Pirate Radio Edited for American Release

[1blufan]

The latest film from director Richard Curtis (Love Actually,Notting Hill,Bridget Jones Diary) has been editied down from 135 minutes to 112 minutes for the American release.
With the American and Canadian release being several months behind other Countries(UK, Australia and most of Europe had a release back in April)
I'm wondering why they would edit our release here in the states?
Sure Curtis makes some what long films, but enjoyable ones in my opinion. By finding this out I'm now going to wait and not see it in theaters and try to import a BD or DVD from another Country. Most Countries have already released this film for home viewing. Titled " The Boat That Rocks " changed to Pirate Radio for American Release.
Is anyone else a little disappointed with a edited version for our Country?
And will anyone else not see this movie in theaters now knowing it has been edited? And try to import the DVD or Bd?

Opinions ??

[tommyboy81]

i was wanting to see this but what kind of scenes were cut out. One scene is one thing but 20mins is another.

[ZX_VRT]

who knows, maybe they want to add it into the bd versions of the movie. more people would buy it to see those extra scenes.

[1blufan]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

i was wanting to see this but what kind of scenes were cut out. One scene is one thing but 20mins is another.

Don't know, but I will try to find out without giving away any spoilers. With that much removed I'm wondering if they removed a small plot or something.
My girlfriend and I had plans to see this tonight, but we both want to see the full cut so we're going to wait.

[1blufan]

Originally Posted by ZX_VRT

who knows, maybe they want to add it into the bd versions of the movie. more people would buy it to see those extra scenes.

I would hope they would have it for the US BD release. I'm just trying to figure out why so much has been removed. I would hope they wouldn't say lets cut 20+ minutes out so we can put it on the US BD release, but then again I can't be certain, And I guess wouldn't be suprised either.

[ZX_VRT]

maybe there are some scenes which they don't want to show publicly as it might gain them bad reviews.

[1blufan]

BD Available for purchase on Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boat-That-Ro...8138153&sr=1-2

[drobswim13]

i'm glad you told me this. I was excited to see this, but now learning that it has been cut by 20 mins, I'm just going to try to find it overseas.

[kpkelley]

From IMDB.com:

US distributor, Universal have chosen to re-title the film as "Pirate Radio" and release it under Focus Features in US territories. This new version will be edited for length by director Richard Curtis after some European reviewers cited its 135 minute running time as a factor in its diminished success.

[Jack Torrance]

Curtis To Re-Ddit The Boat That Rocked Before U.S. Release »

Writer/director Richard Curtis is sailing The Boat That Rocked back into the editing room ahead of its U.S. release after the comedy failed to make waves at the British box office.

The Love Actually scribe is hoping the film, which stars Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy, will find more commercial success with American audiences.

And he's agreed to re-edit the film and cut 20 minutes from the running time to ensure it's a Stateside hit, according to the president of Focus Features, the studio releasing the project in the U.S.

James Schamus explains, "It will be a shorter, leaner version. We think it is a real crowd-pleaser. We love a challenge."

The Boat That Rocked cost more than $45 million (£30 million) to make but took in just $9.2 million (£6.1 million) in the U.K. in its first 12 weeks of release, with film critics complaining the film was too long.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0871850/

[Meeklo]

I hope not....I saw a preview screening a couple of nights ago and it was the full 135 minutes. It was a great movie!

[wallendo]

Why is there an assumption that a longer cut of a movie is always better?

In this particular case, you have a movie that critics complained about and audiences didn't spend money to see. Maybe a few changes could actually help the movie.

[FlipperWasIrish]

It won't stop me from seeing it in the theater. Since you don't know what was cut out it is foolish to imply that it ruined the film. Maybe it is better?

You simply don't know.

[Jack Torrance]

It would be a smart move for Universal / Focus to put out both cuts on Blu when the time comes... certainly couldn't hurt (and I'm sure they're already planning it...)

[Idioteque...]

This movie yet again got bad reviews. Now I don't know which release to bother with.

[JonD7]

I've been waiting to see this film for ages, I hope it's good.

[1blufan]

I don't think anyone has said because it's a shorter film it will be worse. The whole point of the thread was about the edited version for the U.S.
And yes I agree sometimes a good editing makes for a better film, but I ask this?
Why is the U.S. and maybe Canada the only two Countries to have it edited? Everywhere else had the version the director originaly intended. And from the look of some of those articles I wouldn't be suprised if Curtis was told to cut it or they would limit the films release to a few theaters here in the states.

[toef]

Originally Posted by 1blufan

I don't think anyone has said because it's a shorter film it will be worse. The whole point of the thread was about the edited version for the U.S.
And yes I agree sometimes a good editing makes for a better film, but I ask this?
Why is the U.S. and maybe Canada the only two Countries to have it edited? Everywhere else had the version the director originaly intended. And from the look of some of those articles I wouldn't be suprised if Curtis was told to cut it or they would limit the films release to a few theaters here in the states.

Maybe because the British audience expects/likes a different style of movie than American audiences.

Or maybe he got a lot of feedback during the theatrical run of the longer version, and decided to cut some parts out.

I'm all for a shorter version if the director was behind it. It's not like the studio hired a guy off the street and told him to cut 20 minutes out of the movie.

And how do you know the longer version is what the director intended? Maybe he intended to make a great movie, and realized afterward that it could've been better, so maybe the shorter version is closer to what he intended to make.

[ulri4651]

Originally Posted by 1blufan

The latest film from director Richard Curtis (Love Actually,Notting Hill,Bridget Jones Diary) has been editied down from 135 minutes to 112 minutes for the American release.
With the American and Canadian release being several months behind other Countries(UK, Australia and most of Europe had a release back in April)
I'm wondering why they would edit our release here in the states?
Sure Curtis makes some what long films, but enjoyable ones in my opinion. By finding this out I'm now going to wait and not see it in theaters and try to import a BD or DVD from another Country. Most Countries have already released this film for home viewing. Titled " The Boat That Rocks " changed to Pirate Radio for American Release.
Is anyone else a little disappointed with a edited version for our Country?
And will anyone else not see this movie in theaters now knowing it has been edited? And try to import the DVD or Bd?

Opinions ??

I imported 'The Boat That Rocked' from Amazon.uk and was blown away by the quality of the disc. Region free too.

[ulri4651]

Originally Posted by wallendo

Why is there an assumption that a longer cut of a movie is always better?

In this particular case, you have a movie that critics complained about and audiences didn't spend money to see. Maybe a few changes could actually help the movie.

Ask your wife why there is an assumption that longer is better.
okay, cheap shot. just kidding.

seriously though, I always want to see the intended directors cut of the film. I go out of my way to find these cuts. I once spent 2 months searching for a workprint of 'Boogie Nights' and it was sooo worth it. I love seeing what the MPAA doesn't want me to see, or what the studios don't like. Usually they are wrong.