The Expendables - Which cut of the FIVE?!

[Damage Inc.]

Greetings.

I'm interested in seeing 'The Expendables', which I almost caught at the cinema when it was out, but I'll go with a BD now.
Only... which one Earth should I go with??
There are cuts of 99, 103, 104, 109 and 114 minutes, with names ranging from "special", "limited" to "extended" and "director's" editions/cuts.

Just... how am I supposed to pick which is best to watch?
Maybe a longer version has a more extensive story or just more action to it.
Do some of them also include multiple versions?
What are all the differences? Mostly based on censoring or is there more to it?

I'd like to get the longest version so I'm sure I wouldn't miss out on any content, but who knows it's not as good or I don't know what.
There are also a bunch of differences in physical content, nice sets and all.
But first it would be handy to know which cut would be nicest to have.
Then also if it's very available to me, cause for example that longest "Extended Director's Cut" at 114 minutes is sold in the US only (as far as I can see).
Oh... and it's locked apparently (I saw just now)... -_- But it would be expensive to import anyway.

Does anyone know more about this or have any suggestions?

[nolfoc]

what countries are these being released in? here in the US i believe their is only 2 cuts

[manicsounds]

Yup, there's the 103 minute theatrical and the 113 minute director's. I don't know what else is out there, and where you got those numbers from.

[OldPangYau]

Yeah, I'm only aware of the two main cuts as well

But, on that note, I say go with the Director's Cut that just came out yesterday. While some people are irked about the inclusion of "Diamond Eyes" during part of the finale, the consensus overall is that it's a better cut.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Yeah, I'm only aware of the two main cuts as well

But, on that note, I say go with the Director's Cut that just came out yesterday. While some people are irked about the inclusion of "Diamond Eyes" during part of the finale, the consensus overall is that it's a better cut.

Diamond Eyes?
What's that?

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

Yup, there's the 103 minute theatrical and the 113 minute director's. I don't know what else is out there, and where you got those numbers from.

I didn't see any 113, but 114, unless that was a typo.
But I got these numbers from this very website here...
Just look for 'expendables' with "all" countries in the results, and you'll see all the times in the details of course.
There are MANY ones with 103 and 104, just one at 114 in the US and region-locked.
Then also a bunch of 99 and one or two of 109.

Here are some examples:
99:
- [UK] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17049/
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17943/
103:
- [US] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/12797/
- [NL] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/18007/
104:
- [NL] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/19205/
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17941/
109:
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Expen...Blu-ray/34504/
114:
- [US] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/31390/


I'm thinking that the 99 is Theatrical, 103, 104 and 109 "Extended" with some variation in times for censoring,
then the longest one being the "Director's Cut".
That's my guess.
Unless the times are all just inaccurate user-submitted information?...

It makes little sense to me at all, if there are so many versions.
Also that one single 109-minute version in there, just for Germany,
and that while they also have different ones, not just 109 minutes, but also 99 and 104 minutes.
Over here in The Netherlands there is 103 ans 104 minutes and far as I know.

Man, usually it's like... there are 2 or maybe 3 versions and it's clear what the difference would be.
With the exception of SOME movies like 'Watchmen', which confused me with all its cuts and versions.
But this is just weird to be honest. And annoying.
I mean, I wish there were just 2 with a lot of time-difference and I'd have an easy choice.
But now it's not clear to me, because I might just randomly pick one and find out that it misses something later on.
Or that there's a better and more complete version out there.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc.

I didn't see any 113, but 114, unless that was a typo.
But I got these numbers from this very website here...
Just look for 'expendables' with "all" countries in the results, and you'll see all the times in the details of course.
There are MANY ones with 103 and 104, just one at 114 in the US and region-locked.
Then also a bunch of 99 and one or two of 109.

Here are some examples:
99:
- [UK] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17049/
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17943/
103:
- [US] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/12797/
- [NL] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/18007/
104:
- [NL] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/19205/
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/17941/
109:
- [DE] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Expen...Blu-ray/34504/
114:
- [US] https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...Blu-ray/31390/


I'm thinking that the 99 is Theatrical, 103, 104 and 109 "Extended" with some variation in times for censoring,
then the longest one being the "Director's Cut".
That's my guess.
Unless the times are all just inaccurate user-submitted information?...

It makes little sense to me at all, if there are so many versions.
Also that one single 109-minute version in there, just for Germany,
and that while they also have different ones, not just 109 minutes, but also 99 and 104 minutes.
Over here in The Netherlands there is 103 ans 104 minutes and far as I know.

Man, usually it's like... there are 2 or maybe 3 versions and it's clear what the difference would be.
With the exception of SOME movies like 'Watchmen', which confused me with all its cuts and versions.
But this is just weird to be honest. And annoying.
I mean, I wish there were just 2 with a lot of time-difference and I'd have an easy choice.
But now it's not clear to me, because I might just randomly pick one and find out that it misses something later on.
Or that there's a better and more complete version out there.

there are only TWO cuts. the rest is inaccurate user information

the 103 minute theatrical cut and the 113 minute directors cut.

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by Kinetic_Blue

Diamond Eyes?
What's that?

Shinedown - Diamond Eyes (HQ) with Lyrics - YouTube

I was actually hoping this would be added to the end credits, which it was. But I was surprised that Stallone also added it to part of the finale as well. I think it would've worked better in the finale if they used an instrumental version.

[Damage Inc.]

Ah, OK.
So if I'd go with the UK SteelBook-release for example, which indicates 99 minutes on this website, I'd have the Theatrical of 103 minutes?

I would have a DVD with a "Making Of"-documentary instead I guess.
Unless that's also in the extras of the Director's Cut BD...

I don't get why the times are all different on this website then.
I guess it's taken from the case-info and that isn't always correct either.
But usually all the times from all releases seem pretty consistent.
As in, one cut not being a minute different from the US-release to the Dutch release for example.
The releases for this movie seem to be all over the place. :P