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DVD REVIEW
Oliver Harper's Review.

I was aware that the film didn't have a decent DVD transfere, not matching Superman the movie but being a fan I had to get the Superman box set. The film still holds up well compared to other films from that period like Outland and Flash Gordon. Superman II enjoyed a huge amount of success upon release and still is considered the best Superman film by critics but I think they may change all there minds when they find out about Donners work is in the sequel.

Picture:
The DVD transfere is good but not amazing compared others the Outland DVD but it stills holds up well and there is no pixellation or colour bleeding. The original 70 mm print is begining to look very washed out and faded thanks to good old Warner Bros. They have seemed to have left this one by the wayside and decided not to remaster the film like Superman. Its a shame because is very good and it did get the same amount of success as the first film, it seems that Warner have wasted a good opptunity to make a shit load of cash. Comparing to the widescreen Laserdisc it does look abit more sharper obviously because its DVD you get more lines of resolution but the LaserDisc does seem to look abit more colourful. The same print was used for the DVD from the LaserDisc so you see that the film is degrading abit.
 

As you can see above there are some nice scenes of the print still holding up well. Christopher Reeve still looks good as Superman and the excellent photography by Paynter still looks great on the DVD. Alot of the opticals look very faded and washed out too. The film was rushed in post production, they had to get everything finished quickly, alot of optical work had be done for Donners Superman II that all had to re-done to follow the new scripting by David and Leslie Newman. You may notice that there isn't many optical effects in this film compared to Superman. Lester didn't want to the film to have to many effects so they had to get the film completed on time. The film instead has alot more model and live action effects which may in turn look more impressive but takes away the feeling of that man can fly.

Sound:
The sound is mixed in Dolby Digital Stereo and basic matrixed Dolby Surround. The sound is very flat and compressed. The theme by Thorne still sounds good but the directional sound of the titles flying past and above seemed to been lost slighty in the transfere to DVD. I remember watching the crusty Pan and San Dolby Surround stereo VHS and that had a better matrixed sound. The sound is that bad. You really do have to crank up the volume to get anything out of it. The film in its original release was released in 6- track Dolby Stereo. Superman II was Dolby Stereo at its best on release. The Empire Strikes Back couldn't match it. What you get on the DVD is 2 channel sound that embarrases the original release. The film was recorded in 6 track then that would of been simple to encode into Dolby Digital 5.1. maybe Warner are holding for the Special edition Superman II that will incoperate more of Donner's work. Who knows?
 

Extras:
The film only includes a trailer and a few bios. The trailer is the same one you can find on the LaserDisc and as a hidden extra on DVD ROM material on Superman the movie. The trailer isn't to bad for its time. I have seen many trailer from the 80's period and they are all pretty bad put Superman II stands out well and impresses like a sequel would. There was another trailer for Superman II that was abit shorter and incoperated more quick editing and different scenes. I haven't seen this version but it supposed to better than the trailer included with the DVD. There was a making of created at the time for TV audiences to get to see the behinds scenes view to the film but Warner couldn't be bothered to even include that.

Overall

Picture *** out of 5
Sound ** out of 5
Extras * out of 5

Total ** out of 5

The DVD is very disappointing but the film is very good and enjoyable to watch that will only be its selling point. I don't think many people will be running to get a single copy of Superman II, the best thing to do is buy the box set.
 
 
 
 

Superman II DVD : Adam Berry's review

The picture quality in this DVD is pretty good although I think that the Laserdisc release might be slighly better than the DVD release.  The
sound is recorded in Dolby Digital 2.0 which is a disappointment and the film does sound a bit flat.  Having said that it is still worth buying as it is a
very good movie.
 

Extras:

A trailer which I think is a great one.  Unfortunatley no Donner extra footage.  When the DVD's were announced Warner Brothers did say that
Superman II would be a Special Edition as well as the first film but it didn't happen.