Superman II (1980) - 7 questions

Question: Can someone explain to me what exactly was the explanation for the Superman logo projectile that he throws off his chest towards the end? that just seemed like an incredible plot hole and totally unexplainable as Superman's suit is never shown to have any powers in this film series.

Answer: It's not a plot hole. It's just a power we've never seen before or since. However, in the history of Superman (like in the old TV show and such) it's a common thing for Superman to suddenly have a power we'd never been told about then never see again. It's weak story telling, but it's not a plot hole.

Question: How does Superman know who Zod is when he is in the bar with Lois and the President makes the emergency broadcast?

Answer: Superman was well educated regarding his home planet's history. All this information was left for him by his parents at the secret installation at the North Pole.

Question: In relation to "Superman Returns",since it's supposed to take place after "Superman II," which version is considered canon? The Lester cut or the Donner cut?

Answer: There's been no categorical statement, but given that the theatrically released Lester cut is the one that everybody knows, with the Donner cut being a relatively unknown curiosity, it would seem much more logical to consider that to be the canonical version of the story.

Question: How did Superman get his powers back? I don't understand what that green crystal did.

Answer: Nobody does. He was told that the change to mortal was permanant, and could not be reversed. Whatever happened was not revealed, but the plot required him to return to Superman, so he did.

Question: I don't understand the opening. What was the object that Zod broke in half, and why was it so important (considering it had a guard standing near it)?

Answer: We're never told.

Question: Why was Richard Donner (the original hired director) fired?

Answer: Because of several arguments with the producers, mainly stemming from the fact that Donner wanted to make the films serious, while the producers wanted to make them into a Batman-like comedy.

Question: At the end of the movie when Clark and Lois are talking to each other at the Daily Planet, Clark kisses Lois and she forgets that Clark is really Superman. How could that happen and why would Clark make Lois forget the he is Superman, since she promised not to tell anyone?

Answer: Superman was be able to kiss Lois in such a way that the heightened emotion wiped out her memory of his identity. To answer your second question, even though Lois promised not to tell anyone, Superman decided he does not want even her to know his secret identity.