Countdown to Superman: Superman II The Richard Donner Cut (1978, 1980, 2006)

 I mentioned this one last night when I discussed Superman II and its credited director, Richard Lester. This movie is the original vision of the original director, Richard Donner. Watching this along with the Richard Lester cut is a great experience.  

I will not recount the entire movie here, but I would like to focus on some of the key differences. There are still scenes directed by Lester here, Donner did not complete the entire movie, so this is still not 100% Donner's film, but it is close.

 - Maybe one of the big ones is the fact that Brando is back as Jor-El. It seems that some of the "lost" footage for this cut had been part of his estate and was returned to Warner Bros. after his death in 2004. He appears in the Fortress of Solitude to tell us about Zod, Ursa, and Non.

 - The movie doesn't recap the entire first Superman movie, but it does replay some key scenes. 

 - This cut makes it more explicit that the Phantom Zone prison was pulled along with Kal-El's pod. Also it is not some random French H-Bomb that frees Zod, Ursa, and Non, but the missile from the first movie that Superman sends into space. The whole French terrorism scene is gone. 

- Side note. The special effects of the "new" scenes seemed improved. Another side note, there are subtle dialog changes. Generally, I think they are better here. The changes in the "Lester Cut" seem like they were designed to be "funnier," but often without any point. 

- Lois seems smarter here, and the movie is a little less campy. The big reveal of Clark as Superman plays out differently here. Lois is smarter, but the scene is somehow less satisfying. 

 - The first attack of the Kryptonians is cut a bit, almost to the point where it doesn't make as much sense. Or rather, it is not as clear as the Lester cut. They are deadlier here, too, with a higher body count.  

 - The "depowering" scene plays out differently as well. Brando is back for this scene, which makes more sense as well, but a key scene is missing: the one where Lois misplaced the Master Crystal. Turns out it is not needed, since the Master Crystal survived. It also sets up the Brandon Routh "Superman Returns" (also 2006) a lot better. (Except as noted below.)

The battle in Metropolis is the same, mostly. The fight in the Fortress of Solitude is different, briefer, and it makes a lot more sense. All the issues I had with it in the Lester cut are gone. Well, almost, they all still just disappear into Superman's basement.  Ok, in this one, Superman blows up the Fortress. That likely kills them all. 

No "Super kiss" but Superman "rewinds" time again. I guess I shouldn't be irritated by this, I mean this is something the Flash does all the time.  Though I do like Lois and Clark together. It doesn't explain why the guy in the diner ("Rocky") remembered who he was.

Watching this, twice now, I do wish we had had more of Zod and Ursa. They are great villains, really. Non is not that interesting. 

When that European couple starts buying you drinks.

I can't say that the Lester cut is worse; there are places where Lester had the benefit of the Donner scenes to make improvements. Superman "calling out" Zod when he is at the Daily Planet, for example, is better in the Lester cut.  I did miss Lara, Superman's Mom, getting some spotlight. 

Cameos

Again, nothing different here than the Lester cut, at least nothing jumped out at me. Donner is plainly visible smoking a pipe outside the diner again.