Superman Returns: 2-disc Special Edition DVD

by: Average Joe 1 year, 11 months, 4 weeks, 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes ago

Release Date:

11/28/06

Price:

25.00

Company:

Warner Bros.

Series:

Superman Returns

 

Today is a day I’ve been waiting for since late June. It’s the day one of this summer’s biggest films (I don’t care what anyone says) arrives on DVD. Like any true Superman fan, as soon as I got out of the theater after seeing Superman Returns for the first time (and the six other times I saw it) one of the things I told my friends was "man I can’t wait for this to come to DVD"....and now, finally that day has come.

Normally I’m not one of those people that waits outside of a store for it to open so I can rummage thru all the “good stuff” before the general public has their way with it. However today was different. I literally walked in to my local Target right as they opened their doors and immediately made a B-line over to the electronics department. As I walked down the aisle my attention was instantly captured by a large sign featuring the Man of Steel with the words “He’s Back!” Needless to say I was nearly running by this time.

On the shelf were two different options to choose from. One was the single disc version of the film for $14.99, and the other was the Special Collector’s Edition 2-disc set featuring a lenticular (those images that move when you position them differently) cover and a ton of special features for $24.99...want to take a guess as to which one I bought?

When I got home I popped in the second disc to see if the extra $10 was actually worth it, and 4hrs (yes I actually sat thru 4hrs of features) later I can safely say it was WELL worth it.

If you purchase the 2-disc set, the first disc is the film in it’s entirety. There are no special features to choose from, just the film and language options. The second disc is where all the fun is. Included on the second disc you’ll find behind-the-scenes featurettes on just about every aspect that went into bringing the Man of Steel back to the silver screen. The features are actually broken up into sections that sort of play as a timeline for the production of the film. In the first featurette you’ll see director Bryan Singer discussing his original vision for the film before he was even hired, his feelings on casting an unknown for the role, and his ultimate decision on casting Brandon Routh. You’ll also get a peek at Brandon’s original screen test, and a funny clip of the crew telling Brandon "you’re going to love Australia" before he even knew he had landed the role. In the second featurette you’ll be taken behind-the-scenes into the creation of the suit and the various other clothing for the movie. While I found the inspiration for the clothing to be pretty interesting, let’s face it...we really want to hear about the creation of the suit. The featurette goes deep, although not deep enough into what it took to bring Superman’s iconic look into a modern day film. The best part about this feature was seeing Brandon Routh step out for the very first time in full Superman gear...it honestly gave me chills.

Other features include things like the crew scouting areas of Australia for the various locations throughout the film, the set up process for key shots in the film, and a very interesting feature on how Brandon learned to move the way Superman should, including his flight movements which were done a lot underwater. Another cool feature is the one centering around Lex Luthor and the casting of Kevin Spacey in the role. Watching this feature made it obvious that shooting this film really was an ejoyable experience for everyone involved.

While I found the features to be extremely indepth and informative, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of audio commentary by Bryan Singer or any of the film’s actors. When watching a film like this I thought it would’ve been extremely entertaining to listen in to the cast/crew on how they felt about specific scenes. Honestly though it’s a minor gripe because with nearly 4hrs of featurettes you’ll get more than your fill on behind-the-scenes information about Superman Returns.

As great as the second disc is, for me the real magic comes in the form of disc one. Now, I can pause and rewind my favorite scenes as much as I want. As a matter of fact as I write this I am watching the “bullet in the eye” scene for the 3rd time in a row....that’s money right there. I don’t care who you are.

If you’re a fan of the film, or if you’re watching it for the first time (this is aimed at a few of you that I know personally) then I would go with the regular single disc DVD. However for super fans like myself, the second disc is definitely worth the extra money. Watching these features really does feel like you’re right alongside the cast/crew as they brought the greatest hero of them all back to the big screen...it’s pretty fun, and totally lets your inner geek come out.