalomaniac General Zod (Terence Stamp), the sadistic female Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and the brutish mute Non (Jack O'Hallorhan), from their imprisonment in the Phantom Zone. The evil Kryptonians, possessing all of Superman's powers under Earth's yellow sun, set out to conquer Earth and seek revenge on the son of their jailer, Jor-El. Meanwhile, criminal genius Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) escapes from prison, determined to seek revenge against Superman. He tracks down Superman's Fortress of Solitude and learns of the Kryptonian outcasts. At the same time, Lois learns that Clark Kent is really Superman. The two profess their love for each other and Superman volunteers to give up his powers using a Kryptonian device so that he and Lois can be together. All of the various sub-plots combine in an entertaining climax that is the kind of over the top action taken straight out of a comic book. As for the denouement, it is surprisingly sad and moving. It's nice to see a comic book movie that combines special effects, action sequences, AND a story about human relationships. The actors are well cast and play their parts well. The script can be funny, touching, and thrilling. Most "Superman" stories suffer from the realization that Superman is more powerful than any of his enemies. Here, the Man of Steel is pitted against three villains with all of his powers, and so he must use his wits and courage to defeat them. However "Superman II" has many weaknesses that keep it from reaching its full potential. There are some moments of corny slapstick injected into the film that just don't work. Some scenes seem to have been cut out, leaving many plot holes. It is never fully explained how Superman gets his powers back. Valerie Perrine's Eve Tessmaucher and Ned Beatty's Otis are brought back only to disappear again. Superman and the evil Kryptonians display powers never shown in the comic book or previous film. And how did the Kryptonian villains learn to speak English? The jumpy plot raises several questions, which are never answered. Little problems abound. John Williams's soaring music is muted by Ken Thorne's lacklustre work, the title sequence is simply a rehashing of clips from the first film, and Marlon Brando's Jor-El is absent, unfortunate considering the Kryptonian criminals are motivated by revenge against him. All in all, "Superman II" is a fun film and better than most sequels (certainly better than "Superman III" and "IV"), but it could have, and should have, been better. The epic grandeur and awe from the first "Superman" is missing. Unfortunately, the ultimate legacy of the "Superman" series is the law of diminishing returns.
Rating:
Summary: Donner's Superman II would've been much better......
Review: When I first saw Superman II as a kid back in the summer of '81, I thought it was great. Superman vs the three villains from Krypton. But as a young 10 year old, I was too young to understand what made a great movie so great or what was 'good acting'. I thought this sequel was better than the original. Fast forward to 2001 and I'm all grown up now and how I realize I was so wrong. I still get a kick out of the comic book style fighting scenes and story, but compared to the original Superman II is not as good. Now that I found out about the whole Richard Donner/Salkinds controversey, I'm even more incensed over this film. Having said that, I know that Donner's II would have been a much better movie since it would be without director Richard Lester's emphasis on campy and cheesey stuff. (By Superman III, COMPLETELY directed by Lester, we can see that the bad scenes in 'II' were all Lesters and the good stuff was Donners). Even after all that, the DVD version just lacks in comparsion to the SE of Superman the Movie. Maybe Warners never cared for the sequels or maybe because they just didn't want to re-open a can of worms.
Rating:
Summary: Rooting for the villains...
Review: This is one of those movies where the villains are so much fun, when the hero is on the screen the film drags. The romance between Clark and Lois is begun simply enough, and they are off in their interlude in the North while three villains from Krypton arrive on Earth and join forces with Lex Luthor. So this film is an easy continuation of events begun in Superman, the first installment. The problem with the romance of Clark and Lois is she really is in love with the fantasy of Superman, not with Clark Kent, and their relationship is on shaky ground from the moment his powers are made to evaporate upon the consumation of a relationship with a human. That doesn't make any sense, of course, and neither do other *magical* elements which occur in the film: the kiss of forgetting, or the S on the Superman costume which can be flown off and used as a weapon. This film is merely more fanciful, yet down and dirty when the Kryptons are investigating their new home (and demolishing the White House as well). This is one to watch for the villains.
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