Superman - The Movie (Four-Disc Special Edition)

The movie: "You'll believe a man can fly." That was the advertising tagline. Well, I can't think of many instances of it, but this was one time when a movie delivered on its hype. "Superman" fires on many cylinders, but the main one, the integral one, was believability. This film is an absolute achievement in terms of tone, style, and effects. For 1978, the effects are terrific, but also the performances and the writing really gel and sell the concept to the audience. We haven't seen yet the actor who can top Christopher Reeve's Superman. The solidness, the goodness radiating from his presence in costume, combined with the vulnerability and sheer hilarity of his Clark Kent are (perhaps) impossible to top. Margot Kidder turns in a feisty Lois Lane, and their chemistry is great. Gene Hackman is a credible Lex Luthor, both funny and menacing at the same time. Supporting players fill out a cast that just really inhabits the world and never feels less than real. The run time of the movie is perhaps a bit flabby, and this edition adds about 3 minute of new material. But I for one am quick to forgive it - it just so captures a feeling of innocence, wonder, Americana, that I'm willing to just bask in it, even when the action slows down. The Blu-Ray: Well, this is not one of the discs you'll pop in to show off "how great HD looks." The film was shot almost throughout with soft focus filters which bump up the haze of lighting and obscure detail. BUT: It looks as good as it probably ever can and ever will. In A-B comparisons with the previous DVD (which was great for its day) the upgrade is subtle but evident. Some shots show very strong detail, when it's in focus. Check out the foliage in Lois' rooftop apartment. Some facial shots show exceptional detail in fine lines. Whenever the soft filter is absent, you can really tell you're watching an HD presentation. The colors are the main upgrade in the Blu-Ray - reds and blues really pop, and black levels are rock solid in most shots not involving visual effects. Film grain is present and generally not too obtrusive, except during some effects shots. But I prefer its presence to excessive digital noise reduction. In the end, how you feel about this Blu-Ray will depend on your emotions for the film itself (mine are very strongly positive), and how you feel about a home video accurately replicating the look and feel of the original presentation's film stock (something I'm also strongly in favor of). Audio is presented in a strong Dolby Digital 5.1 channel mix. There isn't much of a workout for the surrounds, but John Williams' iconic score really sings, nonetheless. Extras include an hour's worth of documentaries, reprises from the DVD edition. Casting tests, trailers, a commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz, and a wonderful score only track highlighting the music, round out the disc. Overall, at least average and probably slightly above average. ********** I grew up with this film. I'm predisposed to enjoying it. As a Blu-Ray, it is hampered by the stylistic choices of the filmmakers, but still gives us a very good presentation of the film. It's a five star film in my book. It's certainly in the top 5 comic book movies ever made (and was the true pioneer in terms of big budget successes from comic book material.) I considered downgrading this disc by one star simply because it can't overcome the flaws inherent to the source material. For the paltry sum Amazon is asking for it, you really can't go wrong, though. Kids of all ages (ages 3 to 83?) who just want to feel good about the world will be transported to a better, simpler, more beautiful place. Fans of 1970's cinema will find a lot to love, as well. There are many shots which really shine in detail, and almost all of the shots benefit from zippier colors. If you don't own this film otherwise, or are just a fan of the action/comic book genre, this is a must-buy. It's a classic.

Now, before I get to assessing the Blu ray version of "Superman - The Movie, I want to give my overall critique of the film itself. Pardon me, it may take a while, lol: I LOVE THIS MOVIE----With A Passion. Ive loved it every since I was that 6 yr old kid sitting in that dark movie theatre in late 1978 with my older brother, oohing and aweing at the images, amazed that I was seeing actors and filmmakers bringing one of my all-time favorite comic book superheroes to VIVID LIFE. I seen it perhaps more times than the Earth has revolved around the sun or Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson have won Grammys, lol. It's magnificent entertainment. Pure and simple. From a time when film craftsmen actually cared about their film subject and gave their audience something to be proud to spend their money on. Director Richard Donner and producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind took a great American character and built a full scale old style Hollywood epic around him. Donner has stated over the yrs he wanted realism...nothing more, nothing less. If the filmmakers couldnt believe wholeheartedly in Superman and his world, why would we? Makes sense. It has heart, humor, a few strong dramatic moments, a few sad moments....a lot like the real world. First, we see the planet Krypton in all its majesty....cold, sterile, highly advanced. Then, we go to Earth as baby Kal-El is sent by rocketship there after Krypton's destruction. We watch him grow up under the watchful eyes of his adoptive parents, the Kents. Then, after he learns his true heritage and his destiny, we follow him to Metropolis, where hes now Clark Kent, news reporter, and our world's all mighty protector, Superman. Simple storytelling yet so powerfully told on screen. This is one adventure film thats so well cast its scary; the actors are so committed to their characters, theres not ONE FALSE MOVE, from anyone: Marlon Brando, dignified as Superman's Kryptonian father, Jor-El; Gene Hackman brings excellent comic relief as the villianous Lex Luthor; Margot Kidder is a sexy yet strong and intelligent Lois Lane (is there any other kind?); Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter are the definitive Jonathan and Martha Kent; Ned Beatty is a funny Otis the hapless henchmen; Valerie Perrine is sex and playfulness as Luthors femme fatale, Miss Teschmacher. However, you cant have a Superman film with the title character himself, and the late Christopher Reeve IS and ALWAYS will be the ULTIMATE Man of Steel. Reeves interpretation of the hero is so definitive, so realistic, so intelligent, that in the hands of any other actor, it mightve come off as phony and a caricature. It wouldve been a tragic mistake. Reeve deftly handles the duality of Superman/Kent. His Kent, supposedly modeled after Cary Grant, is a sweet yet fumbling everyman....his Superman, on the other hand, is majestic, bold, with a bit of a swagger that doesnt make him look too arrogant and a dash of upright DO-GOODER AT YOUR SERVICE....Perfection. He inhabits these two individual personalities so completely that although we all know its the same man, he makes them look like two separate entities. Why Reeve wasnt considered for Oscar consideration has always baffled me over the years. Everything, from the script to the set designs; from the cinematography to the Academy Award winning visual effects to the grand, inspiring score (one of my truly favorite pieces of music, ever) by the great John Williams, is flawless. Attention to detail is part of what makes or breaks any film and "Superman" has it in spades. Nothing seems out of sync and the affection for the material is infectious. Even those who either never read a comic book or hadnt read Superman in yrs loved this movie. Watching it is fun and it sweeps you in, like the best adventure stories are supposed to. Now.....the presentation on Blu ray. I own this classic on VHS, the 2000 special Edition DVD and the four disc 2006 Special Edition DVD, and ive never had a problem in my viewing of it, especially in the digital format, where "Superman" shines. Having just seen it on Blu ray for the first time in that format the other night i can say the picture and audio quality are very well rendered; the colors and details are very vivid and the audio, while no different from in other digital presentations, is clear in the 5.1 Dolby capacity.

There were super-hero movies before 1978's Superman, and some of them were pretty ok. Heck, there were even a couple Superman films. None were great. There's been many others since, some of which were pretty ok, some were great, and at least one (The Dark Knight), has completely changed the genre. But the first real genre changer was Superman. The plot for the film is somewhat minimalistic, centering around a first act introducing our character, a second act showing him in Metropolis and a third act thwarting Lex Luthor's evil scheme to... er... get real estate. Ahem. Apparently taking Ted Turner's methods and simply buying most of Wyoming didn't appeal. Needless to say in the real world his plan to drop California into the ocean and create water front property from desert would not work (dropping a nuke on the San Andreas fault would inconvenience anyone nearby for a nanosecond, but it wouldn't start an earthquake. Continental plates are huge). But really, the plot is secondary to the characters, and as embodied by actors such as Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, the characters really come alive, especially Superman/Clark Kent, played by then-unknown actor Christopher Reeve. What can be said about Reeve's performance? In many ways it makes the film. He's entirely convincing as both Superman and Clark Kent. It's hard to be convincing as the hero and the secret identity, as learned by, for example, Brandon Routh in the disastrous Superman Returns, and along with Christian Bale and Toby McGuire, Reeve is one of the few to find the balance needed to play both. Reeve's performance in the film was in fact so iconic that DC Comics began to draw Superman to look more like Christopher Reeve and even now, over a generation since the film came out, Reeve is, and will always be, Superman to many people. The performance is far from the only iconic thing about the film. Remember John Williams' score for the movie? I bet you do. I bet right now the theme is playing through your head. So popular was that music that it was reused for Superman Returns, giving the film at least a few good points amongst the dross. Heck, much as I'm not big on the "can you read my mind?" song, I gotta admit, it sticks with you. The screenplay is also quite sharp and entertaining. To this day if you're around a certain sort of person and say, "Don't worry; I've got you," they'll say back, "You've got me? Who's got you?!" It's also fun to see the level of cynicism displayed by the various people at the Daily Planet over this big, flying Boy Scout. The movie was made in the late 1970's, after all, and the attitudes reflect that. The tagline for the movie was "You'll Believe a Man Can Fly", and you know what? That's pretty damn accurate. The flying effects hold up well even though, though some of the other effects suffer. Now it's quite common to see people on screen flying all over the place, but this was the first movie to really do justice to human flight. The film is not without flaws. As I mentioned, the plot is paper thin, but it gets the job done, and Ned Beatty's character is a needless distraction. Despite that, it's a movie I still watch and enjoy from time-to-time, remembering when I was a little boy, amazed at seeing that a man could fly.

Richard Donner’s 1978 film, “Superman,” adapted the iconic character by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster for the big screen. The film begins on Krypton, offering a glimpse of Kryptonian society as Jor-El (Marlon Brando) serves on the jury for war criminals General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and Non (Jack O’Halloran), convicting and sentencing them to eternity in the Phantom Zone. The science counsel warns him not to spread panic based on his findings that the planet is doomed, so he and his wife Lara (Susannah York) instead send their son, Kal-El, to Earth just as the planet explodes. On Earth, Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter) raise Kal-El as their son, naming him Clark (Jeff East). Shortly after his father’s death, Clark treks north where a Kryptonian crystal builds his Fortress of Solitude. A holographic recording of Jor-El instructs him for the next few years. Later, Clark (Christopher Reeve) moves to Metropolis and becomes a reporter for the Daily Planet, meeting Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure), and Perry White (Jackie Cooper). As Superman, he begins helping people and working as an example of the good they can do in the world. Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), a self-described criminal mastermind, works with Otis (Ned Beatty) and Miss Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) to plan a nuclear attack on the San Andreas fault in order to separate California from the mainland U.S. to turn worthless desert property into valuable coastal real estate. Superman must stop Lex’s plan and rescue Lois Lane. Donner’s film remains one of the most iconic works of cinema and is still a delight over 40 years later. He brilliantly tells the most important parts of Superman’s story, introduces memorable characters, balances science fiction, romance, and comedy, and set up the story for “Superman II” (which he departed over production disagreements and was finished by Richard Lester). The cast is simply amazing, with each actor perfectly suited to their roles. Hackman’s Lex Luthor is a bit campy compared to the calculating businessman that appears in comics now, but viewers can’t help but to enjoy him since he’s having so much fun. Reeve, however, remains the definitive cinematic Superman and balances the differences between Clark Kent and the Last Son of Krypton in such a way that the viewer can understand how such a secret identity would work. He captures Superman’s core goodness in a way that never feels forced and that speaks to the importance of the character in fiction. This film appeared on the character’s 40th anniversary and is still one of the best comic book movies 40 years later!

As Described by seller, It was worth a watch

Considering the proliferation of films based on comic book heroes (and anti-heroes) in recent years, it's hard to recall that this 1978 adaptation of the Superman comic strip and icon of Americana was a monumental gamble for the producers, the director, and its distributor, Warner Bros. The last major DC comic book character to hit the silver screen had been Batman, in 1966, but that movie -- although fun to watch -- had the same campy approach to the Caped Crusader that the then-current TV series on ABC had. Warner Bros., which owned DC Comics and the rights to Superman, feared that a campy Superman film would flop. So for years, the idea lingered in limbo. Indeed, had it not been for the vision of Alexander and Ilya Salkind, Warner Bros. might never had made Superman: The Movie at all. But the story of how Superman made it to the big screen is not for this reviewer to tell...although it is available in this wonderful DVDs extra features as part of the behind-the-scenes documentaries on the flip side of the single disc. What I can say about this Superman DVD is that of the four movies in the series, this first one is the best. Yes, the special effects are a bit dated by our CGI-dominated 2003 standards, but for the late 1970s these mostly hand-crafted visuals were eye-popping and wow-inducing. But effects alone do not make a good movie; Mario Puzo, David and Leslie Newman's smart, fast-paced script, Richard Donner's steady direction, Geoffrey Unsworth's fine cinematography, and John Williams' wonderful score combine with great visuals and interesting performances by such cast members as Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and Christopher Reeve. (I can't say enough about Reeve's acting: in essence, he plays Clark Kent very differently from Kal-El/Superman.) This DVD (which was released almost 2 years ago) presents Superman: The Movie in its full widescreen glory and with a crisp and clear transfer from film to digital. The movie itself is about eight minutes longer than the theatrical or VHS versions; the studio allowed Donner to restore material cut from the 1978 release version (but later seen on its ABC TV presentation). I personally don't know if that was really necessary, but I don't object violently to it, either. The sound quality is good, although since I don't have a home theater type sound system I can't claim to be an expert on the quality of Dolby Surround or stuff like that. It sounds good on my TV, that's all I can say for that aspect of the DVD. The extra features are also good. While the audio commentary is not as focused on technology used in the shooting of the movie, Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankeweicz do provide some fascinating insights into the movie and its cast. Furthermore, they have good speaking voices and never bore you to death. Another nifty feature (for John Williams fans) is a music-only track that allows you to watch this movie as a two-hour-plus music video. The other extra features -- documentaries, screen tests, trailers, and additional music cues -- are on the B side of the disc. My only complaint is Warner Home Video's mostly-cardboard DVD cases and the double-sided DVD....one has to handle both with extra gentle care to avoid damaging either the package or the DVD. One additional note: The only other Superman movie (until the 21st Century feature is made and released) worth buying is Superman II. It is one of the few sequels of a good movie worth seeing, and this is in part because it was being made simultaneously with Superman I. (The original script by Puzo was so large it could be -- and was -- split into two movies.) The other two movies in the franchise fell into the bad-sequel-to-a-great-movie pit so common in Hollywood.

What a great movie. It is an epic, and the pretenders which have come in its wake pale in comparison. Another reviewer opines that this is but only "one of the best adaptations of a comic book". It is more hopeful than the incredibly dark Batman series. I, for one have never seen better in this genre, and defy anyone to come up with its equal. You don't have to have Seinfeld's enthusiasm for Superman to find some magic in this movie. One word dominates the adjectives many reviewers use : Spirit. It is a joy to watch. This story from the DC Comics is thankfully restored to its original glory by director Richard Donner, who indeed does have an incredibly command of the story-telling ability necessary to compress the whole Superman story into two and a half hours. Donner has us hooked from the wonderful opening: We see a young child (who could be any of us) reading from the opening pages of the original 1938 Action Comics issue that launched The Man Of Steel. Then we see over The Daily Planet building from that same period. The restored footage is superb, and should never have come out. The additional time on Krypton, as well as the entry into Lex Luthor's lair would have been well worth keeping in the original, and it is nice to see them restored. Seeing Noel Neill and Kirk Alyn (meaningful to those of us who remember "The Adventures of Superman" from television) on the train Superboy runs past is a nice touch, showing homage to the series. There are a whole host of other wonderful little touches. We expect nothing less than to see young Clark Kent eating Cheerios back in Smallville. The dialogue is as snappy as the prose Perry White extols. Wonderful is the scene of Superman's arrival in Metropolis. The helicopter crashes, and Clark Kent looks for a place to change. He walks up to what used to be a phone booth (now, in the late 1970's two pieces of plexiglas open to all) and seeing no place to change, his look says "damn". Then, the greatest compliment of all from a local pimp (the first earthling to see him in costume): "Say, Jim, that's a BAD out-fit!" When Superman catches a falling Lois Lane and reassures her of her safety, she has a great line: "You've got me, but who's got YOU". Wonderful supporting work by all. Ned Beatty does great work as bumbling sidekick Otis, and Jackie Cooper is Perry White. However, the award for first among equals must go to Gene Hackman, who showed his versatility as Lex Luthor, The Greatest Criminal Mind Of Our Time. His lines, looks and attitude are worth the price of the disc. So what if a few of the plot turns were implausible! Yeah, I guess one could not reverse the earth's rotation backwards, and thereby make time go in reverse. Maybe one cannot "seal" the San Andreas Fault. But what the hell, if you can suspend your imagination to the point of a flying man, why not cover these little tricks too? And if you cannot suspend your imagination, this is not the movie to see. For the rest of us, happily not so afflicted, this is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Great Superman film. The beginning.

Si bien no es un salto brutal, de las versiones en blu-ray a la versión 4k, igual es una mejora. Y notable en ciertos aspectos, en particular el audio. Video: mejora en intensidad de colores y algo de contraste gracias al HDR. Cuenta con Dolby Vision que también eleva la calidad respecto a la versión blu-ray. Tiene un poco más de granularidad la imagen, que en cierta medida le da un look más cinematográfico pero habrá a quienes no les agrade tanto. Ciertas escenas en Metropolis se ven mejor que nunca. De cualquier forma, y por donde se le vea, hay mejora respecto a la versión blu-ray. Audio: Es donde más mejora hay, si tienes la posibilidad de disfrutarla en Dolby Atmos hazlo. La mejora es notable, por ejemplo los créditos iniciales permiten escuchar el Soundtrack maravilloso de John Williams como nunca antes había sonado, los bajos tienen una mejor presencia (por ejemplo, la explosión de Kripton) y en general toda la experiencia surround es por lejos muchos más enriquecedora. Conclusión: si eres amante del cine y coleccionista de medios físicos, debes contar con este disco.

画質が良いです。

One of the first movies I seen as a kid when it came out, one of my favourite movies of all time.

Enthält die original Kino-Synchro! (Ich spreche von der 4K Version! Daher SUPER! Was die in der Special Editon mit der neuen deutschen Tonspur verbrochen haben, gehört mit LEBENSLÄNGLICH bestraft! Wer macht sowas?!

以前発売されていた『スーパーマン ディレクターズカット版』Blu-rayは、背表紙タイトルの片仮名フォントが明朝体でデザインされており、棚に並べた際のシリーズ内の統一感がありませんでした。 (DVDのWanner Best Collectionシリーズと同じデザイン) ですが、今回のスペシャルパッケージ版でようやく白のゴシック体に統一されたので、BOXではなく単品で揃えたいという方には是非オススメです。 表紙と同じデザインのポストカードとスーパーマン75周年記念ロゴのステッカーセットも付属しています。 内容は言うまでもなく、大作映画として制作されたスーパーヒーローものの元祖にしてまさに金字塔ですね。 同一ジャンルへの影響力も大きく、サム・ライミ監督の『スパイダーマン』(2002)とクリストファー・ノーラン監督の『バットマン ビギンズ』(2005)はアメコミヒーローのオリジン(誕生譚)を描く上で、この映画の構造を参考にしています。 (ノーラン監督はバットマンのトリロジーBOXでドナー監督と対談もしていますね) 劇中でも「ひでぇ服だ」などとネタにされていますが、あのコスチュームを違和感なく、むしろ説得力を持たせるほどに完璧に着こなす主演クリストファー・リーヴの容姿と演技。 コメディタッチなキャラ付けとは裏腹に非道な行為を平然と行う、名優ジーン・ハックマン演じるレックス・ルーサー。 スーパーマンの活躍を彩るジョン・ウィリアムズによる象徴的なテーマ曲。 本当に人が空を飛んでいるのかと思わせるような特撮技術。 それらをまとめ、コミック原作ものはチープだというイメージがまだ根強い時代に、当時としては非常にリアルなタッチでアメコミヒーローの世界を実写で描ききったリチャード・ドナー監督の手腕。 どれを取っても一級品の傑作です。