Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

There are some things in life that defy explanation:

• The continued popularity of celebrity reality TV shows.
• George W. Bush being elected to office twice.
• George W. Bush being elected to office the first time.
• A unified theory of gravity and quantum mechanics.
• Jade Goody.

Another is how a film can be edited, have some scenes added from newly discovered footage and become a wholly different film, while still retaining the same basic story. How different is it? Well, let's put it this way. The cinematic version (or original version, or the Lester cut, if you prefer) of Superman II is definitely a sequel to the first Superman movie. This version is simply "part two" of Superman: The Movie. It's much more seamless.

It's probably only one for the fans of the Superman movies, this. It fills in a lot of the gaps, expands the relationship between Clark and Lois and the Fortress of Solitude parts just feel 'better' for having Marlon Brando in them. And new meaning will be brought to the Marlon Brando line; "The son becomes the father, and the father....the son."

I honestly couldn't tell you which version I prefer more. Two of my favourite parts; the Eiffel Tower terrorist segment and Lois jumping into the river at Niagara Falls are both missing from this version, but it still works.

Let's put it this way: If you saw the original cut, at the part where a de-powered Clark returns to the Fortress of Solitude and finds the green crystal glowing, then the next time you see him, he's Superman again, and if you felt cheated by that lack of explanation, then watch this version. The missing sequence is fabulous.

There are only two places that this movie let me down:

• The opening credits. They're very "inspired" by the Superman Returns credits. Also, unlike all the other special effects which tried to look like effects of their time and not a modern addition to an old film, the opening credits are clearly CGI and very much of a modern feel.
  
  
• One scene inserted which was actual test footage shot of Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. It would have worked beautifully, if not for Clark's glasses continually changing. However, the scene is both brilliant and essential, so it's forgivable.

Also, a lot of the incidental music had to be dropped for the film, due to copyright issues. This omission is most obvious when the re-powered Superman returns to Metropolis, and the newspapers are blown away.

As usual, New York is playing the part of Metropolis. I was quite startled to see the twin towers of the World Trade Center displayed so prominently in the film. Most modern film makers have shied away from showing either the towers in historic footage, or the memorial site in modern ones. In fact, this shot mirrors a segment constructed only on a scene card for Superman Returns, where Superman is standing at the memorial site.

And I'll leave you with this parting thought: The fact that both Superman and Superman II were both constructed from a mis-mash of footage shot for both films, and that both of them are very different from their intended visions, and that both films were such great hits when originally released, is nothing short of a tribute to the hard work of all people who made them possible.

Score: A

OQ: I've chosen two.

"FREEEEEE!!!!"

"Clark, have you seen Lois?"
"She uh...just stepped out for a minute."