Plot
Clark Kent finally reveals his secret to Lois Lane, he is Superman. Meanwhile after an explosion in space, three villains from Krypton are released from a magic prison, and head to Earth and wreak havoc – right as Superman decides to give up his powers for love.
Direction
Here is the interesting point to this review. There were two directors, with two very different movies. Richard Lester and Richard Donner both directed – with Donner first having his movie (which was cancelled mid shot) and replaced with Lester.
Lester’s got to post production so it was a little more polished, but Donner had some better camera techniques.
Cast/Characters
Reeve was ‘The Superman’ of my generation, and still stands the test of time – his performance once again is flawless. Kidder as Lois Lane – is a little aged ‘character’ wise for 2024 audiences.
In Donner’s version, Marlon Brando returns as Jor-El – but is absent in Lester’s version (a studio decision so they did not have to pay him back end profit). In Lester’s Susannah York is the primary role.
Gene Hackman has a very noticeable stand in for several scenes in Lester’s version too (as he refused to return for re-shots out of loyalty for Donner).
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
There were many differences here between the two films. From how the villains are released from the ‘Phantom Zone’ – in Lester’s version we had the Paris sequence where the elevator bomb releases them, in Donner’s it is Lex Luthor’s from the first movie.
Both movies touch on character traits like Lois’ love of OJ (which Lester’s version extends) and there is more time spent on the attack on the small Texas town in Lester’s too.
I preferred Lester’s way of releasing the trio, as well as the Niagara Falls jump by Lois – and the preceding way ‘Clark’ reveals himself. Donners version had a silly building jump by Lois and where she ‘shoots’ Clark too.
Donner’s version however had significantly better dialogue, especially between Brando and Reeve. – and showed just how he gets his powers back. There was also Brando’s dialogue of who the three villains are.
Donner’s version felt like the narrative arcs were a little off, and Lester polished this off a little bit better. The villains arrived on Earth before Lois and Superman head to the FoS, and they have ‘moments’ before he gives up their powers.
The fight scenes at FoS is better in Donner’s version, as it omits some silly powers of Superman (just what the hell was the wrap thrown at Non?) – but Lester’s way that Superman wipes Lois’ memory is better (the time reversal was a bit redundant, and didn’t really make any sense in Donner’s version).
Overall
Both films are very different in tone, and have their ups and downs. While still nowhere near the brilliance of the first film, they both quite good films. They could have taken moments from both to make an Epic second film, that would have easily been another 5/5 – but as both films have faults – here is my scores.
Lester’s version – 4/5
Donner’s version 3.5/5
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