The Alien Anthology Thread - October 26, 2010

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I just wish they had called it an extended cut instead of director's cut because that's really what it is.

Well since it's not really extended, how about calling it the *re-edited cut* instead.

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[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Well since it's not really extended, how about calling it the *re-edited cut* instead.

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Or maybe the "We Need To Access Your Wallet Again" cut - since it appears to be a studio mandated money grabber?

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Or maybe the "We Need To Access Your Wallet Again" cut - since it appears to be a studio mandated money grabber?

Not really, since it only comes in the set or on the same disc with the "real" cut of the film. If it had been sold as a separate purchase, that'd be different.

But it does rather point to studio attitudes to their films as cookie-cutter products rather than artistic expression. (I know, nothing new there, right? ) Two of the films in the set had second cuts, so of course by studio thinking the other two had to have second cuts as well, whether there were valid reasons for a different version or not. Even though they complied, the filmed intros by Scott and Jeunet to these second cuts speak volumes about their disdain for the idea.

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Not really, since it only comes in the set or on the same disc with the "real" cut of the film. If it had been sold as a separate purchase, that'd be different.

Well kind of, since it did have a limited theatrical release about a month before the Quadrilogy set came out.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Not really, since it only comes in the set or on the same disc with the "real" cut of the film. If it had been sold as a separate purchase, that'd be different.

But it does rather point to studio attitudes to their films as cookie-cutter products rather than artistic expression. (I know, nothing new there, right? ) Two of the films in the set had second cuts, so of course by studio thinking the other two had to have second cuts as well, whether there were valid reasons for a different version or not. Even though they complied, the filmed intros by Scott and Jeunet to these second cuts speak volumes about their disdain for the idea.

Actually, all four films have two different cuts.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Not really, since it only comes in the set or on the same disc with the "real" cut of the film. If it had been sold as a separate purchase, that'd be different.
But it does rather point to studio attitudes to their films as cookie-cutter products rather than artistic expression. (I know, nothing new there, right? ) Two of the films in the set had second cuts, so of course by studio thinking the other two had to have second cuts as well, whether there were valid reasons for a different version or not. Even though they complied, the filmed intros by Scott and Jeunet to these second cuts speak volumes about their disdain for the idea.

That's exactly what I was getting at, but I settled for a joke rather than a more detailed, reasoned exposition. To a marketer's eyes, they all needed alternate cuts - for that extra enticement to double, triple or fourple-dip. Let's see : theater, VHS/Beta, LD/DVD, Blu-ray/HD DVD - and coming soon - 4K Ultra HD! Buy, opps, Boy, do they have our number!

By the way, I just came across an old article about 4K TVs which claimed that : "With "regular" HDTVs reaching market saturation, and 3D TV having flopped, the display industry at large is searching for new tech that will compel buyers to upgrade yet again. Higher resolution is a great way to do that, but it's arguable that the benefits are only practical at huge screen sizes. The same way that 1080p is overkill on a 32-inch display, the extra detail of Ultra HD will be lost on a 42-inch display."

I'm sure that's true to an extent, but I know that since I switched to my LG 26" HD TV (the biggest I could squeeze into my office/music room), TV shows and movies look way better, so, if I'm still alive when prices collapse ... I'm sure I'll be buying lots of this stuff again - with or without "new cuts".

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It does stop the movie stone dead, yup. In defence of Sir Ridley, he probably *had* to put that scene in the new version of the film so he pared it down as much as possible. But given that it halts the film in its tracks anway, he should've left it at the longer length seen in the LD deleted scenes. It's much creepier.

Definitely. I think that's the scene Fox really wanted to be put into the film. And it's a great scene, in and of itself...it just doesn't belong in the movie. Ridley was right to cut it, he knows he was right to cut it, he humored Fox and put it back in, and that's all good. We still have the original. It's nice to be able to compare and contrast. And I do like some of the additional character bits. Unfortunately, the first act loses a lot of its suspense along the way, and some nice character bits are lost, as well ("What are my chances?")...it's sort of a hodgepodge of nice additions, unfortunate omissions, and one scene that has no business being in the film.

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

The theatrical cut of Alien is perfect. I think even Scott regrets giving in to Fox and going back and re-cutting it into a "director's cut."

I don't think he regrets it. I think he had fun playing around with it, knowing that it would never replace his original cut as the definitive version of Alien.

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I just wish they had called it an extended cut instead of director's cut because that's really what it is.

It's not extended, either. It's almost a minute shorter than the theatrical cut. It's just an alternate cut.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

It's not extended, either. It's almost a minute shorter than the theatrical cut. It's just an alternate cut.

That shows you how much I dislike that cut. It should have been deemed the alternate cut then.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

That shows you how much I dislike that cut. It should have been deemed the alternate cut then.

Agreed. I just call it the 2003 cut.