It'll still be a while until we see how the latest cinematic reboot of Superman fares under the stewardship of director Zack Snyder, but in the mean time Warner Bros. has good news for fans looking to revisit the previous films in style. Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology will be hitting Blu-ray on June 7th, collecting all five films, two alternate versions, and some 20-odd hours of bonus features. The eight-disc set will list for $129.95, and includes new high-def transfers for each of the flicks.
The date is obviously timed to tie into fellow DC hero Green Lantern's first foray onto the big screen ten days later, and in fact the set will include a Movie Cash coupon good for up to eight bucks off a ticket to check out Hal Jordan and his power ring.
Of course, this all begs the question: was anybody out there actually clamoring for copies of Superman III and IV on Blu-ray? I mean, I'm no great fan of Superman Returns, but at least it looks spectacular in high-def. Do we really need to be able to count every hair in Nuclear Man's fission-powered mullet? Most fans of the early Super-flicks have probably already picked up the first and/or second films on Blu-ray, and even if they haven't, I'm not sure how many folks will want to drop $130 on a set that includes several movies they don't care about. But hey, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm underestimating the number of Superman III fans out there. I mean, I wouldn't mind watching Richard Pryor ski down the side of that building again.
Disc #1
- Superman: The Movie, Original Theatrical
- Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (Original Theatrical Version)
- The Making of Superman: The Movie [1978 TV special]
- Superman and the Mole-Men [1951 feature]
- Super-Rabbit [1943 WB cartoon]
- Snafuperman [1944 WB cartoon]
- Stupor Duck [1956 WB cartoon]
- Trailers
Disc #2
- Superman: The Movie, Expanded Edition
- Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz (Extended Version)
- Taking Flight: The Development of Superman
- Making Superman: Filming the Legend
- The Magic Behind the Cape
- Superman
- Lois Lane with Optional Commentary
- Ursa
- A Selection of Restored Scenes
- Main Titles
- Alternate Main Titles
- The Council’s Decision
- The Krypton Quake
- More Mugger/Introducing Otis
- Air Force One
- Can You Read My Mind (Pop Version)
- Music Only Track (Donner Cut)
Disc Three
- Superman II, Original Theatrical
- Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (Original Theatrical Version)
- The Making of Superman II [1980 TV special]
- Deleted Scene
- First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series
- Superman
- The Mechanical Monsters
- Billion Dollar Limited
- The Arctic Giant
- The Bulleteers
- The Magnetic Telescope
- Electric Earthquake
- Volcano
- Terror on the Midway
- Theatrical Trailer
Disc #4
- Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut
- Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz (Donner Cut)
- Introduction by Richard Donner
- Superman II: Restoring the Vision
- Deleted Scenes
- Japoteurs
- Showdown
- Eleventh Hour
- Destruction, Inc.
- The Mummy Strikes
- Jungle Drums
- The Underground World
- Secret Agent
Disc Five
- Superman III Theatrical Version
- Commentary by Iilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
- The Making of Superman III (1983 TV Special)
- Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
Disc Six
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Theatrical Version
- Commentary by Mark Rosenthal
- Superman 50th Anniversary Special (1988 TV Special)
- Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
Disc Seven
- Superman Returns
- Pt. 1 Secret Origins and First Issues: Crystallizing Superman
- Pt. 2 The Crystal Method: Designing Superman
- Pt. 3 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman --Superman on the Farm
- Pt. 4 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman -- Superman in the City
- Pt. 5 An Affinity for Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman -- Superman in Peril
- Pt. 6 The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman
- Pt. 7 He’s Always Around: Wrapping Superman
- Resurrecting Jor-El
- Deleted Scenes including the never-before-seen original opening to Superman Returns
- Bryan Singer’s Journals -- Video production journals
- Trailers
Disc Eight -- Additional Bonus Material
- Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman [Hi-Def]
- Pt. 1 -- Origin
- Pt. 2 -- Vision
- Pt. 3 -- Ascent
- Pt. 4 -- Crisis
- Pt. 5 -- Redemption
- The Science of Superman [Hi-Def]
- The Mythology of Superman
- The Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve
- The Adventures of Superpup [1958 TV pilot]
