The Complete Superman Collection (2001)

I grew up reading Superman comics and couldn't wait to see the big movies. I wasn't disappointed. The first Superman (1978) comes restored with several extra scenes I had never seen before and now runs 2 1/2 hours. As a kid, I enjoyed the early "origin of Superman" scenes, but now I found myself skipping to the more lively grown-up modern-day scenes, with great chemistry between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. As directed by Richard Donner, the first film is perfectly serviceable, but director Richard Lester (A Hard Day's Night) -- who took over when Donner was fired -- brings a more springy, comical feel to the second film, which has Superman fighting three superpowered villains. Unfortunately, that second film is hampered by an interminable sequence in which Superman gives up his powers for the sake of Lois. Lester returned to direct, but couldn't save, the awful Superman III (1983), co-starring Richard Pryor. And Sidney J. Furie's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace looks even worse today than it did in 1987 with its tacked-on anti-nuke message.

Warner Home Video has updated their 2000 Superman box set with this astounding 14-disc set. Superman (1978) comes with both the original theatrical release and the 2000 extended edition, plus deleted scenes, a commentary track by Donner, and screen tests showing the likes of Anne Archer and Stockard Channing trying out for Lois Lane. (Margot Kidder clearly comes out the best.) And Christopher Reeve makes a great heroic Superman and a funny, stammering Clark Kent. Other extras include documentaries, the 1951 George Reeves movie Superman vs. the Mole Men, and -- best of all -- the first nine Fleischer cartoons, newly remastered and looking great after seeing them in public domain DVDs for so long. Superman comes sepeartely in a four-disc set.

Superman II comes in a new two-disc set, including the original theatrical cut, several documentaries and the other eight Fleischer cartoons. This two-disc set is available separately. The eagerly awaited Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut comes on a third disc. The new Superman Returns is included in a two disc set, and Superman III and Superman IV come on single discs, which leaves three more discs for more extras and documentaries. In 2011, a Blu-Ray edition was released.