List of Alternate Cuts with/without Director Approval (1 Viewer)

[Mike*Sch]

Added: DANCES WITH WOLVES

 

[Mathew B]

Thanks for that.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Bound's preferred cut is probably the Unrated version and the R version was only to appease the MPAA.

 

[Mike*Sch]

I was doing a search to find out which version of FEVER PITCH is the definitive version, and I came across this thread I started a year and a half ago. Why didn't I keep it up to date? That was dumb.

So two things: I'd like to start adding to the list again, and I'd like to find out which version of FEVER PITCH I should be watching. Any help? Thanks.

Added: CASINO ROYALE, DEATH PROOF, DIE ANOTHER DAY, THE GODFATHER, THE GODFATHER: PART II, HIGHLANDER: THE SEARCH FOR VENGEANCE, HOLLOW MAN, KING KONG, KNOCKED UP, MIAMI VICE, PAYBACK, SPIDER-MAN 2, SUPERMAN II, TROY; Updated: ALEXANDER, BLADE RUNNER, KILL BILL

 

[Jonathon M]

To be fair, I think it's important to note that while the director's input is the key component of the film, a lot of the time, the director's cut is "a whinge" by the director to get around the fact that the deal they signed included such clauses as running time, which the director no doubt knew prior to production. I've always believed that if a director so wanted his complete vision, he would have negotiated final cut in his contract (a rarity unless you have completely proven yourself as a director in a number of ways), or funded the film him/herself. Either that, or remember that while you are the director, you're not the be all and end all of this film.

Certainly there are probably more exceptions to this statement, but it's worth noting the role that producers can play in the shaping of a film.

This is of course not even considering such hurdles as censorship and the requisite "uncut and unrated" dvd release.

That being said, there's often a stronger cut coming from the director that manages to circumvent these issues (usually through a DVD release), but it's worth noting that the director is responsible for delivering a cut to the producer that is within the contract, and if a director doesn't want to abide by their deal, then that's certainly their responsibility and their problem, even if detrimental to the film.

/rant

 

[Sean Richardson]

Terry Jones (and maybe Gilliam as well) has said that they prefer the DVD cut. Apparently, the DVD cut represents their initial cut, but there was a little joke cut out at the insistence of the studio, or maybe the other Pythons ("Nobody will get it") before they premiered it at some film festival. It went to the festival with the joke in it, and the joke got a big laugh, but they'd already cut it from the print they sent to get copied. So it was always cut out, but never meant to be.

 

[Mike*Sch]

Sean,

I listed the SE for ALIEN 3, because that was at least a reconstruction of a cut made by the director, and more closely resembles what Fincher was working on than the theatrical cut.

In regards to APOCALYPSE NOW, has he said that he prefers the theatrical cut? I always assumed since REDUX was his idea in the first place, it was the version he preferred. In THE CONVERSATIONS: WALTER MURCH AND THE ART OF EDITING by Michael Ondaatje, he states:

"The idea for a new version grew out of Coppola's desire to produce a DVD of APOCALYPSE NOW with a number of major scenes that were--for reasons of length--eliminated from the 1979 version."

On the other hand, Murch also talks in the book (which was written during the cutting of REDUX) about how they won't know whether or not this version is better until it's done.

I've also heard that Coppola has always wanted the original to remain in existence, and it has.

So I don't know. Seeing as how the whole idea was Coppola's in the first place, I'm working on the assumption that REDUX his preferred cut. But I'll change it to unknown until someone offers compelling evidence one way or the other.

I remember reading the DANCES WITH WOLVES theatrical thing in some magazine probably over a decade ago, back in the days of LD. I stored it in my brain as useful info for finding a copy to watch when the time came for me to watch it, but so far, that time has not come. Again, if someone wants to prove me wrong, I'm all for it, but I'm relatively certain I'm right about this one.

Thanks for the info on the other three movies. I'll update them accordingly.

Also added: PLANET TERROR

P.S. On a side note, THE CONVERSATIONS is, by far, the best book on film theory I've ever read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

[TravisR]

Where did you see that there's an extended version of Planet Terror?

 

[Mike*Sch]

Weinstein had mock-ups of the DVD artwork at the San Diego Comicon. Here's a link to a picture of one that someone posted at AVS:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1034/...acfe2c76c1.jpg

 

[TravisR]

^Huh. Based on the script, there's not much that was cut from the movie. I hope that's just a 'mistake' on the mock up because what was cut certainly doesn't need to be in the movie.

 

[Mike*Sch]

Added: CLERKS., HANNIBAL RISING, & HOSTEL, PART II. Revised: HOSTEL.

 

[Bryan Tuck]

It's good to see that this thread is still going. I'm about the biggest advocate there is for directors being allowed to present their preferred version of a film, and even I am getting tired of this whole "extended version" trend. As others have stated, it really does get confusing, and it's often unnecessary, especially when the original versions of these films become unavailable. I mean, after nearly 20 years, was there anyone who really needed 25 more minutes of Big? (Of course, in that case, at least the new DVD does include the original version.)

That said, does anyone know the story behind Crimson Tide? (It's still listed as "unknown.") Was this Tony Scott's doing, or was it just done because several other Bruckheimer movies were having extended versions released?

 

[Jeff Jacobson]

Highlander: Search for Vengence
from http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32882:

 

[Mike*Sch]

Oh, Highlander...

Bryan, is the theatrical cut of BIG Marshall's preferred version?

Added: BIG

 

[Bryan Tuck]

All I know is that the DVD says "Penny Marshall's Extended Version," or something to that effect. I don't think it uses the words "Director's Cut," but it seems that she at least participated.

So, I'm not sure which she prefers, but again, at least both of them are on there. I actually haven't seen the extended version; it was just a random example I picked.

 

[Mike*Sch]

"Penny Marshall's Extended Version" is good enough for me. Thanks.

Added: THE SHINING and PATHFINDER

 

[gomezfan69]

You can add Revenge - Director's Cut and Empire Records - remix

 

[Christian Preischl]

It doesn't say anything like that on the packaging. The booklet maybe? (Haven't checked that one).

 

[Mike*Sch]

Thanks, Jason and Christian. I'll change BIG back to unknown for now. Also added: DEAD SILENCE, LORDS OF DOGTOWN, VAN WILDER, and VAN WILDER 2: THE RISE OF TAJ.

 

[Elijah Sullivan]

There's two cuts of John Cassavetes's The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, too. Cassavetes apparently relied mainly on his editor to create the theatrical edition, as the director was busy on his next project. That version flopped, so Cassavetes came back two years later and personally recut the film.

It's unclear which version Cassavetes preferred; poor box-office was the main reason for creating the second cut, although artistic impulse certainly played a role as well.

So...

1976 (Original) Cut -- 135min
1978 (Re-Release) Cut -- 108 min

Apparently, nobody knows which one is preferred by Cassavetes. Anyone?

 

[Bryan Tuck]

I know I read that somewhere; maybe it wasn't the box. Sorry for the confusion.