Director Cuts or Theatrical Cuts: Which one do you typically prefer?

[Booker Dewitt]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

13 Assassins

I find the International cut superior to the Director's/Japanese theatrical cut. The original adds a level of weirdness and humor that I don't think fits with the film at all, and really degrades it IMO.

Really? Should probably give that a watch since the I found the first half of the international cut pretty dry.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Booker Dewitt

Really? Should probably give that a watch since the I found the first half of the international cut pretty dry.

I love the dark and serious tone, but even if it's not your thing the added scenes wouldn't change that for you. It just adds a couple of weird scenes that just don't fit with what the rest of the film is going for. They mainly just involve the vagabond/hunter guy.

[Show spoiler]In one scene, he is going through banging a bunch of women, but they don't satisfy him (because as you know from him not dying at the end that he is some sort of supernatural being like a goblin or something), and then the village man who is bringing him all these women doesn't know what to do to satisfy him, so then you seeing the hunter banging that guy.

It's just super weird and totally throws off the tone of the film.

[Talleyrand]

Even if I find the DX worse, I will still tend to watch it, because I am "one of those" who subscribes to auteur theory and fell film "should" be watched as the director intends.

[L-Rouge]

case by case basis for me, I certainly prefer the theatrical cut of The Hobbit The Battle of Five Armies.

And I prefer the authentic sound of Star Trek The Motion Picture found in the Theatrical Cut of this also.

LOTR: FOTR Extended
LOTR: TTT Extended
LOTR: ROTK Theatrical

TH: AUJ Extended
TH: DoS Extended
TH: BoFA Theatrical

[Hello ChoCho]

Both, Alien directors cut & Alien theatrical.

[P-Rock]

I usually prefer Director's Cuts. Only in a few instances I prefer the Theatrical version (Alien, Alien: Resurrection, Mezzo Forte, Donnie Darko, Erik the Viking).

[jPod]

I'm hoping that MGM and Screen Gems will release the Director's Cut of the recent Carrie remake. What a lot of people don't know is that Kimberly Peirce did opt to make a film that was faithful to the Stephen King novel, but, unfortunately, due to the re-shoots and multiple re-edits requested by the studios, the Theatrical Cut was virtually a scene-by-scene remake of Brian De Palma's film.

The Original Cut was all ready to go in March 2013, then the studios looked at the release date and thought they could make more money on Carrie during the Halloween season. So they demanded re-shoots and multiple re-edits to make it more Horror. It would explain why Lawrence D. Cohen (the writer of the 1976 film) was credited after the film was delayed -- they re-shot a number of scenes from the 1976 screenplay. The downside to the re-shoots and multiple re-edits is that a lot of scenes would have to be dropped or trimmed to fit the new running time. The shorter the film, the more viewing sessions the film has.

1. Hail: Otherwise known as "The Rain of Stones" (this was originally the opening scene) - reference the current Blu-ray edition. It's been speculated that the version available on the Blu-ray edition was heavily edited. Fans would still prefer to see Carrie's birth scene as the opening and the Hail scene as a flashback during The White Commission.

2. The White Commission: The film had integrated several courtroom scenes with witnesses giving testimonies of their experience with Carrie White leading to the prom incident, essentially structuring the film as a series of flashbacks and recollections. It begins with an interview with an adult Estelle Parsons (who witnessed the Hail as a teenager), Sheriff Otis Doyle, Dr. Dean L. McDuffy, Erika Gogan, Ms. Arlene Walsh, and others who had some kind of experience with Carrie White and/or theories about the Black Prom.

3. The Found Footage that had been filmed by Freddy "Beak" Holt - and there is currently speculation that other found footage from gymnasium security cameras also played a role in the film.

4. Sue's Video Diary apparently took place in her bedroom as she documented her daily life and thoughts concerning Tommy, Carrie, Chris, and the prom.

5. Scenes detailing more in-depth character development.

6. "Wipe that smile off your face!" - Chris to Carrie at the pool: reference the full-length trailer from April 2013, B-Roll Footage, and/or the main menu of the current DVD/Blu-ray edition.

7. The locker room scene (Extended) - Chris turning the cell-phone toward herself and the mean girls: reference the full-length trailer from April 2013.

8. The prayer closet scene (Extended) - apparently there was missing dialogue in the theatrical version. This scene is very important to the mother/daughter theme which runs deep throughout the story. Fans hope to see this part of the film in its entirety.

9. Scenes involving Social Media - Facebook in particular: The e-mail from Chris to Donna Kellogg. The students were using Facebook and Twitter to send each other the locker room video (according to one source). Producer Kevin Misher stated that "elements of Facebook and internet bullying" were put in to the film to modernize it for a new generation.

10. Billy's wild ride (similar to the 1976 version) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

11. Chris and Tina kiss - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

12. Tommy and Sue's backseat love scene (Extended) was originally longer in the first cut of the film but then shortened for the theatrical cut due to timing: reference Kimberly Peirce's audio-commentary on the Blu-ray edition.

13. A scene featuring actress Ally Feliciano: The mean girls teasing and making fun of Carrie - This scene supposedly took place before the bathroom (mirror shattering) scene.

14. A scene/s featuring actress Kim Roberts: Ms. Arlene Walsh having a brief interaction with Carrie in the library - it's speculated that one of The White Commission scenes featured Ms. Walsh recounting her experience with Carrie.

15. Carrie using her powers to levitate the books in her bedroom: Apparently there were a couple variations of this scene shown to test-audiences. Fans would appreciate an extended/alternate version of this scene given that the theatrical one felt a bit lackluster for such a poignant moment in the story.

16. An interaction between Carrie and Chris outside the dress shop.

17. Drive to the pig farm (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

18. Carrie levitates Margaret (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

19. The meaningful conversation between Miss Desjardin and Carrie at prom.

20. Tommy and Carrie kiss - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

21. Billy kisses Chris - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

22. Margaret escaping from the closet and cutting herself with a knife - reference the current Blu-ray edition. It's been speculated that the version available on the Blu-ray edition was heavily edited and removed the shots revealing Margaret's escape.

23. Sue tries to call Tommy from outside the school to warn him but he rejects the call.

24. Chris and Billy rushing from the school (after the blood dump) to find that Sue's parked automobile is blocking them from leaving.

25. The Prom Scene (Extended) was said to be longer and more violent than the theatrical version.

26. Tina on fire (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

27. A scene or shot revealing Erika and George's fate - According to test-audiences, George was impaled by one of the star decorations as Erika watched in horror. Erika detailed what happened during one of the scenes in The White Commission.

28. The electrocution sequence (Extended) which was supposed to feature graphic shots of "dead students" dancing and being toyed with by Carrie. Carrie then levitates herself and the bodies of those she's killed (according to one source) and soars pass them and out a window.

29. Carrie outside the school using her telekinetic powers to kill off some of the prom survivors who escaped.

30. Chris and Billy's Death scene (Extended) was said to have been a minute longer. This is the last time Carrie and Chris interact with one another - the last confrontation - and so it would be most appropriate to have the scene without any edits.

31. The Town Destruction: According to test-audiences, Carrie uses her telekinesis to set "some other buildings" on fire aside from the school. It was said that the majority of this scene consisted of areal shots intertwined with some close-ups - reference the teaser trailer from October 2012.

32. The Church Scene: There is a lot of speculation/theories about this particular scene! On-Set-Photos do imply that there was a scene involving the Congregational Church on Carlin Street. It is believed that Carrie went there to pray before setting the church on fire using her telekinetic abilities (as described in the Stephen King novel). Test-Audiences have made no mention of this scene (unfortunately) and there isn't much to say whether or not such a scene exists - aside from the On-Set-Photos. Fans would like for this to be included in the Extended Director's Cut if such a sequence of events was actually filmed.

33. Sue seeing Tommy's body on a stretcher and Miss Desjardin saying how sorry she is for what has happened.

34. Carrie taking a bath to clean herself (Extended)

35. Margaret's original death scene which was said to be closer to the novel. It was changed to the theatrical version when re-shoots were done in May 2013.

36. The multiple endings: Five alternate endings were filmed for Carrie. The first ending was very similar to the 1976 film but without Sue waking up. The second ending was exactly the same as the 1976 film. The third ending is a "morning after voiceover" by Sue as the audience sees what's become of the town and how they're coping. The fourth ending shows the town filled with news crews, reporters, and police officers talking about what happened and describing the event as "a conspiracy" to apparently "cover up what really happened" in Chamberlain. The fifth ending was not shown to test-audiences - though many Carrie fans presume that this fifth ending was the one released on the Blu-ray edition. Many hope that all five endings will somehow be "mashed together" for a definitive close.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by jPod

I'm hoping that MGM and Screen Gems will release the Director's Cut of the recent Carrie remake. What a lot of people don't know is that Kimberly Peirce did opt to make a film that was faithful to the Stephen King novel, but, unfortunately, due to the re-shoots and multiple re-edits requested by the studios, the Theatrical Cut was virtually a scene-by-scene remake of Brian De Palma's film.

The Original Cut was all ready to go in March 2013, then the studios looked at the release date and thought they could make more money on Carrie during the Halloween season. So they demanded re-shoots and multiple re-edits to make it more Horror. It would explain why Lawrence D. Cohen (the writer of the 1976 film) was credited after the film was delayed -- they re-shot a number of scenes from the 1976 screenplay. The downside to the re-shoots and multiple re-edits is that a lot of scenes would have to be dropped or trimmed to fit the new running time. The shorter the film, the more viewing sessions the film has.

1. Hail: Otherwise known as "The Rain of Stones" (this was originally the opening scene) - reference the current Blu-ray edition. It's been speculated that the version available on the Blu-ray edition was heavily edited. Fans would still prefer to see Carrie's birth scene as the opening and the Hail scene as a flashback during The White Commission.

2. The White Commission: The film had integrated several courtroom scenes with witnesses giving testimonies of their experience with Carrie White leading to the prom incident, essentially structuring the film as a series of flashbacks and recollections. It begins with an interview with an adult Estelle Parsons (who witnessed the Hail as a teenager), Sheriff Otis Doyle, Dr. Dean L. McDuffy, Erika Gogan, Ms. Arlene Walsh, and others who had some kind of experience with Carrie White and/or theories about the Black Prom.

3. The Found Footage that had been filmed by Freddy "Beak" Holt - and there is currently speculation that other found footage from gymnasium security cameras also played a role in the film.

4. Sue's Video Diary apparently took place in her bedroom as she documented her daily life and thoughts concerning Tommy, Carrie, Chris, and the prom.

5. Scenes detailing more in-depth character development.

6. "Wipe that smile off your face!" - Chris to Carrie at the pool: reference the full-length trailer from April 2013, B-Roll Footage, and/or the main menu of the current DVD/Blu-ray edition.

7. The locker room scene (Extended) - Chris turning the cell-phone toward herself and the mean girls: reference the full-length trailer from April 2013.

8. The prayer closet scene (Extended) - apparently there was missing dialogue in the theatrical version. This scene is very important to the mother/daughter theme which runs deep throughout the story. Fans hope to see this part of the film in its entirety.

9. Scenes involving Social Media - Facebook in particular: The e-mail from Chris to Donna Kellogg. The students were using Facebook and Twitter to send each other the locker room video (according to one source). Producer Kevin Misher stated that "elements of Facebook and internet bullying" were put in to the film to modernize it for a new generation.

10. Billy's wild ride (similar to the 1976 version) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

11. Chris and Tina kiss - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

12. Tommy and Sue's backseat love scene (Extended) was originally longer in the first cut of the film but then shortened for the theatrical cut due to timing: reference Kimberly Peirce's audio-commentary on the Blu-ray edition.

13. A scene featuring actress Ally Feliciano: The mean girls teasing and making fun of Carrie - This scene supposedly took place before the bathroom (mirror shattering) scene.

14. A scene/s featuring actress Kim Roberts: Ms. Arlene Walsh having a brief interaction with Carrie in the library - it's speculated that one of The White Commission scenes featured Ms. Walsh recounting her experience with Carrie.

15. Carrie using her powers to levitate the books in her bedroom: Apparently there were a couple variations of this scene shown to test-audiences. Fans would appreciate an extended/alternate version of this scene given that the theatrical one felt a bit lackluster for such a poignant moment in the story.

16. An interaction between Carrie and Chris outside the dress shop.

17. Drive to the pig farm (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

18. Carrie levitates Margaret (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

19. The meaningful conversation between Miss Desjardin and Carrie at prom.

20. Tommy and Carrie kiss - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

21. Billy kisses Chris - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

22. Margaret escaping from the closet and cutting herself with a knife - reference the current Blu-ray edition. It's been speculated that the version available on the Blu-ray edition was heavily edited and removed the shots revealing Margaret's escape.

23. Sue tries to call Tommy from outside the school to warn him but he rejects the call.

24. Chris and Billy rushing from the school (after the blood dump) to find that Sue's parked automobile is blocking them from leaving.

25. The Prom Scene (Extended) was said to be longer and more violent than the theatrical version.

26. Tina on fire (Extended) - reference the current Blu-ray edition.

27. A scene or shot revealing Erika and George's fate - According to test-audiences, George was impaled by one of the star decorations as Erika watched in horror. Erika detailed what happened during one of the scenes in The White Commission.

28. The electrocution sequence (Extended) which was supposed to feature graphic shots of "dead students" dancing and being toyed with by Carrie. Carrie then levitates herself and the bodies of those she's killed (according to one source) and soars pass them and out a window.

29. Carrie outside the school using her telekinetic powers to kill off some of the prom survivors who escaped.

30. Chris and Billy's Death scene (Extended) was said to have been a minute longer. This is the last time Carrie and Chris interact with one another - the last confrontation - and so it would be most appropriate to have the scene without any edits.

31. The Town Destruction: According to test-audiences, Carrie uses her telekinesis to set "some other buildings" on fire aside from the school. It was said that the majority of this scene consisted of areal shots intertwined with some close-ups - reference the teaser trailer from October 2012.

32. The Church Scene: There is a lot of speculation/theories about this particular scene! On-Set-Photos do imply that there was a scene involving the Congregational Church on Carlin Street. It is believed that Carrie went there to pray before setting the church on fire using her telekinetic abilities (as described in the Stephen King novel). Test-Audiences have made no mention of this scene (unfortunately) and there isn't much to say whether or not such a scene exists - aside from the On-Set-Photos. Fans would like for this to be included in the Extended Director's Cut if such a sequence of events was actually filmed.

33. Sue seeing Tommy's body on a stretcher and Miss Desjardin saying how sorry she is for what has happened.

34. Carrie taking a bath to clean herself (Extended)

35. Margaret's original death scene which was said to be closer to the novel. It was changed to the theatrical version when re-shoots were done in May 2013.

36. The multiple endings: Five alternate endings were filmed for Carrie. The first ending was very similar to the 1976 film but without Sue waking up. The second ending was exactly the same as the 1976 film. The third ending is a "morning after voiceover" by Sue as the audience sees what's become of the town and how they're coping. The fourth ending shows the town filled with news crews, reporters, and police officers talking about what happened and describing the event as "a conspiracy" to apparently "cover up what really happened" in Chamberlain. The fifth ending was not shown to test-audiences - though many Carrie fans presume that this fifth ending was the one released on the Blu-ray edition. Many hope that all five endings will somehow be "mashed together" for a definitive close.

I had no idea about any of that thanks for the info. I'd love to see that cut of the film as well now. I know chances of that happening are slim though.

[SuperDarthKelly]

Most directors cuts are an improvement. I really prefer access to both cuts though. I'm still pissed off I can't get the theatrical cut of The Warriors on bluray.

[Roonan]

Whichever the director/creator prefers.

[Bonzi]

I think it's important to keep in mind that whenever a movie gets rave reviews, it's the theatrical cut that is being viewed by the public. Also it's pretty safe to assume that more often than not a theatrical cut is the consensus version, since everyone from the production side is interested in releasing the version that will attract as many viewers as possible. Most times these days the director's cut is just a gimmick to trick people into buying the home video release or double dipping.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

I suspect the answer is that it depends on the film, but which is more definitive in your eyes?

Are you one who believes that the theatrical version is always the one that should ultimately be remembered? Or do you believe that a director is the one who has ultimate say over which cut is the "definitive" one?

In my experience, most people seem to default to theatrical cuts probably because A) It's how they first seen it, or B) Many "director or original cuts" aren't always offered in a Blu/DVD package.

When it comes to films of which I have seen both cuts, I'm a mixed bag. Here are a couple "director cuts" I prefer:

Apocalypse Now Redux 1979
I'm not popular with this preference (most say the Redux pads the film and makes it plodding or unnecessary) but I welcome the additional scenes. The added length accentuates the never-ending feel of the maddening mission in which the lead character is thrust into, making "the horror" all the more weaving and epic. At least that's how it comes off to me.

JFK Director's Cut 1991
This cut is unusual in that it is used on all the blu releases to date and it's the THEATRICAL cut that is absent. Nonetheless, I like it that way (although I do wish the theatrical cut had been added to the original digibook for complete-ness sake). In a film with this much attention to detail, testimony and viewpoint, more is always better. Perhaps an ironic statement since I'm usually a "less is more" person. But not in this case.

An example of where I favor the theatrical cut despite the fame of the director's cut...

The Exorcist 1973
While I'm glad to have both cuts, I've finally come to the conclusion that the theatrical version works best. Despite the addition of the hospital test scenes (of which I welcome), I'm less enthused with the "spider-walk" scene (kinda goofy in my opinion) and of the superimposed demon faces (not necessary - our imagination works much better). So when I add it all up, I like the original best.

Feel free to discuss your stance on director cuts versus theatrical cuts and which ones stand out for you.

Theatrical cuts all the way unless it's a film like The Wild Bunch that was butchered by the studio and the director's cut truly is a restoration of the director's artistic vision, otherwise most "director's cuts" are just marketing ploys.

[Abby is Q]

Depends on the movie, and running time is no factor. For example, I much prefer the extended cut of Return of the King because even at over 4 hours long, every scene felt necessary. The theatrical cut felt like much was missing. Whereas the Two Towers extended version drags because I felt the new scenes were mostly pointless and the theatrical cut ran just fine.

My least favorite director's cut is Leon: The Professional. It was so hyped and when I saw it I was so disappointed because it basically gave away exactly how the movie was going to end. i love the theatrical version much more.

[Agent Bond]

Director's Cut. I prefer what he intended than what studio execs think.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

Director's Cut. I prefer what he intended than what studio execs think.

Yeah, execs are good at two things (which are really the same thing when you think about it) making money and marketing. But as much as I respect, say, Harvey Weinstein as an executive I really don't want him too involved in the actual making of the film (which he often is, tbh).

[P-Rock]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Yeah, execs are good at two things (which are really the same thing when you think about it) making money and marketing. But as much as I respect, say, Harvey Weinstein as an executive I really don't want him too involved in the actual making of the film (which he often is, tbh).

Terry Gilliam agrees with you.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

Director's Cut. I prefer what he intended than what studio execs think.

Not all shorter TC's are studio mandated

[stvn1974]

I almost always prefer the director's cut/special edition/extended version unless the director is George Lucas, then I want the theatrical.