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The 4K transfer (HEVC / H.265 encoded) is a significant step up from previous Blu-rays, though it is inherently uneven due to the source material:
No restoration can fix everything. Because Donner was fired mid-shoot, the Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut still suffers from a structural issue: it was assembled for a two-film arc that never fully materialized. There are still speed-ramping issues (slow-motion for no reason) and the use of a screen test for the "Niagara Falls" scene is obviously lower quality than the surrounding footage.
If you're a fan of Superman, or just a lover of great cinema, do yourself a favor and seek out the Richard Donner Cut of Superman 2 in 4K. It's a game-changer.
Donner’s intended ending—which involved Superman turning back time—is restored here (even though it was famously moved to the end of the first film during production). The 4K Ultra HD Experience: Visuals and Audio superman 2 richard donner cut 4k
The primary colors of Superman’s costume—the deep blues and brilliant reds—pop with an intensity never before seen on home media.
Supervised by restoration producer Michael Thau (who had worked with Donner on the Lethal Weapon films) and with Donner’s eventual consultation, the team combed through "literally tons of footage" to assemble the director's original vision. The result was Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut , released in 2006. This version is a radically different film that restores the intended tone. It removes the goofy, campy elements of Lester's theatrical version (such as the opening with Non strangling a guard or the Paris terrorism subplot) and incorporates about 80% of Donner’s original footage, using only 20% of Lester’s footage where necessary to complete the story. The most significant change is the restoration of Marlon Brando’s Jor-El in key scenes, replacing Susannah York’s Lara, which deepens Superman’s mythology and his father-son relationship.
: Sourced from a 4K digital intermediate and featuring HDR10 , the image is a massive upgrade over the previous "grimy" Blu-ray releases. It provides deep inky blacks, bright whites, and much more natural skin tones. The 4K transfer (HEVC / H
The 4K UHD release of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is more than a simple resolution bump. It is a historical restoration, a visual marvel, and the definitive way to experience the greatest Superman sequel ever made. The Complicated History of Superman II
The 4K UHD release is a celebration of archival preservation. It honors the work of a director who loved the character enough to treat him with absolute respect and verisimilitude—Donner’s famous guiding word during production. Final Verdict: Is it Worth the Upgrade?
The 4K UHD is available in several configurations, including a standalone SteelBook (UK/EU), a standard 4K edition, and as part of the Superman: 5-Film Collection . For those outside the UK, the SteelBook is a popular and often reasonably priced option, while the 5-Film Collection is a solid investment if you want the complete Christopher Reeve series in 4K. If you're a fan of Superman, or just
: Note that a corrected 2025 version was released to fix a remastering error found on the initial 2023 disc. Special Features
The 4K transfer extracts every ounce of detail from the original 35mm film grain. Close-ups of Christopher Reeve's iconic suit reveal the fine textures of the fabric, while the icy structures of the Fortress of Solitude boast sharp, pristine edges that looked blurry in standard high-definition. 2. High Dynamic Range (HDR10 / Dolby Vision)
While the theatrical cut benefits from a Dolby Vision grade, the Donner Cut utilizes the HDR10 format, which nonetheless provides a significant visual improvement. The new scan blows the "crummy 2006 Blu-ray" away, with a consistency and filmic texture that honors the original work of cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth. The powerful colors and deep blacks bring the terrifying Kryptonian villains and the icy splendor of the Fortress of Solitude to life with stunning new clarity.
Extra interactivity on desktop The visual above is just an image, but on a large screen you see the full interactive and get the option to hover over each of the fights and character paths to see extra information about the fight; who was fighting whom, what was special about the fight and in what other battles did these characters fight.
Check it out behind your laptop / desktop as well for an even more detailed look into all fights that happened in Dragon Ball Z.
The fight info was taken from the Dragon Ball Wikia pages for each saga. For relevance, a few fights were taken out of the above visual; the Garlic Jr. and Other World Tournament filler sagas were completely removed. Also the ±5 fights that happened in the anime only and didn't feature any of the Z fighters, happened in a nightmare or flashback were taken out.
Created by Nadieh Bremer | Visual Cinnamon
Data from the very extensive Dragon Ball Wikia | Read about the design process in this blog