The following review contains MAJOR SPOILERS for "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut."

I've always been in the "Superman II" fan camp, so the announcement for the DVD release of "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" was an exciting and surreal moment. Released Nov. 28, the film marks an unprecedented opportunity for a filmmaker to return and complete a project thought forever lost in the dusty vaults of film history.

So how does the final product live up to all these years of fan pressure on Warner Bros. to liberate it from oblivion? I'd say beyond super! Wow, here is the version I've always wished for.

Though the theatrical cut of "Superman II" always held a high standing in my favorite films list, aspects of the movie left me sour and longing for tweaks. Can we just tone down those clumsily forced campy moments? I mean really.

I never understood how "Superman II" could be so good and then frequently yank the rug from beneath you with unnecessary detours into atrocious humor. Did director Richard Lester ("The Three Musketeers," "Superman III") realize he was undermining the impact of the film and the Kryptonian villain's threat to the world? Maybe so considering his directorial results during "Superman III." Wow, now that was embarrassing.

Thanks to Richard Donner ("Superman," The Omen") the humor is reined in. In its place we receive an epic undercurrent, reflecting the direction the Superman sequels should have sought in the first place. Lester's "Superman III" heralded the series coming demise and highlighted the mistake of abandoning Donner's dramatic interpretation.

So how much different is the Donner Cut to the theatrical release? A great deal. Remember, Donner actually filmed both "Superman" and "Superman II" at the same time, but Lester was brought in to replace Donner after he was fired by producers. Donner's dismissal occurred after the successful release of "Superman." He needed only a bit of additional filming to complete the sequel. Unfortunately disagreements with producers derailed his project's completion. This development sent much of Donner's "Superman II" material to the cutting room floor. Segments of the story and tone of the film were significantly altered under Lester's guidance. Whole vast sections were re-shot, even though that footage was already in the can. This earned Lester the final director's credit.

In the end we are left with a sequel assembled by two directors. In Lester's version, you see only about 30 percent of Donner's material. This is edited to reflect Lester's creative direction. But in the Donner Cut, we see a sequel presented as it was originally conceived and intended. Donner restores his available footage, estimated now at 80 percent.

With Donner's vision restored we are presented with unnerving kryptonian villains (this earns points in my book), serious action sequences (sight gags thankfully axed), fascinating moments involving Superman's (Christopher Reeve) father Jor-El (Marlon Brando, absent in Lester's version), and even a few more delightful scenes with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman). I love how the film embraces a more serious, dramatic tone. It's truly an odd feeling to watch this after all these years of viewing the theatrical cut and witness such a startling different take on the material. It's a one of a kind moment, no doubt.

Are there problems? Only a few. Not all footage needed was available, so Lester scenes were used to fill gaps. These scenes suffer compared to Donner's, but thankfully they are edited to match his tone as much as possible. In one critical scene never filmed, a screen test was used, though to be honest I felt it worked well considering the source material. Some viewers may even overlook its presence. Also, the end closes with Superman pulling the same time alteration trick as seen in the first film. Though you could argue what hero wouldn't rely on such a crutch, especially when dealing with the aftermath of Gen. Zod (Terence Stamp). Lastly, some of the sequel's editing, effects and voiceovers are rough in spots. However, the reality here is "Superman II" always faced those issues, so why quibble here.

After viewing the Donner Cut, I firmly see this as the true "Superman" sequel. It really feels like a direct continuation of the first film, honoring the Man of Steel with dignity, and sparing him of the misfired attempts at camp which would ultimately deliver a fatal blow to the franchise.

"Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" appears on DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray Disc. Warner Home Video also includes it in the Ultimate Superman Collection 14-disc box set.

Bryant Griffin is lead artist / designer for Airlock Alpha, writing out of Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at bgriffin@airlockalpha.com.