Funny, the most powerful moment in all the Superman movies is this one, a deleted scene that is so moving, emotional and pure power, man they NAILED IT.
And it was a crime it was never used because the producers didn't want to pay Marlon Brando for it to appear in part 2 after Richard Donner being fired
@Blackest Knight Jor-El tranferred his life force to Clark which was stored within the crystals. They also did something similar to this in smallville when Clark lost his powers but the life force was taken from Jonathan kent.
To me the point of the first superman movie Clark became Jonathan kent when he knew he was meant for more than just playing football and helped him realize it
He is. Although, Brandon Routh in Superman Returns, he's no Reeve, but I still think he portrayed well. Henry Cavil in Man of Steel on the other hand...
SO POWERFUL! And it's wonderful to actually see the two men together, physically touching, just once. Like getting to meet a lost parent one final time. The "Donner Cut" may not be perfect, and indeed, Lester's version has its strengths. But one thing's for sure - these precious, powerful scenes featuring Marlon Brando must never be discarded!
I was born in 81, I also had the Honor of enjoying the Best actor to play the best Superman of all time the late great Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana Reeve will be missed forever R.I.P 😞😢!!!!!
Theatrical cut: *Superman gets his powers back with no explanation* Richard Donner: Fuck that plot hole. Watch this. *makes director's cut* The fans: YES!!!
It the same like Clark getting the letter from the boy Lacey’s father brings to metropolis in Superman 4 cause Clark gets the letter the jumps out the window and flies off to meet the boy then the papers are bashing Superman they shot him talking to the boy but they cut it so it’s now a deleted scene on the Superman 4 dvd the cut scene does give context needed to fully understand the headlines in the papers bashing Superman
@@adamcade604 Superman 2 was a great movie. It was highly praised on during its initial release. Besides the scenes with Brando I like the Lester version better. The Metropolis Battle and FOS battle are much better in the theatrical release.
@@zt1053I agree I own the donner cut cause it Christopher reeve but it does feel like a cobbled together mess cause of how they had to use any footage they had from donner like in in place they jump from production footage to test footage back to production footage cause Christopher goes from mussel padding to no padding back to padding but the donner cut does give a more reasonable explanation for Superman not using the fortress of solitude in Superman 3 I also prefer the Lester version better cause I grew up with that being the only version of the movie and after having seen the donner version it feels more like a complete movie
@@adamcade604it wouldn’t be a true Superman 2 due to it being like a part 2 to Superman the movie they tried to shoot both parts of Superman the movie together but they started running out of money so they ended up just finishing up Superman the movie and put the ending of Superman 2 onto it Superman wasn’t original supposed to do the world reversal until part two that’s why if feels odd that Superman does the world reversal in the donner cut of Superman 2 cause that’s where it was originally intended to be
How many mistakes they made to make this movie? This scene is great, intense, and clarify how he gets his powers back. The Donner's cut deserve 10 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I get why the Salkinds didn't want to pay Brando for this, but boy am I ever glad that the Donner cut got made and we got to see this. This is a much better scene than what was in Superman 2.
Shame this powerful scene was not kept in. Makes more sense seeing this, as in the edited film (at least the version shown in the UK), he finds the crystal, and then all of a sudden he's Superman again, with no explanation at all of how it happened. There were several other good scenes deleted as well as this one.
I also pointed out my theory why you don't see jor-el again after the first superman film as it was implied the hologram of jor-el was angry at Clark for interfering with human history after he turn back time leaving Lara to take over as the main voice of reason
@@comicbookreviewer4856 Exactly this. In fact, the Donnel cut would make a better prequel for superman return, as I think most of the scenes in that were so magical in order to capture the essence of scenes like this.
Gotta love it whenever dad comes to the rescue. I’m sure we’ve all made choices we were warned about and still went through and regretted it after. But a good dad understands we all make mistakes.
I didnt know about this scene until I watched the directors cut at a recent anniversary screening. Totally blown away by it and haunted by how powerful it is.
This is the first time they actaually became one when the spirit of Jor El gave up his total existence by transferring his power to help his son regain his super powers back. This is from the Donner cut.
So he basically killed his father twice, one as a human, and one as a spirit, by letting him transfer his energy vibrations to him, incredible- all worth it, for millions of innocent lives, and saving Lois, ironically, by depriving Zod and his cronies, of their powers.
In a cut scene, Jor-El was supposed to fire lasers into Kal/Clark's eyes which gave him his powers back, as Kal-El looks frightened by his fathers appearance - (J-El) - "you have made a dreadful mistake, Kal-El. You have abandoned the world for the sake of private ambition. You did this of your own free will, and in spite of all I could say to dissuade you." (K-El) - "I..." (J-El) - "Now you have returned here to me for one last chance to redeem yourself. This too - finally - I have anticipated, my son....Look at me, Kal-El" *Clark stares at him, Jor-El's eyes dance with light* (J-El) - "Once before, when you were small, I died while giving you a chance for life. And now, even though it will exhaust the final energy left within me..." (K-El) - "Father, no!" (J-El) "Look at me, Kal-El!" *Clark turns, stares back, Jor-Els face grows larger. Hand reaches out toward his son, the index finger extended, his expression almost mystical.* (J-El) - "The Kryptonian prophecy will be at last fulfilled. The son becomes the father - the father becomes the son. Goodbye forever, Kal-El. Remember me, my son..." *Clark starts to speak, but Jor-El's eyes suddenly come ablaze with energy, riveting him to the spot. Two dazzling white arcs of light shoot into Clark, racking his body with involuntary vibrations. The Camera then pushes in on Jor-El's face straining to summon up the suicidal energy, until only his blinding eyes are in the frame* *His body distended with the transfer of energy. The force of it almost physically unbearable. Clark's own eyes suddenly seem to burst apart, as for a split second he sees:* *For an instant, Jor-El actually stands before his son - a serene smile on his face, his arm extended in farewell. Just as suddenly, he disappears.* (K-El) FATHER!!!! (screams) *Clark's hand comes back* *Total silence. The only things visible: The throbbing green crystal in the mechanism and the lifeless body of Clark on the floor, a strange aura pulsating out from within his body* (link to what I typed - superman.rossiters.com/s2_466A-466J.html)
He was also one of those few cases where arrogance is backed by competence. Only because of him being SO BLOODY GREAT was he able to pull off stunts like being fat slob who hadn't even done minimal preparation for his work or go pantless and refuse to acknowledge director while constantly referring to him as "Miss Piggy" as well. Absolute master actor and greedy troll as well.
The fact that the most important and powerful moment of the entire movie was completely cut out of Superman 2 is absolutely criminal, so glad that this was included for the Richard Donner cut because this was such an epic scene between Christopher Reeve and Marlon Brando. The icing on the cake for this would have been after Clark's powers was restored would have been to see him fly out of the fortress just like the first movie in his Superman suit as a way of saying that he's officially back, that would have been amazing.
It's not bad at all, because knowing the production, the fact thst the theatrical cut didn't ended up being a mess is good, but now that we have the Donner cut there is no reason for me to revwatch Lester's cut because i do have a better version of that movie
I read a 1977 script today and Lester's is not that far removed. He added the villains blowing New Yorkers, changed the kid from going over Niagara falls in a rowboat to falling for 30 seconds, took out the burning of Tokyo and Moscow, moved Superman changing the Leaning Tower of Pisa to _Superman III,_ and added the funky fight scene at the Fortress of Solitude. Oh and he added the greasy bell hop, and took out a scene with Lois kissing Clark to practice for the "kissing contest" mentioned in their room.
I wanted more!!!!! I was waiting for the theme music. Glad I saw this. I know in the original he just stares at the green crystal hinting but this was epic. The emotion of it. Saw more of Superman’s emotions/guard down side if you will.
This seems to be the only way that I could picture the “Injustice” timeline being undone. And the only way that Superman could be redeemed. As well as the price he would have to pay for things to be set right.
I like the Richard Donner cut version better in my opinion. Because it shows how he got his party back. But the original one directed by Lester it good too
i always had a theory why you never saw Jor-el in superman 2 was that the hologram was angry with Clark for interfering with human history and no longer talked to him leaving Lara as the new one to guide Clark
Er, I have some notes for the director: Clark, making his way back to the Fortress was a great idea. But as it stands, he's a normal human who travels untold miles across the arctic tundra in...a Harrington windbreaker. This journey was a missed opportunity; it should have been more of an ordeal; this would have made the reclaiming of his powers more earned. How much more effective would this have been if the stakes had been more realistic: Clark, even in a full parka, would be wasted from the cold and distance, frostbitten, starving, near dead, desperately searching for the lost Fortress, hoping against hope for one last chance. Rather than give up, he perseveres, and his perseverance is rewarded
I have some information for you.....the movie is like forty years old and you have never made a movie let alone an epic one. You're wrong, it might seem like a good idea like a lot of obviously good ideas but it would waste a lot of screen time needed for more important ways of pushing the story. Shut the fuck up.
who said he wasnt? Where was he supposed to get a parka. who said it wasn't an ordeal for him? It sure looked like an ordeal for him. he sure looked like he was shivering and exhausted from the trek back up north. Come to think of it, how did he and Lois leave the Fortress since once he was depowered? Where did they get a rented car?Are you really the type of person that must see everything instead of just accepting those scenes happened?
I'm the sort of person who can look at a story -- one that I've probably watched and enjoyed as much as anyone posting on this thread (probably more) -- and feel okay about critically discussing it. What's really mindboggling is that the tone I took in my initial post was clearly jocular, and yet the pushback I'm getting is weirdly...angry? Bitter? Internet does not disappoint.
I love how the donner scenes were restored & are the canon. I cant remember how he changed back before. So much more powerful with cal el & his son & giving up his final energy & never see his beloved son again to help him again.
It’s not canon. This is just an alternate cut of Superman II. The original cut by Lester still exists. They didn’t erase it from history like George Lucas did with his special editions to the Original Trilogy. There are lots of Director’s cuts of films, but that doesn’t mean any of the changes are canon. They’re just alternate cuts accompanying the original theatrical cuts.
Brilliant scene - really added pathos to the whole thing. It actually takes things beyond a common superhero smash-up and turns it into a tale of redemption (prodigal son anyone?). All that's missing is the theme music - Williams is brilliant, sure, but sounds way too Star Wars here. . .
There is also matter of sacrifice - he abandoned his legacy once, but reclaiming it is final. He can never be human if he chooses to be Superman again and if he does choose that he will also lose his final connection to his origin. He will be in Solitude as god. Donner and can make that choice have weight and purpose.
It makes no sense to me, because they still had to pay him for filming his scenes whether they used it or not in the final version. By not using Brando's scenes, he's the one that got over, because he still got paid. The Salkind's actually lost money for the time and money spent paying Brando to film his scenes and never using them and Brando was the highest paid actor in the movie, more than Christoper Reeve.
No, salkinds were a bunch of dicks who wanted to keep most of the profits. What should have happened was that both hackman, brando, donner, and the other's along with the estates of both jerry siegel and joe shuster should have sued the salkinds for everything.
@@JENDALL714 All of Brando's scenes for I and II were done in one two-week shoot for $3.75 million and then he was to receive 11.75% of each film's grosses. The worldwide box office for Superman II was over $190 million so cutting Brando out saved over $22 million.
I love how when Chris picks up the green crystal he does so as to make it appear as if it has great weight to it. I don't know if the crystal actually did, or if it was just a great choice in the performance. Either way well done
I think the reality is he had to hold it like that because it was 1977 and he awkwardly had a wire running up his sleeve and probably a car battery strapped to his back. But I like your idea better. Probably what was going through his mind to act out the scene.
Richard Donner was fired by the Salkind producers, and Brando refused to have his footage used when the Salkind didn't pay him the percentages promised to him and also because of Donner being fired. Gene Hackman and John Williams also didn't return because of Donner being fired so the footage wasn't used nor scored for over 25 plus years until 2006 when Superman Returns was made. Brando having passed away and the vaults to the footage was uncovered eventually i.e. Marlon Brando CGI manipulated scenes done for Superman Returns, also unearthed his Superman II unused footage as well etc's!!! This is why the footage wasn't seen in Lester's theatrical cut.
I might be biased towards the Henry Cavill/Zack Snyder interpretation of the character, but Christopher Reeve is an amazing Superman. Marlon Brando is also amazing as Jor-El.
This scene alone proves why the Richard Donner cut is the BEST version of this movie, if not the BEST Superman film of all time. Mr. Reeve and Mr. Brando gave some of the finest performances so their careers in this film and it's a shame that neither of them lived to see it.
The Lester version is better cause it’s a more completed movie and doesn’t jump from production footage to test footage and back to production footage in places I can see why how he got is powers back wasn’t shown if they were just going to reshoot this scene cause the crystal chamber would have been a better way to give him his powers back and still could have had the moment with kal-el and Jor-el as he goes over to activate the chamber
Let’s not be too hasty. Brando very famously phoned in his entire performance in these movies. Even Reeve said Brando didn’t care and even felt a bit insulted by his attitude
is it just me who finds it unintenionally funny as fuck when jor el touches him and he starts jiggling up and down cause he getting powers back lmao. just his face.
Maybe they would have superimposed some effects to make it less obvious. While Michael Thau edited in some effects here and there, 35 years after the fact, many of the effects were a combination of low budget CGI and too modern for a 1980 film, as well as not necessarily being what Donner and company would have done. But in some cases, like this scene, we get effects like the mask of Jor-El but nothing integrated with a spazzed out Clark.
I think finding out Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down was a bigger shock, and sadder. Don't get me wrong, very sad year loosing both. But man, seeing Christopher Reeve just slowy deteriorate over those 9 years was tough.
Am surprised Kal-El wasn't slapped by Jor-El when Kal-El showed tears. Was expecting Jor-El to do a Vito Corleone and slap Kal-El on the cheek before saying "you can act like a man" 😂
I believe back in the day unknowingly to us they actually showed this and called it the fewer commercial version Superman II on tv! Cool! Peace! #FatherNo!
I want a prequel that is just Jor-El on Krypton recording all the conversation branches he could anticipate: "Son, you've made a dreadful mistake. You thought you could earn a living as a musician."
I hope one day we can a definitive Final Cut of Superman 2 which will use most of The Original Donner Footage with Brando and the with caution The Lester Footage such as The Paris Hostage some of the Niagara Falls scenes and General....would you care to step outside? This would have to be carefully edited and any previously unused material that can be utilized with care and Richard Donner, and Richard Lester get full directing credit...together.
Seeing these lost scenes for the first time was like seeing a true sequel to a movie made decades before that somehow has all the same cast at the same age.
I read a 1977 script today and Lester's is not that far removed. Besides changes we saw in the Donnor Cut, Lester and co. added the greasy bell hop, took out a scene with Lois kissing Clark to practice for the "kissing contest" mentioned in their room, changed the kid from going over Niagara falls in a rowboat to falling for 30 seconds, took out the burning of Tokyo and Moscow, added the villains blowing New Yorkers, removed Luthor losing his toupee' and Ursa dropping him to get it, added the funky fight scene at the Fortress of Solitude and moved Superman changing the Leaning Tower of Pisa to _Superman III._
If my memory is correct I think Richard Lester added the Eiffel Tower part to the movie but his changes do make the movie better in my opinion cause his version doesn’t have to act like part 2 to Superman the movie like donner’s version would have been
@@kevin10001 I don't think if Donner had been left alone to finish both it would have been a perfect pair of movies. Some re-writes needed to be done to give the first _Superman: The Movie_ a satisfying conclusion as it had. It's much more powerful with Lois dying and him turning back time. However, as people said, if he could do it once, then that could be the solution to everything. I think the controversy or at least the debate asks, What should _Superman II_ have been like after that? Silly, epic or something else? They chose silly. James Gunn is now writing the script to the next Superman movie, and for all we know he might make it like _Superman III_ since some people say that's more his style. After all, _Superman Returns_ didn't work too well, and didn't take on the issue of the day: a president who lied us into a war we didn't need 20 years ago this week. I don't see how an idealistic Superman and Clark Kent can exist in a world like ours that's had alternate media engaging 10-25% of adult Americans, without confronting that. I mean people in Smallville would be part of that demographic and wouldn't read the Daily Planet, which they'd believe was "dishonest corporate and liberal media."
Probably the best scene in the Richard Donner Cut because it does explain how he got his powers back. At least Donner's cut gets rid of Richard Lester's painful dependence on slapstick, restores Brando to the cut and does away with the stupid cellophane S and teleportation.
The Salkinds should have paid Brando whatever he wanted to keep this scene in the film. It's the emotional crux of not just Superman II, but also the story that started in Superman. And I get that filmmaking is a business, but think of what this film could be if Donner had been allowed to finish it. I do like Lester's version of Superman II, but after seeing where Donner was taking the story, I will always consider it a diminished version. Especially when Lester worked on a Superman movie from the beginning, we got fucking Superman III.
There are only two Superman-films starring Christopher Reeve and they form one, continuous and biblical story. Superman Returns is fun, but can only copy that what is great and Man of Steel showed great promise and failed to deliver when sequels showed up.
What a great scene... In a way Superman didnt save humanity- Jor-El did! He left a one time back up copy of his energy/soul in case his son needed his powers back one day. What a scene that fixes that plot hole of the theatrical cut!
Not to mention it maintains the idea that the Kryptonians were so advanced that we’d never be able to comprehend their technology. It truly was sci-fi without having to lean on the audience understanding it.
they filmed all brandos scenes (first movie and second) at the same time in 2 weeks. the contract was if brando appears in the second movie he'd receive 11% of gross revenue. hollywood knowing the second movie will make a lot of money because the first one did, they decided to exclude all brandos scene in the second movie. CR said it in an interview
I just finished watching Superman 2 and I think this would've greatly fixed that plot hole of how he got his powers back while still having to make a sacrifice in the process since those powers he lost were supposed to be gone forever (when in the theatrical cut, 'forever' is apparently about 13 minutes).
With all due respect, I believe Superman 2 would have done better without this sequence. In the original theatrical cut there's the question of "will Superman return or won't he?" and the deletion of this scene makes the reveal of Superman's return to Metropolis all that much more thrilling because it's more of a surprise.
Baar Bear disagree...because much of the films plot hinges on superman giving up his powers. I believe that this film would have improved if superman was giving a more complete character arc. Superman begins the story with belief that Lois cannot know who he is for he is superman. He believes that he cannot be superman and a husband. And the story should have ended with superman realizing that superman is not his whole life and that he needs a family. The story ends with superman regaining his powers defeating zod and going to Lois. Lois and him agree to be more honest and open to each other. The end
They could have used quite a bit of it but not shown superman getting his powers, then after the big reveal, after superman says ''too late Luthor'' they could have done a quick flashback to show the rest of what happened....That would have worked.
No, this scene needed to be there from a thematic standpoint. It essentially closes out the Jor-El arc while also giving a sensible reason that Superman could regain his powers after an “irreversible” procedure.
