Movies with 'alternate' versions - not prequels, sequels, remakes or reboots - General

Hello everyone. I decided to make this thread about movies which have 'alternate' versions. I do not mean films which have been remade, but, for example, films with long lost footage reintegrated after a period of time, or two different cuts of a movie which seem very different from each other. Some examples: [B]Blade Runner[/B] Three major versions: The Theatrical Version The Director's Cut The Final Cut Most people are familiar with the story behind this one. Theatrical version came out with a dreadful 'happy ending' (which borrowed footage from The Shining) and a half-hearted voiceover from Harrison Ford - which he audibly did [I]not[/I] want to do. 1992 comes around and Ridley Scott releases his Director's Cut. It has the stupid voiceover removed and a much darker, ambiguous ending. There are still some problems though - namely sound issues (watch Harrison Ford's mouth move when he visits Abdul Ben Hassan - it's not in sync with what he's saying). So at last in 2007, with progress in digital technology, Scott patched these issues up. They actually got Harrison Ford's son to move his mouth in the correct manner, then digitally superimposed it over Ford. Cool huh? There is also the Workprint version which is a WIP, but that's hardly worth talking about. Obviously The Final Cut is the superior version - very few people enjoy watching the Theatrical Cut. What I find fascinating is the way a movie can change with just a few things added or removed. A much more different, and more interesting example is Paul Schrader's [B]Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist[/B] and Renny Harlin's [B]Exorcist: The Beginning[/B]. In this case, Paul Schrader (American Gigolo, Cat People) shot an [I]entire[/I] movie. Studios did not like it, so called in Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2) to reshoot it. It's strange watching two movies with the same actors, same setting and roughly the same plot, but in a totally different style. Schrader's vision is much more emphatic on character development as we see Father Merrin from the original film in his early days. Harlin's vision was much more 'scary' (in actual fact, both versions technically 'just suck' but I think they're interesting to watch side by side). I also watched The Shining for the third time recently and was slightly annoyed to hear I had watched a cut that is shorter than the version available in America. Will have to watch again, as there is some extra 24 minutes I have never seen! While Kubrick preferred the shorter cut, I would still like to 'get the full picture', so to speak. Can anyone think of any other examples for me and others to check out?

The only thing I can think of is Metropolis. It's a film from 1927, but there was an anime version done in Japan in 2001.

Alien3 is another one of those movies. The director's cut is much better imo.

[QUOTE=healthpoint;33132546]Alien3 is another one of those movies. The director's cut is much better imo.[/QUOTE] Good one! The theatrical cut is a very weak movie, but I think the Director's Cut is the best in the series.

[QUOTE=Ultra Violence;33132496]The only thing I can think of is Metropolis. It's a film from 1927, but there was an anime version done in Japan in 2001.[/QUOTE] That would be a remake.

The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: Extended Cuts [editline]5th November 2011[/editline] Also Avatar had two extended cuts.

Lord of the Rings is a good example. I've just thought of another actually. Has anyone seen Superman II: the Richard Donner cut? I've never seen either but am intrigued as to how different they are.

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;33133251]The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: Extended Cuts [editline]5th November 2011[/editline] Also Avatar had two extended cuts.[/QUOTE] how long with the avatar one

Apocalypse Now Redux. 49 minutes of added material that increases the progression to the depth of insanity. Although I enjoy both versions, I would go back the original and notice things missing. I saw the extended version first and it is a superior experience for me.

Only one that comes to mind is the UK version of the horror film The Descent. The American version cuts off the actual ending, absolutely fucking retarded. More so that they made a sequel that appears to actually use the american version.

America does that to a lot of movies. Brazil is one that springs to mind.

Donnie Darko, the Director's cut changes the theories about the movie completely. I can't tell what version is the one I prefer, as I love the ambiguity of the original, but the added explanation in the Director's cut makes it an easier movie to watch with others. It changes the movie from a complete mindfuck to a mindfuck that makes sense , but adds more questions like "Why".

"The butterfly effect" has an alternate ending, which iirc was deemed too much of a 'downer', but I think it's much better than the one they went with.

Well, we all know all about Star Wars getting "improved" all the time. I don't really mind most of the improved effects such as lightsabers and what not, but the 3D scenes felt really out of place and unimmersive.

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;33134945]how long with the avatar one[/QUOTE]The Collector's Edition Cut is about 16 minutes longer. The Extended-Rerelease Edition is only 10 minutes longer.

my bloody valentine (original 80s version) alternate version has all gore scenes restored and an explanation for how the killer got away in the end [editline]6th November 2011[/editline] aliens for sure, has about 20 minutes added to it

Well the full cut of Thin Red Line was around 5 hours long, but it was significantly cut down for release. I'm still waiting for that full version.

"The Abyss" had a Special Edition which were like 30 minutes longer. [editline]6th November 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=tommo400;33139264]"The butterfly effect" has an alternate ending, which iirc was deemed too much of a 'downer', but I think it's much better than the one they went with.[/QUOTE] I personally liked the Director's Cut ending the best [sp]Mostly because it kinda explains the 3 previous miscarriges his mother had, and it was sad as hell. Unlike the other endings, it didn't feel anti-climatic.[/sp]

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;33143860]Well the full cut of Thin Red Line was around 5 hours long, but it was significantly cut down for release. I'm still waiting for that full version.[/QUOTE] This one? [url]http://www.criterion.com/films/27513-the-thin-red-line?q=autocomplete[/url]

Das Boot. Originally released as a 2 1/2 hour long movie... you can buy a fucking mini series version that's nearly 5 hours long today.

Titanic's original ending had Rose showing the diamond to Brock, then tossing it. Apparently it was removed because Cameron felt that nobody cared about resolution to Brock's story by the end, but I think it would have been better with the alternate version.

[QUOTE=Ultra Violence;33132496]The only thing I can think of is Metropolis. It's a film from 1927, but there was an anime version done in Japan in 2001.[/QUOTE] Metropolis has had a bunch of different cuts over the last 80 years, major ones include changes for English markets, and alterations due to lost/found footage. The definitive cut of the film was finally released a couple of years back, and included all the footage that had been recovered a few years previous.

Once Upon A Time In America. Oh how they butchered the original release. There's a 5-7 hour version somewhere too. :v:

There's also a 5 1/2 hour version of Apocalypse Now as well, but so far it hasn't been released, but I think there was a bootleg of it a long time ago.

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;33149857]There's also a 5 1/2 hour version of Apocalypse Now as well, but so far it hasn't been released, but I think there was a bootleg of it a long time ago.[/QUOTE] That's a workprint.. next to no point watching such a thing in low quality. The things to do, Get the version with these credits: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZVukrNo8g[/media] Get the Complete Dossier, which has a SHITLOAD of content... then get the Hearts of Darkness documentary and you pretty much have all you need when it concerns that movie.

Isn't that all included in the Full Disclosure Blu Ray Edition?

Doesn't have the original Theatrical version. Which is a shame, but it does seem like a great package.

[QUOTE=AK'z;33150333]Doesn't have the original Theatrical version. Which is a shame, but it does seem like a great package.[/QUOTE] Yes, it does. It has both versions of the film.

[QUOTE=Rusty100;33150972]Yes, it does. It has both versions of the film.[/QUOTE] with the ending where [sp]the base is blown to bits[/sp]?

Oh, I thought you just meant the theatrical version of the film?