King Arthur (director's cut) (1 Viewer)

[Uthred]

The movie is from 2004 and not really new, I have seen it half a dozen times on HBO, but yesterday I was at the mall and I found this KING ARTHUR DIRECTOR'S CUT DVD which was never released in the movies or tv. I bought it and it was AMAZING!!!!!!


The original King Arthur was ok, but the director's cut has plenty of new battle sequences and even a fair dose of romance (my wife that didn't like the original movie at all, loved the director's cut!). The movie was some 40 minutes longer and was much easier to understand, even if you knew nothing of sub-Roman Britain like my wife.


I wonder why would Hollywood prefer worst versions and not let the director finish his job? Commercial reasons? Does it really mean a shorter and less violent movie so that children may watch it?


Has anyone else seen it?

Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Spitfrnd]

The movie is from 2004 and not really new, I have seen it half a dozen times on HBO, but yesterday I was at the mall and I found this KING ARTHUR DIRECTOR'S CUT DVD which was never released in the movies or tv. I bought it and it was AMAZING!!!!!!


The original King Arthur was ok, but the director's cut has plenty of new battle sequences and even a fair dose of romance (my wife that didn't like the original movie at all, loved the director's cut!). The movie was some 40 minutes longer and was much easier to understand, even if you knew nothing of sub-Roman Britain like my wife.


I wonder why would Hollywood prefer worst versions and not let the director finish his job? Commercial reasons? Does it really mean a shorter and less violent movie so that children may watch it?


Has anyone else seen it?

Cheers...

Uthred

Yes mate, I saw it in the theaters and was underwhelmed but enjoyed parts of it. I then bought the DVD (I have never seen anything but the Director's Cut on DVD) and thought it was virtually a different movie. It is on my watch a few times a year list now.

As to why, well the reasons are varied but generally come down to the Studio's perception of economics. Sometimes, as for this one, the directors are rather outspoken on their take on the reasons and their distaste for the theater edition. Of course, before the proliferation of digital media, there was frequently only one cut cotrolled by the studio but now there may be many and it is rather a big deal as to who controls what. Some directors won't work on a film without final theater cut authority and others will compromise, especially if they have the right, as here, to produce their own cut for a DVD or BRD. So while it is annoying for theater releases to generally be deficient, thanks to the digital age, we frequently can get a better version later for our private enjoyment; a privilige that was reserved to the very rich and connected not that long ago.

 

[sceic2]

Yes mate, I saw it in the theaters and...I then bought the DVD...

Just what the studio marketing folks want to read.... I saw it on DTV and was greatly disappointed in how bad it was.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Just what the studio marketing folks want to read.... I saw it on DTV and was greatly disappointed in how bad it was.

Well to be more precise, I saw in the theaters, first rented the director's cut and then bought the DVD after I saw the difference. I would not have bought it based on the theater release. It has pretty much become my standard approach to first rent movies I haven't seen or those that have different dvd cuts.

I am not sure if this what you meant about studio marketing but it has occurred to me that one motivation for deficient theater cuts is to promote dvd sales with the better director cuts.

 

[Uthred]

Well to be more precise, I saw in the theaters, first rented the director's cut and then bought the DVD after I saw the difference. I would not have bought it based on the theater release. It has pretty much become my standard approach to first rent movies I haven't seen or those that have different dvd cuts.

I am not sure if this what you meant about studio marketing but it has occurred to me that one motivation for deficient theater cuts is to promote dvd sales with the better director cuts.

The same could be said about me. The original movie was not good enough for me to buy a DVD, but the director's cut is so much better I don't regret I took the chance and bought it! The studio should have released the director's cut for the theaters. Those battles would look great on a larger screen!


Maybe when there's a director's cut for 300 I'm actually gonna like those immortals in black ninja outfits and silver masks?


Cheers...

Uthred