As the late March 23-25 test marketing in San Antonio, Texas approaches... we Superman fans are getting antsy. Warner Brothers has already sent retailers ordering information for the SUPERMAN DVD sets including the new Richard Donner cut that they will be testing in San Antonio on March 23-25.
Now here's the issue: Warner Home Video is already locking their dates down. With a shelf date of May 1st and a test date of March 23-25... Warners is pretty much ensuring that there will be NO RERELEASE in theaters... or at the very least little to no chance at a successful re-release.
Okay... Let's say every screening of the San Antonio Test Marketing is sold out... then they have less than a month to launch the nationwide rerelease campaign? NOT BLOODY LIKELY! Now they could PUSH the DVD date with Home Video, thus angering retailers and folks that set up pre-orders for customers (much like Paramount recently did with WONDER BOYS).
Right now... the two weeks before this Test Market at SXSW (South By Southwest; check out www.sxsw.com) there would have been the PERFECT chance to raise the awareness of this potentially lucrative re-release, much like last year when SXSW unleashed the EXORCIST Special Edition theatrically. Having William Peter Blatty come down to raise awareness of the film... doing interviews... etc.
Meanwhile, Warners is treating SUPERMAN like a leper... Well folks, if there is going to be any change in Warner policy, it is going to have to be US folks that do it. People like you and me, hopping in our cars and going to San Antonio to buy our tickets to see SUPERMAN. Take it as a road trip, a journey, a mission, a quest. If it is a long trip for ya... see if you can swing by Metropolis, IL on your way down. Visit the Alamo while you're here. The Riverwalk is mighty romantic. Remember, unlike with Zod, Ursa and Non we can actually help Supes this time. Pitch in!
Hey Harry, The Son Of Jor-El here with a tiny bit about the Superman DVD's. I work at Block(Ball)buster Video and we get, from time to time, little brochures about upcoming releases after everything is all finalized for them. Typically they are printed on cheap cardstock, but WB is obviously taking their release of Superman VERY seriously, as the brochure that I now own is printed with a glossy coating, snazzy printing, the works. I don't have a scanner, so I'll give you a detailed description until I can find a scanner to use.
The front cover is a picture of Superman (VERY nice picture, by the way) in front of the American flag. There is a box in the upper right corner reading "Bringing Truth, Justice and the American Way to DVD."
The inside cover: The top reads "The Man Of Steel's Long Awaited DVD Debut." The left side has five pictures. The first is Jor-El and Lara, the second is Superman flying out of the Fortress of Solitude, the third is Lex Luthor and Otis, the fourth is Eve Tessmacher posing by the missle convoy, the fifth is Clark poking through Lois' doorway. Dead center on the page is the cover art, which you already have posted with a pricing bubble reading "First Time On DVD, Just $24.98, M.A.P. $19.95." The description below the box reads "Superman: The Movie Special Edition. Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder star in this enduring - now newly enhanced - adventure spanning the Man of Steel's life, from his Krypton infancy and Midwest boyhood to his career as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent, and through his titanic struggle with archnemisis Lex Luthor." Just below the description it gives some of the normal specifications: #1013, 151 Mins. Format: WS (16x9 2.35:1), Language: ENG (5.1), Subtitles: ENG FR SP PORT, Rated PG for peril, some mild sensuality and language.
Inside back: The left has a description of the features for the disk:
New digital transfer and remixed Dolby surround 5.1 from restored elements direct from 1st quarter 2001 theatrical rerelease(!!!!!) with previously unseen footage added by director Richard Donner.
Superpowered array of fan pleasing extras:
- 4 behind the scenes documentaries: The Magic Behind the Cape (special effects), Making Superman: Filming the Legend (production and release), Screen Tests (casting) and Taking Flight: The Development Of Superman (pre-production);
- Feature-length audio commentary by Donner and Creative Consultant TOM MANKIEWICZ;
- Superman and Lois Lane screen tests;
- Audio outtakes: alternate scoring for 8 sequences;
- music-only audio track (Dolby 5.1) showcasing John Williams' magnificent score;
- 2 deleted scenes;
- web-enabled ROM features include Storyboard to Screen, featuring production storyboards compared to the final version;
- 2 original theatrical trailers;
- cast/director film highlights."
The right side is dedicated to the sequels:
"SUPER SEQUELS:
Superman II - Special Features: Trailer, Format: WS (16x9 2.35:1), Languages: ENG FR, Subtitles: ENG FR SP PORT, #11120, 127 Mins., PG
Superman III - Special Features: Trailer, Format: WS (16X9 2.35:1), Languages: ENG FR, Subtitles: ENG FR SP PORT, #11320, 125 Mins., PG
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - FIRST TIME WIDESCREEN VIDEO RELEASE! - Special Features: Trailer, Format: WS (16x9 2.35:1), Languages: ENG FR, Subtitles: ENG FR SP PORT, #11757, 90 Mins., PG
A pricing bubble on the bottom reads: "First Time On DVD, Just $19.98, M.A.P. $14.95." The cover art has the same border as the first one, but the centers are the original poster art.
Back Cover: "Fantastic 4-film gift sets!" across the top. The box set is shown. It's a silver box with the red shiny "S" shield, "The Complete Superman Collection" below it.
The pricing bubble reads "DVD gift set $79.92 SRP", a box below shows "VHS gift set also available, $39.92 SRP CAT. #21271." Right box has a picture of the display standee.
Top caption "Invincible 24 and 48 unit mixed title DVD merchandisers!" Bottom caption reads "48 unit merchandiser, Cat. #21225, (contains 20 units Superman: The Movie, 16 units Superman II, 8 units Superman III, 4 units Superman IV), 24-unit merchandiser, Cat. #21224 (Contains 8 units Superman: The Movie, 8 units Superman II, 4 Units Superman III, 4 units Superman IV).
Just below is the ordering information: "STREET DATE: MAY 1 - ORDER DUE DATES: SINGLE UNITS - APRIL 3 * MERCHANDISERS - MARCH 27." And below that to the very bottom are eight bar codes for ordering.
I spoke to someone who works for WB's video division and he said there will only be one disk for Superman: The Movie, as well as one cut of the movie. Hope I've been of some help in clarifying the details of the DVD.
Son of Jor-El out
