It seems to be the in thing to diss new editions of movies. But some movies are actually made better because of reediting.

Pitch Black to me is the shinning example, so much so the theeatrical version no longer exists (as the TV version is an edit of the director's cut).

Mallrats and Daredevil were slightly improved by the added footage, but honestly, a better version would be to use scenes from the director's cut with scenes from the theatrical to get the best version possible. Fanboys, that's up to you.

Apocalypse Now Redux I know most people hate, but I actually like it better than the original. I LOVE the French plantation scene, because of its commentary on the French, their history with war, as well as just a good scene by itself.

I can't remember some other director's cuts right now, but I know there are better ones... wait a tick:

Unrated Jason Goes To Hell
Unrated Robocop
Pretty much the gorier versions of movies are usually better.

Off T2, the version I watch is the special edition with alternate ending (though I never watch that ending).

Independence Day is another film I only watch the SE of. Dawn of the Dead Director's Cut, I'm going to say is better even though I only know of one difference that was added. I prefer the Chronicles of Riddick DC because it turned Riddick into a much more epic hero story than a action-adventure thriller, but I understand some people like the theatrical better (I do like ending a little better in the theatrical).

Darklire wrote:

Riddick makes me feel like I came into a movie half-way through. There needs to be more back-story other than references to Pitch Black and some folklore no one has any idea about.

You are reading a post by a man writing the book about the Riddick universe. No kidding, Twohy was okay with it (as long as I'm not making money- that's step 2). It is true much of the Riddick history is still open and vague. Such as: why was he arrested in the first place?

Some things from Riddick's past however worth mentioning are:
He was born and then found with his umbilical cord wrapped around his throat in a dumpster. This turns out to be part of Lord Marshall Zhylaw's crusade after hearing that a Furyian would kill him. He led the Necromongers to Furya to slaughter them all.
Riddick ended up in slams (prisons)... lots of them. He had a normal life before, it wasn't a good life, but he had various jobs. One thing Riddick learned quickly though was that he didn't like to be in slam. Thus began the long running from mercs in his life.
His eye shine is open to debate. Butcher Bay implies either that he gained his eye sight from Shirah via some magicial Furyian way or from Pope Joe. However, before CoR, Pitch Black had an expanded universe that said Riddick gained it at Slam City from Clutter, a doctor who did for Menthol Kools.

As for folklore no one has heard about, it would KILL the pacing of CoR. So Twohy and Universal posted as much as they could within the website of CoR. The DVDs have even more information. I suggest, don't worry about it. Leave the wadding to people like me. Slowly, but surely, I am making a PDF book (with full photoshoped pages) that fully explores the universe and ties up many loose ends. There are some gaps that have been left open intentionally however.

Syd Lexia wrote:

Doesn't the video game Escape From Butcher's Bay also provide some of Riddick's backstory?

Not really. The whole idea is it answers how he got the eye shine, but it plays out how I described it above. It's either some Furyan magic or Pope Joe. It also shows Riddick using his Furyan blast which he uses in the director's cut of TCoR.

Darklire wrote:

I would suggest make your own story rather than take someone elses and possibly butcher his whole idea.

If this was to me, It's not a story book. It's an encyclopedia of everything that is known about the Riddick universe in one nice tight package. I really don't add anything new to the universe, but I may say something like the Merc seen in "Into Pitch Black" is the same one who goes to Planet UV in "The Hunt for Riddick" web game or something. And the eyeshine... well, it's interesting how I explain that one

Syd Lexia wrote:

Another interesting thing about that scene is that it was totally unscripted. Tom Sizemore really brought a hooker onto the set and killed her. Since nothing gets by Oliver Stone, he was able to quickly film it.

That wins the "Tebor Funniest, but True" Award for the day. Congrats.

King Arthur was the fucking bomb!

And I love crazy surreal action movies. God bless NBK and anything Tony Scott has made recently.

I was just watching True Romance which I guess is the director's cut. I've only seen this director's cut, so by default, I'm going to say it is the better version.

I just wrote about this elsewhere, but the Bootleg Cut of Almost Famous is damn awesome. Though almost an hour longer, the movie just feels so much more like a main course. Of course, if you don't like movies about music, life, growing up, bands, or... about a million other things... it could be awful... so go check out Havoc instead, because... you know... topless Anne Hathaway.

Since this thread's been dead for awhile, why not discuss Director's Cuts that SUCK! (Rather than spam the Night Watch thread with this topic)

Syd Lexia wrote:

Or why not start a new thread?

I don't want the forums to become too cluttered and scare off newbies with our huge library of threads.

Tebor = shamed.

Quote:

The criterion collection had like 3 extra scenes of violence, from the shootout where robocop blasts at the guys in the van (close up and extra violence on a shot to the leg), extra gore during his death (arm gets blown off visibly and other stuff that makes the scene longer) and when the robot goes haywire at the meeting, they show an extended version of the guy getting shot with more blood. As for Apocalypse now: Redux...I had no fucking clue what to think of this movie. The original movie that I liked was gone. Something new and different was in its place. I don't like that.

Actually, the van shootout in Robocop didn't change. Emil getting run over by a van did slightly. The blood color was restored to a more natural color.

I saw Apocalypse Now theatrical cut about a year before I saw Redux. Honestly, little changed. The beginning is the same, the ending is the same. Now it's a more epic journey. Here's why I liked the Redux version better:

Duvall's surfboard gets stolen. Most people I talk to HATE this scene. I love it. I think it's funny and ironic that a man so high and mighty is so easily offended. Unlike most people, I don't think his "power was destroyed" by this scene. I find it amusing and I fear for the people who will have to suffer for it. If anything, it made his character more powerful, because now he's PISSED. If the first battle was Duvall attacking happily, imagine the damage he'll do when he's angry. Uh-oh. He's going to make Rambo look like Tango.

The French Plantation. I saw Redux the year I was learning about French warfare. Or lack thereof. I love the scene for one reason, there's a monologue about how the French always lose battles but they will NOT lose their compound there. I found the scene to be emotionally touching and added a much needed layer to the film. Say what you will, I thought the scene was wonderful and appropriate.

Why people don't listen to my thoughts about Redux: The Playboy bunnies. Most people hear I liked the addition where Sheen buys some time with the girls and figure I'm an idiot and have no idea what I'm talking about. They never stop to think why Coppola filmmed the scene at all. First, the scene is not "pornographic", there is minimal nudity, so anyone claiming that is a fucktard. But look at the humanity in the scene. There's Sheen basically buying human beings for a time period from people who don't own them. What does that say about us as human beings? Or what does the scene say about soldiers who are sex deprived in 'Nam? Everyone knows about the sex-nanigans that go on in war time, but no one wants to talk about it. Why? Maybe because the things we do to get laid is worse than shooting POWs? It's a ethical question in a sense and I know that the scene doesn't bother some people, but it bothers me for the disregard for human life. I think it's a great addition that Kubrick could only have a wet dream about; it's done with taste so I have no idea what that cine-snobs are crying about. And of course, the guy trying to screw the chick with the bird is f-ing hysterical.

I feel for you about things you knew being replaced. I rarely have a problem with that for some reason. Unlike many, the Star Wars special editions didn't bother me. The Riddick director's cut cut one of my favorite monologues in the film and a more satisfying ending. Overall though, I don't really miss those scenes, because the new edit works much better than the theatrical cut.

Even something like "The Butterfly Effect" has an ending in the director's cut, I don't like. But thanks to the power of DVD, I have both cuts of the film. With "Butterfly" I prefer the happier theatrical cut and yet both versions exist. I have about three editions of the Star Wars films and each cut exists. Nothing has been replaced. I think some people are thinking about the mass of humanity rather than themselves when it comes to new film edits. As long as you have or remember the cut you prefer, who gives a fuck?

In other words, feel free to dislike Redux. Most people do. However, I wouldn't say that something you liked was "gone". It really isn't considering how many DVD/Laserdisc/VHS editions exist of the film.

Oh, and why do I like the Robocop X rated version better? The blood. Trust me, seeing Murphy die more violently makes his character more tragic. Kenny being killed in front of his peers is flippin' hysterical. That's classic Verhoven. Peace out.

Tebor wrote:

They never stop to think why Coppola filmmed the scene at all. I think it's a great addition that Kubrick could only have a wet dream about.

I did point out it was Coppola. And my Kubrick comment was dissing Full Metal Jacket, because I hate Kubrick. Fat, hairy, nerdy prick.

Murdar Machene wrote:

I hate Kubrick myself because he's a pervert and he ruins the ending to things that previously had an ending (A Clockwork Orange)

YEAH!