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Alan Smithee Cut of Superman 2? or not at all?

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In a recent interview with Richard Donnor, Donnor states he has no interest in the cut of the film and Warner has a kid working on it.

This is so frickin Bull!!!!!!!

I believe this will get as far as the Blade Runner Workprint restoration that dude was working on years ago..

I mean we are talking about Warner Bros here.....

They suc...... and no 134 min cut of Superman 4 also they stated in another interview... for more info go to the Supermancinema website.

Whatever!!



Question: So do you get any kind of credit for footage?

Richard Donner: Me? No, I don't want it; I want a couple of free tickets when it's done. No and you know they're also re-releasing Superman II with my version. We're re-doing it and all the stuff that Richard Lester took out of mine, we're putting back in.

Question: I didn't realise there was a Richard Donner cut of Superman II.

Richard Donner: No that was a Richard Lesser cut and all my stuff was laying in the vaults and there was a young editor named Michael Thor who came to me one day and said "Listen if you go on the internet everybody wants to see your version of II" and I said "I don't think it exists, there were cans," we were doing one and two at the same time. And we had to stop doing two to deliver one on time, so we did everything with Brando anyway, everything we remembered, so he called and said the studio gave me the go. Now they've reprinted all the material, they've shipped all the negatives from England and he's recutting my picture and again, he's asked me would I help. I can't because it's so long ago and the little bit of footage that I looked at, I would never shoot like that now in a million years, I mean it was a different way, a different style, different interpretation.

Question: When is that happening?

Richard Donner: That's coming out shortly before the release of the new Superman.

Question: How bizarre.

Richard Donner: Yep, yep, this kid's good too so, but I don't want to see it, I don't want to see any of those.

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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Not sure where you got that quotation, but it doesn't match the text in the IGN interview, which is the big interview that's been floating around the web.

The guy doing the editing is one of Donner's old assistants and he seems to be excited at the prospect of seeing this new cut, even though he's not directly involved. I can't wait to see it myself.
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MTFBWY…A

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Warner started hinting at this back in the fall, but when the official word came down the other day I was so jazzed about it I had to change my shorts.

It will happen. Donner is quite excited about it, even if he doesn't want to go into the editing booth himself. He's kinda right about it too ... let somebody who is truly passionate about the material do the re-cut according to his notes, and it'll be done with such meticulous care, that it'll be even better than if he did it himself.

I think this is beautiful. It shows the potential of fan edits to change the landscape of the distributors. This is in DIRECT response to the RIC. Somebody at Warner is starting to get it: Give them what they want and actually make the money, or watch some fan do it for free.

I'll be buying this expensive set on opening day, no questions. I haven't bought Batman yet and have no immediate plans to do so. But this film series ... I'm gettin' the whole thing and replacing the old set without hesitation.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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"Somebody at Warner is starting to get it: Give them what they want and actually make the money, or watch some fan do it for free."

LOL....maybe this should be in the banner in the Non-SW forum (hell, even in the SW forum. )

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Warner is the best DVD studio out there, hands down.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Warner is FINALLY smartening up in their dvd department after many years of being not-so-good (at least they are not as bad as mgm). Cant wait to see their new Kurbrick SE's this year as well.

As for this cut, i am sad that Donner isnt involved, but really like he said, he CANT be involved--the Richard Donner that shot that footage no longer exists. He is a different person now and to have Richard Donner cut the film would be impossible. So i hope his assistant does a good job. My feeling is that it will be similar to the Fincher workrpint of Alien 3--good overall, better than the theatrical even, but still missing just that extra bit of quality that would have been obtained had the director been directly involved.

What I'm REALLY dissapointed is that theres no extended Superman IV!! That was a more significant cut than the Donner SII cut! Argh! I know a lot of ppl dont like SIV but it was my favourite when i was a kid and i still think it is stronger in parts than SII and has that great comic book feel to it. I guess we should all be thankful that we finally have something to replace the barebones dvd set with (which is currently on sale now, i guess to get rid of all the stock since no one will buy it after next year--i pity the bastards who are picking it up now).
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If you want a really good read, go to the IGN article and follow the link to his interview from 2001 for the first release of Superman on DVD. There's some remarks on there that could be seen as cutting towards GL and his use of CG in the SEs. Donner's made his share of good and bad films, but at least he'll know when to quit.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Originally posted by: GundarkHunter
If you want a really good read, go to the IGN article and follow the link to his interview from 2001 for the first release of Superman on DVD. There's some remarks on there that could be seen as cutting towards GL and his use of CG in the SEs. Donner's made his share of good and bad films, but at least he'll know when to quit.


Off topic, can you guys imagine a Star Wars film (specifically Return of the Jedi) directed by Richard Donner?
I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an Obi-Wan to go.

Red heads ROCK. Blondes do not rock. Nuff said.

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I think Donner would have done OK with ROTJ. He's a rare breed among directors: the kind that can create films with a unique vision, but also be a "journeyman" when called upon to do so.

I still would have loved to see a David Lynch ROTJ.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.