Director's cut

[The Borgified Corpse]

^The worst part is the occasions where the theatrical editions will include the set up but not the punchline. Example: "Half the Shire is invited... and the rest are coming anyway." For some bizarre reason, the theatrical edition cuts out the 2nd half of this line.

I think most people will agree that the director's cut of Highlander II improved things immensely if only because they removed all references to the planet Zeist. The best version of the movie is the 2004 Special Edition, which also includes tons of new, improved FX work. (I only wish that they had gotten Christopher Lambert to do the new opening crawl rather than just silent text.)

It's 50-50 between the theatrical & director's cuts of Highlander. The theatrical cut has better pacing but the director's cut includes some extra flashbacks that help to explain things.

And the "alternate version" of I Am Legend was a complete waste of money. I don't think it counts as "alternate" if all you do is add in a few inconsequential deleted scenes and then change the ending. I like the alternate ending but it belongs in a completely different movie. As it is, the theatrical ending was the correct choice.

 

[mswood]

I really enjoyed Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut, I liked Daredevil's cut (and I didn't like daredevil, so thats an improvement), Blade runner was better), Abyss was better (though I still don't care for either ending), but for myself its the extended editions of any of the lord of the rings (but the best is fellowship). Those versions enthrall me. Simply put my favorite theatre experience ever. And frankly I can't find higher praise (especially after setting down for nearly 12 hours straight).

 

[Reverend]

You've actually sat down and watched all three LoTR EEs in one sitting?! Mad person!
I tend to treat the individual disc as mini-series episodes and treat the disc change as an intermission.

Actually, I've noticed a few films now on DVD come with an overture and sometimes even an intermission. Kingdom of Heaven springs to mind, as does 2001 and I seam to recall Star Trek TMP had an overture. It's a curious trend, especially for media with a pause button, though an oddly welcome one. Anyone notice any other examples?

 

[MyCylon]

^
Monty Python and the Holy Grail .

 

[Reverend]

I just remembered 'Death Proof' had an intermission...or was it 'Planet Terror'? One or the other...or both.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^I think there was an intermission between the 2 when the were released together in theaters as Grindhouse.

 

[Harvey]

^^
The intermission was composed of a few of the fake trailers, if I recall correctly, and a fake commercial for theatre food. Perhaps a short title card that said "Intermission," I don't remember.

 

[MPH]

Aliens dc is probably my favourite, the sentry guns part is one of the best parts of the film and can't believe it was cut out of the theatrical release plus also we get to see Newts family and LV426 as a working base.

 

[Reverend]

Getting back to director's cuts, I just read there's going to be/has been a special edition of sorts for Ghost in the Shell. That's got to be a first for an animated film.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^Not quite. Disney did an extended edition of The Lion King several years back and I think they did one for Beauty & the Beast as well.

Aliens dc is probably my favourite, the sentry guns part is one of the best parts of the film and can't believe it was cut out of the theatrical release plus also we get to see Newts family and LV426 as a working base.

Plus we get a brief appearance by Mac Macdonald, who would shortly thereafter go on to play Captain Hollister on Red Dwarf. (I like to imagine that it really is Hollister in Aliens and that, right after his scene, he was lifted off in a transport for his job switch from Weyland-Yutani to the Jupiter Mining Corporation.)

 

[Reverend]

He was also a cop in "The Fifth Element". He's one of those yanks that lives over here and gets cast in UK productions simply by virtue of being a yank.

As for the Lion King, I don't count shoving an annoying 2 minute song where it really shouldn't have been as a 'Special Edition'. I'm still trying to figure out how to play the theatrical version that I know is on the disc somewhere. Every time the kids have it on that number bugs the shit out of me. Can't speak for Beauty & the Beast as I never got around to that one.

 

[Harvey]

He was in the series two finale of Spooks/M-I5, too, IIRC, but I'm getting off topic here again...

 

[Shakaar]

I tend to like most director's cuts. That said, I do have some favorites.

The Abyss - I really liked the original, but this version is so much better as far as I'm concerned. I always felt the original film seemed rushed in places.

Aliens - I'm kind of unsure about the sequences on LV-426 before the alien attack. It kind of lessens the tension about what the Marines are going to find. However, the new scenes concerning Ripley, her daughter, and her relationship with Newt are essential to the character arc and should never have been cut.

Blade Runner - It's all been said already.

Dances With Wolves - The 200+ minute movie is exceptional. When the shorter version is shown on tv it really seems to be missing a lot. The movie really doesn't feel as long as it is.

Das Boot - Longer version really adds so much. Characters seem much more distinct and the pacing allows for great tension.

Kingdom of Heaven - Liked the theatrical version, but the DC is amazing. The stuff about the king's family should never have been cut.

The Lord of the Rings films - maybe my favorite experience. Many scenes should never have been cut. ROTK especially seems to flow better. Some of my favorite scenes, i. e. the gift-giving scene in FOTR are among my favorite. Can't watch the theatricals anymore.

The Patriot - not much added maybe, but I liked what was.

Star Trek: TMP - liked the original better than most seemed to, the whole thing creates a certain eerie mood or feel. Having said that, the DC definitely has better pacing and the effects, especially in the finale really add to the film.

Terminator 2: May be more of an extended edition than a director's cut, but I like the additions alot. Thankfully, though the cheesy alternate ending was again left off.

Troy - I could barely tolerate the theatrical version, but watched the DC on Blue Ray and felt it was a vast improvement. The characters seem to have much more depth than before.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

No director's cuts are any good. The theatrical version is the real version. But really there's two types of directors...Director's Cut Ones and You'll All Die and Burn in Hell Before You See Even a Deleted Scene From My "Art".

THE ABYSS: turns a mystery into a tiresome THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL cliche.

ALIEN: From what I've seen...hey, I own this on DVD...why haven't I watched it?

ALIENS: we don't need to see the colony before. The rest add-ons were okay. I am wondering how they hauled the auto guns from the crash site to the complex, but...

BLADERUNNER: Film noir detective story reduced to an utter bore with a lackluster ending. THE STUDIO KNEW BETTER. (And I am partly saying this to annoy the fans of the movie) Thankfully, Harrison Ford's career recovered from this train wreck.

THE PATRIOT: I cheated and just watched the deleted scenes rather than rewatch the whole thing. The additional dialouge about the jews starting the war was a bit much, as was Mel's character calling his sister-in-law "sugar tits".

LOTR: I'm too cheap to rent the long versions. And I got sick of the saga. Someday...

That's all I can think of.

 

[Dream]

Aliens. I dislike the director's cut since is really drags.

 

[Manticore]

The Lord of the Rings films - maybe my favorite experience. Many scenes should never have been cut. ROTK especially seems to flow better. Some of my favorite scenes, i. e. the gift-giving scene in FOTR are among my favorite. Can't watch the theatricals anymore.

That's funny; I always felt that ROTK was the weakest of the extended editions, in terms of what it added. Did we really need the skulls dropping on Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, for example? And apparently the scene at the Houses of Healing only lasted a couple of hours, judging by how Pippin finds Merry after Eowyn and Faramir have already met...

 

[Maurice]

The recut of the Orson Welles classic "Touch of Evil" dramatically improved that movie. IIRC, it was based on a long memo of suggested changes to the movie that Welles wrote shortly before its release, and the studio ignored at the time.

A-fucking-MEN!

 

[Bishbot]

Aliens. I dislike the director's cut since is really drags.

I wouldn't agree with that necessarily, but I think I do prefer the theatrical for pacing. I see the two as similar to the two versions of LOTR. The director's cut has some great character moments, and the sentry gun stuff is cool, so I'm glad I have the choice, but the theatrical is usually my preferred option because it is so relentless.

I'm also of the opinion that someone who has not viewed the film before should watch the theatrical first. I think seeing the colony before the attack takes quite a lot of the tension away from the marines' first recon of the deserted base. However, for a second viewing, the director's cut is good for filling in some nice backstory and since you know what's going to happen, a bit more depth is appreciated.