What is it with directors screwing up their pictures?

[Gray_Area]

Almost invariably....like, I can't think of when not.....theatrical releases are done right.  Maybe they do fit in a two-hour slot or whatever. But they come out right. But no, there's this extra footage that just really needs to be seen.

For example in Aliens. I know it sort of flash-forwards to them being at the planet an all, and we don't see any of the inhabitants. But that adds the mystery to it. It's what makes it a thriller. Elsewise, we know what's coming. And we wait for what we know is gonna happen. Maybe not how, and to what end, but it's all out.

Or in Blade Runner. Not only was the extra footage not needed (although I think the 'happy' ending scene [/]was[/b] necessary), but the voice-overs, which even Ford has said he hated and thought were totally unnecessary, made an interesting sub-plot. It fleshed out the character. I like good narration - like in Shawshank - and Ford, despite his dislike, did a great job.

I was at least able to find a version of Blade Runner that hadn't been ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- up. Aliens, not for the life of me. Uh, unless I wanna pay for it.

[Ginsu Victim]

I think The Two Towers plays better in the extended edition than it did in theaters. Some cuts had me confused until the EE came along.

[danny_galaga]

In general I think you are right. There are some problems that arise however. For instance, which theatrical release is the right one? There were a number of them for Seven Samurai for instance, because audiences in some countries found it too long. For me, I don't know better, so I spring for the longest one possible! Might as well soak in as much Kurasawa goodness as possible! And with Blade Runner, I would agree had I seen it back in the day, but it passed me by so I've only seen the version WITHOUT the narration. I've also only seen the REDUX version of Apocalypse Now, which has several missing scenes put back in. Again, I don't know any better.

Someone is going to pipe up about Star Wars very soon too no doubt, because there are stacks of versions, most of them crap and apparently the only 'true to theatrical release' you can see, even now, is the laserdisc version. I have the boxed DVD set where Lucas finally put in the original versions as bonus disks, and that's good enough for me as being the 'original'. I actually 'YAYED' out loud when I saw the opening credits and it DIDN'T say 'Episode IV' (",)

[Ginsu Victim]

Someone is going to pipe up about Star Wars very soon too no doubt, because there are stacks of versions, most of them crap and apparently the only 'true to theatrical release' you can see, even now, is the laserdisc version.

Nope. NO home release has EVER been the theatrical version. He made changes immediately, it's just that most people didn't notice at first.

[wp34]

I think The Two Towers plays better in the extended edition than it did in theaters. Some cuts had me confused until the EE came along.

+1  I can't stand to watch the theatrical versions now.   The extended are so much better--if a bit long.

[Howard_Casto]

Someone is going to pipe up about Star Wars very soon too no doubt, because there are stacks of versions, most of them crap and apparently the only 'true to theatrical release' you can see, even now, is the laserdisc version.

Nope. NO home release has EVER been the theatrical version. He made changes immediately, it's just that most people didn't notice at first.

What he said.  I mean Lucas literally started cutting star wars up and re-editing it 2 weeks after the original release.  So unless you have a time machine or were old enough to see them when they were released and in the first, limited distribution debut at that, you have NEVER seen the original films. 

The internet really gave the nerds the ability "notice" a lot of these changes because obsessive fanboys make whole pages pointing out the errors in excruciating detail.  There are really only three versions worth mentioning..... the "original", special edition and post-prequel editions.  Imho, even the special edition is pretty good.  As long as you steer clear of the latest versions you are ok. 


Here's my take on these and it's as simple and complicated as this.  If the original version of a film is great you should leave it alone, but if it isn't or if it has some visual errors you should fix them.  By visual errors I mean how the original Tron looks like a cross-eyed 12 year old did the compositing in a few scenes, or "Mr. Long Arms" puppet at the end of Robocop.  Or even the new bluray editions of Star Trek TOS where they update the effects a little. 

I don't have a problem with director's cuts, extended cuts, ect at all, so long as the original version is also available.  I think for a lot of these, it's just that the film was so good people want to see more and the directors are like "well it was supposed to be longer.... why don't we release that version?"

If you look at the highly overrated plot-trainwreck that is the Avengers and look at all of the useful, plot hole filling, deleted scenes you begin to understand that some of these editors do a crappy job. 

[kahlid74]

I don't have a problem with director's cuts, extended cuts, ect at all, so long as the original version is also available.  I think for a lot of these, it's just that the film was so good people want to see more and the directors are like "well it was supposed to be longer.... why don't we release that version?"

This is pretty much how I feel.  I love to see the perspective and the original intent of a director because more often than not their vision is twited and contorted either cause they are bat----steaming pile of meadow muffin--- insane or because the studio wants a more generally appealing movie.  So I like to have both.

[Drnick]

I am all for both. LOTR is a pretty good example, the 2nd Movie had huge holes, but then out came the extended and filled in all those holes.  I for one am more happy to see what the director originally intended then what the studio ultimately has them push out.

[wp34]

I think it is just as simple as artists who don't ever think their work is done.  I saw a documentary once where Lucas said something to the effect that you don't finish a film you abandon it.

Pete Townshend remixed Quadrophenia a few years ago and Jeff Lynn just re-recorded a selection of ELO songs because he was not happy with the original sound.  It is an affliction not limited to movie directors.

[Ginsu Victim]

Pete Townshend remixed Quadrophenia a few years ago and Jeff Lynn just re-recorded a selection of ELO songs because he was not happy with the original sound.  It is an affliction not limited to movie directors.

Megadeth fans understand this completely. Listen to the horrible remaster of Rust in Peace compared to the original release. Glad I still have mine.