Superhero Rewind: Superman 2 The Donner Cut Review

"Superman 2: The Donner Cut," (2006). Christopher Reeve, Terrance Stamp. Directed by Richard Donner.

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Entertainment

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• superman 2
• richard donner
• superhero rewind
• dc
• comics
• superheroes
• terrance stamp
• zod

[dstebbin]

6:19

I just got finished watching that scene for the first time, and I think I have an explanation for it.

Jor-El enclosed a portion of his life force in the green crystal, hence how he was able to talk sentiently with Kal-El all this time, also why he said Kal-El would never be alone, at the beginning of the first film.

In this scene, the rest of Jor-El's lifeforce was absorbed into Kal-El's body, making him Kryptonian again, hence why he said he would die afterwards.

Thoughts?

[Geekvolution]

@dstebbin I just watched that again recently myself, and I think you're right. Even so, it's not clear enough for an audience on first viewing, especially when people like us, who know something about Superman already, have to explain it to each other! Well explained, thank you.

-CL

[dstebbin]

@Geekvolution "Even so, it's not clear enough for an audience on first viewing"

Well, it was clear enough for me on MY first viewing!

[Geekvolution]

@dstebbin Oh, well cool!

-CL

[CubbieBear1980]

I'm confuuuuused as you are Capt. But for diff reasons. I"m not very familiar with these films at all minus memories from my childhood. BUt I DO remember for a FACT that Superman spun the world back around to go back in time b/c LOIS had DIED in the earth quake and was like buried in rubble or watever, so what were YOU talking about??? and why did you say you dont' know what it accomplished him turning time back?? You mentioned Lois' memory, but what about her death in the earth quake(??)

[Geekvolution]

@CubbieBear1980 Watch the Donner cut. I wasn't referring to time being turned back in the first film. It happens again in Donner's cut, as I explained in the review.

-CL

[qwuezalothus]

@Geekvolution

At least there's one big difference between the two movieendings: Kal-El didn't know, that his abilitys were on THAT high level, that he can actually reach and surpass the speed of light. He did it by blind anger the 1. time.

Einstein thought time slowes down, when an object movies with lightspeed in a certain direction. Donner must've thought: if a big object such as Earth has a certain direction, making it move in opposite direction would turn time back. Interesting idea.

[SkulloMac]

Thats hilarious that the people in the diner were in their own bubble cocoon unphased by the world spinning, SNAFU to say the least. Clark going back there afterward proves his desire for human flaw as whats more american than true badass arrogance? Kicking the shit outta a hillybilly redneck trucker was just as good as the ending with the american flag on the white house being reset anyhow, he might as well had a cheerleading squad behind chant "Thats right! Superman, BITCH!!"

[1517CalvinMartin]

@astrostar49 As originally intended, Lois doesn't die in I. Superman gets to her in time and saves her, hence Superman doesn't spin the earth back. The time travel bit was always originally intended for the end of II. I wonder how Donner and Mankiewicz would've ended II had they come back to finish II. Would they have still used the amnesia kiss or something else.

[MasterEliteSamChief]

This is how I set up the Superman movies; I, II RD, II RL, than on one side of the split it's R, on the other part of the split it's III, & than IV. 1, both 2s, and Returns are masterpieces!

[qwuezalothus]

Only Superman 1. and this are worthy cinemas for the name Superman. Everything else is trash.

Hopefully this will change in 2013.

[waffles497]

I would have ended this film by having the daily planet scene at the end transition immediately into superman bringing the flag to the white house. That would have made much much more since and have no plot holes.

[dmenace4life]

Donner got screwed! 

[MrSharon783]

i think that lester's version is better .

[astrostar49]

In any case I always found the time traveling thing very lame. Any time something very bad happens he could just go back and time and fix it.

[astrostar49]

Wait, how would Lois have survived the first movie if Superman didn't turn back time? I know that Donner would have had that scene in the second movie alone, but if that is the case then how would Superman have saved Lois the first time had he not done some kind of time traveling?

[EricBTXC]

@LinkinTrapt1 Should it be The Salkinds or Richard Lester fault?

[Smee319]

I don't believe that Lester was brought on in order to make the film more lighthearted and jokey. The early drafts did have a campier tone, but the real reason the Salkinds fired Donner was because they didn't get along. Lester, as a director, is someone who had a strong reputation for being a talented filmmaker, but he had a cynical edge to him that Donner lacked. To his credit, he directed some very touching scenes between Kidder and Reeve.