Superman Returns - Fanedited by Booshman

[booshman]

Hey all, I've been working on a Superman Returns fanedit for about a year and it's about ready to be uploaded.

In preperation for editing Superman II in HD I wanted a project to work out a good workflow for HD editing, and what tools I would need to do so.

I loved the original cut of Superman Returns when I saw it 5 times in the cinema. Over the years since then I have become less enchanted by it, to the point where I found it difficult to watch the whole thing in one sitting. There are too many things that annoy me to really enjoy the film as I once did, so I've decided to remove as many of them as I can. These include Lois' bitching, some of Lex's more OTT moments, Smallville flashbacks, obvious and unecessary CGI. Also, the colour of the original film is terrible, so I've colour corrected the entire edit.

There will be a DVD and a Bluray release for the edit. The DVD is NTSC dual layer disc, with the option of DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, English subs. The Bluray is 1080p AVC with DTS-HD Master Audio, English subs.

Here's my edit list:

Superman Returns – Fanedit by Booshman
2hr 21 min

* WB/ Legendary Pictures/ DC.
* Superman Shield. (taken from trailer). A bit like Batman Begins/ TDK. No Credits
* RTK – House of El crest omitted.
* Martha at home, no Ben Hubbard, spaceship crashes.
* Lex on the yacht, alternate deleted scene with wig added.
* Lex in fortress, Jor-El dialogue heavily cut.
* Clark wakes up, family photos deleted scene partially re-inserted.
* Clark in the barn deleted scene. Reading at super speed cut.
* Replaced Kent post box shot with alternate from “Look Up in the Sky”.
* Clark/ Martha talk at home. Combination theatrical/ deleted scene. Martha dialogue trimmed. Ben Hubbard “you flew in last week” cut.
* Clark arrives at the Daily planet. Jimmy's cake and some dialogue cut.
* Clark and Jimmy talk to Jack Larson the barman, some dialogue cut.
* Blondie explains how the launch works, some Bosworth dialogue trimmed.
* Mission Control and blackout scenes run continuously, no train set.
* Clark leaves the bar without pause for thought. Shirt rip alternate angle from “Look Up in the Sky” inserted.
* Superman saves the 777, Lois faint cut.
* DP meeting, Perry's dialogue trimmed. "All that stuff".
* Clark meets Jason. References to frailty and inhaler removed. Awkwardness between Clark/ Lois trimmed.
* Lex reads the paper.
* Lois and Clark in the lift/ leave work. Super whistle for cab cut.
* Superman spotted above Metropolis, blatant CGI close-up removed.
Superman flies high and hovers above the Earth. Jor-El dialogue trimmed.
* Superman stops the rooftop gunner. Cop “Oh Sh...” removed.
* Kitty's car out of control/ visit to hospital/ museum robbery. Writers cameo removed.
* Perry's office. “I's a bird...” removed. Lois whining trimmed. Superman called as a witness cut.
* Lois goes back to her desk. “relationship?” removed.
* Kitty hits Lex, Lex inspects Kryptonite.
* Lois talks to Richard about Superman. Richard suspects Clark removed, other dialogue trims.
* Lois drops her bag. Clark glasses coming off removed.
* Lois interviews Superman. “I forgot how warm you are”, and “Who's Clark” removed.
* Night flight.
* Superman returns Lois to the roof. “I'm always around” removed.
* Lois returns to the office.
* Lois hands in Superman article to Perry.
* Superman finds his crystals are missing.
* Lois calls around about the blackout.
* Lois meets Lex on the boat. “you're bald” removed.
* Lex talks to Lois and Jason. Some dialogue trimmed.
* Richard call Jason’s school/ talks to Perry & Clark
* Lex explains his plan to Lois. Over the top moments removed. Alternate “Wrong” take used.
* Krypto-crystal launch/ piano duet. Brief blackout before crystal release removed.
* Lex stands and admires his handy-work. Train set reference removed.
* Jason launches the piano.
* Clark and Richard learn where Lois is and set off.
* Superman spots the cracked sea-bed and flies back to save Metropolis. Lois trying to escape with rolling pin removed.
* Super saves in Metropolis.
* Richard arrives to save Lois and Jason.
* Superman flies to Lex's new continent and get shanked.
* Superman in the water. Brando motivational dialogue removed.
* Richard and Lois save Superman.
* Superman raises the continent and falls to earth. Superman heart beat added.
* Perry prepares for the worst, Richard and Lois talk.
* Lois and Jason go to the hospital
* Lex on the tropical island. OTT laugh and “what will we eat” removed.
* Superman visits Jason.
* Lois sees Superman. Lois' “... around” removed.
* Superman flies above the city/ smiles at camera.
* End credits. Noel Neil/ Vanderworth family/ 15 year old Clark/ Hospital theatre staff removed. Reeve dedication first followed by cast. Score swapped, Superman theme is last.

Here's an example of the colour correction.
vimeo.com/37358885

[Valentine Smith]

Wow! Looking forward to this!

[matt]

Good work! Amazing color restoration! Like editing decisions!

[Paul (ral)]

I've always been willing to give SR another chance if it was re-coloured and edited.

I'll definitely give this a watch!

[ye5man]

Score swapped, Superman theme is last.

Good idea; ends upbeat.

I'd trim most of the beating scene. Clearly not what Superman is about.

[booshman]

Feb 25, 2012 22:10:27 GMT -5 Valentine Smith said:

Wow! Looking forward to this!

Feb 25, 2012 22:14:33 GMT -5 matt said:

Good work! Amazing color restoration! Like editing decisions!

Feb 26, 2012 7:05:59 GMT -5 Paul (ral) said:

I've always been willing to give SR another chance if it was re-coloured and edited.

I'll definitely give this a watch!

Cheers dudes!

Feb 26, 2012 8:25:27 GMT -5 ye5man said:

Score swapped, Superman theme is last.

Good idea; ends upbeat.

I'd trim most of the beating scene. Clearly not what Superman is about.

I changed the score mainly becaude I didn't want the score being to upbeat while the Reeve dedications were going past.

The beating scene is left as was. Supes gets his arse handed to him.

[Metallo]

Feb 26, 2012 8:51:14 GMT -5 booshman said:

The beating scene is left as was. Supes gets his arse handed to him.

That was one thing I liked so I'm glad you left it in. It wasn't much different to me than Clarks beating in the diner in SII just worse. The points different in each instance but in both he's humbled.

Its certainly supposed to be uncomfortable. The scenes about a "god" who tastes mortal suffering and doesn't understand how to cope with it. Gods aren't supposed to bleed, right? It shows Superman as not a god but he's not exactly a man either. Very mythical or biblical in someways. Even Jesus endured the crucifixion and the film is has other allegorical moments like that. So did the Donner films.

Its also the one scene that shows the balls Lex should have in the whole movie. People complain about Spacey's Lex being too corny well this wasn't the shyster/huckster/used car salesmen Luthor. This was an evil cold blooded Lex Luthor.

It also shows just how PISSED OFF Lex is after Superman f***ed with him. Shows his arrogance. Made more sense to me than most of the other corny stuff they had Spacey doing at times.

Its certainly what this particular Lex Luthor should be about.

[monkeymagic]

I like how you made the colours more 'vibrant'. They look so flat and urgh in the original. When you corrected them, they look natural. Kudos, keep up the good work.

[crazy_asian_man]

That was one thing I liked so I'm glad you left it in. It wasn't much different to me than Clarks beating in the diner in SII just worse. The points different in each instance but in both he's humbled.

Its certainly supposed to be uncomfortable. The scenes about a "god" who tastes mortal suffering and doesn't understand how to cope with it. Gods aren't supposed to bleed, right? It shows Superman as not a god but he's not exactly a man either. Very mythical or biblical in someways. Even Jesus endured the crucifixion and the film is has other allegorical moments like that. So did the Donner films.

Its also the one scene that shows the balls Lex should have in the whole movie. People complain about Spacey's Lex being too corny well this wasn't the shyster/huckster/used car salesmen Luthor. This was an evil cold blooded Lex Luthor.

It also shows just how PISSED OFF Lex is after Superman f***ed with him. Shows his arrogance. Made more sense to me than most of the other corny stuff they had Spacey doing at times.

Its certainly what this particular Lex Luthor should be about.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

If the film was geared more as a family film, then, yes- the story chosen was too intense, (but then was "Xmen" really a family film?) but this really was a film that was more in the 'Dark Knight' direction than the 'Back to the Future' direction.

[crazy_asian_man]

Superman Returns – Fanedit by Booshman2hr 21 min

* WB/ Legendary Pictures/ DC.
* Superman Shield. (taken from trailer). A bit like Batman Begins/ TDK. No Credits
* RTK – House of El crest omitted.
* Martha at home, no Ben Hubbard, spaceship crashes.
* Lex on the yacht, alternate deleted scene with wig added.
* Lex in fortress, Jor-El dialogue heavily cut.
* Clark wakes up, family photos deleted scene partially re-inserted.
* Clark in the barn deleted scene. Reading at super speed cut.
* Replaced Kent post box shot with alternate from “Look Up in the Sky”.
* Clark/ Martha talk at home. Combination theatrical/ deleted scene. Martha dialogue trimmed. Ben Hubbard “you flew in last week” cut.
* Clark arrives at the Daily planet. Jimmy's cake and some dialogue cut.
* Clark and Jimmy talk to Jack Larson the barman, some dialogue cut.
* Blondie explains how the launch works, some Bosworth dialogue trimmed.
* Mission Control and blackout scenes run continuously, no train set.
* Clark leaves the bar without pause for thought. Shirt rip alternate angle from “Look Up in the Sky” inserted.
* Superman saves the 777, Lois faint cut.
* DP meeting, Perry's dialogue trimmed. "All that stuff".
* Clark meets Jason. References to frailty and inhaler removed. Awkwardness between Clark/ Lois trimmed.
* Lex reads the paper.
* Lois and Clark in the lift/ leave work. Super whistle for cab cut.
* Superman spotted above Metropolis, blatant CGI close-up removed.
Superman flies high and hovers above the Earth. Jor-El dialogue trimmed.
* Superman stops the rooftop gunner. Cop “Oh Sh...” removed.
* Kitty's car out of control/ visit to hospital/ museum robbery. Writers cameo removed.
* Perry's office. “I's a bird...” removed. Lois whining trimmed. Superman called as a witness cut.
* Lois goes back to her desk. “relationship?” removed.
* Kitty hits Lex, Lex inspects Kryptonite.
* Lois talks to Richard about Superman. Richard suspects Clark removed, other dialogue trims.
* Lois drops her bag. Clark glasses coming off removed.
* Lois interviews Superman. “I forgot how warm you are”, and “Who's Clark” removed.
* Night flight.
* Superman returns Lois to the roof. “I'm always around” removed.
* Lois returns to the office.
* Lois hands in Superman article to Perry.
* Superman finds his crystals are missing.
* Lois calls around about the blackout.
* Lois meets Lex on the boat. “you're bald” removed.
* Lex talks to Lois and Jason. Some dialogue trimmed.
* Richard call Jason’s school/ talks to Perry & Clark
* Lex explains his plan to Lois. Over the top moments removed. Alternate “Wrong” take used.
* Krypto-crystal launch/ piano duet. Brief blackout before crystal release removed.
* Lex stands and admires his handy-work. Train set reference removed.
* Jason launches the piano.
* Clark and Richard learn where Lois is and set off.
* Superman spots the cracked sea-bed and flies back to save Metropolis. Lois trying to escape with rolling pin removed.
* Super saves in Metropolis.
* Richard arrives to save Lois and Jason.
* Superman flies to Lex's new continent and get shanked.
* Superman in the water. Brando motivational dialogue removed.
* Richard and Lois save Superman.
* Superman raises the continent and falls to earth. Superman heart beat added.
* Perry prepares for the worst, Richard and Lois talk.
* Lois and Jason go to the hospital
* Lex on the tropical island. OTT laugh and “what will we eat” removed.
* Superman visits Jason.
* Lois sees Superman. Lois' “... around” removed.
* Superman flies above the city/ smiles at camera.
* End credits. Noel Neil/ Vanderworth family/ 15 year old Clark/ Hospital theatre staff removed. Reeve dedication first followed by cast. Score swapped, Superman theme is last.

Here's an example of the colour correction.
vimeo.com/37358885

I've created a DVD and Bluray cover, but I need a text blurb for the back, if anyone fancies there hand at writing a small synopsis for the rear cover.

Neat to read the changes you want to make on the film, but I'm really suprised by a number of the things that bugged you about the film- there were a number of things listed that I actually liked in the film.

(Though I can understand why you wanted to delete Jor-el. At times it feels shoehorned in too much-- there should have been ONE scene where they were able to blend Routh's Superman talking directly to Jorel, for it to work better.)

There are a couple of moments that underwhelmed me, ("It's deadly....to him.") but overall if I ever made a cut, it'd most likely just be an extended version with the deleted stuff put back in. (Most especially the RTK bit).

Pity that there weren't more deleted scenes made available, the documentary suggested there were a lot more.... *sigh*

[Metallo]

I don't know if it was in the Dark Knight direction but I see what you're saying. Something more dramatic and character driven than light hearted. It was certainly intended to be a more serious look at the personal elements behind the myth. But its still dealing with those broad strokes too.

Thats why I say its about humbling a god. Killing a god. Lex even compares Superman and Krypton's advancement to Prometheus.

Prometheus is a Titan. What did the Olympians do to the Titans so they could have power? Thats why Lex's talk of Prometheus pays off later with Superman's beating. heck Superman holding the Daily Planet Globe reminded me of that OTHER Titan Atlas.

But we also see Superman presented as man and god and caught somewhere in between. Like Hercules or Jesus.

Superman always always ALWAYS had mythic and religious elements. Some people just play them up more than others. But you can trace a line from the stories of Hercules, Gilgamesh, Sampson, Moses, and Jesus right to Superman. It has many of the same elements. I think El is even Semetic for God.

The elements are there in SR but I think a re edit adding and taking out some scenes could really shine this movie up. But that would only do so much. The ideas are there but the script wasn't strong enough.

But SR does have some Shakespearean/biblical/greek myth element in common with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne the prince of Gotham, son of a murdered father? Sounds familiar to me. Some people have called DC's heroes a "pantheon" for years.

[Valentine Smith]

I'm with 'Tallo. I don't mind the Supes Prison Beatdown. The only reason it sticks out so badly in SR is that there isn't a comparably HEROIC/TRIUMPHANT Supes moment to balance it out.

[Metallo]

Feb 26, 2012 12:02:20 GMT -5 Valentine Smith said:

I'm with 'Tallo. I don't mind the Supes Prison Beatdown. The only reason it sticks out so badly in SR is that there isn't a comparably HEROIC/TRIUMPHANT Supes moment to balance it out.

Exactly.

After the death there is usually the triumphant optimistic resurrection. Watch the end of Robocop. The end of SR didn't have an epic enough final showdown between Lex and Superman where Superman looks properly heroic when it was over.

[Valentine Smith]

Too bad you couldn't edit the kid completely out of the movie.

[Metallo]

If MOS had been a prequel to SR that would have fixed the problem of all the corners they put themselves in. The same way First Class got around the corners the X-men films were in after Last Stand.

Obviously WB was going to go in a different direction because SR didn't make enough money but from a storytelling perspective its the best fix I can think of that doesn't require a reboot.

The Death and Return of Superman is a story a lot of people remember fondly and it has the most violent beating Superman's ever taken. Through a lot of it he's the underdog just taking it. But it works because the whole story has a great arc and exciting payoff at the end. Kids loved it. They weren't bothered by the violence. I certainly wasn't.

When people complain that SR is too much like STM Lex's beating of Superman is one instance where it tries not to be. It tries to bring something new to the table as well as raise the stakes for a modern superhero film. It just didn't have an exciting payoff.

[Valentine Smith]

Yeah, but then we'd still be stuck with JarJar Bosworth.

I like the idea of using the Donner films as a "vague history", but unfortunately, it left too many unanswered questions. DID Superman II happen? (according to the SR novelization by none other than Marv Wolfman, it did not) Do we even WANT SIII and SIV to even potentially be part of the continuity of a new Superman franchise?

I'm perfectly happy to look at SR as the end of the Donnerverse incarnation of Superman. When I set aside my feelings about what a wrong idea it is to give Superman a kid, I'm able to see it as a nice ending. The Jor-El speech he gives at the end I've always felt was a nice touch, and genuinely moved me when I saw it in the theater. I didn't start resenting the brat until I realized that his presence so genuinely hamstrung the mythos that a reboot was inevitable.

Not only that, but since the makers of SR were hampered by budget restrictions (again, SR is in no way a 200 million dollar film), they felt that the only way they could make an impact/do something memorable was to do something as drastic as the child angle. "Oh, we don't have the money to have a real supervillain in this movie because you idiot suits have already spent all this money on three other movies that never got finished? Well...ummmm...people sure will remember this!" It's arrogance on both sides of the equation. It didn't help that the writers of SR clearly knew nothing about the character other than what was shown in the Reeve films.

I don't see it as any great loss. I would have loved to see Routh get another crack at the role. I think he's the only person involved in that movie who gave a damn. Everyone else on screen (with the possible exception of Jimmy Olsen) was just collecting a paycheck. It would have been nice to see Routh grow into the role and make it his own, maybe under another director with more vision, and with a script written by people who actually understand Superman.

[Metallo]

Feb 26, 2012 12:26:47 GMT -5 Valentine Smith said:

Yeah, but then we'd still be stuck with JarJar Bosworth.

I like the idea of using the Donner films as a "vague history", but unfortunately, it left too many unanswered questions. DID Superman II happen? (according to the SR novelization by none other than Marv Wolfman, it did not) Do we even WANT SIII and SIV to even potentially be part of the continuity of a new Superman franchise?

You could say the same thing about First Class and its relationship to Last Stand and Wolverine. It TOTALLY contradicts those movies with some scenes. But most people don't seem to care so much. I know you've said you like Last Stand.

Some people think First Class was a soft reboot that will eventually go in its own direction even contradicting Singers films. Vaughn has said he may not be beholden to every detail of Singers films.

Xavier says he and Magneto built Cerebro in X1 but I didn't see Charles and Erik build Cerebro in First Class. Beast did. So its already is doing its own thing. A SR prequel could have done the same thing. Basically an alternate reality thats similar to the Reeve films but different could have played out. That immediately fixes any problems with the Reeve continuity. Thats why Singer probably called it a vague history in the first place. Its vaguely similar but not the some.

He wouldn't have been the first or last guy to do what I'm talking about.

Bosworth could have been recast. Most people wouldn't give a damn.

[ye5man]

Feb 26, 2012 12:15:13 GMT -5 Metallo said:

The Death and Return of Superman is a story a lot of people remember fondly and it has the most violent beating Superman's ever taken. .

I've been thinking about that. Problem is in Death of, Superman is actively fighting and not powerless under Kryptonite, plus the comic book format distils the violence. When you see it happen literally on screen, larger than life, it becomes disturbing.

Just too much.

It was only there to reference the crucifixion and served no real purpose to the story. Just throw him into the water (ripping off STM again) already

[Metallo]

Feb 26, 2012 13:06:16 GMT -5 ye5man said:

Feb 26, 2012 12:15:13 GMT -5 Metallo said:

I've been thinking about that. Problem is in Death of, Superman is actively fighting and not powerless under Kryptonite, plus the comic book format distils the violence. When you see it happen literally on screen, larger than life, it becomes disturbing.

Just too much.

It was only there to reference the crucifixion and served no real purpose to the story. Just throw him into the water (ripping off STM again) already

Thats the point its supposed to be unsettling. The purpose Superman's torture goes RIGHT back to Luthors story of Prometheus and Luthors revenge. Luthor even calls him Superman a god thus drawing the parallel.

It shows Luthors ruthlessness and a trial that Superman has to endure. Lex trying to kill him. Like I said its basically Lex's idea of an Olympian bumping off the Titans. Thats how he sees himself. A powerful figure taking over. One of the biggest complaints ever lodged at Superman is that he's too godlike and unhurtable. He's not human enough. Luthors goons beating him shows a more dangerous side of Luthor as well as a more vulnerable human side to Superman. An arrogant villain like Lex Luthor would want to humiliate and kill Superman to get him out of the way. Why wouldn't he? At this point its personal. And when its personal people are always more vicious.

Its not ONLY about the crucifixion but the trial every mythic hero endures and Superman is a modern day mythic hero.

Jesus is an optimistic bringer of peace too but that doesn't mean he didn't go through his disturbing suffering.

After Sampson gets his hair cut and loses his powers what do the Philistines do to him? They TORTURE him.

As far as the violence itself there's very little gore in SR so its not particularly disturbing on a visual level. When Lex stabs him we don't even see the shank go in. People have had a lot of problems with SR but I've never seen that lodged as a major one by most people. Other comic book movies have shown far worse than that in terms of disturbing violence. SR came out in 2006 so of course the ante is going to be upped. People say its too much like STM but when it tries to be more modern they complain. Makes no sense to me.

Modern audiences aren't going to be disturbed by something like that so I'm not sure were you're coming from by saying its too much.

Speaking specifically Superman comic vs Superman movie you'd have a point if the Death of Superman hadn't been clamored for as a film for years. Even comparing the SR beating to the Death of Superman beating its STILL not anywhere near as violent or gory. Far more of Superman's own blood was shed and he died in the end. SR's beating was just as much about showing an emotional helplessness as it was a physical one. But we don't see a lot of gore or wounds.

Considering Snyder's track record you can expect a LOT more violence in MOS. Its not going to be some lighthearted adventure either when it comes to action or violence. They didn't hire him to make a kid gloves drama.

[Valentine Smith]

Again, it wouldn't even be an issue of Supes ever had something to let off some steam on. If, say, he received this severe and disturbing beating, but then had to take out Lex piloting a 10 story tall robot after getting rid of New Krypton, the beating WOULD serve a purpose, and we'd get to see Superman get a few licks in (without, y'know, killing somebody) later on.

as it is, Supes gets his ass handed to him, nearly dies lifting something heavy, and then tells the mother of his child that it's totally OK with him that she's gonna keep SLEEPING WITH HER BOSS'S NEPHEW.

I mean, for fuck's sake, can Supes catch a break in this movie? Can we PLEASE have a reason to cheer for him instead of feel sorry for him?

[Metallo]

Feb 26, 2012 14:24:18 GMT -5 Valentine Smith said:

Again, it wouldn't even be an issue of Supes ever had something to let off some steam on. If, say, he received this severe and disturbing beating, but then had to take out Lex piloting a 10 story tall robot after getting rid of New Krypton, the beating WOULD serve a purpose, and we'd get to see Superman get a few licks in (without, y'know, killing somebody) later on.

as it is, Supes gets his ass handed to him, nearly dies lifting something heavy, and then tells the mother of his child that it's totally OK with him that she's gonna keep SLEEPING WITH HER BOSS'S NEPHEW.

I mean, for fuck's sake, can Supes catch a break in this movie? Can we PLEASE have a reason to cheer for him instead of feel sorry for him?

Thats the problem. Not the violence. A lot of people would eat up a Death of Superman movie if it was well done. The violence wouldn't even be an issue.

Spider-man 3 is a movie aimed at children and the violence in that was much worse than in SR. Sandman hammering Peter almost to death? Harry getting impaled by his own Goblin Glider? Venom getting blown to bits? The kids didn't give a damn. They ate ALL that up. It had more action.

[ye5man]

as it is, Supes gets his ass handed to him, nearly dies lifting something heavy, and then tells the mother of his child that it's totally OK with him that she's gonna keep SLEEPING WITH HER BOSS'S NEPHEW.

I mean, for fuck's sake, can Supes catch a break in this movie? Can we PLEASE have a reason to cheer for him instead of feel sorry for him?

LOL!! I never felt he deserved to look into the camera at the end. Kind of the same feeling when the heroic theme plays at the end of Star Trek 5

[Valentine Smith]

Incidentally, it's not that there's anything necessarily wrong with any one of those things (alright...except maybe the brat), but in context and in sequence, it's pretty rough going.

[Metallo]

The kids a terrible idea when you're trying to start (or restart) a franchise. Something like that should be saved for the end.

Its as dumb as introducing Gwen Stacy last and not doing anything with her.

Or introducing Darksied in a year long build only to have his ass handed to him in the blink of an eye.

About the only thing I can say about Jason White was that the little actor acted like a normal kid. He wasn't some creepy wannabe grown up or an annoying little snot like Jake Lloyd, the kid from Legend of Zorro, or the kid from Mummy 2.

[Jor-L5150]

Interested in watching this... like the color change. (Will never understand sr's color pallette ).

Hang around. We will almost certainly need help with man of steel.