studio cuts Vs Directors visions

[Darkness Falls]

we all know how sometimes the best stuff in movies are cut to make the film more accessable to younger audiences or more showing times in the cinemas

but at what costs

making pointless cuts which take away important story points or character developements

one example of how a directors cut is better is the daredevil directors cut
by far it is a better version than the version released in cinemas
and would have had a better drawn in at the box office

although i haven't seen it i have been told that the original version of the second crow movie is much better than the cinema version

this thread is about the ever raging battle between studio and director

[Jay Lifestar]

15 years ago I may have tossed Blade Runner on this list but there seems to be a new version - that the talent "really REALLY meant to make ... honest this time" - coming to dvd and limited release every four years, or something lol.

For real, I like this thread and would be interested to see what movies or stories people list.

[deathshead2]

Highlander 2 is still terrible with a DC. But the Highlander DC added one scene I really like during WW2 would he got shot saving the little girl, the rest that was added it made the movie drag.

[amazingfantasy15]

I think Aliens is a decent example, the movie is great, but the director's cut adds that extra bit of suspense to the movie. The turret scene in the director's cut is just so awesome, seeing the characters watch as the ammo in the turret run out is just an amazingly tense scene and it didn't even need a glimpse of an alien.

[Fenrir]

Apocalypse Now Redux is an example of an atrocious director's cut that really kills everything that was good about the far superior original cut.

Troy - both versions of the film are junk. The music is all over the place in the director's cut.

I may be in the minority (or perhaps the only one here) who preferred Terminator 2's theatrical cut to the extended director's cut. I just thought it flowed much better.

The theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven was almost unbearable to watch, but the director's cut showed that it was a damn good film.

Another weird case is Mel Gibson's Payback. The original version was decent, but the much changed director's cut wasn't significantly better either.

[Solidus]

Blade Runner showed quite a difference between a Studio Cut and Director's Cut. Which showed how the producers tried to control it,hence making it a lesser film to most.

Kingdom of Heaven, as some one mentioned above. The theatrical was horrible, the directors cut showed a really really good movie.

And though the theatrical cuts were very very good, the DC's for Aliens and T2 added much more to the stories.

[Sam Fisher]

Good Director's Cuts: Daredevil, T2, Aliens.
Bad: X Files: I Want To Believe, AVPR, Anchorman.

[Octoberist]

I prefer the studio cut of Army of Darkness.

It's a movie that shouldn't be too long, and despite having continuity errors galore, the studio cut flowed better than the director's cut. However, that being said, there were scene that I wish they kept. I like the extended Looney Tunes scenes with Ash and the mini-Ashes.

I also prefer the S-Mart ending, only because without it, we wouuldn't have the line "Hail to the King, Baby".

[Gilpesh]

Another weird case is Mel Gibson's Payback. The original version was decent, but the much changed director's cut wasn't significantly better either.

I thought both were great. Of course the studio version being good in a completely obvious studio way (everyone wins) and the director's version in the realistic way (it was a toss up who won).

[Darkness Falls]

even though not much was added
i like the con air directors cut

also the lord of the rings extended versions are epic

[dude love]

Great Director's Cuts:

Kingdom of Heaven.
Blade Runner.
Alien.
Hellboy.
American Gangster.
Daredevil.
Dark City.
Independence Day
Superman.
LOTR.

[Dark Knight 66]

Apocalypse Now - I prefer the theatrical version.

Blade Runner - I think the Final Cut is probably the best version.

JFK - I prefer the Directors Cut slightly more.

Leon - The International version is better than the theatrical version.

Alien - I would say the theatrical version and the directors cut are both equally good.

Aliens - I like both versions of the film but I guess the Directors Cut is slightly more interesting.

[dude love]

I love Aliens, though I generally find myself prefering the Theatrical because the DC drags a little. Still a damn classic and Cambo's best IMHO!

[Evil Twin]

Most of the time, stuff is cut for a reason. Deleted scenes and expanded cuts are often nice curiosities, but there aren't a whole lot that are significantly better than what was actually released.

In regards to Cameron, I prefer the theatrical cut of Aliens. I just find it a bit bloated. The visit to the Alien ship adds nothing but time and removes some mystery. And, while the sentry guns are cool, I liked it when the odds were really stacked against them better.

That said, the director's cut of The Abyss is a vast improvement.

I find it amusing that the "director's cut" of Blade Runner is actually shorter than the studio version.

The reconstruction of Sam Fuller's The Big Red One is a big improvement.

The reworking of Touch of Evil is an improvement.

Most "unrated" comedies I think are worse, as pretty much everything that was cut was cut because it wasn't particularly funny or dragged out a scene.

[Sam Fisher]

^Or they add swear words for no reason except to swear.

[Space Moose]

^Or they add swear words for no reason except to swear.
Like the DC of Pitch Black.

Legend: (Theatrical Release)

This has to be the only example of the studio making a better film than the director. Ridley Scott's Directors Cut is okay, but the edits take away the mystic feel and make the story more fluid and simple rather than mythical and myterious. Also Jerry Golsmith's score (the one which was originally recorded but the studio scrapped) takes away the movies dark edge and comes across as up-beat and almost cliche, whereas Tangerines Dream synthesized score adds more tension and danger.

[Symbiotic]

My favorite DC is probably Daredevil. Just really improved the film I thought. Though, I'm one of the few who enjoyed the theatrical cut.

[Project862006]

it does suck but not everyone can have the wealth of Matthew Vaughn

[StorminNorman]

Daredevil the theatrical cut is a forgettable Superhero film.

Daredevil the Directors Cut is one of the best Superhero films made and still my favorite Marvel movie.

[cerealkiller182]

I thought both were great. Of course the studio version being good in a completely obvious studio way (everyone wins) and the director's version in the realistic way (it was a toss up who won).

I agree. Both were cool.

Director's cuts in general usually suffer from lengthiness and Studio cuts usually suffer from mediocrity and watered down material.

Action/horror flicks tend to have cool DC's because theres usually just extra blood, guts, and action sequences.

When you can tell that a director had a specific idea of where to go then they get real hurt. The DC of Chronicles of Riddick was better and set up a trilogy much better, yet still suffered from just ok movie elements.

Sometimes DCs get real muddled too.

I think I have to watch the Daredevil DC again. I have seen it but I didnt think it was great, much much better, a serious improvement and a good watch, but not as great as people lead me to believe.

[Evil Twin]

Probably the two biggest improvements of Director's Cut vs. Studio Cuts.

1. Brazil
2. Once Upon a Time in America

Jonathan Demme's Swing Shift is supposed to have a masterful director's cut that's never been released.

[Doctor Jones]

Damn, I'm still waiting to see Daredevil DC.

[I'm Old Greg]

Like the DC of Pitch Black.

Legend: (Theatrical Release)

This has to be the only example of the studio making a better film than the director. Ridley Scott's Directors Cut is okay, but the edits take away the mystic feel and make the story more fluid and simple rather than mythical and myterious. Also Jerry Golsmith's score (the one which was originally recorded but the studio scrapped) takes away the movies dark edge and comes across as up-beat and almost cliche, whereas Tangerines Dream synthesized score adds more tension and danger.

I whole heartedly disagree..

I saw Legend when i was a little and loved it but never liked the music at all...
Jerry Goldsmiths Score is one of my favorites that i never heard until the directors cut, Lilly singing to the unicorn is a beautiful addition and adds so much more to her character...how manipulative she is to Jack and the Unicorn..
the scene when Lilly is being seduced by the dress is far more intense with the late Jerry Goldsmiths score..
the directors cut is far superior to me than the original version...

[bullets]

i usually prefer the director's cut but i am glad they used the s-mart ending for army of darkness. i wish i could make my own cut of some of these movies

[KnightBat]

While not a director's cut, the assembly cut version of Alien 3 is a vast improvement over the studio cut. Its not perfect, there are some scenes that should be left out and I prefer the dog being the host for the alien then ox and the studio ending for Ripley. The assembly cut also expands on the religious themes and character subplot's such as Golic. I'm really hoping that one day, David Fincher will do a director's cut. There was a fan cut on YouTube that was a great combination of the two version, but sadly FOX made them take it down. :(

[wiegeabo]

Director's Cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Besides the improved effects and score, the movie, even with the additional scenes, doesn't feel as long, slow, or boring. There's a lot more tension in the buildup, the subplots make much more sense, and V'Ger comes off as a much bigger threat, especially when we finally get to see the ship.

The director's cut of Daredevil should definitely have been the one released in the theaters.

[Rishi]

Terminator 2's directors cut was way worse. Slowed down the movie to a hault in some places, and the effects were pretty bad, too.

The only scenes I'd keep are the reprogramming of Arnie, and the smile joke (I'm a sucker for robo-humor)