The Superman Motion Picture Anthology 1978-2006 [Blu-ray] [1978] [Region Free]

***WARNING***
My review of this Blu Ray collection has been duplicated by Amazon so it appears on 2 products.The review I originally posted was for the 8 disc version which has the case with the Superman symbol in the middle with the Fortress of Solitude in the background and uses this product link The Complete Superman Collection [Blu-ray] [1978][Region Free]. This is the edition you want if you want all the extra goodies - because i don't own the other collection I can't tell you what is missing in terms of extras in the 5 disc package though from reading various comments i understand that this package doesn't have the extended cuts of the films and i am guessing more of the extras are missing too!When you think about is a three disc difference in the two packages so i would guess quite a lot is missing from the 5 disc set. Incidentally the 5 disc set has the Superman symbol on a PLAIN BLACK BACKGROUND and it's product link is Superman Complete Collection (5-disc Edition) [Blu-ray] [1978][Region Free].
My personal recommendation is to go for the 8 disc edition as it contains a huge amount of extras as listed in the main review below, and is only slightly more expensive than the 5 disc version. I apologise to anyone who accidentally bought the 5 disc version on the strength of my review - it is purely down to Amazon duplicating the review and not me posting it twice.

***MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE CORRECT EDITION FOR YOU***

This is an amazing Blu Ray package and one I would recommend to any Superman fan.
For a start, there are 8 discs included in this set absolutely packed with all the films so far - Superman I(theatrical release),Superman I (expanded edition) Superman II (cinematic version), Superman II (the Richard Donner cut), Superman III, Superman IV and Superman Returns. So, before you even get into all the extras, this package is an absolute bargain (just over £4 per Blu ray disc is amazing!).
One issue that has been posted in the discussion regarding this blu ray is the fact that the discs all have Spanish printed on them. However, the rest of the packaging and the playback of the blu ray discs are ALL in English - so fear not! Also, the title denoting which disc it is, is very hard to find on the actual disc (it is in tiny writing around the edge) and this makes it a little annoying when trying to separate the two versions of Superman:The Movie, and the two versions of Superman II (cinematic release, and the Richard Donner cut). But ultimately, this makes no difference to me and didn't frustrate me in the slightest - so don't let this very minor niggle put you off!
For those of you who already own the DVD version of this set, Superman - The Ultimate Collection [DVD] I can honestly say that it is worth upgrading to this Blu Ray version. All the extra features in the DVD collection have been transferred to the Blu Ray version, and with a couple of extra goodies that haven't been seen before on a collection. These include Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve, The Science of Superman, and most notably the unseen start to Superman Returns. This has never been released, and for the ultra-fan is probably going to be the place to start. Without spoiling what goes on, this sequence shows Superman returning to the destroyed fragments of Krypton.
I am not completely au fait with all the technical aspects of what these Blu Ray discs play like - so I can't talk about aspect ratios, frame rates or sound specifics, I am afraid. However, I can tell you that all the films have been lovingly cleaned up on Blu Ray. They all look fantastic - very clean, precise and rich in colour, and if you compare the quality of the films to the prints contained in the deleted scenes section of the discs you will see what I mean.
The packaging is of a high quality too - my copy arrived with all the discs securely attached,and unlike some boxed sets, I expect this to last a very long time without falling apart.
I am a huge Superman fan. Superman: The Movie is the first film I can remember going to see at the cinema (showing my age now!) and it was an amazing experience for me back then in 1978(is it really that long ago now??!!), and this blu ray collection brings it all back to me. It is great to see the films so lovingly restored. Warner Bros deserve a lot of credit for producing a package of this quality.
If you loved these films, you will definitely want to own this box set. If you are a Superman fan, you will simply HAVE to own this set - buy it now, and don't even stop to think about it! These are great family films to own too, so if you want a collection that can be pulled out on a Sunday afternoon, this is well worth investing in.
Obviously, all the films aren't perfect in their content, style, scripting or even their effects and Superman IV The Quest for Peace is still an appalling film (right up there with Batman and Robin), but when they are good, they are something special to watch. Without Superman The Movie, there probably wouldn't have been other comic book adaptations - it set the bar very high for what was to come.

Okay, that is the main part of my review. In my opinion, it is an essential Blu Ray box set to own and I can't give it anything less than five stars.
The highlights for me are the reproduction quality of all the films ; Superman has NEVER looked so good. The huge amount of featurettes and documentaries are worthy of praise. Superman II the Directors Cut is a gem (see what the film would have been like had Richard Donner been allowed to direct the sequel). And to see the previously unreleased sequence at the start of Superman Returns, was a very interesting watch.

At the bottom of this review is a full list of all the languages on each disc - spoken and subtitles.

Below is a complete list of what is contained on each disc - to give you a/ a feel for how much is contained within this set and b/ for the fans to compare with what was contained in the aforementioned Superman : Ultimate Collection on Dvd. Hope this helps!

Disc 1 - Superman the Movie: Original theatrical release. Commentary by the producers, Tv special Making of documentary, 1651 theatrical feature Superman and the Mole men starring George Reeves, classic cartoons Suepr-Rabbit, Snafuperman and Stupor duck, Tv spot and theatrical trailers

Disc 2 - Superman the Movie : Expanded Edition, commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz, Restored scenes, additional deleted scenes, screen tests, music only audio track, audio only bonus : additional music cues, 3 documentaries :Taking Flight(developing Superman), Filming the Legend and the Magic Behind the Cape.

Disc 3 Superman II: Original Theatrical release, commentary by the producers, tv special Making of documentary, additional scenes, featurette First Flight :The Fleischer Superman series, 9 Fleischer Superman cartoons, Theatrical trailer

Disc 4 Superman II : 2006 Richard Donner Cut, commentary by the director, introduction by Richard Donner, featurette Superman II Restoring the Vision, additional scenes, 8 1940s cartoons

Disc 5 Superman III , commentary by the producers, tv special Making of, Additional scenes, theatrical trailer

Disc 6 Superman IV The Quest for Peace, commentary by co-screenwriter, vintage tv special Supermans 50th Anniversary, additional scenes, theatrical trailer.

Disc 7 Superman Returns, 9 documentaries on how the film was developed, and evolved, Resurrecting Jor-El (as played originally by Marlon Brando), additional scenes (including the previously unseen opening of Superman's return to Krypton), theatrical trailers, Bryan Singers video journals.

Disc 8 All Documentaries and Featurettes :Look, Up in the Sky! the Amazing Story of Superman, feature length documentary in 5 parts : Origin (Superman in the Media and the challenges the Salkinds faced), Vision (creating the script, choosing the right direct and the right cast), Ascent(production and launch of a new kind of a fantasy film), Crisis (complications and conflicts between the creative forces of Superman II) and Redemption (criticisms and burnout of Superman III and Superman IV).TV documentary Science of Superman, Mythology of Superman: Legend, folklore and cultural influences that shaped Superman, Heart of a Hero: tribute to Christopher Reeve, Adventures of Superpup 1958 Tv pilot

Languages on the Discs

Extended Superman I
Spoken - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian

Theatrical Superman I
Spoken - English 5.1, English 2. Read more ›

The superman films have always had significant meaning for me as along with He Man were my staple diet of superhero nutriion as I was growing up.
This box set therefore in my opinion is absolutley fantastic. The only thing I dont understand is why I didnt buy it sooner.

Great quality sound and visuals, only let down by Superman IV(Which I remember seeing at the cinema aged 6). The storyline and the cost cutting production I am sure was an embarrassment for all involved.

Apart from that the extra features and the restoration of the first three films and the inclusion of Superman Returns (which was harshly treated by critics and fans)is great value for money. The box packaging is also great with the only negative being the Spanish script on the discs.

Why buy it?

Christopher Reeve is terrific as Superman/Kent in the first three films and his portrayal has stood the test of time. Superman II in my opinion is the best of all of the films included in this set. It is a fantastic story of romance and good old fashioned good v evil with Reeve adding another dimension to the dilemma of Superman as he becomes mortal.

The Donner cut again is an excellent addition with the extra scenes of Brando a real treat and is really how the original Superman II should have been released back in 1980. It is worth buying this set just for the Donner cut and the featurettes so go on you wont regret it.

The best box set money can buy!

This could well be the best blu ray box set that I own. Not only does it feature all five Superman movies in stunning HD, but it also includes the expanded edition of Superman The Movie and the Richard Donner Cut of Superman II. As for the special features - they are some of the most comprehensive that I have ever seen. If you have even just a passing interest in the Superman movies, then buy this now. At £27 it is well worth the money.