KNEEL BEFORE ZOD

[monkeymagic]

Hi folks, as a member of the BFI and checking their website for May, General Zod i.e. Terrance Stamp will be there. They are also showing the 'Donner Cut' on the big screen. All part of their 'Terrance Stamp' season. Link is below:
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/terence-stamp
If anyone fancies meeting up for any of these, give me a shout. The BFI is good for getting autographs. Notable ones I have got my mitts on are Diana Rigg and Charles Dance.

[theoj]

They are showing the theatrical cut as well as the Donner cut.
I might have to go to The Donner cut (although I do prefer the theatrical cut as that's the one I've grown up with) but feel compelled to see the Donner cut on the big screen.
It better be on Screen 1!

[Martin-El]

Real shame the Super-screenings and Stamp Q&A aren't the same day- talk about a great occasion for a meet-up...

[crazy_asian_man]

Although Stamp has a gigantic film resume..... I wonder how often (in relation to other works) he gets mentioned in person for his work as Zod?

After all, I was amazed that Donner mentioned that (after all these years) he gets called out most for his work on Goonies rather than Superman (or even his Lethal Weapon series)...

[theoj]

I can't resist going to the BFI Southbank (Screen 1) for The Richard Donner Cut on 9th May!

Who's going?

[ye5man]

Sarah Douglas is going too


Bollocks, I can't make it

[crazy_asian_man]

Sarah Douglas is going too

Bollocks, I can't make it

Stamp and Douglas?
That's got to be fun. I don't think I've ever seen either one at a convention, though... too bad.

[monkeymagic]

Is anyone here going on Thursday? Would be good to meet up with fellow posters.

[theoj]

I'll be there tonight, wearing a very old Superman T-shirt (bought in 1994 but not found since!) which looks like Clark's hands ripping open a shirt and revealing the S underneath!

...and just got back from Star Trek 2 - amazing!!

Oh wow...Sarah Douglas is going to be there!!!

[theoj]

TERENCE STAMP IS HERE TOO!!!

[theoj]

Stamp and Douglas gave a great little intro to the movie with stories of how they got the parts and how wonderful Donner was as a director.

Stamp in particular was brilliant and on his way off the stage he bent down and kneeled to the crowd!

He told a great story of his time in India when he hadn't worked for 7 years and suddenly got a telegram to his hotel which said "new Superman film, scenes with Marlon Brando", and he came back to England and it restarted his career.

Then he also told the classic story of getting into the part and putting Jack O' Halloran in his place on the set. He said Jack was a pretty ferocious guy and quite intimidating and he told him "when we are on set, I am the General" and one day when he came onto the set and he was ready for the scene, he heard Jack telling his usual long winded stories to some guy and delaying the shoot so Stamp shouted "Jack you bastard! Get over here now!" and Jack immediately walked onto set obeying his General's every word!!

Douglas was lovely too. She only had great things to say about Stamp and Donner and Reeve and Kidder and even Lester too. She said how she got the part as a young, feisty 27 year old Brit who thought she knew everything and went into the audition and just acted like a bitch in front of Donner and that's what basically got her the part!

The film itself did not hold up well on the big screen.
The wires showed, the new additional effects looked even worse, you could clearly see the body doubles, everything looked much more dated and only served to set itself apart even more from STM which is really a class above and retains all the magic and wonder whereas the sequel seems to be fading with time.

Yes the Lester theatrical version is of course better than the Donner Cut because the Donner Cut is an unfinished piece of work and is better suited to a fanboy DVD viewing.
But either way, I would say Superman 2 is a lot weaker than the first movie, it is dating badly and I would go as far as saying that many scenes in Superman 3 are better than 2!
(I'm talking about Reeve's scenes only!)

Anyway, I don't think I'll watch The Donner Cut again or not for a very long time.
Lester's Superman 2 is the version I grew up with and love still, though not half as much as STM.

And watching what was at the time supposed to be an action packed "the adventure continues" Superman sequel only highlighted the need for a modern retelling of the Superman story and some up to date action and effects in Man of Steel.
Lets hope it delivers!

Terence Stamp was and is still brilliant in any version of Superman 2 though!

[monkeymagic]

Not much I can add to that! I was also in the audience as well and that pretty much sums up what went on. The BFI film notes were a bit inaccurate in that they listed Susannah York as being in the film when she wasn't. I do agree that the body doubles for Reeve was more blatant and noticeable on the big screen.

In particular the opening with Clark's 'Lois what have you done'. It was very clear that wasn't Reeve and also during the depowering scenes. I managed to get Sarah Douglas to sign two things. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get Zod's but I had it before so not too disappointed.

When Sarah and Terrance's names flashed onscreen during the opening titles there was applause from the audience. During autograph signing Sarah asked if there would be a showing of the Conan film she was in. The only real gripe I had is that the film was shown so late in the evening. The other thing to note is that Stamp selected the film for showing as part of a film season tributed to him. Apparently it's not been shown 'on film' previously and Stamp had to contact the Head of WB to get a print of the film suitable for showing at the BFI.

[crazy_asian_man]

Stamp and Douglas gave a great little intro to the movie with stories of how they got the parts and how wonderful Donner was as a director.

Stamp in particular was brilliant and on his way off the stage he bent down and kneeled to the crowd!

He told a great story of his time in India when he hadn't worked for 7 years and suddenly got a telegram to his hotel which said "new Superman film, scenes with Marlon Brando", and he came back to England and it restarted his career.

Then he also told the classic story of getting into the part and putting Jack O' Halloran in his place on the set. He said Jack was a pretty ferocious guy and quite intimidating and he told him "when we are on set, I am the General" and one day when he came onto the set and he was ready for the scene, he heard Jack telling his usual long winded stories to some guy and delaying the shoot so Stamp shouted "Jack you bastard! Get over here now!" and Jack immediately walked onto set obeying his General's every word!!

Douglas was lovely too. She only had great things to say about Stamp and Donner and Reeve and Kidder and even Lester too. She said how she got the part as a young, feisty 27 year old Brit who thought she knew everything and went into the audition and just acted like a bitch in front of Donner and that's what basically got her the part!

The film itself did not hold up well on the big screen.
The wires showed, the new additional effects looked even worse, you could clearly see the body doubles, everything looked much more dated and only served to set itself apart even more from STM which is really a class above and retains all the magic and wonder whereas the sequel seems to be fading with time.

Yes the Lester theatrical version is of course better than the Donner Cut because the Donner Cut is an unfinished piece of work and is better suited to a fanboy DVD viewing.
But either way, I would say Superman 2 is a lot weaker than the first movie, it is dating badly and I would go as far as saying that many scenes in Superman 3 are better than 2!
(I'm talking about Reeve's scenes only!)

Anyway, I don't think I'll watch The Donner Cut again or not for a very long time.
Lester's Superman 2 is the version I grew up with and love still, though not half as much as STM.

And watching what was at the time supposed to be an action packed "the adventure continues" Superman sequel only highlighted the need for a modern retelling of the Superman story and some up to date action and effects in Man of Steel.
Lets hope it delivers!

Terence Stamp was and is still brilliant in any version of Superman 2 though!

Not much I can add to that! I was also in the audience as well and that pretty much sums up what went on. The BFI film notes were a bit inaccurate in that they listed Susannah York as being in the film when she wasn't. I do agree that the body doubles for Reeve was more blatant and noticeable on the big screen.

In particular the opening with Clark's 'Lois what have you done'. It was very clear that wasn't Reeve and also during the depowering scenes. I managed to get Sarah Douglas to sign two things. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get Zod's but I had it before so not too disappointed.

When Sarah and Terrance's names flashed onscreen during the opening titles there was applause from the audience. During autograph signing Sarah asked if there would be a showing of the Conan film she was in. The only real gripe I had is that the film was shown so late in the evening. The other thing to note is that Stamp selected the film for showing as part of a film season tributed to him. Apparently it's not been shown 'on film' previously and Stamp had to contact the Head of WB to get a print of the film suitable for showing at the BFI.

Great report guys!
Next best thing to be being there!

Love that bit with Stamp kneelng before the crowd- Ever since his interview on the 2006 dvds, just realizing what a great sense of humor this guy has. Very cool!

[monkeymagic]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCHwlT4sz7A

Almost the next best thing is seeing and hearing the interview itself. Of which I give to you all above.

[crazy_asian_man]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCHwlT4sz7A

Almost the next best thing is seeing and hearing the interview itself. Of which I give to you all above.

That was GREAT! Thanks so much for sharing this!

[Gandy]

Stamp's pain that Donner didn't complete 2 was all over his face. What could have been... MOS should go a long way to remedy this.

[crazy_asian_man]

Stamp's pain that Donner didn't complete 2 was all over his face. What could have been...

The interview I thought was nice in that it also seemed very objective in terms of Donner and Lester from their point of view. Whether the film was going to be improved or not improved with a replacement director, the feeling that comes out (or is highlighted again) that the project became Donner's baby...and at a point really became his (even though paid with Salkinds' money)- so while Lester might have seemed like a hero (to Spengler and the Salkinds) to save the film, it was interesting to hear that it clearly wasn't looked at that way still by Stamp and others.

Even though it's not necessarily new information--- knowing that over time the actors haven't changed their feelings towards the situation just kind of highlights what a bummer it is that even they knew what a loss it was, not just on a personal level.

[atp]

I wish someone had asked Stamp if he was told explicitly to act differently in the Lester footage.

Zod in STM was really evil and scary, but in S2 he is a retarded, over-the-top parody.

[Gandy]

May 22, 2013 12:16:33 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Stamp's pain that Donner didn't complete 2 was all over his face. What could have been...

The interview I thought was nice in that it also seemed very objective in terms of Donner and Lester from their point of view. Whether the film was going to be improved or not improved with a replacement director, the feeling that comes out (or is highlighted again) that the project became Donner's baby...and at a point really became his (even though paid with Salkinds' money)- so while Lester might have seemed like a hero (to Spengler and the Salkinds) to save the film, it was interesting to hear that it clearly wasn't looked at that way still by Stamp and others.

Even though it's not necessarily new information--- knowing that over time the actors haven't changed their feelings towards the situation just kind of highlights what a bummer it is that even they knew what a loss it was, not just on a personal level.

I just wonder if Donner's blast at the producers in Variety killed his chances. There seems no other rational reason to have dumped him - at least from the outside. I don't think it was a money issue with Dick. Despite Reeve being pissed off, he managed to renegotiate his fee for Superman 2 and Superman 3.

[crazy_asian_man]

I wish someone had asked Stamp if he was told explicitly to act differently in the Lester footage.

Zod in STM was really evil and scary, but in S2 he is a retarded, over-the-top parody.

Their performances are so different with the two versions, I agree...
In one, he is actually soft-spoken- until he explodes in a rage, and always making you wonder what he's thinking...

In the other, he rolls his eyes, sighs, and is obsessed with red sirens and restaurant menus.

[crazy_asian_man]

I just wonder if Donner's blast at the producers in Variety killed his chances. There seems no other rational reason to have dumped him - at least from the outside.

It seems like a last straw.... given how tense things were on shooting STM between Donner and the producers.

If everyone made out great with the box office explosion for STM, one would think that WB and all would have been fine increasing the budget and keeping Donner on. (Heck, maybe even Brando)

But- who knows who ultimately was at fault?

Donner probably didn't picture that he could get fired after the premiere and the breaking of box office records- and the Salkinds probably felt that they could get a cheaper director to wrap it up if it was mostly done.

At least there was a glimpse of what we might have gotten with the RDC and the IRC. Still.... very sad.

[ye5man]

so while Lester might have seemed like a hero (to Spengler and the Salkinds) to save the film, it was interesting to hear that it clearly wasn't looked at that way still by Stamp and others

But you cannot attack Lester personally over this. He was circumstantial.

What a thankless job Lester had. No wonder he doesn't talk about it. At least they chose a competent director and not some hack/battlefield promotion. You guys see the Star Trek film Stuart Baird directed?

[crazy_asian_man]

But you cannot attack Lester personally over this. He was circumstantial.

What a thankless job Lester had. No wonder he doesn't talk about it. At least they chose a competent director and not some hack/battlefield promotion. You guys see the Star Trek film Stuart Baird directed?

I wish Lester did talk about it (it's been long enough after all- besides, my opinion is usually it helps if another side presents the case.... I had far less animosity towards the Salkinds after listening to Ilya's commentaries)-

After STM was a proven success- I get irritated mainly because the Mankiewicz script was RIGHT THERE- and Lester could have chosen to preserve the work and tone that another person did right then and there and still get paid handsomely for it.

But- a hack might have been better by not wanting to insert his ego and whatnot and not want to put his own signature on the film but want to do what should have been done in the first place- just finish the second part of the film.

Gandy recognized that a director who was once successful (he had hard times by then, I think) before couldn't be expected NOT to try to change things up.... some things he changed I didn't think were TOO bad (just shot in a mediocre way)- but other things just took the movie down a big notch to cheap comedy (the Phantom Zone Criminals).

It's not the worst job that could have been done- but it's extremely irritating what he did- and I couldn't be the only one to feel that way, otherwise there wouldn't be a half-dozen fan cut editors out there trying to repair the film back closer to what STM was like in tone.

You'd mentioned SIII looking like a giant waste of resources- and I agree. Didn't Richard Lester direct that one?


Aside: Yeah, I caught all the Star Trek films- I was looking forward to/ was curious about Stuart Baird directing Nemesis..... Baird just didn't get what was interesting about Trek to begin with--- most of the character scenes were on the cutting room floor, and I thought what also killed it was casting a guy that looked NOTHING like Patrick Stewart. (The guy who read for it but I felt should have got it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsten.... at least I see SOME resemblance there).

In a way, Baird not getting Trek and directing it was similar to Lester not getting Superman and directing it anyhow... odd....