New Release: Superman The Motion Picture Anthology 1978-2006 Blu-ray

Superman Returns

As director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch) was preparing the new movie Superman: Man of Steel for its release in theaters in 2012, Warner Home Video gave fans a new Blu-ray set of the comic book superhero’s older films. Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1978-2006 was available on June 7, 2011.

Whether you prefer Christopher Reeve or Brandon Routh (sorry, Brandon, we do love you, but Christopher will always have our heart), both of their movies are in the set, with new high-definition film masters and DTS-HD sound.

Priced at $129.95, the Anthology is packaged in a nice-looking box that splits open behind the big S to reveal the discs in a red-cape-covered folder.

The eight-disc boxed set includes all the Superman movies so far: the original 1978 theatrical version of Superman: The Movie, the 2001 expanded edition of Superman: The Movie, the original 1980 theatrical version of Superman II, director Richard Donner’s cut of Superman II, 1983’s Superman III, 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and 2006’s Superman Returns.

Plus, the set contains 20 hours of bonus features, according to Warner, including the never-before-available original opening of Superman Returns. Also in the special features menu are two high-definition documentaries, Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman and The Science of Superman, as well as featurette You Will Believe, The Cinematic Saga of Superman, deleted scenes and more.

Here’s a breakdown of all the discs:

Disc One

• Superman: The Movie, original theatrical
• commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (original theatrical)
• The Making of Superman: The Movie [1978 TV special]
• Superman and the Mole-Men [1951 feature]
• Warner Bros. cartoons
• Super-Rabbit [1943 WB cartoon]
• Snafuperman [1944 WB cartoon]
• Stupor Duck [1956 WB cartoon]
• trailers

Disc Two

• 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
• Screen Tests
  • Superman
  • Lois Lane with optional commentary
  • Ursa
• selection of restored scenes
• additional music sues
• 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
  • Fleischer Studios’ Superman
  • 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 Four

• 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
• Famous Studios’ Superman
  • 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
• Requiem for Krypton: Making 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]
• You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
  • 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]

Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology also was made available for download.

Check out the trailer for this new Blu-ray set:

Buy or Rent Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology
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