What Theatrical Cuts do you prefer over Director's/Extended Edition Cuts

I will start with one "Apocalypse Now".

 

A couple more:

Donnie Darko
Alien
Dances with Wolves
Exorcist

 

I'll agree with 'Donnie Darko.'

'Apocalypse Now'; the extra scenes I don't mind so much (well, most of 'em, anyway), but I hate that they added credits. I just loved that the original was creditless.



wow. so one's mentioned 'Star Wars' yet?

 

I mostly agree with this, though the shots on LV-426 before the Marines land are the only ones I don't like. I prefer it that we don't know what's happened until THEY know what's happened - Cameron should have left Newt's family on the cutting room floor.

I also agree with "Apocalypse Now", "Donnie Darko" and "Exorcist", though I think technically, the alternate cut of the last one was the writer's idea.

I'll add "Pretty Woman" since I just watched it! Don't like the additions for the longer cut - too bad it's the only one you can get on DVD. :thumbsdn:

 

? Do you mean at the end of the film?

 

The only extended version that I've ever thought improved the film was "Almost Famous." (not counting movies where the theatrical cut was botched, e.g. "Once Upon a Time in America")

 

I prefer the original theatrical cut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

The same with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Unfortunately the theatrical version without the rescue plan scene, discussion of Klingon tear ducts, and the "Scooby Doo" ending does not exist on home video.

Okay, and I'll mention the three original Star Wars films.

 

"The Exorcist". Other than the scene where Linda Blair spider walks down the stairs backwards, the rest of the extra footage should have been left out. Especially the ending. That footage they tacked on at the end with Lt. Kinderman and Father Dyer ruined it IMO. I also don't like the way they remixed the films' soundtrack for the re-release. I mean come on, one of the Oscars this film won was for Best Sound!!

 

Pretty much all of them. Scenes were cut for a reason.

 

I'll agree with APOCALYPSE NOW, the REDUX version of which includes an interminable episode in an abandoned French compound that never seems to end. I'll add BLADE RUNNER, which I preferred with the studio-mandated film noir voiceover and relatively unambiguous ending.

While I usually agree with the studio suits concerning Theatrical vs. Director's Cut, I would welcome an extended version of the Jim Carrey children's film, LEMONY SNICKET'S SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. The deleted scenes included in the DVD extras would have fleshed out some curiously sketchy bits of plot and character: Olaf's theatrical troupe rehearsing in his dilapidated estate; the children at the snake researcher's home; the theatrical production that climaxes the film interspersed with asides from critic Dustin Hoffman; the seduction of Meryl Streep's widow by Jim Carrey's sailor man . . . Because we don't see these things happen, some of the scenes don't really make sense.

 

I'm kind of mixed about the Lord of the Rings extended cuts; in all three I feel that some of the scenes are nice additions that should have been in the film in the first place, and some just make the film longer.

 

I totally agree with that about the extended cut. I do like the DE, but there are some things about the original cut (which I have on widescreen laserdisc) that I still prefer. I never liked the "special longer version".

Also, while I've always liked the original cut of Close Encounters, there were some things in the Special Edition that I liked. The big thing I didn't like about the SE was the new ending and total different end title music as well as several key scenes (to me, at least) that were removed (Neary at the power station, Neary's additional mountain visions like the pillow, Neary relocates outside landscaping into his living room, Gillian at the Air Force base after Barry's abduction prior to the news conference...). However, the Collectors Edition version made me happy on all fronts - the scenes that were removed came back, and the SE stuff - minus the "inside the mothership" scene - that I did like made it too. So did the original ending music.

 

I thought the recent cut of Close Encounters was the best too.

 

Natural Born Killers - one minor cut that bugs me majorly, they cut the NIN song BURN, which was used in the theatrical cut after a montage of news footage. Thankfully, I've got the theatrical cut on laser disc.

Conan The Barbarian - I didn't realize when I got the DVD, that it was a special cut, until late in the film , when Arnold has a little soliloquy meant to provide Conan with a little extra "depth." They messed with the ending too. Not a great film, but one of my favorites, nonetheless, and this ain't what I remember. Is the theatrical cut available on DVD?

STAR WARS, EMPIRE and RETURN.

If they've messed with Star Trek II and IV on DVD, then I know, without seeing them, that they're not what I want. Why can't people leave things alone? That said, if the theatrical version is AT LEAST available on DVD, then special cuts don't bug me as much. But we should have the choice.

 

"Blade Runner"

 

"Scooby Doo" ending?

I've seen that film more times than i would be comfortable admitting to, but i don't know what you're talking about. Could you please elaborate?

 

Hmm... this is one where I prefer the theatrical cut. From my review (http://www.dvdmg.com/almostfamousbootlegcut.shtml):

"While I enjoyed this glimpse of the added footage, I didn’t think it made Famous a better film. Actually, I felt some of it undermined the project and made it a little less effective.

We now see more of 11-year-old William in scenes that try to better illustrate his sense of disconnection with his classmates. However, these seem unnecessary. We already get it that he’s both smarter and younger than the other kids; the extra shots can be amusing, but they also appear redundant. In addition, Untitled packs quite a few “star-spotting” moments that take the focus off of the main characters and make the movie feel more celebrity obsessed.

Ultimately, Untitled offers a moderately entertaining look at an alternate Famous, but it remains distinctly less satisfying. The flick appears more self-indulgent, and it also seems to run too long. The project comes across as less tight and distinct. The extra sequences don’t badly harm the film, but I’ll stick with the leaner and more focused theatrical cut in the future. "

 

JFK

The added scene where he hides out in the bathroom is completely unnecessary. I really wish the theatrical cut was available on dvd.

 

I haven't seen it for a while, but I remember the main reason I preferred it was I thought the long version had more of an edge. I felt the rock scene felt a little too sanitized in the theatrical version, and the longer version put in more scenes that reflected the sex-and-drugs reality of the time. Plus there were a lot of characters and they all got fleshed out a little further. But I couldn't point to anything specific, I'd have to see it again.

 

Agreed; worst offender #1....I can live with APOCALYPSE, though I do prefer the original cut. But BLADE RUNNER? Sheesh, what a screwed up mess it is 'as is'....

TOUCH OF EVIL too, come to think of it....

 

Cinema Paradiso