Search - Superman III on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 4/18/2024...

The movie series that defined Christopher Reeve. Unfortunately, the quality and shark jumps go up as the number in the series go up. Rest in peace Christopher. A must watch!

This is not `Superman III'

C. Chow | Leesburg VA | 12/06/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is not `Superman III'
This is NOT `Superman III'. If you watch this DVD expecting to see `Superman III' you will be very disappointed. This is not the `Superman III' which played in theatres or was released on VHS.

The DVD is about 30 minutes short. Several scenes have been shortened or deleted altogether without explanation. Nowhere on the DVD does it mention that this is a new "shortened" version of the film.

What's wrong: Most of the missing footage is of the inner circle of the Webster villains.

For example the scene where Vera and Lorelei shack hands angrily is missing, leaving us to wonder why they are standing there is pain

The scene where Ross Webster threatens Gus Gorman with prison is shortened to only the two meeting. Leaving a huge plot hole as to why they are meeting. In the actual scene Ross introduces Gus to Lorelei as his "aerobic astrologist". Lorelei shows how she has bought the toy penguin which caught fire in an earlier scene. As Lorelei plays with the penguin Ross threatens Gus with prison is he does not destroy Columbia.

Gus's description of Superman saving Columbia is also shortened.

The Websters working out in the gym is also shortened.

Most of the edits consist of single lines. For example when Vera tells Gus to stop the oil pumps, Ross says, "Tell him the part about the pumps. I know the you love the part about the pumps." Missing!

When Gus shows his sketches Lorelei comments they are the plans to a computer. After getting odd stares she cover this up with, "A hairdryer?"

There are many other scenes as well. While the film does not rise or fall on these scenes my point is that it's very annoying that the DVD makers would simply edit out these lines thinking the audience wouldn't notice.

This is not `Superman III'.

While most DVDs boast containing bonus footage some DVDs have now started editing out footage for a shorter running time. Yet there is no mention on the `Superman III' cover box that this is any type of alternate version.
"

Today, Coffee...Tomorrow, OIL! A Good Movie? NEVER!

Hank Drake | Cleveland, OH United States | 05/12/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Conceived as a vehicle for comedian Richard Pryor, Superman III is the least successful of the series. Despite a somewhat prescient storyline dealing with the use of computers to manipulate the economy, the script has no depth and very little entertainment value. Margot Kidder's Lois Lane has been reduced to a brief walk-on part, and the rest of the cast appears to be merely going through the motions. Even Christopher Reeve, who was reportedly very angry about the producers treatment of Kidder, is lacking his usual charm.The visual effects are not on the same level as in the previous two movies: models blatantly look miniature, most of the flying sequences look two-dimensional, and there are numerous instances of visible wires... In short, there is none of the epic-scope that marked the first film and most of the second. ...the final confrontation between Superman and the supercomputer is flat out boring--looking as if it has been lifted from a cheap 1950s science-fiction movie. Lester's Metropolis scenes lack the razzmatazz of Richard Donner's scenes in Superman I. The picture quality on the DVD is good but not outstanding. The sound is flat and lacks dynamic range."

Not that bad: but not that memorable

K. Coburn | Arlington, MA USA | 06/26/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I've watched bits and pieces of Superman III over the years since it first came on cable back in 1984. Finally I rented the disc yesterday and got a chance to judge it.

First it was great to see the film in a widescreen presentation with good sound. The picture looked great for a film made over 23 years ago (time goes by so fast these days).

As for the film itself, it's not the disaster that so many say. I can't imagine another actor at that time playing Superman other than Christopher Reeve. He was(and many say still is)the perfect embodiment of The Man of Steel. I also thought Annette O'Toole was perfectly cast as Lana Lang. It would've been interesting to see at that time if they decided to do another one to play on the rivalry between Lana and Lois for Clark/Superman's attention.

As for the minus: I have to agree that Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman and Robert Vaughn's Ross Webster weren't that really interesting villains. I know that Gene Hackman, Terrence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran were a tough act to follow but Superman had so many other foes in is rouge gallery such as Brainiac, Toy Man and Bizzaro. It's too bad that two tremendous talents were wasted. Although Annie Ross was very fun to watch as Vaughn's sister Vera.

Also missing is the wonderful Margot Kidder. I know she and the Salkynds were at war over the firing of Richard Donner and Lois was only featured in the beginning and end of the films, but the producers had to know the chemisrty between Reeve and Kidder was extraordinary. Maybe if Lois had gone to Smallville with Clark, that would have made it much more interesting (not to take anything away from Annette as she was wonderful). Oh well.

On the whole: the film was entertaining but not as legendary and memorable as Superman and Superman II.

P.S.: I can't wait to see Superman Returns!"