Theatrical Cut vs Alternate Cuts

[s_har]

It depends on the movie really. Sometimes the theatrical cut is better than the alternate one and othertimes it's the opposite.

E.g
Donnie Darko theatrical cut is far superior to the director's cut. I can't even bear to watch the director's cut.
And Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut is far superior to the botchered theatrical release.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by OgamiittoMcJ

so you should also prefer or be more used to 4:3 version too

Actually though, IMO unlike Eyes Wide Shut, the 1:85 framing in no way compromises the composition I admit I do prefer viewing the Shining 4:3 open matted.

[SymbioticFunction]

I normally prefer extended versions but there are some films where I think that the theatrical cut was superior. Alien, Blade Trinity, Alien vs Predator 2, Battle Royale & Donnie Darko spring to mind.

[petrified-eye]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I normally prefer extended versions but there are some films where I think that the theatrical cut was superior. Alien, Blade Trinity, Alien vs Predator 2, Battle Royale & Donnie Darko spring to mind.

I know this is nitpicking but Alien really isn't extended as it's actually shorter than the theatrical cut.

[StingingVelvet]

I'd say it's really a 50/50 case-by-case basis for me. It's rare I consider an extended or director's cut the ONLY cut of the movie I want to watch though. Blade Runner, Batman v Superman, The Wolverine... maybe the Lord of the Rings movies... that might be it?

[drush9999]

Just to confuse matters are mislabelled Director's Cuts that aren't their preferred version, Ridley I'm looking at you

General rule of thumb is, if it's Michael Mann or George Lucas, theatrical, for most other directors whichever version they prefer

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by sjconstable

It's not as simple as that though, Kubrick released the long version and then because it was getting negative reviews saying it was long and boring he panicked and quickly cut it down. The long version is the real director's cut as far as I'm concerned, otherwise he wouldn't have released that in the first place. It's actually the same thing that happened to BvS, the long version was originally intended to be released but they lost confidence in their audience at the last minute.

Kubrick cut it down twice - when it was first playing only in LA and NY it had an extra scene at the beginning and at the end, Kubrick cut these when it went nationwide. I believe he actually had someone from the studio go to all the theatres it was playing in and remove the footage so the longer prints were definitely removed from circulation.
He then cut it further for the European release.
So by your reasoning the Director's Cut is the first released version, which nobody can see anymore (the extra scenes are believed forever lost now.)

I much prefer the Euro version, I don't think any of the extra scenes are of much value and are bad for the pace of the film. It was the first version I saw theatrically, but I'd seen the Euro version at home many times, so who can say how much familiarity leads to the preference.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

I've been told it was the long version that was shown on UK terrestrial TV in the early 90's meaning, if true, the USA cut would be the first one I encountered possibly helping shape my preferences.

For me the long version of The Shining was the one I taped in the 80s on UK TV, and watched it multiple times, the shorter cut feels wrong for me.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by drush9999

For me the long version of The Shining was the one I taped in the 80s on UK TV, and watched it multiple times, the shorter cut feels wrong for me.

I have a friend who had it taped from TV as well, had no idea that there was a different version and was totally surprised when he got the shorter DVD.

[casperuk]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Yes.

A good example would be The Abyss. I saw it at the cinema upon release and I hated it. I just didn't get it at all, it was all over the shop and made little sense. Eventually the SE emerged and I was like "Ah, this is what it is supposed to be like. I get it now".

However, I still prefer the theatrical cut of Blade Runner, with the voiceover. Which is how it was at the cinema upon release, where I saw it first.

See the thing is. The UK of release blade runner and some other territories the theatrical relases didn't have the voice over and left it ambiguous. Which is what Ridley Scott wanted originally.

So the US version to me just isn't the right version. I've not watched the final cut. Having owned it for years. So i must do that at some point. But currently it's the UK version for me

[Spiderwalk]

Originally Posted by casperuk

See the thing is. The UK of release blade runner and some other territories the theatrical releases didn't have the voice over and left it ambiguous. Which is what Ridley Scott wanted originally.

So the US version to me just isn't the right version. I've not watched the final cut. Having owned it for years. So i must do that at some point. But currently it's the UK version for me

The UK theatrical cut does have the voice-over, it wasn't until the so-called director's cut was released in 1992 that it was removed.

[drush9999]

We never got the international cut either, just the r rated one

[Spiderwalk]

Originally Posted by drush9999

We never got the international cut either, just the r rated one

With all due respect, I think you might be mistaken. We definitely had the international cut here in the UK. I saw Blade Runner multiple times upon it's initial release, and it definitely contained the international cut scenes. Tyrell (eyeball gouging), Pris (extra violent fight scene with Deckard), and the scene where Batty inserts a nail through his hand.

I had a really nice VHS bootleg of the film at time when it was still having it's theatrical run. The tape was a telecine transfer from a UK release print, and all the international cut scenes were present, I must have watched that tape every night for about 3 months.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Does this thread also include extended TV edits of films too? If so, I prefer the much longer TV edits of the first two Superman films - not the extended/alternate versions available on DVD/Blu-Ray.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Spiderwalk

With all due respect, I think you might be mistaken. We definitely had the international cut here in the UK. I saw Blade Runner multiple times upon it's initial release, and it definitely contained the international cut scenes. Tyrell (eyeball gouging), Pris (extra violent fight scene with Deckard), and the scene where Batty inserts a nail through his hand.

I had a really nice VHS bootleg of the film at time when it was still having it's theatrical run. The tape was a telecine transfer from a UK release print, and all the international cut scenes were present, I must have watched that tape every night for about 3 months.

Ah didn't realise, the VHS versions were deffo the US theatrical cuts though in the 80s

[WilsonBros]

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

Does this thread also include extended TV edits of films too? If so, I prefer the much longer TV edits of the first two Superman films - not the extended/alternate versions available on DVD/Blu-Ray.

I have always liked them, too...

supestmp.jpg

[casperuk]

Originally Posted by Spiderwalk

The UK theatrical cut does have the voice-over, it wasn't until the so-called director's cut was released in 1992 that it was removed.

Originally Posted by drush9999

We never got the international cut either, just the r rated one

Originally Posted by Spiderwalk

With all due respect, I think you might be mistaken. We definitely had the international cut here in the UK. I saw Blade Runner multiple times upon it's initial release, and it definitely contained the international cut scenes. Tyrell (eyeball gouging), Pris (extra violent fight scene with Deckard), and the scene where Batty inserts a nail through his hand.

I had a really nice VHS bootleg of the film at time when it was still having it's theatrical run. The tape was a telecine transfer from a UK release print, and all the international cut scenes were present, I must have watched that tape every night for about 3 months.

I was too young on the initial release. But I've read over the years that the voice over was done for the U.S. market as they didn't want the ambiguous ending.

If that's not the case then cool. But I've never liked the "happy" ending version

[bigshot]

More is usually not better for me. I usually prefer the theatrical cut.

I thought the US cut of Blade Runner was much better. The narration gave the film a Noir vibe, and when it hit the happy ending the first thing I thought was, "What if both of them are replicants?" It was clear, but unspoken that Deckard was a replicant too. In the later version where they asked it out loud, I was disappointed. I like it better when the audience is given credit to be able to figure things out for themselves.

In fact, a lot of my favorite movies have unspoken subtext or puzzles that aren't spelled out... The Innocents, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Mulholland Drive

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Most comedies just drag on though.

Even though I enjoy some of his work, Judd Apatow is one of the worst offenders. His theatrical cuts are already quite lengthy, but the extended cuts are far too self-indulgent (ex. The 40-Year-Old-Virgin at 130+ minutes!) with the pacing of the story taking a back seat to more "funny" being crammed in. I really think most comedies work best with a 90 minute running time.

[Bourne1886]

Yeah I really like them, Daredevil (Ben Affleck) directors cut is one that I think is better than the theatrical cut as is Kingdom of Heaven which is like a different movie, also Superman and Superman 2 and Aliens. Batman v Superman Ultimate Edition benefits massively from an extra 30 minutes. All better in my opinion with the extra footage.