The Weigh In #46

“The Year of Superman” and the Legend of the
Restored International Director’s Cut of Superman II.

Part 1: Merchandising and the “Year of Superman”


The marketing and merchandising machine for arguably the most anticipated comic book movie since the original Spiderman, Superman Returns, has rolled out its first line of merchandise. Topps is releasing a complete set of movie cards (a select few signed by the cast), henna tattoos, tins to keep your collection, magnets, and bubblegum in every pack. That last part was a nice touch in my opinion. Toy Biz has announced the official Superman Returns toy line, EA Games has released screen shots from the official video game; to be released simultaneously with the movie, and limited edition statues are being put together from DC Direct and WETA. Along with the interviews, Bryan Singer slide shows, and movie stills leaked onto the net, everything coming out is going to be hard to ignore.

The movie is still a little over three months away and some pretty big merchandising news hit the web earlier this week. The Warner Brothers website has put together their “Year of Superman”; a calendar of videos to be released throughout the next year, to coincide with the release of the movie and eventual DVD. Warner Video is emptying its vault of everything from the Justice League cartoon series, to the original Superman serials with Kirk Alyn, to special editions of the original 4 movies. You can check out the entire release slate of movies, cartoons, and some of your favorite older series’ here. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg as you can expect to see new trailers and more merchandise coming down the pipe, probably enough merchandise to make George Lucas roll over on his bed of money. Not like that is a bad thing. I am sure I am not the only one that can make room in my closet for at least two of the alternate Kitty Kowalski action figures. You know some of you will too. These are exciting times for Superman fans, as we are three months away from a movie that looked like it was never going to be made, and Warner Brothers is finally releasing alot of the old series’ on DVD that hard core fans have been looking for.


Part II: The legend of the restored international director’s cut of Superman II.

The most exciting part of the “Year of Superman” announcement is the 16 disc box set being released at the end of the year. The exact contents of the box set are somewhat of a mystery, but we do know it is definitely going to contain deluxe editions of the first four movies and the movie Supergirl, enough to make any Superman fan giggle with excitement (except for maybe the 3rd and 4th Superman movie). Most importantly was the announcement of the release of what was originally called “the restored international director’s cut of Superman II”. The director’s cut originally started as a rumor floating across the internet a few years ago and when it was confirmed to be real, was only supposed to be released on DVD to European markets. It was supposedly mainly cut footage that was left on the cutting room floor. We were never supposed to see it.

Who cares right?

Superman II was meant to be directed by Richard Donner simultaneously with the first and finished as the first was being released. When the original film began to break box office records, Marlon Brando sued the producers of both movies for a larger portion of the gross profits, and in retaliation, the producers removed any mention of him and his likeness from the second movie. Also, after directing nearly 70% of the film, the producers wanted portions of the film re-shot making the film a little “campier”. When Richard Donner refused, he was fired, and was stripped of his director credit. The producers hired Richard Lester to re-shoot portions of Donner’s work and to finish the film; without one of its leading actors, Gene Hackman, who refused the re-shoots. Portions of the films were shot with a body double and his voiced was dubbed in many of the scenes. It is also important to note that John Williams refused to finish the score when Donner was fired and Ken Thorne was brought in to re-cut it and finish it himself. The theatrical version is the result of all of that confusion. While the sequel is a good movie in its own right, this missing footage is considered by those that have seen it as a more serious version of the film, and much closer to its original intent of the writers and director. The movie is being re-cut with the original footage and is supposed to be ready as an entirely new film. I for one am just giddy with excitement at the prospect of seeing the original version intended for the big screen.

This article begins my official countdown to the release of Superman Returns and each week I will have a little featurette with weekly news coming out of the Warner Brothers and Bryan Singer camps about the movie, without the spoilers of course, ending with my review of the final movie.

This week at your local multiplex (3/17/2006)

V for Vendetta: Action/Thriller
Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt
Plot: Set in a totalitarian England, Evey (Natalie Portman), is rescued from the government by a masked vigilante named “V”. She becomes his ally as he tries to take control of the airwaves and overthrow the government.
Buzz: Based on the graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, the novel has a cult following and the movie has some pretty big expectations behind it. After the first weekend, word of mouth will either carry this film or help it fall flat on its face.

She’s The Man: Comedy
Amanda Bynes, Vinnie Jones, David Cross, Emily Perkins, Robert Torti
Plot: Another teen movie based on a Shakespeare play, this one 12th Night, Amanda Bynes plays a character that is new to school, falls head over heels for the head of the football team but has to pretend to be one of the guys to get close to him.
Buzz: Just because a movie is based on a classic play does not mean that it will be a classic movie. But that means it’ll probably be the #2 movie of the week.

This Week on DVD (3/14/2006)

A History of Violence
Good Night and Good Luck
The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio
The Year of the Yao
Ice Age (se)
Basic Instinct (se)
Remember the Titans (se)
Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigalo (se)
A Fish Called Wanda (se)
The Simple Life (season 3)
V.I.P (season 1)
She Spies (season 1)
Spring Break Shark Attack
MacGyver (season 5)
Murder, She Wrote (season 3)
Dear Wendy
Pooh’s Grand Adventure
Columbo (season 4)
Sleeper Cell
I Dream of Jeannie (season 1-in color)
Anastasia
Ghostbusters/Ghostbusters 2 box set
Marebito


As always, if you have any questions or comments about my article, please email me at DPlace76@yahoo.com.
You can also check out some of my random ramblings at
www.livejournal.com/bigdpimpin.