Predator 2 (1990)

[captainjoe]

What a ridiculous time that was. People cutting movies for content because apparently a grown adult shouldn't be allowed to see movie sex or violence. Glad we don't have that issue these days

[Markgway]

It's funny-ish how many R-rated movies today are more violent than the NC-17 versions of yesteryear.

There's nothing in the workprints of Cliffhanger or Die Hard 2 that wouldn't sail past the MPAA today.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by captainjoe

Glad we don't have that issue these days

Eh, I wouldn't say that. Presumably the MPAA stick to certifying stuff, but the BBFC impose compulsory cuts (if not outright bans) even today.

[TheBoss062]

Originally Posted by levcore

One minute of extra gore is quite a lot of added gore though

1 minute of extra gore didn't make a difference for the following "unrated" films:

The Last Exorcism 2
The Unborn
Prom Night
Dark Water

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I wasn't even aware that the default version of Predator 2 was cut. It's not entirely surprising, though, given how mean-spirited a film it is and how scissor-happy the MPAA were throughout the 80s and early 90s.

IMDb trivia and behind the scenes extras confirmed that there was missing footage, not just extra violence but also extra character bits, there was a whole subplot cut involving Maria Alonso's character which involved her boyfriend and pregnancy (which saves her life from the Predator) and a whole interrogation scene involving Elpidia Carrillo's character, the only other survivor of the first movie, from the government about the Predator. A brief still image from this scene still remains in a computer monitor (it's a blink or you'll miss it moment). Another cut subplot explains Arnold's fate which reveals that he disappeared after he was rescued and never seen again. Thankfully these scenes are at least present in the novelization, which is canon.

Originally Posted by captainjoe

What a ridiculous time that was. People cutting movies for content because apparently a grown adult shouldn't be allowed to see movie sex or violence. Glad we don't have that issue these days

I have to respectfully disagree with this assertion, it's upsetting that there's footage on the cutting room floor but it was for an understandable reason. The rumors are that the excised footage initially earned the movie an NC-17 rating which is bad news for a mainstream action movie trying to gain a wide release, Fox needed as many butts in seats as possible so the film needed some editing for that.

[Markgway]

I understand why Fox cut Predator to gain an 'R' for theatres.

$$$$$$$$$$$

What I don't understand is why we haven't seen an uncut and unrated edition on a home video format.

Yet seemingly every piece of post-millennial crap comedy or horror has an extended and unrated edition that's most likely bogus (either the footage was never censored or it was cynically held back for marketing purposes).

Honest unrated versions are few and far between.

[captainjoe]

Originally Posted by TheBoss062

I have to respectfully disagree with this assertion, it's upsetting that there's footage on the cutting room floor but it was for an understandable reason. The rumors are that the excised footage initially earned the movie an NC-17 rating which is bad news for a mainstream action movie trying to gain a wide release, Fox needed as many butts in seats as possible so the film needed some editing for that.

I totally understand that and the reason they did it. I'm saying that the fact there was a system in place that put Fox in a position where they had to cut footage out of a movie in order to get more butts in the seat is wrong.

[Bobbyjoe766]

It would have been great to see the excised footage as a supplement, if nothing else.

What we got was some outtake footage of Mort Downey Jr instead.

The original PREDATOR deleted scenes were disappointing, too. There was some intriguing behind-the-scenes footage of alternate/deleted shots of a dead member of Dutch's team, I remember.

[TheBoss062]

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

It would have been great to see the excised footage as a supplement, if nothing else.

What we got was some outtake footage of Mort Downey Jr instead.

The original PREDATOR deleted scenes were disappointing, too. There was some intriguing behind-the-scenes footage of alternate/deleted shots of a dead member of Dutch's team, I remember.

I was thinking the same thing, if Fox won't bother releasing an extended cut like they did with the Alien movies then at the very least, I'd like to see them as deleted scenes on a newer blu-ray or even 4K

[Win Slow]

I would love to see an extended cut of this film if it were ever possible, i am a huge fan of the franchise. I am surprised though that if in fact cuts had to be made for this film to get the "R" rating in theaters cause few films start off with a bang and more violently and out of control than Predator 2 does !

[Markgway]

Part of the problem is that the directors of these films (that we're talking about) don't have the juice to get the studios to make a move on them.

John McTiernan, Renny Harlin, Stephen Hopkins... are, unfortunately, yesterday's men as far as Hollywood is concerned.

Paul Verhoeven may still have it, but you get the feeling that if Total Recall were going to be released uncut (as Robocop and Basic Instinct were) it would've happened in the 90s. Imagine trying to persuade Lionsgate to do anything positive!

[TheBoss062]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Part of the problem is that the directors of these films (that we're talking about) don't have the juice to get the studios to make a move on them.

John McTiernan, Renny Harlin, Stephen Hopkins... are, unfortunately, yesterday's men as far as Hollywood is concerned.

Paul Verhoeven may still have it, but you get the feeling that if Total Recall were going to be released uncut (as Robocop and Basic Instinct were) it would've happened in the 90s. Imagine trying to persuade Lionsgate to do anything positive!

Maybe for the next anniversary of the movie we could get a new blu-ray? One can dream.

[BioMechGinger]

Did anyone else notice an audio glitch on the French dub, where the sound of the Predator clan’s targeting lasers kick in 10-15 seconds before they’re supposed to, and loop again at the correct time once Harrigan turns around from the main Predator’s corpse to be greeted by them?

[moviemaker]

This is a guilty pleasure, so I broke down and ordered the Japanese 4K of Predator 2 which includes the Blu-ray. I know it's on HBOMax but for how long is anybody's guess? And for me, it has a high rewatchability factor. I'll post pix when it arrives.