Do Director's Cuts / Unrated Editions Take Advantage Of Us?

[DeathByAsh'aman]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

I always wait to see if they will release an extended version if there's not one originally done. Best example is LOTR. A lot of people bought the vanilla version the day it came out, then 2-3 weeks later there was the extended edition, and they went out and bought a 2nd version. I refuse to buy something unless it's extended or uncut if there's any hint of the newer version coming out soon.

Same here. I waited for a little while even after the extended versions of LOTR came out just to make sure. Although i have to admit that being a fantasy/sci fi fan i did pick up the versions with the different cases. Thats the only time Ive ever double dipped on DVDs.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by DeathByAsh'aman

Same here. I waited for a little while even after the extended versions of LOTR came out just to make sure. Although i have to admit that being a fantasy/sci fi fan i did pick up the versions with the different cases. Thats the only time Ive ever double dipped on DVDs.

I learned my lesson with the LOTR movies. Double dipped as I had no idea that extended versions were waiting in the wings.

I won't be buying them on BD if they initially release only the theatrical cuttings.

[DeathByAsh'aman]

+1 Marcusarilius.

Im gonna wait for the extened versions with all the extras before i triple dip.

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

I learned my lesson with the LOTR movies. Double dipped as I had no idea that extended versions were waiting in the wings.

I won't be buying them on BD if they initially release only the theatrical cuttings.

You really didn't know? It was all over the web before the release, which is why I was so amused people ended up double dipping.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

You really didn't know? It was all over the web before the release, which is why I was so amused people ended up double dipping.

When I first purchased the movies, no. I didn't know. I don't check the web for every movie (especially back then) to see if an extended version might be possible in the future. I still don't. Do you? Does any of us know for sure if the movies we buy today on BD will have extended, Director's cuts or Unrated versions coming in the future?

[Blinkman987]

I think the new Harold and Kumar addressed it well- unrated, extended, and remastered. Yeah, they think the whole process is bullshit and therefore made a joke out of it.

When a movie is released and then does interviews years later- like Blade Runner- I can understand. When a movie is not properly released, like Back to the Future, and someone wants to do a remaster and re-release, I understand. When Superbad has 3+ skus at release, I call bullshit.

[LynxFX]

I want what was released in the theaters first and foremost. Very few "director's cuts" actually make the movie better and is just added fluff that was cut out for good reason. Then there are some that completely change the entire movie, like Payback. I can't even watch the director's cut of that, and sadly I can't watch the theatrical either since they never bothered to release that version on Blu-ray.

If the Studios keep insisting on using this marketing ploy then they better make the effort to do it via seemless branching. That way if we don't like the extended or director's cut, we always have the version that is responsible for us purchasing the movie in the first place. I rarely buy movies sight unseen and with some of these cuts, they are making old favorites into questionable purchases.

[DaleDark]

Director's and extended cuts in general seem to be worth the bucks cuz they tend to give you a different experience from the theatrical release (hell, the director's cut of Daredevil was significantly different). Having said that I must call shenanigans on the use of "Unrated". For those of us who remember the video market of the 80s, unrated used to mean something (too gory to get an R rating to be specific). Now a days, they slap it on an otherwise PG-13 rated movie that contains more than 1 f-bomb (I'm looking at you, Dodgeball). Now if a movie is released as both a theatrical and unrated version, I will lean towards the unrated version, but I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm not getting much extra (last one that did the unrated tag justice was The Devil's Rejects).

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

I think the new Harold and Kumar addressed it well- unrated, extended, and remastered. Yeah, they think the whole process is bullshit and therefore made a joke out of it.

When a movie is released and then does interviews years later- like Blade Runner- I can understand. When a movie is not properly released, like Back to the Future, and someone wants to do a remaster and re-release, I understand. When Superbad has 3+ skus at release, I call bullshit.

Superbad
-Theatrical
-single disk Unrated
-Two disk
-BD
-UMD

seems normal. Sing;e disks for those who dont like extras and the BD for us!

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

When I first purchased the movies, no. I didn't know. I don't check the web for every movie (especially back then) to see if an extended version might be possible in the future. I still don't. Do you? Does any of us know for sure if the movies we buy today on BD will have extended, Director's cuts or Unrated versions coming in the future?

I usually do a decent check before I purchase a movie, especially one that hopefully will get something like that. I waited on AVP to see if they would release an R rated version since I heard a ton of rumors. Unforunately didn't seem to pan out ... yet. I just hate getting a movie then 2 months later seeing one with extras and having to waste money on it.

[Turnda643]

For me, I like the behind the scenes footage. I like to see the makings and all that "on location" stuff. But I also only double-dip if I truely like/love that film. I have on dvd many SE, DC's, & Unrated versions that I will not re-buy. But then again, I have bought "Black Hawk Down" 4 times. From reg. DVD to DVD Extended Cut to BD to the 3 disc DVD Deluxe Edition just 2 weeks ago. Call me stupid, but if you like it, you want it, ........... BUY IT !!!!

[diamondfoxxx]

Of course it's a gimmick. Money comes first for studios. I thought everybody knew that already?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

When I first purchased the movies, no. I didn't know. I don't check the web for every movie (especially back then) to see if an extended version might be possible in the future. I still don't. Do you?

I do. That's why I read The Digital Bits. That's where I found out about LOTR editions.

If BHunt doesn't know about an extended cut later (months or years) and then the extended cut comes out, it usually means it is done not by the Director but by the studio execs milking the title. Live Free Or Die Hard is an interesting conundrum because both cuts exists under the director's supervision but only on DVD. I'm still waiting for the unrated Die Hard 4.0.

Does any of us know for sure if the movies we buy today on BD will have extended, Director's cuts or Unrated versions coming in the future?

That's a hard statement to make. Even if you're the President of the studio, you won't know for sure that an extended/director's cut will be released. If millions of fans demanded it and/or the director has the time and agree to recut, why shouldn't studios release it?

And I'm not even talking about Lionsgate. They are the whole enchilada on their own.


fuad

[Rabidhunter]

One movie that I would double dip on is Donnie Darko. I watched the theatrical version of the movie first. Then I watched the directors cut and it really filled in the gaps. I don't think a person watching it for the first time could appreciate the directors cut unless they watched the theatrical version first.

At any rate, I love what Spielberg did with Close Encounters, he put all three versions on one disc and has a comperative guide to show how each one differs. You have the choice to watch whatever version you want. More movies should be like that.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

I learned my lesson with the LOTR movies. Double dipped as I had no idea that extended versions were waiting in the wings.

I won't be buying them on BD if they initially release only the theatrical cuttings.

yeah. Hopefully they'll release them like they did recently with the theatrical and extended cuts. It's funny though. I have all of the extended editions. I've probably watch maybe an hour all together of the extras. But if they came out with a special edition I would have to buy it. I would wait for it to come out if it didn't come out at the same time as the theatrical version. I'm crazy.

[rbd3000]

Being a person who went through film school, I always gravitate towards Director's cuts, just because if that is the version they wanted to make, that is the version I want to watch. Take The Abyss for example, I will never watch the theatrical version of that film because Cameron's Cut of it so different and better. Personally I don't think we are being taken advantage of when they release two versions because I'm sure their marketing departments tell them that the average consumer just wants the version they saw at the theater. I'm sure those sell more in the long run and the Special Edition Director's Cut is for the real fans of a particular movie. I know that if I love a movie, I will ultimately buy it over and over again to feel like I'm getting a complete experience. Like with LOTR, I knew before the theatrical cuts came out that extended versions would come later but I bought both versions and never regretted it.

[ranma]

Anyone will hold to buy transfermers vanilla version?
Since MB has already hinted that he has to cut a lot of scenes to meet PG-13 rating?

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by ranma

Anyone will hold to buy transfermers vanilla version?
Since MB has already hinted that he has to cut a lot of scenes to meet PG-13 rating?

Yeah, I know that Megan Fox nude scene had to go.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Yeah, I know that Megan Fox nude scene had to go.

just kidding