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Technical Information
Studio: Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment
Year of Theatrical Release: 1978
Disc Format: 1
double-sided, Dual Layer
Image Format: Anamorphic
(16x9 enhanced)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Region Encoding: 1
Sound Format: Dolby
Digital 5.1
Running Time: 151
minutes
Director: Richard
Donner
Stars: Christopher
Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder
MPAA Rating: PG
Disc Supplements:
- Commentary by Richard Donner and creative consultant
Tom Mankiewics.
- Isolated music score in 5.1 Dolby Digital.
- "The Magic Behind the Cape" special
effects documentary.
- "Making Superman: Filming the Legend"
making-of documentary.
- "Screen Tests" casting documentary.
- "Taking Flight: The Development of Superman"
pre-production documentary.
- Superman and Lois Lane screen tests.
- Audio Outtakes: Alternate scoring for 8 scenes.
- 2 deleted scenes
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In 1978, when Superman came out, the ad campaign
claimed, "You will believe a man can fly." I was 7
years old and I wanted to see this movie more than anything
in the world. I was still in the thrall of the Star Wars craze,
mind you, but Star Wars hit the world unexpectedly. For Superman,
there was anticipation.
When the movie was released, I almost wasn't
allowed to see it. It was all over the news that several kids
had come home from the movie and tried to fly by jumping out
of windows. Parents across the country were having second thoughts
about letting their children see Superman.
Even back then, movies were being blamed for
stupidity.
Nevertheless, I did manage to see it. From
that moment on, the familiar trumpeting fanfare of John Williams'
score has been firmly imprinted on my mind - as has the film
itself.
Superman: The movie is a monumental achievement
in filmmaking in the sense that it perfectly captures the feel
and spirit of a comic book. It creates its own world with its
own rules and with the help of a little imagination, it all
works wonderfully.
The story of Superman, by now, should be well
known to everyone. The planet Krypton is destroyed with the
only survivor being a small infant sent to Earth, who eventually
grows up to become Superman, the champion of truth and justice.
The film stays true to story, making only the changes necessary
for a live-action depiction of a comic book.
Superman: The Movie plays out in three "episodes,"
if you will, each with its own tone. It begins on the planet
Krypton, which is portrayed as formal and cold. As Superman
grows up on the farm in Smallville, the tone shifts to the sweeping
grandeur of open fields and big skies. Finally, as an adult,
Superman moves to Metropolis, where the hectic pace of the big
city is captured.
It's true that the overall look of the film
is dated, but that's part of its charm. It's also true that
the special effects work isn't nearly as seamless as what today's
audiences are used to. Again, that's part of the movie's charm.
This film was a labor of love and the entire production has
a hand-crafted look and feel to it -- not unlike the hand-crafted,
occassionally flawed art in a comic book.
To dislike this film on the merits of the
special effects work is to be someone in absence of a sense
of wonder. A fable shouldn't be perfect.
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top |
When I first heard of an impending DVD release
of Superman, the news that made me the most excited was that Warner
planned on doing a full restoration of the print. There were many
flaws with the actual film that were due to limitations of the available
technology (for instance, the method used to composite the special
effects created a horrible amount of dust permanently imprinted
on the film). The final film, even when brand new, was dirty, hazy
and suffered severe color problems.
This was all fixed.
In fact, I will go so far as to say that the picture
on the DVD is better than you've ever seen the film before. Color
correction has been done to make all of the flesh tones more lifelike
and even Superman's costume has been returned to bright blue during
the composited effects shots. Nearly all of the dust and grain has
been removed, as has some of the blurriness (a soft focus was used
intentionally for much of the film and that remains, but due to
the clean up it now looks planned instead of like an accident).
Keep in mind that this is a 1978 film and it wasn't in great shape
to begin with. It's not a perfect picture, but it's easily a huge
improvement over what it ever was before.
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The sound has also been redone and this is perhaps
the most controversial aspect of the disc. Superman was originally
released in six-channel surround sound (the first such release,
if I'm not mistaken) and many question why that original mix wasn't
used. The answer is that the original mix was used, but has been
tweaked heavily for greater dynamic range. The only sound effects
that are new are stock effects (gun shots, car engines, etc.) -
these were re-recorded, again for improved dynamic range. The reasons
some sounds seem different now is because they have added levels
of bass and treble - this is how the movie would have sounded in
1978 had today's sound technology been available.
I think the new mix is terrific and sounds better
than ever, but purists complain about not having the original mix
also included on the disc. They do have a point, but if disc space
created a choice between one or the other, then I'm glad the new
mix was chosen.
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Another point of controversy with the disc is
director Richard Donner's decision to include extra footage in the
film. No one is complaining about the extra scenes being added -
they only wish there was also an option to view the film without
the footage. I can understand the point of view of this and the
sound argument, but I also have to respect Donner's opinion that
this is the version he wants us to own on DVD. Personally, I have
no complaints.
This disc takes up two sides and it's loaded with
extras. Side one features a commentary track by Donner and "creative
consultant" Tom Mankiewicz. I put Mankiewicz's title in quotes
because that was his official title on the film. In reality, he
did much more than that - he practically re-wrote the entire script.
These two guys are good friends and their commentary is light and
entertaining.
Also included is an isolated track of John Williams'
amazing score, the theatrical trailer and a text essay about Superman.
Side two features three really great documentaries
that detail the making of the film. Together, they run about an
hour and a half and cover conception through to the release date.
They even go into some detail about the filming of the second film
and the problems it had. There are two more deleted scenes, about
20 minutes worth of original screen tests (featuring Christopher
Reeve and several variations of Lois Lane, including Margot Kidder),
unused musical selections, the teaser trailer and TV spots.
The PC content includes storyboards and web links.
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To this day, whenever I hear that trumpeting
John Williams fanfare, I get goosebumps. In my mind, there is no
piece of music more heroic than the Superman soundtrack and no film
more fitting to be set to it. This film may be 25 years old, the
special effects may be dated, but I'll be damned if Superman doesn't
still do it for me.
I can't remember being this excited over any other DVD release
and I'm happy to report that the disc did not disappoint me. Superman
never fails to give me an adrenaline rush and this DVD makes the
experience better than ever. Buy it and celebrate Truth, Justice
and the American Way..
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| Yes,
there is some violence in this film, but it's Superman -- you know
it will end with a positive message |
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| -- By Robert Wurth. Copyright
© 2003. |
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