The Richard Donner Cut of "Superman II" came out during that heady time when all sorts of Director's Cuts were finally seeing the light of day ("Payback", "The Warriors", "Blade Runner", "The Natural"). And no one saw it coming that Warner Bros. would actually let the man restore his version of the movie, so this really something. At best, this is an idea of what could have been. Donner was forced to use some of Lester's footage and even a screen test to get this done, so it's a bit rough. There are plot holes and continuity errors, and it's not his fault the turn-back-time ending was recycled. But these are still glaring, which is kind of a shame. But it is what it is.
Even so, this is more than worth the price of admission for the restored Brando footage alone. And Superman's plea to his father for help is indeed a powerful scene. But it's not cut-and-dried superior to the theatrical version. They both have their pros and cons. Bottom line, I'll take what I can get, and it's kinda sweet that Warner Bros. facilitated this. It brings some closure to the mystery of the lost "real" Superman II.
7/10
Even so, this is more than worth the price of admission for the restored Brando footage alone. And Superman's plea to his father for help is indeed a powerful scene. But it's not cut-and-dried superior to the theatrical version. They both have their pros and cons. Bottom line, I'll take what I can get, and it's kinda sweet that Warner Bros. facilitated this. It brings some closure to the mystery of the lost "real" Superman II.
7/10