Theatrical, Extended, Unrated, or Director's Cut? Which version to watch?

[Vignir]

"Do you want to watch the Theatrical or Unrated/Extended/Director's Cut?" is a question most of us have encountered when playing a Blu-ray or a DVD.

I always find it hard to choose because I want to know what edition the director wants me to watch and enjoy. So, simply out of frustration I began to compile information about various editions by listening to commentaries, worked through interviews, and by asking the director what's his preferred version. And now I want to share my discoveries with other cinephiles so I've launched a website named This or That Edition -> http://thisorthatedition.com

Directors like Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, Joe Carnahan, Greg Mottola, Joe Johnston, Francis Lawrence, Brett Ratner, Josh Boone, Paul Haggis, Etan Cohen, Nicholas Stroller and Richard Kelly have confirmed with This or That Edition which editions they prefer of their movies. The database currently has 45 registered films and many to come.

I hope that many of you can use the database for future viewings and help me spread the word.

[TripleHBK]

Cool idea and a Cool Site. I'll Bookmark it for sure. You Definitely need to get Army of Darkness up on there. Also a simple suggestion... It's be nice to have a "View All" link somewhere on site rather than having to go through each letter individually. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure it will be used quite a bit.

[demonknight]

If we're talking Brazil, the only one to consider is the 142 minute cut.

[Vignir]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

Cool idea and a Cool Site. I'll Bookmark it for sure. You Definitely need to get Army of Darkness up on there. Also a simple suggestion... It's be nice to have a "View All" link somewhere on site rather than having to go through each letter individually. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure it will be used quite a bit.

Thanks! I'll look into Army of Darkness, I'm a big Evil Dead fan. Also, I'll take a look at adding "View All" link. Thanks man!

[Alucard64]

Great site!

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

It'd be nice to have a "View All" link somewhere on site rather than having to go through each letter.

I second this idea.

[sjconstable]

Nice idea, some others you could add to the site:

Aliens = Special Edition
I Saw the Devil = International Cut
Lord of Illusions = Director's Cut
Nightbreed = Director's Cut
Spider-Man 2 = Theatrical
T2: Judgment Day = Theatrical
Watchmen = Director's Cut
The Wolverine = Extended Cut
X-Men: Days of Future Past = Theatrical

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by demonknight

If we're talking Brazil, the only one to consider is the 142 minute cut.

Besides the butchered cut there was the full European cut that came out originally which is very much worthy of consideration, and then the version Criterion released is slightly different and Gilliam now considers it his definitive version.

[sjconstable]

One I would be interested in you asking the directors about is Dumb & Dumber, 'cause the unrated cut is pretty weird and doesn't really seem like the intended version to me, I think a lot of people prefer the theatrical cut (and even the TV version as well).

[Vignir]

Originally Posted by sjconstable

One I would be interested in you asking the directors about is Dumb & Dumber, 'cause the unrated cut is pretty weird and doesn't really seem like the intended version to me, I think a lot of people prefer the theatrical cut (and even the TV version as well).

I'll look into it. Thanks!

[BuckNaked2k]

Dark City - Director's Cut
Kingdom of Heaven - Director's Cut

[happydood]

Good topic. As with all things... it depends.

I'll side with Spielberg and Scorsese on pretty much anything they choose to do.

When Coppola or Lucas release an alternate version, I feel like they're doing what they need to to support their autonomy, but I don't always accept the alternate versions.

While folks will bend over backwards to decry the Star Wars Special Editions, which I don't love at all, I'm more averse to fundamentally altering the intent of a piece a la Blade Runner. I'll side with Harrison Ford on this in thinking if Deckard is a replicant, it 'makes no emotional sense at all.'

[buck135]

Watchmen: I prefer the theatrical cut which is only available on blu-ray in the U.K.

Bad Santa: The Director's Cut and Extended Version are the only options on the blu-ray. The theatrical release isn't available at all to my knowledge. That film is hysterical regardless.

40 Year Old Virgin: It runs a little long, but the unrated version has some hysterical moments missing from the Theatrical Version.

Ted: The Extended Version doesn't add much and drags the film down imo. The extended scenes and gag reels are very funny however.

Sucker Punch: Most people despise any version of this film, but I find the Extended Version to be vastly superior.

Great idea for a site and good luck.

Edit: EuroTrip needs an unrated blu-ray release.

[starman15317]

Awesome idea for a site. I've been trying to figure out which version of Cinema Paradiso is the definitive version, since I've never seen it.

As for Army of Darkness, I'm still not sure which version is preferred. I like the theatrical version though.

[F13BluRay]

Terrific idea for a website. I would frequent it often, will def bookmark.


Just to name a few that has multiple versions...

Blade Trinity (Theatrical & Unrated)
Halloween 2007 (Theatrical & Unrated)
Halloween 2009 (Theatrical & Unrated)
Friday the 13th 2009 (Theatrical & Unrated)
Ghost Rider (Theatrical & Extended Cut)

[Vignir]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

Cool idea and a Cool Site. I'll Bookmark it for sure. You Definitely need to get Army of Darkness up on there. Also a simple suggestion... It's be nice to have a "View All" link somewhere on site rather than having to go through each letter individually. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure it will be used quite a bit.

Originally Posted by Alucard64

I second this idea.

I've added "VIEW ALL" in the menu, it should speed things up

[perfectionthrusilenc]

Cool idea for a site. I'm impressed for a site I assume is in progress.

Consider contacting as many directors as you can to get the scoop on everything you can.

[WhiteTim]

don't forget the Lethal Weapons "director cuts" we know how much Donnor loves those versions

[The Debts]

Is the extended version of Gladiator any good? I always felt the regular cut worked quite well.

Anyway, throw my vote towards stuff like Kingdom of Heaven and Watchmen in how their Director's Cuts are way better in their longer versions.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Well if it's a movie I've already seen in theatres or tv...etc I'll try to watch the directors cut or unrated version the next time I see it if available. Now if if I've never seen the movie it's a harder decision on which one to watch

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by buck135

Sucker Punch: Most people despise any version of this film, but I find the Extended Version to be vastly superior.

Zack Snyder has said he would like to release the director's cut one day but doesn't know if it will ever happen. I don't think he's said if he prefers the extended cut to the theatrical.