Once Upon a Time in America (1984) (Extended Director's Cut)

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

That said, I hated the new footage. It added almost nothing in my opinion, even took away at times, and it looked like total crap. Is there a disc somewhere in the world with this new master but without the extra footage?

I don't think so, but this is what I desperately want too.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

This thread spurred me to finally watch the extended BD. I get the color timing complaints of revisionism, but man... this sucker looks gorgeous to me. Just stunning. It reminds me of Aliens in that grain was obviously managed a bit and the color timing is at least somewhat revisionist, but god damn it looks amazing anyway. I get Geoff's point about weak blacks but to me it was a minor issue. I put the other BD in afterward to compare and there was no contest.

That said, I hated the new footage. It added almost nothing in my opinion, even took away at times, and it looked like total crap. Is there a disc somewhere in the world with this new master but without the extra footage?

I liked the revisionist color timing as well - it just seemed to give the movie more of a sepia-toned, old-time feeling, which I thought was suitable for what is mostly a period movie.

As for the new footage, I thought some of it was actually necessary - like the introduction of Eve's character. In the 229-minute version, her character just appears as De Niro's girlfriend, with no explanation. Also, I liked the new footage of Deborah's acting performance as Cleopatra. In the 229-minute version, Noodles tells her backstage that her performance was terrific but we don't get to see her in action - in the expanded version, we now get to actually see her on stage. It always irks me in movies where characters are simply described as great at what they do, with no scenes actually SHOWING those characters in action.

[yellowcakeuf6]

I enjoyed the extended Blu-ray also. It seems that if you grew up watching film projected in varying condition (sometimes a brand new print, sometimes after it had been run a few weeks, or maybe second run or later at a repertory cinema), you are much more forgiving and open-minded.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

I enjoyed the extended Blu-ray also. It seems that if you grew up watching film projected in varying condition (sometimes a brand new print, sometimes after it had been run a few weeks, or maybe second run or later at a repertory cinema), you are much more forgiving and open-minded.

Good point. Also, I think unfortunately Once Upon a Time in America will forever be one of those "compromised" movies like Metropolis where a complete, pristine version of the director's original cut will never be available. So for that reason I give this movie some latitude.

[AaronY]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

This thread spurred me to finally watch the extended BD. I get the color timing complaints of revisionism, but man... this sucker looks gorgeous to me. Just stunning. It reminds me of Aliens in that grain was obviously managed a bit and the color timing is at least somewhat revisionist, but god damn it looks amazing anyway. I get Geoff's point about weak blacks but to me it was a minor issue. I put the other BD in afterward to compare and there was no contest.

That said, I hated the new footage. It added almost nothing in my opinion, even took away at times, and it looked like total crap. Is there a disc somewhere in the world with this new master but without the extra footage?

Is the new footage HD at least?

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Even if I liked the new color timing, I still don't think it should exist as it is an insult to the artist who is no longer here to stand up for the integrity of his work.

The new scan looks phenomenal detail-wise as most Ritrovata restorations do, but with Ritrovata's trademark yellow tint and poor gamma, it's useless. It would be great if someone were able to color correct it, conform it to the Leone-approved 229 minute cut and release it on Blu-ray, but I doubt that'll ever happen.

Also for the user wondering, the new inserts are in HD but they are from a badly washed out print with very little detail.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by English Patient

As for the new footage, I thought some of it was actually necessary - like the introduction of Eve's character. In the 229-minute version, her character just appears as De Niro's girlfriend, with no explanation. Also, I liked the new footage of Deborah's acting performance as Cleopatra. In the 229-minute version, Noodles tells her backstage that her performance was terrific but we don't get to see her in action - in the expanded version, we now get to actually see her on stage. It always irks me in movies where characters are simply described as great at what they do, with no scenes actually SHOWING those characters in action.

I get the Eve scene appreciation. That might be the one I would keep. However I think she's such a minor character in the end I always just accepted her as some random girlfriend Noodles got when he couldn't have his true love.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I get the Eve scene appreciation. That might be the one I would keep. However I think she's such a minor character in the end I always just accepted her as some random girlfriend Noodles got when he couldn't have his true love.

That's a good point - she's not really a major, pivotal character. Another scene I like is the confrontation between Treat Williams' character and Secretary Bailey toward the end - it kind of completes the transformation of Treat Williams' character from an idealist to a sinister, corrupt figure, one who is now in control while Secretary Bailey has completely lost control. Storywise, the scene probably isn't absolutely necessary, but it makes the movie feel more fleshed out. In the 229-min version, I always felt the Treat Williams portion of the story was weirdly truncated, like he wasn't given enough to do or that scenes were missing.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by English Patient

That's a good point - she's not really a major, pivotal character. Another scene I like is the confrontation between Treat Williams' character and Secretary Bailey toward the end - it kind of completes the transformation of Treat Williams' character from an idealist to a sinister, corrupt figure, one who is now in control while Secretary Bailey has completely lost control. Storywise, the scene probably isn't absolutely necessary, but it makes the movie feel more fleshed out. In the 229-min version, I always felt the Treat Williams portion of the story was weirdly truncated, like he wasn't given enough to do or that scenes were missing.

Good point in return on Williams' character. I was just focused on Woods' character not really getting much more out of that scene, but I guess it does give Williams' more reason to be in the film. Seems I have no choice but to watch this extended cut in the future as of now, so maybe I'll get more into it later.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Even if I liked the new color timing, I still don't think it should exist as it is an insult to the artist who is no longer here to stand up for the integrity of his work.

The new scan looks phenomenal detail-wise as most Ritrovata restorations do, but with Ritrovata's trademark yellow tint and poor gamma, it's useless. It would be great if someone were able to color correct it, conform it to the Leone-approved 229 minute cut and release it on Blu-ray, but I doubt that'll ever happen.

Also for the user wondering, the new inserts are in HD but they are from a badly washed out print with very little detail.

I'm doing a color correction and possible edit, but in truth I kind of like the new grading, when I usually do not like the revisionism. The warmer sepia look, I feel, gives it a nice vintage look, but it's the blues in the blacks that I can't stand. I'm going to play with it and normalize it a bit but still keep it a little warmer.

It's certainly not the travesty that TGTBTU was. As much as I tried, I couldn't "fit" it, so I just recut the superior Mondo restoration and synched up the original American mono and now I have what I feel is the best version of that film available.

[LetsGetATaco]

I have the original release and I was looking into this newer version.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B010GJM7NC

From what I can tell this has the theatrical and extended? Is this the one to get?

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by LetsGetATaco

I have the original release and I was looking into this newer version.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B010GJM7NC

From what I can tell this has the theatrical and extended? Is this the one to get?

Yep, that's the one I have. Both versions on two discs. The theatrical is the 229 minute version.

[x5gb]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Even if I liked the new color timing, I still don't think it should exist as it is an insult to the artist who is no longer here to stand up for the integrity of his work.

The new scan looks phenomenal detail-wise as most Ritrovata restorations do, but with Ritrovata's trademark yellow tint and poor gamma, it's useless. It would be great if someone were able to color correct it, conform it to the Leone-approved 229 minute cut and release it on Blu-ray, but I doubt that'll ever happen.

Also for the user wondering, the new inserts are in HD but they are from a badly washed out print with very little detail.

If you look around the net, you will find someone who has actually tried to color correct it (and remove that horrible blanket yellow tint) and better match the extended footage inserts ( actually he made two versions, one with weaker color and one with similar color to the original release) and has in my opinion done a brilliant job with the materials they had to work with, especially the inserts which are much more watchable now.

[TreeStandMan151]

Did anyone have problems redeeming the digital copy? I followed the instructions on the slip and it directed me to redeem at vudu, but I only got a digital copy of the theatrical version (not the extended cut).

Prior to redeeming on vudu, I checked the other UV services and FlixsterVideo showed that they had the extended cut listed. When I tried to redeem my code on FlixsterVideo, the site said the code wasn't valid for that movie.

Is the extended cut simply not available anywhere for redemption?

Thanks.

[AlkakT]

So are the new scenes the only ones with the sepia look or is the whole movie like that?

[chris1234]

Originally Posted by AlkakT

So are the new scenes the only ones with the sepia look or is the whole movie like that?

Regrettably it's the whole movie, even the opening titles which should be white on black:

WB's original 2011 Blu-ray


Italian Extended Edition


U.S. Extended Director's Cut

[StingingVelvet]

Whole movie absolutely has a sepia tone, but I gotta say I think it looks sexay.

[MalteseCrow]

I've never seen this film and am looking for a verdict from those who've seen both versions. Is the Extended Cut the way to go for a first-time viewer or am I better off with the European Cut? If you could "unsee" this movie, how would you want to see it for the first time?

Note: While crappy PQ does irritate me to an irrational level, if the Extended Cut is the superior version, I'm willing to grit my teeth through the work print scenes.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by MalteseCrow

I've never seen this film and am looking for a verdict from those who've seen both versions. Is the Extended Cut the way to go for a first-time viewer or am I better off with the European Cut? If you could "unsee" this movie, how would you want to see it for the first time?

Note: While crappy PQ does irritate me to an irrational level, if the Extended Cut is the superior version, I'm willing to grit my teeth through the work print scenes.

The extended scenes add nothing important to the plot or the mystery of the ending. So it really doesn't matter which you watch.

[StingingVelvet]

Yeah I would choose to not have those scenes there personally, but they don't really hurt I guess, and the remaster is only for the extended.