Director's Cuts, Long Versions - are any truly Better Movies?

[Sage_Rat]

@BeepKillBeep

I think some (many?) Director’s Cuts are better only after you’ve seen the original version. “Aliens” is a great example. The cuts made in editing make a lot of sense. They don’t add that much to the movie (on first viewing) and greatly increase the length. However, after watching the movie, and enjoying / loving the movie getting to see some extra footage that provide some extra depth is great. Again, with “Aliens” the scene where Ripley finds out about her daughter is wonderful, but wonderful only because I’ve already seen the movie and I’m ok with spending a little bit of extra time with a movie I already know I’m going to love. If I were showing somebody “Aliens” for the first time, it would be the theatrical cut.

I watched through the scenes that were cut out of Spy Games, a favorite of mine, and there’s a bunch of stuff that sets up a subplot that actually Robert Redford had been having an affair with Brad Pitt’s girl and maybe set up everything bad to happen out of jealousy.

Well thppppt. Besides being rather hackneyed - there’s no way Robert Redford’s character would date some hippie chick, so clearly this was just written in for the drama - it also tanks the likability of the main character. Which, in a movie where everyone already has questionable motives and priorities, you don’t need to throw any more wrenches into everything.

So good riddance. But in this case, I have to take the view that this was bad writing which was cut rather than a deeper view into the characters.

[Dante]

@Snowboarder_Bo

I agree.

Also, I generally like the Director’s Cut better than the theatrical version. In fact, most times now I just automatically watch the DC than the TR. Later, if I do watch the TR, I find it unsatisfying, like watching a movie on TV that’s been edited for time and had all the cursing removed.

@madsircool

While I don’t mind cursing (note my mention of Natural Born Killers above) would Casablanca have been bettervhad Bogie told Bergman ‘Fuck that useless cocksucker you are married to and keep yo ass with me?’

I think you might be simile-impaired. If this condition persists for more than four hours, see a physician.

[Horatio_Hellpop]

@Dewey_Finn

The director’s cut of Almost Famous added some scenes of a younger William Miller, in which he learns that he’s actually two years younger than his classmates (his mother having faked his age so that he could advance in school). I don’t know if it’s better, but I love that movie so much I was happy to sit through more scenes.

I’m pretty sure that was in the theatrical version. Maybe there was another scene? There’s something floating around YouTube of William (and, inexplicably, his sister’s discarded boyfriend–the one she ran away with before she became a stewardess) trying to sell his mom on the intellectual value of “Stairway to Heaven.”

When Coppola edited The Godfather parts 1 and 2 together, putting the scenes mostly in chronological order, would that count as a “director’s cut”? It’s the best way to watch them.

[Dewey_Finn]

I’m pretty sure that The Stairway to Heaven scene was on the DVD/Bluray release as a deleted scene, except they weren’t able to secure rights to the song, so there is a prompt onscreen so you can cue up the song at the right moment.

[snfaulkner]

@madsircool

While I don’t mind cursing (note my mention of Natural Born Killers above) would Casablanca have been bettervhad Bogie told Bergman ‘Fuck that useless cocksucker you are married to and keep yo ass with me?’

Yes. Yes it would have.

[Richard_John_Marcej]

@Horatio_Hellpop

When Coppola edited The Godfather parts 1 and 2 together, putting the scenes mostly in chronological order, would that count as a “director’s cut”? It’s the best way to watch them.

I was just about to post this. back in 1977 NBC had (paid a lot for the rights) to televise Godfather 1 & 2 but rather than just show them on two separate nights they combined them, edited them in chronological order (from 1902 thru 1959) and aired this over fournights (first part was three hours the next three two hours each, all with commercials of course) This allowed them to win the week easily in the ratings, winning four nights instead of just two.

If you’ve never seen this version, check it out. I’m not sure if it’s better than the originals or not, just a different way to see the story unfold.