Search - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 05/01/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Superhero Film See Also: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace [Deluxe Edition]

Superman (Christopher Reeve) tries to save the world from nuclear destruction at the hands of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) in this action film featuring the man of steel. In a speech to the United Nations, Superman declares he will rid the world of all nuclear weapons. Arch-villain Luthor emerges from prison obsessed with killing Superman and creates an adversary known as Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow). The two engage in a fight to the finish in various landmarks on Earth before taking their battle into outer space. When Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) invites both Superman and Clark Kent to a double-date dinner, Superman's powers are tested so that both men can be present. Jackie Cooper plays the gruff veteran newspaper editor Perry White, with Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen. Sam Wanamaker plays tabloid tycoon David Warfield, the millionaire who buys the Daily Planet. Mariel Hemmingway is Warfield's daughter Lacy, Clark Kent's date at Lois' luxury apartment. This is the least interesting of the four Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Christopher Reeve - Superman/Clark Kent
Gene Hackman - Lex Luthor
Jackie Cooper - Perry White
Marc McClure - Jimmy Olsen
Mariel Hemingway - Lacy Warfield
Jon Cryer - Lenny

The Superman franchise proved hard to maintain for Alexander Salkind and company, so they sub-licensed film rights to Cannon Films for this sequel. The result was disastrous. Warner Bros. has given the DVD release the basic treatment, providing only a cast/crew section with filmographies and a theatrical trailer. The trailer, transferred anamorphically at 2.35:1, looks good despite a couple of scratches that flash by at blinding speed. The film has been anamorphically transferred from a new print, at the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Colors are generally good and well balanced, though contrast is on the low side. While grain is not generally a problem, the image does seem slightly soft throughout. Black levels are adequate, though shadows seem less detailed than they should be. Compression artifacts are absent, and there is next to no sign of edge enhancement. The Dolby Digital soundtrack provides a basic Dolby Surround mix, with music spread across the front stage. The film uses very little in the way of either directional or surround effects. While the dialogue is comprehensible and separated well, the soundtrack as a whole is mixed very muddily, with very little in the way of bass or highs -- in fact, it could easily pass for a 1980s TV soundtrack mix. The French soundtrack features a similarly muddy mix, though the dialogue is much cleaner. The French voice cast seems good, and the dubbing appears accurate. Subtitles are provided in English and French. The disc is single-sided and single layered, with a screen-printed image on the top face. The feature has 29 chapter stops. The disc is packaged in the standard Warner Bros. snap case. ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide