Superman II
WARNER HOME VIDEO - 11120



STATS
Widescreen (2.35:1) Anamorphic, Color, CC, Dolby Surround 2.0, Languages: English, French, Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chapters: 37, Running Time: 127 mins., Rated PG, Price: $19.98



VISUAL
Color is bright and vivid with hardly a waver in saturation or tone. Contrast level only alters during certain special effect sequences due to the multi layer process and rear screen projection. Otherwise it looks like these elements have survived better than the original SUPERMAN. The clarity at times is amazing, as is the detail.



AUDIO
Here’s where the film suffers. Not from a poor transfer but the original mix. Keeping in mind this is only a 2.0 soundtrack with a MONO surround it’s the best the film has sounded on home video. There’s plenty of panning of, sound effects, and music – all across the front soundstage. Even the Surround has some nice, but weak effects. We’ve all heard better mixes, even in 2.0. The most apparent missing element of the mix is the bass – almost totally non-existent. But all is presented AS the film was mixed. (more below in SIGHTS & INSIGHTS)



EXTRAS
Theatrical Trailer.


Disc

PRESENTATION
This weak presentation of a release showcases nothing more than WARNER’S lack of imagination and skill in exploiting a major family release. First there’s the cheap “snapper” box. Next, no animated Menu screens - but oh, there’s music. Wow. On the plus side there are a nice amount of Chapters – oooo there goes WARNER’S budget. Please, GOODTIMES could have released this one.



SIGHTS AND INSIGHTS
Basic as pie dough this release falls short, not for quality, but for the lack of features and better packaging. Where are the multiple theatrical trailers, TV & radio Spots? How about a photo gallery! Original poster artworks, perhaps from around the world? Need I go into the fact this was a major release. There should have been a six-track mix from the 70mm bump up presentation. This could, no, should have been a 5.1 release. Hell even if they couldn’t find it doesn’t the film warrant a re-mix? Damn, ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT does it for lesser known films with a smaller consumer saturation! I won’t even go into the extra footage, or even the alternate version, or at the least an audio commentary – not mention the “Making of” Documentary that was made for the film’s original theatrical release – oh but I forgot, WARNER’s didn’t use the original “Making of” Documentary for SUPERMAN I either. WARNER you’ve missed the boat on this one. To quote General Zod, “Scruffy.”

REVIEW by Scott Michael Bosco©

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