Unrated vs. Original Theatrical Version - which do you prefer?

[ssjmichael]

Originally Posted by retablo

So you prefer the theatrical cut of Alien then? That's Ridley's preferred cut and the newer "director's cut" was little more than a studio job.

This is incorrect. While Ridley prefers the theatrical version, he was directly involved in making the new cut it wasn't just some studio job. And the cut that Ridley wasn't pleased with isn't the DC we see, but rather an even longer version that he felt ruined the pacing too much. He cut that longer version himself and considers both director's cuts. Ridley is usually very hands-on with cuts of his movies and in my opinion the best with regards to giving fans as many cuts of his movie as possible (like Blade Runner).

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by Craig666

I usually prefer the theatrical version unless I know the director was forced by the censors or the studio to edit the film to make it watered down.

Some director's like James Cameron, I tend to go for his director's cut, as they add so much more and have usually been edited down to a shorter running time by the studio.

Not meaning to split hairs, but Cameron's "director's cut" of all his films are the theatrical versions. He was never forced to release a studio-edit. He has released "extended cuts" of his movies as edits of interest, but he does not refer to them as "director's cuts."

[Mooch360]

I usually like the extended version of movies, although for Superbad I suspect the theatrical version is probably better. I haven't actually seen it, since only the unrated version is on my blu-ray, but some scenese seem to go on overly long.

[wormraper]

it really depends on the movie. some extended/directors cuts are much better (ala Daredevil) and some are just painful (basically any comedy movies extended cut is trash)

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by wormraper

it really depends on the movie. some extended/directors cuts are much better (ala Daredevil) and some are just painful (basically any comedy movies extended cut is trash)

I personally prefer the unrated cut of Bad Santa over either the theatrical or director's cut.

[shawz0311]

I usually go for the extended editions, unrated, or director's cut of a film over the the theatrical cut.

[Sabrina Gomez]

Most of the time I prefer the "extended/unrated" cuts, just because there is more to see. But, 9 times out of 10, the extra minutes don't amount to much. Just a marketing tool.

[Geoff D]

I don't automatically love a movie if it's got 'unrated' on the cover, I take each version on its own merits. I'm a big fan of that little thing called pacing, which tends to get thrown out of the window with longer extended editions.

Alien: tie between theatrical and DC

Aliens: theatrical

Alien³: tie

T2: theatrical

The Abyss: special edition

Avatar: theatrical

Dawn Of The Dead: theatrical (with an honorable mention for the Argento cut)

Manhunter: US theatrical

Apocalypse Now: tie

Gladiator: theatrical

Kingdom of Heaven: DC

Blade Runner: Final cut

LOTR: theatrical

Robocop: Unrated

Live Free Or Die Hard: theatrical

Army Of Darkness: US theatrical

Leon: US theatrical

The Shining: Euro cut

Rambo: extended cut

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I don't automatically love a movie if it's got 'unrated' on the cover, I take each version on its own merits. I'm a big fan of that little thing called pacing, which tends to get thrown out of the window with longer extended editions.

Alien: tie between theatrical and DC

Aliens: theatrical

Alien³: tie

T2: theatrical

The Abyss: special edition

Avatar: theatrical

Dawn Of The Dead: theatrical (with an honorable mention for the Argento cut)

Manhunter: US theatrical

Apocalypse Now: tie

Gladiator: theatrical

Kingdom of Heaven: DC

Blade Runner: Final cut

LOTR: theatrical

Robocop: Unrated

Live Free Or Die Hard: theatrical

Army Of Darkness: US theatrical

Leon: US theatrical

The Shining: Euro cut

Rambo: extended cut

I disagree with Aliens and The Shining. The Extended Edition (Director's Cut) is definitely superior with Aliens.

[Agent Bond]

Aliens: Extended

American Gangster - Theatrical

Terminator 2: Extended (first version)

Avatar: Theatrical

Apocalypse Now: Theatrical

Gladiator: Extended

Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut

Blade Runner: Final Cut

LOTR: Extended

Robocop: Unrated

Live Free Or Die Hard: Unrated

King Kong - Theatrical

Walk The Line - Extended

Superman II - Richard Donner Cut

Payback - Director's Cut

Donnie Darko - Director's Cut

Army Of Darkness: Theatrical

Rambo IV: Theatrical

SAW I / II / III / V - Unrated / Director's Cut

SAW VI - Theatrical

Halloween 2007 - Director's Cut (although Michael's escape in the theatrical was better)

Troy - Director's Cut (hate the changed score though)

Pearl Harbor - Director's Cut

Dances With Wolves - Theatrical

The Punisher 2004 - Extended

Daredevil - Director's Cut

Spider-Man 2- Extended

The Expendables - Director's Cut

Star Wars: A New Hope & Return Of The Jedi - Theatrical

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - Director's Cut

Watchmen - Director's Cut

[prkprkprk]

Some of my preferred cuts, not necessarily official:

Terminator 2 - Special Edition
Alien - Theatrical
Aliens - Special Edition
Alien 3 - Special Edition
Alien: Resurrection - Special Edition
Watchmen - Director's Cut
The Blues Brothers - Theatrical
The Abyss - Special Edition
Paul - Unrated
Sucker Punch - Extended
Terminator Salvation - Extended
Spawn - Director's Cut
Green Lantern - Extended
Horrible Bosses - Extended
The Exorcist - Theatrical
Donnie Darko - Theatrical
Independence Day - Theatrical
Dances with Wolves - Director's Cut
RoboCop - Unrated
Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated
Apocalypse Now - Theatrical
The Expendables - Theatrical
Superman - Theatrical
Superman II - Theatrical
Spider-Man 2 - Extended
Daredevil - Director's Cut
Avatar - Extended Blu-ray Collector's Edition
Titanic - Fan-Made "White Star" Extended Cut
Waterworld - Fan-Made "Ulysses" Revised Extended Cut
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - Fan-Made Extended Cut

[nmycon]

Some of the movies that have come out with "Director's Cut" or "Extended Edition" stamped onto the package are so misleading, with maybe an additional 5-10 minutes or so (throughout the movie, not even one scene) that was trimmed to fit within the whatever acceptable theatrical time limit the studio deemed necessary...

For movies like these, extended... theatrical... I really couldn't care less as they're practically the same movie.

My personal "criteria" required for an edition of a film to be a true "Extended Edition" is as follows:

1) The addition of at least 20 minutes scattered throughout the film

AND/OR

2) The addition of one significant "scene" (using that term loosely) totaling at least 10 minutes

AND/OR

3) The addition of several significant "scenes" totaling at least 5 minutes each

Enough of this crap with tacking on an extra 60 seconds every 20 minutes and calling the film an "Extended Edition" because there are 6 extra minutes.

It's like the "Unrated Director's Cut" of Terminator Salvation. The total time difference is 3 minutes and the only significant restoration is a boob shot that was cut to secure a PG-13 rating... pretty lame. Should be a deleted scene that can be viewed as part of the film with seamless branching or something like that. But, putting "Director's Cut" on the front of the box draws attention...

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I pretty much prefer the original theatrical cuts. If they were good enough for theatres they should be good enough for Blu ray. IMO deleted scenes were left out for a reason; either they slowed down the film or were not necessary to the story or the pace of the film. Good example: The 40 Year Old Virgin, the theatrical version was quite long for a comedy already and the extended version really made the film way too long.

This is basically how I feel. The only time I'll watch the unrated/extended/director's cut is when that's the only version available. Otherwise, if I have the option, I'll stick with the theatrical cut.

It really bugs mean when a BD is released, and only in an extended or director's cut--Almost Famous, Revenge, Donnie Brasco, Amadeus, Troy, Payback, Tropic Thunder, etc.

[Ugly Pig]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

Not meaning to split hairs, but Cameron's "director's cut" of all his films are the theatrical versions. He was never forced to release a studio-edit. He has released "extended cuts" of his movies as edits of interest, but he does not refer to them as "director's cuts."

On the Aliens audio commentary, he says he prefers the extended cut so that is at least one exception.

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by Ugly Pig

On the Aliens audio commentary, he says he prefers the extended cut so that is at least one exception.

One exception to what? We weren't talking about his preference.

Cameron supervised and approved the theatrical version of Aliens, making that the "director's cut" (because the studio didn't take the film away from him or force him to make a cut their way). He released an "extended edition" for home media that, technically could also be called a "director's cut" because he also supervised and approved that one. But on his introduction to the laser disc (that I believe also appears on the blu-ray) he says he is calling it an "extended cut" because the theatrical is technically a "director's cut."

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Seymour

This is basically how I feel. The only time I'll watch the unrated/extended/director's cut is when that's the only version available. Otherwise, if I have the option, I'll stick with the theatrical cut.

It really bugs mean when a BD is released, and only in an extended or director's cut--Almost Famous, Revenge, Donnie Brasco, Amadeus, Troy, Payback, Tropic Thunder, etc.

TROY (theatrical) got an HD DVD release (maybe there's a way to find a version that's been transferred over to BD format somewhere..) and PAYBACK got a region free theatrical release on BD in the UK.

[Kamelot]

The DC of Dark City is vastly superior to its theatrical counterpart.
and:
Alien 3 - Special Edition (except for the last scene)
Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated (seriously, a PG-13 DH movie?)
Rambo - Theatrical
The Frighteners - DC
Planet Terror - Extended
Death Proof - Extended
Independence Day - Extended
Spider-Man 2 - Theatrical
I Am Legend - Theatrical

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Brian81

TROY (theatrical) got an HD DVD release (maybe there's a way to find a version that's been transferred over to BD format somewhere..) and PAYBACK got a region free theatrical release on BD in the UK.

The theatrical cut of Troy has been released in Poland and Greece. Both are region free since it's Warner.

[bradley4846]

it depends on the movie. but it is usually the version i see. (well except Donnie Darko. I love the theatrical version)

[Ugly Pig]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

One exception to what? We weren't talking about his preference.

Cameron supervised and approved the theatrical version of Aliens, making that the "director's cut" (because the studio didn't take the film away from him or force him to make a cut their way). He released an "extended edition" for home media that, technically could also be called a "director's cut" because he also supervised and approved that one. But on his introduction to the laser disc (that I believe also appears on the blu-ray) he says he is calling it an "extended cut" because the theatrical is technically a "director's cut."

Well, then, strictly speaking they are both "director's cuts", are they not?