TMP: Director's Edition

[new_mercury]

After seeing various versions scattered around for years it was great to watch the 'definitive cut' and it blew me away. In one regard I was maybe expecting a Star Wars: Special Edition type re-doing but I was more than happy when I realised that this was just about making the film as it should have been using techniques that could have been used then. Oh and it was great to finally see V'ger from the outside that was one thing missing from the original that cut the suspense in half, I feel.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Guess I know what I'm putting on my Christmas list, then, folks...

 

[Brutal Strudel]

I love TMP more for its audacity and ideas than for its visuals (and before we get choruses of "Nomad!" I'd like to point out that TMP took a relatively straightforward menace-of-the-week plot and turned it into a prety good meditation on need, obsession and what it means to be alive) so I like both versions. The DE could have been much, much better, though. They sorta blew it.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

I've looked on Memory Alpha, but I can't find a definitive list of the differences between the DE and 1979 cinematic cut. Anyone?

 

[Therin of Andor]

One of the "Best of Trek" volumes had a definitive list of the changes between the theatrical cut and the "special longer version" (aka the ABC TV premiere edition).

But if you run the bonus features of the DVD DE, all the cut footage has been preserved there. I guess no one's taken the time to name and list every scene.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I thought so...

 

[c5maier]

There is a German website with detailed comparisons of the theatrical version against the DE and also against the extended version: http://test.schnittberichte.com/schnittb...st&Sort=AZ.
All scene descriptions are in German, but with the time code as well as names and other cue-words it should still be helpful.

 

[Indysolo]

c5maier said:
There is a German website with detailed comparisons of the theatrical version against the DE and also against the extended version: http://test.schnittberichte.com/schnittb...st&Sort=AZ.
All scene descriptions are in German, but with the time code as well as names and other cue-words it should still be helpful.

That link doesn't work, but this one does.

Neil

 

[TempleroftheDog]

For some reason, whenever I watch TMPE (like right now), I cant help but run through the lines that are missing, expecting the scenes to still be there.

'82 au's in diameter'
'viewer off x2'

This movie was a prime time movie back about 20 years ago in Australia. I even remember the lotto results they posted about 20mins into the movie.
Then it moved to a Sunday afternoon movie. Always get little memories of it popping up (im 27 now, so young at the time I was into this movie).
I couldnt even sit through the movie in one sitting when I was younger. Did anyone else have this problem? Even being the theatrical version, it just was too hard to pay attention to.

I once thought Decker would have been the better captain to lead the Enterprise through this movie. But, while watching right now, I see that he questions every risk that Kirk wants to undertake. The mission may not have been successful with such a cautionary captain.

 

[adg]

I have not seen the Director's cut, I would very much like to see it. I found the normal one quite interesting and I have it with me. I 'll now try to get one DC version 'dirt cheap' as you said, I 'll look for it. Thanks.

 

[ancient]

You can fing the DE new on VHS for about $1 in video stores that still have stocks of VHS.

So if you have a VHS player you're all set.

The DVD ain't bad either, I'm betting.

 

[Therin of Andor]

ancient said:
You can fing the DE new on VHS for about $1 in video stores that still have stocks of VHS.

The "Director's Edition" found on double DVD sets has never been released on VHS.

That would be simply the "Special Longer Version" (originally edited for the ABC-TV US premiere) you've seen for $1.

While much of that added footage made it into the DVD DE, it's nothing like Wise's DE.

The other video releases were the regular theatrical release (first); and lastly, many years later, the widescreen theatrical version (mistakenly giving the timing of the "Special Longer Version") in a boxed set.

 

[Adagio]

ancient said:
You can fing the DE new on VHS for about $1 in video stores that still have stocks of VHS.

So if you have a VHS player you're all set.

The DVD ain't bad either, I'm betting.

The lowest I've seen so far is US$7.50.

 

[Kinnison]

Therin of Andor said:

ancient said:
You can fing the DE new on VHS for about $1 in video stores that still have stocks of VHS.

The "Director's Edition" found on double DVD sets has never been released on VHS.

That's not true. I definately owned a copy. I bought it as soon as it came out, and I recall commenting on this very BBS that I was glad that the resolution was so bad that I couldn't distinguish the poorly-done CGI effects from the beautiful model work.

I seem to recall, from those days, that the new material was only rendered in NTSC-standard resolution. With the inevitable upgrade to HD and Blue Ray and all those fancy new video standards, the TMP DE will become obsolete. I can't say that's a bad thing. While I prefer the newer edit, some of the other choices made were rather poor. Aridas's description of that matte painting a couple of pages back almost made me cry!

 

[santa biggles]

I also owned a copy. Maybe it was only in Region 1, but I definitely owned the DE on VHS.

 

[Shatmandu]

Still wayyyy too many shots of Takei staring at the screen, like he's at at the best peep show he's ever seen.

When the technology gets cheap enough, I'll cut the fucker down to an hour and have a servicable episode.

Joe, cutter

 

[ancient]

Therin of Andor said:

ancient said:
You can fing the DE new on VHS for about $1 in video stores that still have stocks of VHS.

The "Director's Edition" found on double DVD sets has never been released on VHS.

That would be simply the "Special Longer Version" (originally edited for the ABC-TV US premiere) you've seen for $1.

While much of that added footage made it into the DVD DE, it's nothing like Wise's DE.

The other video releases were the regular theatrical release (first); and lastly, many years later, the widescreen theatrical version (mistakenly giving the timing of the "Special Longer Version") in a boxed set.

No, it is on VHS, at least in the USA. I saw it. I watched it. And the special feature afterwards on the new CGI effects. Yay for the Lo-Tech goodness!

 

[santa biggles]

They included that documentary on the VHS? Damn, I never bothered to keep watching. Just stopped and hit rewind when I got to the ending credits.

 

[ancient]

Yep. Don't you read the back of the cover?

 

[santa biggles]

Real men don't read the instructions.