SUPERMAN FINAL CUT - APPRECIATION & REVIEW THREAD - in parts

[crazy_asian_man]

PART I:

Thought it best to do these in chunks---

First off, major hats off to Kathryn for sharing what's clearly was a gigantic passion project with her fan cut.

While I tip my hat towards many fan cuts, I think that sets this one apart is the exhaustive scale of post-production & new fx creation for STM in particular. (As far as I know, it's the only STM one this size. SII is a whole other thread with many moving parts and pieces to discuss)

The thing I think I compare it most to is my own experience and excitement going into a special edition fan cut of Star Wars: A New Hope, as opposed to the choices for "Star Wars: de-specialized" version that I think is still (to my limited knowledge) still being worked on.

With the 'new fx' Star Wars fan cut:

#1: I admired the love and work put into it.
#2: I appreciated it being shared with the world, without any profit in mind
#3: I had fun seeing the movie again as an alternate experience with the changes
#4: At times, my jaw dropped as the new additions enhanced or expanded my enjoyment of the film
#5: At times, having a new effect spoiled me with expectations for other shots of a same location to also have a new effect applied, but sometimes it didn't
#6: At times, I felt I preferred the original shot or choice better, that sometimes the effort but respect that everyone's going to have their own biases

So-
Similarly, that was my feeling as I went through Superman: The Final Cut-
Great joy to be able to experience Superman the movie in a new way.

In reviewing a fan editor's work, it's tricky because:
(1) it's easy to be an armchair critic and say 'I want it THIS way' - when everyone has their view on what the ultimate viewing experience should be
(2) the tools available are really limited- either by the original soundtrack or budgetary or hours that one can put into a free project and subtract from one's own life
(3) inherently one likes what one likes and will have a preference and feeling of their own personal 'ownership' (for lack of better description)

So... was scratching my head a little to think, "well, what should be talked about then?"---
What's ahead then is-

#1: Basic notes on what was done that I noticed
#2: Stuff that I thought was extra cool
#3: Stuff that generated some food for thought - and/or if it was a mixed reaction, my own personal what I thought worked/ or what I thought was different from my own expectations - from my own experience of STM personally-

Okay, so here goes a bit at time... and, again, big thanks to Kathryn for creating and sharing her labor or love.

[crazy_asian_man]

PART II:
Opening credits- to- Smallville football field

The cut opens with new credits that I could tell Kathryn put pains into looking like the original ones for the most part, that's cool- there's new objects that the titles fly through, but in this case my bias would have been with the original.

The new fx for the 'zoom into Krypton's sun & surface' I enjoyed most of this- The sun has a nice visual that keeps close to the way the original flm fx were, but is its own thing- closer perhaps to Bryan Singer's version of the Krypton sun. The surface of Krypton's skies has variety, which felt odd to adjust to, but the reconstruction of the Krypton city was pretty cool in spots, though I'm half-half on different shots.

There's extended moments from the tv cut with the Kryptonian guard & a set extension at the Krypton council that was interesting to see. Also, there are newer shots of the sun coming closer to cause Krypton's destruction that was interesting to see. One thing that I was reminded of was a slight oddness in the theatrical that a reviewer pointed out: Where are Jor-el and Lara running to? They know the planet is doomed.

There's a lot of new fx of the Crystal ship going across the galaxy that's pretty effective and the inclusion of passing by the Phantom Zone criminals. Very nice, I thought- Especially a shot that was clearer of the Crystal starship getting battered by the Earth's atmosphere.

The opening sequence is interesting to see- particularly Krypton's destruction with some of the new shots that added to the tension. At times the extra 'dust destruction' fx overlayed on some of the original shots were distracting, but, again, an interesting experiment to see!

[Metallo]

Nice. Ya gotta admire the hard work especially with so few resources compared to a studio. I know it’s easier now with modern software and equipment but still it’s got to be a massive undertaking. That takes real fan passion and dedication. As a fan project I see this in such a different light than I would and official release.

[crazy_asian_man]

Jun 29, 2020 17:50:40 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Nice. Ya gotta admire the hard work especially with so few resources compared to a studio. I know it’s easier now with modern software and equipment but still it’s got to be a massive undertaking. That takes real fan passion and dedication. As a fan project I see this in such a different light than I would and official release.

Absolutely I give her credit for all the hours and love put into it with questionable reward at the end of it...

But I do think, too, the tricky thing about a fan cut is doing a cut for yourself that's extremely personal & then how fragile reception to the labor of love is, which I'm trying to be conscious of.

If it's a professional job that one was paid for (i.e. Lester & SII or the Donner Cut special effects team) then I know I'm much harsher on because it wasn't effort done 100 percent out of love for the material and there was a paycheck at the end of it.

I can see that there's a number of things that I have mixed feelings on- but I have mixed feelings on every fan cut, including incredible indecision when I'm in an editing room that I'm never sure of, either.... so it is a minefield (especially if you have some OCD/ ADD like myself) if you care about the film and have almost unlimited options to tweak it- potentially for the worse without being aware of it!

The funny thing is:
In Blade Runner's case, I wanted Ridley Scott to go all out in expanding his environment for his special edition as the tools are there cheaply and I always felt the city was a bit limited--- but that director's cut was really limited.

In the Star Wars trilogy, I felt Lucas went way overboard and tossed out beautifully composed (though limited) fx and establishing shots and ruined some music cues and rhythyms for his special edition cut and wanted him to be MORE restrained.

With SII, which was greatly flawed (imo) by Lester's conflicting vision battling Donner's vision- I think that's a film that desperately needs help, whereas with STM, the primary weaknesses might be some dated effects in cases.

For Superman the Movie Final Cut in general, it's fascinating to see, but sometimes frustrating when you have a different subjectively 'perfect' cut in one's own mind at the same time.
In other words, it's hard or impossible to make everyone happy with a cut that you make for yourself, perhaps. (I'm sure if I finished mine it would also garner mixed or worse reception) But pleased to see this cut and worth watching.

[crazy_asian_man]

PART III:
Smallville-

The best effect I think of the film to me is the enhancement of the 'cloud trail' that was put into the sequence with Clark racing the train. It's subtle but pumps up the believability of the initial special effect a thousand fold imo! REALLY loved this!

There's a choice made for enhancement of the crystal that Clark finds that I feel is a bit too much for my tastes, but, again, it's subjective.

Going to the Fortress/ creating the FOS-

There's some really nice effects here (also shown in the preview) with the set extension and I appreciate the work put in.... also the 'fixup/overlay of video lines' on Brando's face actually looks REALLY nice (I 'approve'!) --- especially as it's applied to the inserted scene of Supes & Jor-el talking (previously it looked like an unfinished Brando fx). I do wish that the original look of the Fortress was kept (look is closer to Smallville's altered look I guess), but there is nice stuff here that I do really enjoy, too! (Particularly the Brando head fx- far far superior to the RDC version)