Tag: Director’s Cut

The Warriors (1979)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (93 min.)
  • Ultimate Director’s Cut (93 min.)

In 2005 writer-director Walter Hill released a new version of The Warriors on DVD. The new cut, dubbed as ultimate director’s cut, integrated a new intro and comic book intercuts between scenes. The Blu-ray release of The Warriors only contains the new cut and the original theatrical cut of the film is only available on DVD. In an introduction to the ultimate director’s cut Hill states:

“To be very frank, I’ve always kind of resisted these special editions of films where the director explains things. I am temperamentally against that. I think that the movies should speak for themselves and not demand special explanations and long apologias. But I always felt, with The Warriors, that the intentions of the film, the comic book origins, the historical connections to the Greeks, and the slightly futuristic quality to what I was trying to do had never really been stated and never been presented to a large audience. So I very much appreciate the change to… I won’t even say, get it right. There may be the argument that other people will say they liked the other version better, that’s fine. I understand that. I only say this, this will represent my intentions when I was making it and trying to put the thing together better than the original version. And I very much appreciate the opportunity that has presented itself to do that.”

Source: Introduction by Walter Hill to Ultimate Director’s Cut

The director’s preferred edition: Ultimate Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Gods and Generals

Gods and Generals (2003)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (229 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (280 min.)

The epic American Civil War movie Gods and Generals was released on Blu-ray in a extended director’s cut. The theatrical was also released on DVD and Blu-ray. In an introduction on the Blu-ray director, producer and screenwriter Ronald F. Maxwell talks about the extended director’s cut:

“Back in 2002 we shot about a 230-page script so we knew we were gonna have a film of epic proportions and when we cut it together, it was about five hours. We had to cut it down for theatrical release and we released three hours and 40 minutes. That, plus an intermission, made it a four-hour experience. Well, in this version, we have restored the hour that we had to take out. So this version is now four hours and 40 minutes and we divided it into five parts to suggest how the viewer could look at it…. And there are moments like that all through the film which are maybe not whole sequences the way that Antietam is but restored to the film, they bring the film back to the film that we intended. Originally scripted, shot and intended on making which fleshes out the more complete story…”

Source: Introduction by Ronald F. Maxwell and Ted Turner

The director’s preferred edition: Extended Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Troy

Troy (2004)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (163 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (196 min.)

When Troy was released in 2005 it was met with mixed reviews from critics but it fared well at the box office, grossing little under $500m. Due to its success, director Wolfgang Petersen got a chance to do a director’s cut of the film to be released on home video by Warner Bros. Although it was considered a home video release only the director’s cut was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.

The theatrical cut of Troy was released on DVD, but the director’s cut is the only one available on Blu-ray. Petersen provieded a introduction on the director’s cut on Blu-ray:

“Hello, I’m Wolfgang Petersen. I am the director of Troy. I’m really really happy now to sit here to talk to you about the director’s cut of Troy. Because it was for me, emotionally, the most amazing time after all that stress to put the picture together the first time, and pressure that you have when you have to deal with the length of the film; it can’t be to violent, it can’t be too sexy, it can’t be this or that. When it comes two years or so later and I had the feeling to go back, the pressure is over now, the film was out in the world and was very, very successful. No reason for any tension anymore, the only reason is now is to be creative. And be really relaxed about it and do the best movie. Warner Bros was willing to do this, and I’m really thankful for that. I could now do the film I really envisioned all this time.”

Source: Troy Revisited: An Introduction by Wolfgang Petersen

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Menace II Society

Menace II Society (1993)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (97 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (97 min.)

The Criterion Collection were the first to release The Hughes Brothers’ Menace II Society in its uncut version on LaserDisc in 1994. The version features graphic violence deleted from the theatrical release to qualify for a R rating from the MPAA. The uncut version of Menace II Society is the only one available on Blu-ray while Warner Bros/New Line Cinema originally released the theatrical version on DVD. Allen Hughes confirmed with This or That Edition which edition he prefers:

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers (1994)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (119 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (122 min.)

Natural Born Killers is without a doubt one of the most controversial films to be produced by a major studio in Hollywood. The Oliver Stone directed satire was slapped with the NC-17 rating when it was first submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America. Stone reduced the violence and bloodshed by cutting scenes from the film and subsequently it got the R rating from MPAA.

Natural Born Killers has been released in a director’s cut on Blu-ray in the US. The Diamond Luxe Edition Blu-ray release from Warner Bros. contains both the theatrical and director’s cut. It also includes an introduction from Stone:

“Hi. I’m Oliver Stone, and I’m glad to be alive and introduce this version of Natural Born Killers which is the final version. We go the movie out in ’94 as an R. You’re seeing it in 2009 as an unrated movie the way it was made, with the music integrated correctly. A hundred and fifty-five cuts were imposed on the movie by the Motion Picture Association at the time. Those were cuts for violence. They kept saying, “I don’t know what it is about this movie, but it bothers us because the general atmosphere is so chaotic.”
Source: Oliver Stone introduction on Natural Born Killers: The Diamond Luxe Edition Blu-ray

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from The Frighteners

The Frighteners (1996)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (110 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (122 min.)

Not long before director Peter Jackson headed to Middle-earth with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy he directed the horror comedy The Frighteners. The film failed at the box office but has since then gained a cult following. Jackson promised fans a longer cut of the film which was released on DVD in 2005. The US and UK Blu-ray release of The Frighteners includes both theatrical and director’s cut. The DVD and Blu-ray version includes an introduction by Jackson:

“Now, this version of The Frighteners is actually 14 minutes longer than the theatrical release. It’s the director’s cut, I guess, or special edition release. And this is the first time that that particular edition has been available on DVD. So, it’s very exciting for me to present this film to you in its extended form. So, sit back and I hope you enjoy The Frighteners.”

Source: Peter Jackson introduction The Frighteners

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Dark City (1998)

Dark City (1998)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (100 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (111 min.)
The neo-noir sci-fi film Dark City bombed at the box office when it was released in 1998. Critics really liked it but the dark setting and the marketing failed to entice audiences. Since then it has gained a cult following. In 2008 film was released in a director’s cut on DVD and Blu-ray which included both the theatrical and director’s cut. In an introduction on the director’s cut DVD and Blu-ray director Alex Proyas talks about the new cut:
“The version of Dark City that was released in 1998 was not exactly the version I wanted. There was many reasons for this but I’m happy that I’ve gotten a chance on this DVD to restore my original version of the film. You’ll see a film that stays much truer to my original vision. There are some major changes. The narration that used to begin the film is gone. And there are some smaller changes which I believe add to the overall enjoyment of the film. There are also some extended scenes that help us get to know the characters in more depth. Overall, I think it us undoubtedly a better film, and I hope you enjoy watching it.”
Source: Introduction by Alex Proyas on the directors cut Dark City Blu-ray

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Still from Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (106 min.)
  • 2005 Special Edition (115 min.)
  • 1988 Turner Preview Version (122 min.)

Production of Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid was plagued with problems that boil down to studio interference due to the directors alcoholism. Today, it is quite clear that this film had the possibility to be Peckinpah’s ultimate masterpiece.

When principal photography wrapped Peckinpah was 21 days behind schedule and went over budget by a $1.6 million on the production. Soon after he delivered his cut of the film and it tested poorly, the film was taken from him and re-edited by the studio.

In 2006 Warner Bros released a two disc special edition DVD which included a new cut of the film dubbed 2005 Special Edition that combined the theatrical cut, the preview version and a couple of new scenes that had never been shown before. The DVD also included the 1988 Turner Preview Version. The theatrical version was released on VHS but hasn’t been seen since then.

“This is variously known as the Preview Version, the Turner version and sometimes it has been billed as the Director’s Cut, and to a large extent it is in the literally understanding of that word. Which is, what the Director’s Cut means to the industry, to the business, is that this is the cut that the director must show to the studio ten weeks after after the completion of principal photography. This is written into the DGA contacts, and is typically very close to the version that is previewed.

However, it is necessary to understand that most of the time that Director’s Cut are not the final cut because the director’s haven’t had the chance to a large audience, so in a real sense, they haven’t had the chance to live with the movie long enough and know yet how they want to trim and pair it down and make changes. So a Director’s Cut is not necessary the directors final thoughts about how he wants his movie to turn out.

[This edition] has been in existence for a long time because owing to the controversies around this movie and that Sam and his editor never got to putting into proper fine cut. It was the one version that Sam had and that he was comfortable showing when people wanted to see the movie as being close to his overall vision of the work.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid… never got to have anything like the luxury of that final stage of the fine cut. And that’s important to know about this movie. The theatrical cut, as we once knew it, was fine cut but it also had scenes that were forced out of it, but in any real sense this movie in its final stages never got to through the final stages that most movies do, and especially most of Sam’s movies.”
Source: Commentary by Nick Redman, Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons and David Weddle on the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid DVD

The director’s preferred edition: 1988 Turner Preview Version

Still from Bad Santa (2003)

Bad Santa (2003)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (93 min.)
  • Unrated (100 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (88 min.)

Bad Santa is without a question the raunchiest Christmas movie of all time. The film is must-watch for some at Christmas and has gained a cult following since its release in 2003.

Bad Santa has been released in three different cuts: Theatrical, Unrated and Director’s Cut. The US Blu-ray edition of the film includes both the Unrated and Director’s Cut. Director Terry Zwigoff provided a commentary on the Director’s Cut where he opens the movie by saying:

“I’m Terry Zwigoff… This is the film as I originally intended it to be seen. Never thought I’d actually live to see this cut come out.”
Source: Terry Zwigoff’s commentary on Bad Santa Director’s Cut

Also on the Blu-ray is an interview with Zwigoff and editor Robert Hoffman conducted by Roger Ebert at Ebertfest in 2006 following a screening of the Director’s Cut where Hoffman states:

“This version existed basically as Terry’s first cut he presented to the studio.”
Source: Interview with director Terry Zwigoff and editor Robert Hoffman by Roger Ebert

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com

Kingdom of Heaven

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

This or That Edition

What editions are available?

  • Theatrical (144 min.)
  • Director’s Cut (189 min.)
  • Director’s Cut Roadshow Version (194 min.)

Director Ridley Scott is the uncrowned king of director’s cuts. No other director has released so many different cuts of their films. Some get better by the director’s cut, others don’t.  Scott’s director’s cuts have mostly been better.

Critics weren’t all too kind to Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven when it was first released in 2005. It boosted a great and expensive production but in the end it was just another epic sword and sandal movie. When interviewed later that year, Scott blamed 20th Century Fox for trusting audience test scorecards rather than the seasoned director. In December 2005 Scott premiered his Director’s Cut of the film which was met with critical acclaim, and was later on released on DVD.

Kingdom of Heaven The Ultimate Edition Blu-ray includes three cuts of the film: Theatrical, Director’s Cut and a Director’s Cut Roadshow Version that included an Overture, Intermission and Exit Music.

“Hi. I’m Ridley Scott, the director of Kingdom of Heaven.  I think we could say this is the director’s cut, it being my favorite version. This isn’t just adding a couple of shots at the beginning, couple shots at the end and doing an elongated version of a lot of entires and exits of scenes. This is organic characterzation that I’ve put back into the movie. One of the most significant additions, which I still think shouldn’t have come out essentially was the Sibylla character, who had a child and that story, was always argued that it went of at a tangent. When you’re flying into the third act, there are some elements in there that some people might argue as being too long, or take too long to get there. But I think you should see what it is and judge for yourself. Hope you enjoy it.”
Source: Ridley Scott intro on the Kingdom of Heaven Ultimate Edition Blu-ray

The director’s preferred edition: Director’s Cut

Comparison of the editions with courtesy of Movie-Censorship.com