When I was in high school and already well on the way to becoming a certified comic book geek, I remember how excited I was to learn of a new motion picture that would make us all believe a man could fly. While Superman had been featured on television and movies in the 1950’s, nothing could prepare us for the thrill of Superman The Movie and its 1978 state of the art special effects. While those special effects may now pale when compared to current superhero films, it was a magical moment for this high school kid.
Now, over 30 years later, the magic is back as Warner Brothers is releasing all of the theatrical films in one amazing Blu-ray box set, The Superman Motion Picture Anthology (1978-2006).
- Superman – The Motion Picture Anthology
First, you will find Christopher Reeve in:
- Superman The Movie (1978)
- Superman II (1980)
- Superman III (1983)
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
This is followed by Brandon Routh in 2006’s Superman Returns.
This is no ordinary box set and each of the eight Blu-ray discs is crammed full. For instance, in addition to the original theatrical release, you will also find the extended version of Superman The Movie. If the original release of Superman II is not enough, take the time to watch Richard Donner’s Director’s Cut. Simply fantastic! Of course, this “super set” is not limited to the Superman movies and you will find over 20 hours of bonus features. For instance:
- Feature length “You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman”
- George Reeves in “Superman and the Mole Men” (for you Golden Age fans!)
- All of the Fleischer Studios 1940’s Superman animated features (Again, for you Golden Age fans!)
- TV plot from 1958’s “Superpup”
- Many other documentaries, TV specials, archive footage and featurettes.
This set is beautifully packaged and will look great on your shelf. The 8 discs are contained in a fold-out slip case containing an index of the contents of each disc. The box that holds the fold out is particularly cool with the iconic Superman “S” raised so that it neatly slips down over the lower half of the box to be centered in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding, and the quality of the Blu-ray presentation is amazing. This is how these movies were meant to be viewed! If you are a fan of the Superman films and want to immerse yourself in many bonus features about the Man of Steel, this is a must have for your video library. Own it today on Blu-ray!
This set will be released on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The retail price is $129.99 but I have seen it discounted for around $90. Expensive? Yes, but well worth it for all you get. To learn more, check out the official web site at SupermanAnthology.com.
Special thanks to Warner Brothers for sending me an advance copy of this Blu-ray box set for review as part of the Warner Brother Entertainment Affiliate Program.
