I just watched both for the first time (crazy I know). I felt 2 was far superior to the first. It was better paced, had better villains, and was just more entertaining for me. Granted I watched the Donner cut so I don't know how the theatrical version compares, but I enjoyed it much more than the first. Other thoughts?

You probably should have listed the Donner cut of Superman 2 in your poll.

As a kid, I actually liked Superman III the best. (!!)

Well from reading about it, I would probably still prefer either version over Superman 1 as the differences don't seem to be THAT huge.

The differences are huge. A different opening, different niagara falls scenes, different ending, and that's just some of the differences. Watch it and tell me than that it's not different.

Edit to add. The Donner version was only 70% finished when he was fired form it. In order to not credit him in the version that was released in theaters the had to go back and totally reshoot the movie. That's why theere is a HUGE difference between the two. The only common thread is the story, other wise there two completely different visions of the same movie.

Superman II (theatrical verson) is still one of my favorite superhero movies of all time.

2 was slightly better simply because there isn't a deus ex machina of flying around the earth and felt less campy then 1, but both still end up really dated to me.

Superman II (Lester cut).

I've always preferred it since Supes is fighting 3 villains that are his equal match, so at least it feels like he's really being challenged. Had Donner been able to cut Superman I & II to his specifications at the time, I'd probably prefer his version. As it stands now the Lester cut works better for me.

Superman: The Movie, but I do believe the Lester cut of II is better than Donner's cut (or at least the Donner version we saw on DVD).

BTW, there's a funny cartoon in the new STARLOG magazine about how Superman was fast enough to spin around the world and change time, yet not fast enough to stop two rockets.

Superman: The Movie is marginally better.

The Lester cut of II is really good, but once you know about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans, the campier scenes do tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Plus Williams' score for the first one is vastly superior to Thorne's reworking of it in II.

Donner's cut of II is hard to grade. There are some vastly superior versions of similar scenes in Lester's version(the Fortress of Solitude showdown being the most glaring), but it's also incomplete. Hence the recycled ending from the first movie.

I think the Donner version of 2 would have been better if they would have gone ahead with it. The version on DVD seems like a great highlight reel with excellent footage, but it does not work that well as an actual movie.

I love Superman II. But the Helicopter scene wins me everytime.

Superman was Epic... Hackman was hilarious. Best villian ever.... II seemed like just another action film to me and Hackman was under used... I never understood why everyone thought II was superior...

I picked Superman II, despite the fact that bot cuts are like Frankenstein, it's hard not to hate Terence Stamp as General Zod, one of my favorite screen villains.

Greatest scene ever:

2 Simply because he actually fights villains worthy of him.

Growing up as a kid Superman II(Lester) ranked up there with Star Wars & Raiders as my 3 favorite movies I would watch on HBO in the early 80's.

As an adult, Superman I is a much better movie then Superman II(Lester) as it has that movie magic, and I love that it is split in 3 parts with each having its own tone: The Kryptonite scenes with Brando are very stoic, the Smallville scenes are very melancholy, and the Metropolis scenes have a good mix of humor, action, and hints of romance between Lois & Superman. Superman II(Lester) comes off a bit cheesy now, as I am suprised but it is one of those films I loved as a kid that just doesn't hold up as well as it did.

The Donnor Cut could have been great, as the scenes that Donnor shot compared to Lester, especially with Brando are so much better, but it is not a complete film so it is very hard to watch.

I think I might have to go with the Donner cut of II. While I enjoy the original, the pacing is much slower than II (either cut).

Now I'm bummed again that we likely won't get any new Superman film until 2012.

Superman is the better movie, but I like Superman 2 more.
The same goes for Indiana Jones and Star Wars - I think that A New Hope and Raiders of Lost Ark are the better movies, but I like Return of the Jedi and The Temple of Doom more.

I've always liked 2 more, and I haven't even see the Donner cut yet.

Three words:

"Kneel before ZOD!".

When I was growing up, I saw all the Superman movies except 4 at the movie theaters. My biggest memory was watching Superman 2 kick the 3 villians at Metropolis with the entire movie audience cheer! I also remember at the end of Superman 2 where it said that Superman will return in Superman 3 that got the audience all cheered up!

Superman is perfect as a superhero origin movie that few if any other superhero movie has come close to but for pure action/adventure Superman 2. I haven't seen Donner's cut of Superman 2, I need to buy it on blu-ray.

SUPERMAN II is more entertaining, SUPERMAN is a better movie (despite all the flaws).

I always liked II more.

Practically impossible for me to pick the favorite of the two. But this part gets to me every time.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HNFftA1Pry0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HNFftA1Pry0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I voted for Superman

I would really like to see someone take Superman, Superman II and Superman II The Richard Donnor Cut and cut them together to make one epic movie