Revisionism: the director can alter his work... and I can hate it!

[Grubert]

Greedo shooting first. Walkie-talkies for guns. New scenes (French plantation anyone?). New aspect ratios (gotta love Storaro). New color palette (The French Connection). Color where there wasn't any (Sinbad - now improved in color!). Director's cuts up the wazoo. New VFX, new foley

It turns out, we aren't watching the movies as they were released, appreciated and rewarded with Oscars and other awards.

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter their work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Greedo shooting first. Walkie-talkies for guns. New scenes (French plantation anyone?). New aspect ratios (gotta love Storaro). New color palette (The French Connection). Color where there wasn't any (Sinbad - now improved in color!). Director's cuts up the wazoo. New VFX, new foley

It turns out, we aren't watching the movies as they were released, appreciated and rewarded with Oscars and other awards.

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter your work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

It's their "art" so they can make any changes they feel are appropriate. But they should also respect the fans and at least give us the option of the theatrical release.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Greedo shooting first. Walkie-talkies for guns. New scenes (French plantation anyone?). New aspect ratios (gotta love Storaro). New color palette (The French Connection). Color where there wasn't any (Sinbad - now improved in color!). Director's cuts up the wazoo. New VFX, new foley

It turns out, we aren't watching the movies as they were released, appreciated and rewarded with Oscars and other awards.

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter your work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

Well, that's why Spielberg released the original cut of E.T. on the same disc (though both versions are still missing the "terrorist" line), and all three versions of Close Encounters on the same Blu-Ray. I think he agrees with you. Ridley Scott and James Cameron may as well (see The Abyss, T2, Legend, Blade Runner and Kingdom of Heaven).

Hell, even Lucas finally relented and released the original cuts of Star Wars onto DVD.

[quexos]

Most of the time I go for the Director's cut or extended edition or whatever but I can understand that some people prefer the theater cut.

So it seems honest to say that both versions should be available for everyone to choose.

[anomynous]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Greedo shooting first. Walkie-talkies for guns. New scenes (French plantation anyone?). New aspect ratios (gotta love Storaro). New color palette (The French Connection). Color where there wasn't any (Sinbad - now improved in color!). Director's cuts up the wazoo. New VFX, new foley

It turns out, we aren't watching the movies as they were released, appreciated and rewarded with Oscars and other awards.

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter your work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

Are you talking about Watchmen?

[P@t_Mtl]

I usualy don't mind the re-work director's cut if they added scenes just work well with the originals (like for example Lord Of The Rings) Most of the time I will prefer watching the director's cut over what was offered in the theater.

I was glad however that Lucas did release the original Star Wars in DVD (even if the quality is so so)

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter your work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

spot on

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I usualy don't mind the re-work director's cut if they added scenes just work well with the originals (like for example Lord Of The Rings) Most of the time I will prefer watching the director's cut over what was offered in the theater.

I was glad however that Lucas did release the original Star Wars in DVD (even if the quality is so so)

I drew the line at Apocalypse Now Redux. To this day I refuse to watch the longer cut.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Grubert

I drew the line at Apocalypse Now Redux. To this day I refuse to watch the longer cut.

Never seen the Redux, only saw the original and once only at that, once was enough for me I suppose if the added scenes and the recut just mess up the flow of the movie and the story, there is just no point in doing it. I also have problems when they add scenes that were cut to older movies. Scenes that were not finish at the time, with sometimes sound just a mess. For example The Good The Bad & The Ugly. Nothing added to that movie was worht it, IMO the original cut is the best one.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Yes, filmmakers have every right to alter their work. But at the very least, they should include the original, as we got with Blade Runner, Dark City or the Harryhausen films. On the other hand, we can't see Amadeus or The Last Emperor as we saw them on the theater.

What do you think?

I agree with the part I made bold, I don't mind them tinkering with their work as long as they continue to provide us with the original material as well.

[bferr1]

I don't think I mind a Special Edition or Director's Cut when the additions were scenes that either couldn't be finished or fully realized back in the day but somehow could now (the Jabba scene or X-Wing flyby in New Hope, French plantation in Apocalypse), or they were scenes trimmed against the director's wishes for completely arbitrary reasons (Lawrence of Arabia). I think I do object to revisionist tinkering, such as Greedo shooting first, walkie talkies in E.T. and the new color pallette in French Connection.

By the way, with the changes Friedkin's made to The Exorcist and now The French Connection, why isn't there as big a backlash against him as there continues to be with Lucas? Friedkin also is withholding the original versions in favor of the newer ones.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by bferr1

I don't think I mind a Special Edition or Director's Cut when the additions were scenes that either couldn't be finished or fully realized back in the day but somehow could now (the Jabba scene or X-Wing flyby in New Hope, French plantation in Apocalypse), or they were scenes trimmed against the director's wishes for completely arbitrary reasons (Lawrence of Arabia). I think I do object to revisionist tinkering, such as Greedo shooting first, walkie talkies in E.T. and the new color pallette in French Connection.

By the way, with the changes Friedkin's made to The Exorcist and now The French Connection, why isn't there as big a backlash against him as there continues to be with Lucas? Friedkin also is withholding the original versions in favor of the newer ones.

Maybe because they don't have the same cult or fan following? I am sure they are tons of fans of The French Connection but are probably not as into it as Star Wars fans??

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by bferr1

By the way, with the changes Friedkin's made to The Exorcist and now The French Connection, why isn't there as big a backlash against him as there continues to be with Lucas? Friedkin also is withholding the original versions in favor of the newer ones.

There should be. In The Exorcist, all the subtlety in the original was replaced by in-your-face shocks.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Maybe because they don't have the same cult or fan following? I am sure they are tons of fans of The French Connection but are probably not as into it as Star Wars fans??

You're probably right about the fanbase thing, but from a film purist perspective, changes are changes, so that places these movies roughly on the same level.

[Sussudio]

anyone ever see the theatrical release/version of Last of the Mohicans? Michael Mann was allowed to do a director's cut and that is the only version he has ever allowed released on DVD, which I think is kind of dumb. Don't get me wrong, the DC is great, but how many other movies released on DVD are ONLY the director's cuts? Wonder if both versions will be available on the blu

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by anomynous

Are you talking about Watchmen?

He's referring to E.T. How could Watchmen be revised already? The theatrical cut isn't even out. LOL!!

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by Grubert

I drew the line at Apocalypse Now Redux. To this day I refuse to watch the longer cut.

+1
Redux is simply horrible. No point to all that extra nonsense.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

+1
Redux is simply horrible. No point to all that extra nonsense.

Well, there was a point, actually. There has been a 5-hour workprint of this film available on bootlegged video for years, fueling the notion that there was a lot more to Apocalypse than we were allowed to see-- one of the great "What ifs?" in recent cinema. (It's the same kind of myth surrounding David Lynch's Dune, by the way.) The Redux obviously is a way to quell that demand with an official product rather than a shoddy bootleg, and that's about it.

[uziel5000]

I have to agree that as long as You can have both versions of a film, there should be no problem.

I think sometimes directors forget that the reason they are given the slack to do these "director's cut" "extended editions" is usually because the film was a success. And while that also means more demand to see "more", it also means that many won't like it if you mess with what they liked about it in the first place.

How do you please both camps? Release both! It's not that hard. And actually not that expensive either. Most DVD's and BD's come with two discs anyway.

Of course there is revision and then there is stupid. Greedo shooting first? Stupid! Replacing guns with walkie-talkies? Stupid! But like Ernest points out, you can get both versions if you like. Best of both worlds.

[dmb70]

Originally Posted by bferr1

By the way, with the changes Friedkin's made to The Exorcist and now The French Connection, why isn't there as big a backlash against him as there continues to be with Lucas? Friedkin also is withholding the original versions in favor of the newer ones.

I won't buy the Exorcist unless I can get the original cut.