Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

I think the last time I watched this was on an old VHS tape my parents had that had two other movies on it (If I was a betting man, I'd say the other movies were Tremors and Police Academy, as I remember watching all three of those pretty regularly)

Anyway, I wanted to watch this again, and it looks like there are three versions available:

- Theatrical - 143 minutes
- Special Edition - 151 minutes
- Extended TV Cut - 188 minutes

I'd kind of like to see all three, which makes me disappointed that you can't buy them in a nice cheap bundle, but I'm definitely not interested enough to pay $41!

So... what shall it be, assuming I'll never get around to watching all three cuts... should I stick with the Theatrical? Or go all-out for the Extended? Or go for the middle ground with the SE?

POLL!

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Theatrical

I watched the special edition several years ago when the big DVD set came out and thought it was repetitive and disrupted the smooth pacing of the theatrical cut. It also felt overly long with the additional 10 minutes.

I’ve never seen the TV cut but aside from being curious about any additional added scenes I’d imagine it suffers even more from the above mentioned issues, only worse.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

The one with Martha in it.


Your order is best, theatrical, special edition, then extended.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

All are interesting, but the theatrical is perfection.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Theatrical. Haven't seen the SE in a while but did watch the Extended version when the Blu-ray came out and while interesting, didn't really do that much to advance either character or story.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

The theatrical is better than the extended but we’re talking about probably the most inoffensive altered cut of a movie ever. If the handful of additions in this movie get you all riled up and/or affect your enjoyment of this movie then odds are you’re just one of those OCD Blu-ray.com weirdos.

The extended TV cut, on the other hand, is a game-changer. It’s completely artless in its assembly, they clearly threw every piece of footage together to pad the runtime. I watched it for the first time on the recently-released Warner Archive Blu and the destruction of Krypton early in the film really sets the stage for all the tedious nonsense that follows. There comes a point where it feels like it’s gone on twice as long as the original version and then it goes on and triples and quadruples that original length. That’s what it feels like, at least, I wasn’t timing it.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Theatrical all the way. Director's and extended cuts usually are inferior to the theatrical cut (with the rare exception of Aliens).

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

And The Abyss (but I digress).

I also agree with the sentiment that the Theatrical is best. I have not yet watched the TV edit (other than when it aired when I was a kid). I plan to, but largely for curiosity sake.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

The Extended/TV edit is interesting if you're a big fan of the theatrical cut and want to see discarded footage woven back in as a bonus, but... the theatrical movie flows perfectly as is.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Yes this is the correct answer.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

TV cut is great. Its must see if you want more Lex and Tessmacher.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

what scenes are added for the tv cut?

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

There are little scenes here and there, and a whole subplot about native ranchers in California with Lois

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Plus you get to see Lex almost straight up murder Tessmacher at the end. Its an amusing scene.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Said no one ever.

I LOVE Gene Hackman but the Lex, Tessmacher, Otis stuff almost sinks the movie. Hackman could have played a great Lex Luthor on a 70s Superman...but he didn’t.

And don’t even get me started on Otis.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Theatrical cut. I'm a purist, what worked in 1978 still works.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

I like Lex and Tess :shrug:

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

The man speaks the 100% truth...the movie that started it all.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Did you all know Mario Puzo wrote the story and co-wrote Screenplay? Holy shit. I had no idea. That blows my mind frankly that I never caught on before.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Guess I’m in the minority but I usually watch the SE now. I like the added bits ie. Krypton and Luther’s booby traps when Kal is approaching his lair.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

He also did Superman II. And between Godfather and Godfather II he did the disaster movie Earthquake.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

I guess it makes sense that Don Corleone was Superman’s dad.

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

and what destroyed krypton was basically just a big earthquake. wait, puzo was a lazy hack!

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Sometimes you don't think of something right away. I wonder if there's a casting story there.

:lol:

Re: Superman (1978) - Which version to watch?
 

Well, he wrote a screenplay, and his name is on the film, but the person generally acknowledged to be responsible for what was actually shot is Tom Mankiewicz.