Live Free or Die Hard: Unrated DVD vs PG-13 Blu-ray - Blu-ray Forum

hipster.doofus7 · 10-21-2011, 01:27 AM

There seems to be some conflicting reports regarding the Unrated DVD and PG-13 Blu-Ray versions of Live Free or Die Hard.

I've heard some people say that the Blu-ray (theatrical) version had family-friendly language dubbed into scenes originally filmed with foul language. I've also heard some people claim the opposite: That the filmed scenes were originally family-friendly, but were dubbed with foul language for a gimmick unrated release.

So which is it?

Hatter · 10-21-2011, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipster.doofus7

There seems to be some conflicting reports regarding the Unrated DVD and PG-13 Blu-Ray versions of Live Free or Die Hard.

I've heard some people say that the Blu-ray (theatrical) version had family-friendly language dubbed into scenes originally filmed with foul language. I've also heard some people claim the opposite: That the filmed scenes were originally family-friendly, but were dubbed with foul language for a gimmick unrated release.

So which is it?

The latter but how dare you call Yippee Ki Yay MotherF*****! a gimmick.

DetroitSportsFan · 10-21-2011, 02:09 AM

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4522

tylergfoster · 10-21-2011, 02:16 AM

The answer is sort of both. There is a lot of noticeable ADR in the theatrical cut, but most of it doesn't actually change in the Unrated version (Long talking after the power plant explodes is a major example). So, not dubbed for language, apparently, but definitely there.

There are a couple of "real" additions to the Unrated cut (Long, right before the police car gets hit by the garbage truck, and Willis before he drives away from the Warlock's house, and maybe one or two others), but most of the profanity that Willis uses is simply one-word exclamations, usually while his mouth is covered.

All things considered, I strongly prefer the PG-13 version. I wanted the movie to be rated R, but they made a PG-13 movie, so they ought to live with it instead of lazily faking it with dubbed in F-bombs and 95% CG blood (there's literally one shot with the good old-fashioned Karo syrup).

Tyger · 10-21-2011, 02:24 AM

The CGI blood is bad, but the lack of blood is bad too. It annoyed me enough in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, let alone in a Die Hard movie. With all the stories of Bruce getting his way on set, I'm really surprised we didn't get an R rated movie.

horizonline · 10-21-2011, 02:27 AM

All the Unrated content is Bruce Willis telling others how they are clueless morons, the movie itself was meant to be PG13 from the start.

Bill Clay · 10-21-2011, 02:41 AM

It's not a real Die Hard movie until you actually hear McClane say "Yippie Ki Yay, mother f*****!".

It was a marketing decision, plain and simple. I refuse to buy the blu ray for it until they release the unrated version.

Monterey Jack · 10-21-2011, 02:59 AM

As lame as making a PG-13 Die Hard was in general, I prefer the PG-13 version just because the unrated cut removes one of my favorite John McClane quips...

MAC GUY: You just killed a helicopter with a car...!

McCLANE: I was out of bullets.

...and replaces it with a much less clever line.

Plus, the added profanity, as discussed above, is poorly looped-in (often when Bruce Willis' mouth is obscured), and there's almost no blood even in this cut. While it stinks the Blu-Ray didn't offer both versions via seamless branching, I prefer the PG-13 one.

hipster.doofus7 · 10-21-2011, 05:57 AM

Hmmm... seems like the consensus here is that the unrated version isn't any better than the PG-13 version. I guess each one does have its set of problems.

As much as I would've preferred for the movie to have retained the hard edge of its predecessors... I have to admit the PG-13 version was better than I thought it would be. Die Hard 4 was easily the best of the sequels, IMHO.

beware · 10-21-2011, 06:09 AM

Live Free or Die Hard was very entertaining. The difference between the unrated and PG13 almost hindered me from buying the complete collection on bluray (in 1 set)...I have since bought it and I have since had a mad man crush on a balding-to completely-bald Bruce Willis who could kick Chuck Norris' ass.

steve_dave · 10-21-2011, 07:14 AM

It is a a combination of both as DroidGuy says...

The film was initially made without any intention of a specific rating. Fox decided partway through production that they wanted to have a PG-13 rating. The executives saw the success of films like Casino Royale (2006) which had very strong violence for a PG-13 film. They believed the existing footage already shot would easily pass as a PG-13 while the scenes shot after the decision would be made with PG-13 in mind.

Unfortunately, the scenes shot earlier in production would have earned an R rating so they were digital toned down and the strong language was re-recorded. This creates several "editing" and "ADR" errors in the PG-13 version of the film.

When it came time to release it on DVD, Fox looked at the less than stellar box-office performance (for a Die Hard film) and made the decision to bring Live Free or Die Hard back to the same level of violence and language as the previous films. The scenes that were altered for the PG-13 version were restored to their original versions. However, the scenes shot for the tamer PG-13 rating had to be digitally altered to add "digital squibs and blood splatter' along with re-recorded dialogue that actually belonged in a Die Hard movie. This creates a new set of "digital editing" and "ADR" errors in the unrated version. Production the Blu-ray Disc began before the DVD which prevented Fox from including both versions on the BD release.

horizonline · 10-21-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_dave

It is a a combination of both as DroidGuy says...

The film was initially made without any intention of a specific rating. Fox decided partway through production that they wanted to have a PG-13 rating. The executives saw the success of films like Casino Royale (2006) which had very strong violence for a PG-13 film. They believed the existing footage already shot would easily pass as a PG-13 while the scenes shot after the decision would be made with PG-13 in mind.

Unfortunately, the scenes shot earlier in production would have earned an R rating so they were digital toned down and the strong language was re-recorded. This creates several "editing" and "ADR" errors in the PG-13 version of the film.

When it came time to release it on DVD, Fox looked at the less than stellar box-office performance (for a Die Hard film) and made the decision to bring Live Free or Die Hard back to the same level of violence and language as the previous films. The scenes that were altered for the PG-13 version were restored to their original versions. However, the scenes shot for the tamer PG-13 rating had to be digitally altered to add "digital squibs and blood splatter' along with re-recorded dialogue that actually belonged in a Die Hard movie. This creates a new set of "digital editing" and "ADR" errors in the unrated version. Production the Blu-ray Disc began before the DVD which prevented Fox from including both versions on the BD release.

That could very well be true, but it says less than 45 minutes into the writing of the script they want it PG13, which nobody agrees with. That's why they have lines already to replace the existing lines. It's the same as the writer for Garfield writing The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. There are inappropriate lines in the original script of Garfield that are replaced with PG version lines.

blurayfriend · 10-21-2011, 09:04 AM

Why didn't he get to say the full "Yippie-ki-yay" line in the PG-13 version? Aren't you allowed to drop the f-bomb once and still get that rating? I've wondered this for a while.

Daz_85 · 10-21-2011, 09:14 AM

In the 2nd disc bonus materials the editor talks about how short the post production time was on the film, and that if he had more time the editing would have been perfect.

I also think there were other takes where Bruce ad-libbed stronger language, and they wern't used in any cut. There's a behind the scenes clip of him emerging from the destroyed bridge (after the fighter jet is destroyed) where he gives a different verbal reaction each time, but ultimately they went with a take where he says nothing. Shame, because the other versions seemed way more McClane like to me. Also, in Kevin Smith's book published not long after the film came out, he talked about how he was told they had filmed 2 versions of a lot of scenes, ie PG-13 and R, again suggesting that more harder material is out there. You can see that here:

And more out-takes here:

http://www.accesshollywood.com/die-h...s_video_124885

I would hope now that a 5th film has been announced, that in the next year we get a "proper" final harder cut of DH4 on Blu-ray.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blurayfriend

Why didn't he get to say the full "Yippie-ki-yay" line in the PG-13 version? Aren't you allowed to drop the f-bomb once and still get that rating? I've wondered this for a while.

You can drop one F-bomb in a PG-13 as long as it's not in a sexual connotation... which "mother****er" apparently is

tigertron · 10-21-2011, 09:38 AM

I'm just hoping they release Die Hard 3 in the UK...

Daz_85 · 10-21-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigertron

I'm just hoping they release Die Hard 3 in the UK...

Too right! It passed uncut through the BBFC about 3 years ago, but still no release. I think it was meant to be part of a 4-film Blu-ray boxset, but got cancelled. It's way overdue.

tylergfoster · 10-21-2011, 09:55 AM

A Good Day to Die Hard is set for 2013, which is the 25th anniversary of the original. Hoping for an all-new Blu box set -- new transfers, commentaries by Bruce.

I really wish they had just shot an R-rated movie, done PG-13 in the theaters, and had the Unrated cut on home video. I would be so much more appreciative of the Unrated version if it didn't feel like a half-assed R-izing of the PG-13 version. Worse, now, to know that there may be plenty of alternate takes to make a genuine R-rated version. As much as I wanted it to be R, adding a bunch of instances where McClane just yells "****!" isn't that satisfying, it's not "No ****ing shit lady, do I sound like I'm orderin' a pizza?"

horizonline · 10-21-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

A Good Day to Die Hard is set for 2013, which is the 25th anniversary of the original. Hoping for an all-new Blu box set -- new transfers, commentaries by Bruce.

I really wish they had just shot an R-rated movie, done PG-13 in the theaters, and had the Unrated cut on home video. I would be so much more appreciative of the Unrated version if it didn't feel like a half-assed R-izing of the PG-13 version. Worse, now, to know that there may be plenty of alternate takes to make a genuine R-rated version. As much as I wanted it to be R, adding a bunch of instances where McClane just yells "****!" isn't that satisfying, it's not "No ****ing shit lady, do I sound like I'm orderin' a pizza?"

You don't know the circumstances for which they made the PG13. Heck, they don't even give you a fake reason.

10-21-2011, 01:27 AM	#1
hipster.doofus7 Active Member Member since:Jul 2009	Live Free or Die Hard: Unrated DVD vs PG-13 Blu-ray There seems to be some conflicting reports regarding the Unrated DVD and PG-13 Blu-Ray versions of Live Free or Die Hard. I've heard some people say that the Blu-ray (theatrical) version had family-friendly language dubbed into scenes originally filmed with foul language. I've also heard some people claim the opposite: That the filmed scenes were originally family-friendly, but were dubbed with foul language for a gimmick unrated release. So which is it?

10-21-2011, 02:09 AM	#3
DetroitSportsFan Hot Deals Moderator Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Michigan 4K collection:439 Blu-ray collection:2226 Trading Score:93	http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4522

10-21-2011, 02:16 AM	#4
tylergfoster Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Seattle, WA 4K collection:889 Blu-ray collection:4456 DVD collection:1148 MA collection:2163 Digital collection:1725 iTunes collection:50 Prime collection:3 Trading Score:249	The answer is sort of both. There is a lot of noticeable ADR in the theatrical cut, but most of it doesn't actually change in the Unrated version (Long talking after the power plant explodes is a major example). So, not dubbed for language, apparently, but definitely there. There are a couple of "real" additions to the Unrated cut (Long, right before the police car gets hit by the garbage truck, and Willis before he drives away from the Warlock's house, and maybe one or two others), but most of the profanity that Willis uses is simply one-word exclamations, usually while his mouth is covered. All things considered, I strongly prefer the PG-13 version. I wanted the movie to be rated R, but they made a PG-13 movie, so they ought to live with it instead of lazily faking it with dubbed in F-bombs and 95% CG blood (there's literally one shot with the good old-fashioned Karo syrup).

10-21-2011, 02:24 AM	#5
Tyger Power Member Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Sacramento, CA 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- iTunes collection:- Trading Score:1	The CGI blood is bad, but the lack of blood is bad too. It annoyed me enough in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, let alone in a Die Hard movie. With all the stories of Bruce getting his way on set, I'm really surprised we didn't get an R rated movie.

10-21-2011, 02:27 AM	#6
horizonline Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2009 Blu-ray collection:231	All the Unrated content is Bruce Willis telling others how they are clueless morons, the movie itself was meant to be PG13 from the start.

10-21-2011, 02:41 AM	#7
Bill Clay Active Member Member since:Sep 2011 Blu-ray collection:210	It's not a real Die Hard movie until you actually hear McClane say "Yippie Ki Yay, mother f*****!". It was a marketing decision, plain and simple. I refuse to buy the blu ray for it until they release the unrated version.

10-21-2011, 02:59 AM	#8
Monterey Jack Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Oct 2011 Trading Score:709	As lame as making a PG-13 Die Hard was in general, I prefer the PG-13 version just because the unrated cut removes one of my favorite John McClane quips... MAC GUY: You just killed a helicopter with a car...! McCLANE: I was out of bullets. ...and replaces it with a much less clever line. Plus, the added profanity, as discussed above, is poorly looped-in (often when Bruce Willis' mouth is obscured), and there's almost no blood even in this cut. While it stinks the Blu-Ray didn't offer both versions via seamless branching, I prefer the PG-13 one.

10-21-2011, 05:57 AM	#9
hipster.doofus7 Active Member Member since:Jul 2009	Hmmm... seems like the consensus here is that the unrated version isn't any better than the PG-13 version. I guess each one does have its set of problems. As much as I would've preferred for the movie to have retained the hard edge of its predecessors... I have to admit the PG-13 version was better than I thought it would be. Die Hard 4 was easily the best of the sequels, IMHO.

10-21-2011, 06:09 AM	#10
beware Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2010 Location:St. Louis Blu-ray collection:268	Live Free or Die Hard was very entertaining. The difference between the unrated and PG13 almost hindered me from buying the complete collection on bluray (in 1 set)...I have since bought it and I have since had a mad man crush on a balding-to completely-bald Bruce Willis who could kick Chuck Norris' ass.

10-21-2011, 07:14 AM	#11
steve_dave Blu-ray Duke Member since:Nov 2008 Trading Score:21	It is a a combination of both as DroidGuy says... The film was initially made without any intention of a specific rating. Fox decided partway through production that they wanted to have a PG-13 rating. The executives saw the success of films like Casino Royale (2006) which had very strong violence for a PG-13 film. They believed the existing footage already shot would easily pass as a PG-13 while the scenes shot after the decision would be made with PG-13 in mind. Unfortunately, the scenes shot earlier in production would have earned an R rating so they were digital toned down and the strong language was re-recorded. This creates several "editing" and "ADR" errors in the PG-13 version of the film. When it came time to release it on DVD, Fox looked at the less than stellar box-office performance (for a Die Hard film) and made the decision to bring Live Free or Die Hard back to the same level of violence and language as the previous films. The scenes that were altered for the PG-13 version were restored to their original versions. However, the scenes shot for the tamer PG-13 rating had to be digitally altered to add "digital squibs and blood splatter' along with re-recorded dialogue that actually belonged in a Die Hard movie. This creates a new set of "digital editing" and "ADR" errors in the unrated version. Production the Blu-ray Disc began before the DVD which prevented Fox from including both versions on the BD release.

10-21-2011, 09:04 AM	#13
blurayfriend Banned Top contributor Member since:Jul 2011 Blu-ray collection:699 Trading Score:54	Why didn't he get to say the full "Yippie-ki-yay" line in the PG-13 version? Aren't you allowed to drop the f-bomb once and still get that rating? I've wondered this for a while.

10-21-2011, 09:38 AM	#15
tigertron Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2010 4K collection:19 Blu-ray collection:293 DVD collection:30 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:2	I'm just hoping they release Die Hard 3 in the UK...

10-21-2011, 09:55 AM	#17
tylergfoster Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Seattle, WA 4K collection:889 Blu-ray collection:4456 DVD collection:1148 MA collection:2163 Digital collection:1725 iTunes collection:50 Prime collection:3 Trading Score:249	*A Good Day to Die Hard* is set for 2013, which is the 25th anniversary of the original. Hoping for an all-new Blu box set -- new transfers, commentaries by Bruce. I really wish they had just shot an R-rated movie, done PG-13 in the theaters, and had the Unrated cut on home video. I would be so much more appreciative of the Unrated version if it didn't feel like a half-assed R-izing of the PG-13 version. Worse, now, to know that there may be plenty of alternate takes to make a genuine R-rated version. As much as I wanted it to be R, adding a bunch of instances where McClane just yells "**!" isn't that satisfying, it's not "No **ing shit lady, do I sound like I'm orderin' a pizza?"

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