Yes, A Man Can Fly. Again.

It’s always been hard for me to go back and watch the Superman films once more with Christopher Reeve as the man with the red cape.

It hurts too much. I would get teary-eyed seeing him on the screen after his unfortunate accident in 1995 due to horseback riding. So I didn’t watch the films for the longest time. In fact, I made the habit of avoiding them all I could.

It’s sad to see a man who was in the top of his form taking such a devastating fall. The accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. But, in his wheelbound state, he founded the Christopher Reeve foundation and remained a staunch supporter for stem cell research. In many ways, and not saying this lightly, he was a Superman in real life.

Then the Richard Donner cut of Superman II returned to its original glory on DVD. With the director’s sincere intent in making a mythological film rather than the theatrical cut.

I still didn’t see it.

Not until last weekend. I don’t know what made me decide to pick it up and watch with a painful nostalgia feeling. The Richard Donner cut made a dedication to Reeve himself. That nearly made me tear up again. I wasn’t about to get over it.

But I liked the film enough. And I grew used to seeing Reeve once again in the form-fitting role that made him a well-known actor. For me, he was and always will be Superman for me.

There’s a sense of awkward charm Reeve brings to the role that remains unforgettable. He has a chartable warmth that doesn’t put you off. He has the boyish grin that seems to give a spark. He definitely has the boy scout image. He cares. He loves people. You can see that in him. You really believe he is Superman from the moment you see him. You buy it right away.

But the Donner cut of Superman II is really something to behold. I would recommend to anyone who revered the first Superman film.

Most folks don’t know that Superman and Superman II were supposed to be a four-hour movie with an intermission. It remains a legacy that can only be rumored in whispers. The fact that the director wanted to make a Lawrence of Arabia of comic books was a daunting task in itself. There was no doubt he had a broad canvas he wanted to paint, bringing in a powerful and awesome scope to the comic book figure who had captured the imagination of audiences.

But something happened. Donner happened. In his wild ambitions of creating a wonderful epic film for all ages, he went into constant battles with the studios who were interested in making money. They didn’t want a four-hour movie. So they had to cut it in half. Donner left and was replaced by Richard Lester who did a fair job in completing Superman II.

But his version didn’t hold a candle compared to Donner’s. The Donner cut was far better. With improvements everywhere. Watching this film is like witnessing something else entirely.

Donner expands the Superman myth and continues to develop the father and son relationship between Superman and his real life father who perished on his native planet so many aeons ago.
It’s a beautiful film. The major changes make the film feel more sweeping in tone and story hooks with a mythological interest that made the first film so memorable. Superman is an alien to us. But he still has our humanity. That sets him apart from the gods.

The biggest change is using the lost footage with Marlon Brando who plays Jor-El once more. His scenes are pivotal. It helps make the Superman II connect so much more with the first film. It feels like the painting is complete now. Brando playing the father makes the myth of Superman larger-than-life.

More changes? There is a lot less silliness. The comedy garbage from Richard Lester is now gone. It’s replaced by a bit more serious, downplayed story guided by Donner’s hand.

The fight scenes are much tighter. Much better. There is no longer the stupid bit with Superman throwing the “S” from his costume which wraps around one of the main villains. Now the fighting sequences pay homage to the old, classic Superman battles of comic books.

The scenes with Margot Kidder playing Lois Lane who finds out who Clark Kent really is a real treat. The scene with her pulling a gun and bluffing Kent into telling who he really is? That shows how clever she is. She’s a reporter who finds the heart of the story. That Superman lives amongst human beings. It remains a magnificent revelation in this film. It’s well done.

And the ending the film repeats itself as Superman turns back the clock on everything so Lois Lane would be able to forget without exposing his secret. The ending ties in perfectly with the first Superman film. Making them coincide even more.

Yes, I’m dropping the Richard Lester version into the trash. It’s not part of my collection anymore. Screw that crap. I found something better.

Now it’s replaced by the Donner cut. Which I’m perfectly happy with. And who knows? Maybe I’ll have a Superman marathon by watching both films together. Once again, I’m able to believe that a man is able to fly. Thanks to Donner, Brando and Reeve. Who brought something special to what’s already extraordinary.