Hey everybody,


I don't know how many of you have heard yet, but sometime in the Fall
and before Christmas, Warner Brothers will be releasing a 14 disc DVD
set of Superman I - IV, and Superman Returns. Some of the things that
will be included in the set are both the Theatrical Version and an
Extended Cut of Superman The Movie, as well as the Theatrical and newly
edited Donner Cut of Superman II.


Unfortunately, the same can not be said for Superman III or IV. In an
online discussion, Warner Brothers stated that they have located all of
the deleted footage from Superman IV, and while they are planning to
present some of it in a deleted scenes section, they do not plan on
including an Extended Cut of the film.


For anyone that isn't aware, the original version of Superman IV, that
was shown in Test Screenings, was 134 minutes. However, by the time of
it's Official Theatrical Release, the film was trimmed down to 89
minutes, leaving many loose ends. Some of the footage that was removed
from the film included: Lex Luthor's first attempt at creating a Nuclear
Man, which turned out more like Bizarro; Clark and Lacy's date at a
Metropolis nightclub, where Superman encounters and battles the first
Nuclear Man; Superman visiting Jeremy's school, and explaining why he
can't help rid the Earth of Nuclear Weapons; Extended battle sequences
between Superman and Nuclear Man.


In addition to this, Warner Brothers has made no mention of any plans
for Superman III. Superman III also has a pretty fair amount of deleted
footage, which is sometimes shown in various TV edits. I have actually
seen a good deal of this footage, and must say I feel that it improves
the film.


Now I realize that Superman III and IV are not regarded as highly as the
first two films, and some fans will even say that they don't care for
them. However, they are still part of the Superman legacy, and shouldn't
be ignored, especially in a 14 disc set. I'm sure that I'm not the only
one, who would like to see Extended Cuts of all four films included in
this collection.


I wanted to let everyone know that I have recently started a petition,
asking Warner Brothers to please include both the original 134 minute
version of Superman IV, as it was seen in Test Screenings, and a Special
Extended Cut of Superman III in the upcoming DVD Release. I don't know
if it will make any difference, but it couldn't hurt, and it's worth a
try. I hope to get about 10,000 signatures by the end of August, then
sending it to Warner Brothers Home Video Department.


The petition can be viewed and signed at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/smec34/petition.html
<http://www.petitiononline.com/smec34/petition.html>


You may have to type the address out, I'm not sure his will show up as a
link. Or you can visit www.petitiononline.com
<http://www.petitiononline.com/> and enter extended cuts of Superman
III & IV in the search area. Any help spreading the word would be
tremendously appreciated. I hope you'll all sign it, and tell everyone
you know to do the same. Thanks.



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