First ten movies --theatrical version or director's cut?

[Oantrek]

Of EACH of the first ten Star Trek movies -- from Star Trek: The Motion Picture to Star Trek: Nemesis, I've been trying to decide which is better to have on DVD, and I could use some opinions, please. Please keep the following in mind:

I usually like to buy movies as they were originally presented in the theatre.

I usually don't like it when they use updated special effects, cut or move scenes that were there when I saw the movies the first time.

I only want to have one edition, not both.

The first time I saw the first four movies, it was likely on VHS or on TV (which would be the theatrical release).

I also wish that they would use the same cover art for each DVD release, unlike the current DVD release that doesn't (but I guess that's another story).

I understand that most of the changes between the theatrical cut and the director's cut is only about 3 minutes.

So, what do you think? Which is better? The director's cut or the theatrical release and why?

Thank you in advance.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I like the Director's Edition of TMP, as it tells a less-meandering story than the theatrical cut, and the new special effects were well-done and integrated well.

For TWOK, I prefer the theatrical cut, largely because it's the one that I know the best & the one that I grew up on. The DVD version is fine and just has a few minor changes, though.

There are no differences in TSFS, TVH, and TFF as far as I can recall.

For TUC, I prefer the slightly revised version on DVD, with the cuts of the conspirators during the mind meld scene, and the scenes with Colonel West.

For the TNG movies, I really don't care because I hardly ever rewatch them and only own the first two on DVD anyway. I'd only ever watch INS or NEM if I was really bored & had nothing better to do.

Hope this helps!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Theatrical.

 

[The Hooded Man]

The directors cut of TMP as it's a better movie. I've only seen the longer version of TUC, so I'll stick with that (even though I hate Scotty being a bigot).

 

[Tosk]

Of the ten movies, only 1, 2, and 6 have official alternate cuts. (Not counting the slight alteration to the international version of Star Trek 4.)

Personally I prefer the Director's Cut/Special Editions of 1 and 2, and the theatrical of 6. (But I waver sometimes on that one.)

 

[eyeresist]

I prefer the theatrical cuts. TMP DE accents the relationship of Decker and Ilia slightly more, but the added CGI is unnecessary and sticks out like a sore thumb. The problem of slow pacing hasn't been addressed. With TWOK, I haven't done a detailed comparison, but the set-up of Scotty's nephew in the alternate version is a good addition. With TUC, the reveal that the assassin is only disguised as a Klingon is a superfluous complication, and the presidential briefing scene is clunky and tedious.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I prefer the theatrical cuts mostly because those are what I enjoyed in the theater. I find extra scenes work as a curiosity, but were usually cut with good reason. The only exception is TMP. I prefer the director's cut for pacing and the restored character scenes. But I think a little too much was altered. Some of the edits were a bit weird (Kirk floating off the transporter platform in the beginning), I missed the automated computer "red alert" announcements and felt the added "swish" sounds during the transporter malfunction took away from the grimness of the sequence. However, I loved the new effects.

TWOK's added scenes did nothing for me, but Scotty's nephew info should have been in the theatrical. The rest was wisely left out. Especially "that young man, he's my son!" "Faaaaaacinating!" So, theatrical for me.

TUC's added scenes were all hideous. The added racism, the character flashes with the "BONNG!" on the soundtrack and the Scooby-Doo reveal of the masked Klingon were shite. That last makes no sense anyway; why would they need an old man under latex mask to pose as a Klingon assassin when apparently plenty of actual Klingon's would do the job? All those years of having only the extended version made me really dislike the film. However, now that I have the theatrical version, I really enjoy it again.

So, aside from TMP, all theatrical. However, both versions should be made availabkle on the next round of Blu-Ray releases. There's room for them and they should have been included before. Yeah, I know why TMP wasn't, but I call shenanigans.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Theatrical. Everything added in the extend cuts is completely superfluous.

 

[Trek Survivor]

Definitely theatrical for all.

 

[Khan 2.0]

I can't decide. Since the BRs are theatrical I guess the theatricals? But I dunno

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

TMP - definitely the director's cut
TWOK - theatrical
TUC - director's cut

@Ssosmcin: The director's cuts of TWOK and TUC are available in HD, but I think only from iTunes.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

For me it breaks down like this:

TMP-Director's cut
TWOK-Theatrical
TUC- Theatrical, if only because it omits the huge issue of the Romulan ambassador sitting in on a Starfleet briefing.

 

[Caligula]

TMP - Director's Cut

Nemesis is the only other one that could improve with an extended cut, but since the original version is the only one available...

II through X - Theatrical Cut

 

[Oso Blanco]

TMP: Theatrical or SLV (Special Longer Version), but definitely NOT the Director's Cut
TWOK: Director's Cut
TUC: First Home Video Release (= Director's Cut minus the flashbacks during Valeris' interogation)

 

[xvicente]

TWOK: I think the Peter Preston scene in the Engineering Room (director's cut) helps a great deal -- in the theatrical version, it's like "who is this young man and why is everyone so impacted he died?"

But the other edits: Spock/McCoy arguing upon learning of Genesis, and Kirk's "that kid's my son" in the midst of the battle (I think there's another edit during the battle), those sucked.

TUC: Theatrical version was fine. I don't like Scooby Doo.

 

[Smellmet]

I think the TMP directors cut is excellent, but as a fan of the film I'd happily settle for the full SLV with the extra effects of the DE thrown in for the best of both worlds. Please release a definitive HD version of this movie please Paramount?

As an earlier poster put, I much prefer the DE of TWOK, the Preston scenes add a lot of dramatic and emotional weight to the story IMO, giving Scotty a nice bit more screen time too, the vulcan exchange between spock and saavik is brief and neither offends or delights. There's a little bit more with Kirk and Bones in Kirks flat which I liked too. DE all the way for me as it doesn't remove or really change any of the rest of the film like it does in TMP.

Whats the difference in the DE for TUC though?

 

[TheAlmanac]

My answers would be almost exactly the same as Oso Blanco's...

I grew up with the SLV of TMP, but don't actually have a strong opinion there.

I also grew up with the extended TWOK (the ABC version, actually), so I think of that as the "real" cut more than the theatrical one and find it very jarring to watch the theatrical cut without the extra scenes/dialogue.

The initial home video release of TUC is also my preferred version of that film, as I like the extra scenes but find the interrogation flashbacks very cheesy in a "spoonfeeding the audience" sort of way.

 

[Maurice]

Theatrical cuts. Most of the time it's obvious why deleted scenes became such.

As for TMP, I waffle. The are some improvements in the DE cut, but there are also things added back in which didn't need to be, and the film ends up actually longer than the theatrical cute, which is a minus.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Regarding the Peter Preston stuff, and why I think the theatrical cut is better for TWOK, the theatrical cut plays as if Scott and everybody are concerned for the loss of life generally. With no personal connection established, Preston plays as a representative of all the cadets killed. If he is singled out for any particular reason among the casualties, it is only because he stayed at his post and died while other trainees abandoned their posts.

I find it a sad commentary on the franchise to insist that there must be a personal connection for the main characters to care about the loss of subordinates. Fans have accused Kirk of not caring about the loss of redshirts on landing parties, although I've generally found such criticisms to be unwarranted, as in fact Kirk was generally shown on TOS to care. It's therefore somewhat ironic if on the other hand a Trek film will get criticized for showing Kirk and crew caring for the death of a random cadet serving aboard ship.

 

[Oso Blanco]

I think the TMP directors cut is excellent, but as a fan of the film I'd happily settle for the full SLV with the extra effects of the DE thrown in for the best of both worlds.

The new special effects are exactly what I hate so much about the DE, so I'd really love a proper release of the SLV WITHOUT any new effects. The three seconds with the unfinished hangar door should be cut, though. That would be my perfect TMP!

the vulcan exchange between spock and saavik is brief and neither offends or delights

That scene is there in Theatrical Cut as well. But I wish they had added the scene between Kirk and Spock, where Spock explains that Saavik is half Romulan.