The Corner Penthouse

Warner Brothers recently released the Superman: 5-Film Collection 1978-1987 (Christopher Reeve) 4K UHD & Blu-ray set. Read on to find out more about it...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

Superman: The Movie (1978) - Academy Award winners Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman head an all-star cast in the fantastic, action-packed film that made Christopher Reeve an international star playing the greatest superhero of all time. From the doomed planet of Krypton, two parents launch a spaceship carrying their infant son to earth. Here he grows up to become Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. But with powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman.

Superman II (1980) (Theatrical Version) - Unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three superpowered Planet Krypton 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 also returns as Lex Luthor in this sequel that features a top supporting cast, witty Richard Lester direction, and visuals that astound and delight.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980/2006) - Director Richard Donner began shooting Superman II while concurrently filming Superman: The Movie, though the theatrical version of the film was ultimately directed by Richard Lester. In 2006, Donner's original unique vision was released for the first time. Jor-El (Marlon Brando in footage cut from the theatrical version) appears in key scenes that amplify Superman lore and deepen the relationship between father and son. Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plots more schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman (Christopher Reeve). With so many changes, large and small, including a different beginning and resolution, this version is an eye-opening alternate experience.

Superman III (1983) - Meet Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a naive computer-programming natural. For him, a keyboard is a weapon – and, as a result, Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his life. Christopher Reeve reprises his signature role, deepening his character's human side as Clark Kent sees Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole) at a Smallville High class reunion. And when the Man of Steel becomes his own worst enemy after exposure to Kryptonite, Reeve pulls off both roles with dazzling skill. Relive Superman III with all its heart, heroism and high-flying humor.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (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. 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 the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

Each of the five films is on its own 4K UHD disc, as well as on the same Blu-ray disc from the 2011 The Superman Motion Picture Anthology seven-film 8-disc Blu-ray set. Each movie is presented with the original Warner Brothers opening logos on the 4K discs, and the newer Warner Brothers logo from 10 years ago on the Blu-ray discs. All four original cuts have been rated PG, while the Superman II: Richard Donner Cut has been rated PG for sequences of action violence, some language, and brief mild sensuality. Audio languages include English, Spanish, and French for all movies. Subtitle languages include English SDH, Spanish, and French for all movies.

Several of the Superman films have alternate cuts. The 2011 Anthology set includes two films not included in this 4K set: Superman The Movie: Expanded Edition and Superman Returns (2006). The Superman The Movie: Extended TV Version is not included in either set, but is available separately (see Notes section below).

• Superman: The Movie - Theatrical Cut (143 mins)
• Superman: The Movie - Expanded Edition (aka Director's Cut) (151 mins) (comparison)
• Superman: The Movie - Extended TV Version (189 mins) (comparison)
• Superman II - Theatrical Cut (127 mins)
• Superman II - Richard Donner Cut (116 mins) (comparison)
• Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Theatrical Cut (90 mins)
• Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Extended TV Cut (?? mins) (not released on disc; only on German VHS) (comparison)

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

Each of the five 4K discs only contains the movie and commentary (and the Donner Intro for his cut). All of the other content listed below can be found on each Blu-ray disc, which are five of the eight discs from the 2011 The Superman Motion Picture Anthology Blu-ray set. The other three Blu-ray discs from that set, including the Bonus Disc with lots of exclusive high-definition content, is not included in this new 4K set. Furthermore, all of the special features are presented in 720x480 standard definition, including the Fleischer cartoons.

• SUPERMAN 1: Audio Commentary - with executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, who were recorded separately.
• SUPERMAN 1: The Making of Superman: The Movie (51:50) - This 1978 TV special features candid interviews with Christopher Reeve and other cast and crew members, along with behind-the-scenes footage.
• SUPERMAN 1: Superman and the Mole-Men (58:01) - A 1951 theatrical feature film starring George Reeves as Clark Kent and Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane, which preceded the 1952 Adventures of Superman television series.
• SUPERMAN 1: Vintage Cartoons - Three vintage Warner Bros. cartoons: "Super Rabbit" (1943) starring Bugs Bunny (8:12), "Snafuperman" (1944) (4:34), and Stupor Duck (1956) featuring Daffy Duck (6:40).
• SUPERMAN 1: TV Spots & Trailers (4:25) - Included are the Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer, and a TV Spot.
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: Audio Commentary - with executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, who were recorded separately.
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: The Making of Superman II (52:15) - A vintage special featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: Superman's Souffle Deleted Scene (0:40) - Lois teaches Superman to make a souffle in the Fortress of Solitude.
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series (12:55) - Richard Fleischer (son of Max Fleischer), cartoon historian Jerry Beck, and others discuss Max Fleischer's animated Superman series in this 2006 featurette.
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: Famous Studios' Superman Cartoons - The first nine Max Fleischer Superman cartoons in standard definition: "Superman" (10:28), "The Mechanical Monsters" (11:03), "Billion Dollar Limited" (8:36), "The Arctic Giant" (8:35), "The Bulleteers" (8:02), "The Magnetic Telescope" (7:38), "Electric Earthquake" (8:43), "Volcano" (7:58), and "Terror on the Midway" (8:21).
• SUPERMAN 2 THEATRICAL: Original Theatrical Trailer (2:22)
• SUPERMAN 2 DONNER: Audio Commentary - with director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz.
• SUPERMAN 2 DONNER: Introduction by Richard Donner (1:54) - Donner appears in an introduction to the film, touching on the work that went into restoring his cut of Superman II. Presented in 1920x1080 HD on the 4K disc, and in 720x480 SD on the Blu-ray disc.
• SUPERMAN 2 DONNER: Superman II: Restoring the Vision (13:20) - An in-depth look at the lengths to which Donner and his team went to reconstruct The Richard Donner Cut, as well as the challenges they faced along the way.
• SUPERMAN 2 DONNER: Deleted Scenes (8:44) - The six deleted scenes are "Lex and Ms. Teschmacher Head North", "Lex and Ms. Teschmacher Head South", "The Villains Enter the Fortress", "He's All Yours Boys", "Clark and Jimmy", and "Lex's Getaway".
• SUPERMAN 2 DONNER: Famous Studios' Superman Cartoons - The remaining eight Max Fleischer Superman cartoons in standard definition: "Japoteurs" (9:08), "Showdown" (8:22), "Eleventh Hour" (8:59), "Destruction Inc" (8:34), "The Mummy Strikes" (7:48), "Jungle Drums" (9:02), "The Underground World" (8:14), and "Secret Agent" (7:39).
• SUPERMAN 3: Audio Commentary - with executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, who were recorded separately.
• SUPERMAN 3: The Making of Superman III (49:08) - This 1983 television special features more footage of the cast and crew on set.
• SUPERMAN 3: Deleted Scenes (19:43) - The eleven deleted scenes are "Save My Baby", "To the Rescue", "Making Up", "Going to See the Boss", "Hatching the Plan", "The Con", "Rooftop Ski Resort", "Boss Wants This to Go", "Superman Honored", "Gus' Speech", and "Hanging Up on Brad".
• SUPERMAN 3: Theatrical Trailer (3:11)
• SUPERMAN 4: Audio Commentary - with screenwriter Mark Rosenthal.
• SUPERMAN 4: Superman 50th Anniversary Special (48:10) - Saturday Night Live's Dana Carvey hosts this 50th Anniversary television special originally broadcast in 1988.
• SUPERMAN 4: Deleted Scenes (31:02) - The fifteen deleted scenes are "Clark's Morning", "Jeremy's Letter", "Superman's Visit", "Nuclear Man's Prototype", "Metropolis After Hours", "Lex Ponders", "Extended Flying Sequence", "Battle in Smallville", "Battle in the USSR", "Nuclear Arms Race", "Superman's Sickness", "Red Alert", "By My Side", "Clark and Lacy Say Goodbye", and "No Borders".
• SUPERMAN 4: Theatrical Trailer (1:26)

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

A digital copy code voucher (that redeems for all five movies) is included. Each movie is in its own standard-size two-disc black 4K UHD case, all five of which sit inside a paperboard side-loading box.

[ NOTES ]

Like the Rocky: The Knockout Collection before it, Warner Brothers has again released a new 4K UHD film collection that leaves out films and fails to include the multitude of content from a previous Blu-ray set. The 2011 The Superman Motion Picture Anthology 8-disc Blu-ray set included seven films (counting alternate cuts as new films) on seven discs, as well as an eighth Bonus Disc with lots of HD special features. This new Superman: 5-Film Collection 1978-1987 4K UHD & Blu-ray set gives you five of the eight discs from the Anthology set (along with five new 4K UHD discs). The three Blu-ray discs that are missing from the 4K set are Superman The Movie: Expanded Edition, Superman Returns (2006), and the Bonus Disc. In addition, there is the Superman The Movie: Extended TV Version, which is not included in either set, but is available separately (in a two-disc Extended Cut/Special Edition Blu-ray set with the same "Expanded Edition" disc from the Anthology set, and the TV Cut on a new disc).

I can understand leaving out the 2006 film, since this 4K set is meant to only contain the Christopher Reeve films, but there was no reason to leave out the Bonus Disc and the two other cuts of Superman The Movie. This leaves us collectors in a rather unfortunate predicament. If you want the 4K resolution copies, and they DO look fantastic, you need to buy the new 5-Film set. If you can do without them, the 5-Film set is an EASY PASS. The 8-Disc Anthology Blu-ray set is the clear winner in terms of content, but it's not perfect. It's missing the Superman The Movie: Extended TV Version, so you'll have to buy the aforementioned two-disc "Extended Cut/Special Edition" Blu-ray set, even though the second disc is the same as in the Anthology set (thus giving you a duplicate disc). All of the Anthology's special features (except those on the Bonus Disc) are in standard-definition, so if you want all of the Fleischer cartoons in high-definition (sourced from the original negatives), you'll need to buy the new Max Fleischer's Superman: 1941-1943 / 17 Theatrical Shorts Blu-ray set that Warner Brothers just released (it includes some new featurettes).

If you do buy the new 5-Film 4K set, you'll have a hard time getting the rest of the content without also buying the Anthology Blu-ray set because the Bonus Disc and Superman Returns disc are not available separately. The Superman Returns disc from the Anthology set includes 82-minutes of "Video Journals" that are not included on the individual Superman Returns Blu-ray. So, there is no "perfect all-encompassing" set to recommend here. You'll have to buy several sets and individual releases to get everything.

This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.