This could potentially be a long review simply because there are 14 freekin disks in this collection! Of all the Superman DVD sets in the world, I think this one would be the quintessential collection. If you are any kind of Superman Fan, you must have this set. It is the most complete with only a couple of criticisms that I will explain later.
Might as well start from the beginning. In order to own this Fantastic DVD tin, you must shell out a few Flintstones clams to get it. It runs anywhere from $69.99 to $89.99 at most retailers. I beat a local retailer down and got a smoking deal…some places you can do that. If you are buying a TV have them throw it in. With the added extra feature disks in here, the price is not bad. If you bought all the DVDs individually you wouldn’t get the bonus disks, the tin, or the other collectible items.
It is only too appropriate that the Superman collection is encased in a Metal Tin. After all, he is the Man of Steel! Esthetically it is a very clean looking and simple box with the Shield from the Original Movie embossed on the front and the Superman Returns Shield on the Back. The front and the back of the Tin are hinged and open from either side. Collectors out there will like this box because the Tin is streaked in such a way that fingerprints are unnoticeable. When you open the Tin from the Front, you see the Christopher Reeve Superman Flying up and Crashing through the Superman Shield in a cool Lenticular picture. When you open the other side of the tin, you see the Brandon Routh Superman in one of the commonly seen posters.
As there are 14 disks in this thing, the DVD Case/Book is pretty big. It is a bit of a pain to get it out of the tin, but oh well. Next, the images I mentioned above are on the front and the back of the “sleeve” that holds the DVD book with all the disks. Slide this thing off and there you have your nicely designed DVD set.
The Documentation is in the inside cover of the book. You get a nicely designed “Daily Planet” style description of the DVDs. It is concise and really well put together. Not cheesy at all. You also get a reproduction of a 1986 Superman comic book. There really isn’t any significant story in the comic, but again, a nice addition to the tin.
The Best part of the Documentation is the Rebate form…thats right, I said it…The Rebate! For $5.80 you mail this thing off and you will get reproductions of the Full Size Original Movie Posters for All Five Movies! This is a very cool addition, but send it off quickly the supply is limited!
On to the Disks! First, I will say along with the great presentation of the packaging, the Disks are done very nicely as well. Each one having an appropriate picture of elements of each film.
Since Superman The Motion Picture and Superman II are the two movies that
really make this package, they really took the time and put an awesome set of DVDs together. The Original Movie is a 4 Disk Special Edition with Featurettes and Documentaries, Deleted Scenes, Screen Tests, and 2 versions of the Film. The two versions are the Original Theatrical and then the 2000 DVD re-release. Now, since I am the type of jerk that will buy every release of every DVD, I have the re-release from 2000 as well. This version is the most complete I have seen.
The same will be said for Superman II. They included the Original Theatrical Cut that we all came to know and love, plus they also included the New version put together by the Original Director, Richard “Dick” Donner! This new cut makes the theatrical look like crap! It makes the Original Motion Picture flow seamlessly into the second film! I liked the Donner Cut so much better than the theatrical that I probably won’t watch the latter again!
Now, as far as the Third Superman Film, I won’t say much. We all know this movie kinda Bit! I will say about Part III that Richard Pryor was Great, and the scene with Dark Superman vs. Clark Kent was cool too. Otherwise….no…robot ugly chicks and computer missile targeting video games were not good ideas. Superman at a Bar is a joke tellers Dream come true however!
To make sure, my crediblility as a Superman Fan stays true, I will only make two comments on Superman IV – The Quest For Peace. First, is that Shadow Stevens? And, Second, Lex Luthor had a nephew named Lenny…Wow…This movie really tied it all together!
Undoubtedly, there are little to no extras on the third and fourth movies…wonder why….
I recently wrote a review on the latest Superman Installment…Superman Returns. I liked it. I won’t be redundant, so please go back and read my earlier review.
There are extra disks with additional Bonus
features on Superman Returns and the Richard Donner films…Very cool stuff in both of these disks. Lots of behind the scenes and how they did it kind of featurettes. Also, they included all the Fleischer Cartoons from the Fifties, and they included the Classic George Reeves Superman Movie, Superman and the Mole Men…Very Cheesy, but great fun to watch again!
The only thing that would have made this set more complete would to have included the George Reeves Television Series as well. I grew up watching those shows and they really did a great job portraying the humanity of the character, plus his springboard out the window was the best!
This DVD Set is truly incredible. I would have liked to see some more special features on the 2 films that sucked, but thats me. I like the extra features a lot! I am happier knowing I own this set. On a scale of 1 – 10 for a DVD collection it is a High 9. Great set. You will not be disappointed owning it!
Chris Stecher – OPrimal
One Response
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
I cant wait to get this set. I wish they would have done more for the 3rd and 4th movie though. Seems like they just took care of the first two really well, and then threw in the last two as “whatever”.