Theatrical vs. Director's Cuts

POSTED BY: reginaroadie
UPDATED: Friday, June 30, 2006 03:27
VIEWED: 3794
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This weekend, I was thinking about how with the advent of DVD that director or alternate cuts of movies are readily available for people. And how it's become both a blessing and a burden. A blessing in that we can see mangled masterpieces the way they were intended (basically any of Orson Welles's later works and the upcoming 3 disc edition of BLADE RUNNER, which apparantly will have 3 versions of the movie. The theatrical version, the 92 Director's cut [which apparantly was just a marketing thing], and a brand new, definitive final cut), and a curse in that we see movies that we've grown up with sometimes mangled (Although I personally have no problem with the revised STAR WARS movies, a lot of people still are livid by them , and it's become this big can of worms that I'd rather not deal with.).

So the question I'm asking is this. What are some Director's Cut's you prefer over the original theatrical versions? And what are some movies that you think the original ones were perfect and shouldn't be changed?

For me, one recent film that has a Director's Cut far superior to the theatrical release is ALMOST FAMOUS. On the Almost Famous Untitled edition, the director's cut of the film is a whole lot better than the original version. It add's a lot more scenes in the film that makes the movie breathe and gives it a bit more depth with each of the characters.

One director's cut that I both enjoy and have a tiny problem with is the one for AMADEUS, which is my all time favorite movie. Now, the director's cut adds about twenty minutes to the movie and has a lot of changes for the better. It's interesting to see whole new scenes in the movie that add extra dimensions to other moments. Like there's a new scene where Salieri exploits and humiliates Constanza to get to Mozart, and it not only shows how much she loves Mozart, but adds more venom to the line she says later in the movie, "I'm afraid we have no servants to show you out." And when you see how low Mozart has sunk, when he's confronted by his father about his life in Vienna, you see how desperate Mozart's becoming. So all of these moments help make the movie richer. Like there's this one exchange between Salieri and Mozart in which Mozart derides a colleague by saying he's a fool and a complete mediocrity. And Salieri replies with "No, no. He has yet to achieve mediocrity." Which I think is a better insult. Instead of saying that Michael Bay or Brett Ratner is a hack, you should say that they have yet to achieve hack-dom.

But there's one line that's taken out that ticks me off. It's during Salieri's speech where he denounces God. It's so perfect. Both the prose and how F. Murray Abraham delivers it. "From now on, we are enemies. You and I. Because you choose for your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy, and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation. Because you are unjust...unfair...unkind...I will block you. I swear it. I will hinder and harm your creature on Earth as far as I am able." Now, in the director's cut, the speech stops right there and you actually see Salieri doing all he can to discredit and ruin Mozart's reputation so much that Mozart's only patron is this rich nobleman who hires Mozart to instruct his daughter, but Mozart ends up only placating his dogs, which makes Mozart leave with a champagne bottle. And then you see Mozart walking down the streets of Vienna with a bottle in his hands. But in the theatrical cut, the speech goes on further with the one line of "I will ruin...your incarnation." That line still gives me chills to this day. And then after the line, it goes to Mozart as he's walking down the street. Now, I like the Director's cut in that you actually see Salieri screwing Mozart over (first rule of filmmaking, show and not tell), but I just love that one line so much because you see how bloodthirsty Salieri is in wanting to destroy Mozart. For me, in a perfect world, the line would still be in there and you see Salieri screwing Mozart over.

And one re-cut

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Director's cuts that RULE:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Superman: The Movie

Director's cuts that vastly improve:
Daredevil
Robocop
Blade Runner (Tho I still like the Theatrical)
Alien
Supergirl

Director's cuts that just change stuff:
Legend
All Star Wars

Director's cuts that still suck:
Elektra


More to come Chrisisall

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Leon the Professional...It changes the story slightly, and I like it better than the original.

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Both ones are good mentions. ST: TMP had so many different versions, and the recent DVD of it really cleaned everything up and made it a much better flick. And the new FX managed to blend in well with the 79 SFX so that it wasn't to jarring.

As for LEGEND, I think that the director's cut on that was far better than the original one. Replacing the Tangerine Dream music (any 80's movie that has a musical score done by an 80's band immediately dates itself, I notice) with Jerry Goldsmith's lush score and holding off seeing the Prince of Darkness until he steps out of the mirror to me consititutes a way better movie.

Ridley has that rep of having his movie's butchered. I always thought that he'd have enough clout to have a final cut clause in his contract.

As for BLADE RUNNER, I'll give it one more shot with the upcoming DVD, but as of now, I'm still not impressed. I know it's beautiful looking and was a revolutionary piece of sci-fi when it came out, but just seems cold to me. It's the same problem I had with THE MATRIX. It had no heart.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"There's only one "Return" ok, and it ain't "of the King", it's "of the Jedi."

"Maybe we should start calling your friend 'Padme' because he loves 'Mannequin Skywalker' so much, Right? (imitating robot) Danger...danger...my name is Anakin...my shitty acting is ruining saga."

Excerpt of internet teaser for CLERKS 2.

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Quote:

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Originally posted by reginaroadie:

As for LEGEND, I think that the director's cut on that was far better than the original one. Replacing the Tangerine Dream music (any 80's movie that has a musical score done by an 80's band immediately dates itself, I notice) with Jerry Goldsmith's lush score and holding off seeing the Prince of Darkness until he steps out of the mirror to me consititutes a way better movie.

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Difference here is that Scott was 'talked into' producing a 'leaner' version of his original cut, it wasn't a hack job overseen by the studio. The theatrical version was his theatrical version, that's why it works for me. Tangerine Dream was brought in and they used Jerry (a legend in his own right) Goldsmith's score as a template, and in doing so, produced the best film score they would ever write.
So in the end, I can watch either version and enjoy.

Mother Night, fold your Dark arms about me Chrisisall, Mega-Legend fan

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Do we count the extnended editions for LOTR as directors cut?

If we do, the extended versions were so much better! Not that the theatrical versions weren't fantastic!

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HOW COULD I FORGET?!?!

The Director's cuts of Aliens and Terminator 2 and The Abyss...

Totally awsome Cameron greatness!!!

Battle Angel is to come Chrisisall

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Director's Cuts are tricky things. These days, most of them are just marketing ploys that the studio asks for. There are some out there that are honest-to-god real director's cuts, and most of those tend to be good.

My favorite Director's Cuts:

Brazil (Though I've always preferred the VHS ending)
Daredevil (Just a better film)
The Frighteners (The last act makes so much more sense)
Hellboy (Like Daredevil, it's just more complete)
Kingdom of Heaven (Two words: Massive overhaul)

But one Director's Cut that's always bothered me is the one for Army of Darkness. A lot of the cuts they changed just don't work, and they even got rid of my favorite line for a severely worse line:

"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun"
Has been changed to
"I'm not that good."




____________________

"Bible, Wrath of Khan, what's the difference?"

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