Directors typically do not control the “final cut,” the version of the movie released to the public. While this may seem unfair, it is essential for protecting the financial interests of the investors. The parties that invested in the film, such as studios, production companies, and distributors, are always keen to release something that will be profitable at the box office. The decision cannot be left to only one person.
Only established directors, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and the Coen Brothers, are rumored to have final cut privilege. Even so, their authority is not absolute. If they exceed the budget, extend the runtime excessively, or prolong the production schedule, the studio can take control of the project.
In some cases, nothing bad comes from studio interference. However, in other instances, the meddling tends to result in an inferior version of the film, far removed from what the filmmaker intended. In such cases, the filmmaker is likely to defend themselves against backlash, resulting in fan demand for the director’s cut. At times, studios relent and release the original version, which is often far superior to what was seen in theaters.
8
‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven is a slightly fictionalized retelling of the events leading up to the Third Crusade, in which France’s King Philip II, England’s King Richard I, and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa attempt to reclaim Jerusalem from the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. The story follows blacksmith Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), who decides to join the crusade, though he appears bewildered by the violence and chaos surrounding him.
The theatrical version of Kingdom of Heaven has the great sound and visuals you’d expect from a Ridley Scott movie, but it is a mess in other areas. It faces similar challenges to those in Gods of Egypt, toying excessively with religion without providing proper context or balance. Consequently, various commentators at the time of its release claimed it demonized Christians and pushed for Islamic fundamentalists.
Displeased with the theatrical version (he blamed it on Fox’s choice to pay too much attention to the views of test audiences), Scott supervised a director’s cut, which restored the 45 minutes that had been cut. The result? Better character development for Balian, showing a more reasonable metamorphosis from blacksmith to warrior. Overall, we get a far more fascinating Scott-made historical drama that’s hard to resist.
7
‘Brazil’ (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s Brazil has little to do with the South American country. Its title stems from the recurring theme song, Ary Barroso’s “Aquarela do Brasil,” with events unfolding in a retro-futuristic world where citizens are suffocated by government bureaucracy and state surveillance. The situation gets a little complicated when Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), an employee in the Department of Information, makes a clerical error that causes an innocent citizen to be arrested instead of a suspected terrorist, Archibald Tuttle (Robert De Niro).
From technocracy to crime and capitalism, Brazil delves deep into its themes, all with a Kafkaesque, absurdist tone. The film has been widely praised by real scientists for highlighting the numerous ways that technological advancements can ruin societies. But all these things can only be noticed in the director’s cut.
Gilliam’s movie became the center of a tense fight for artistic control before it was even released. Universal Pictures released a shorter, precise 94-minute theatrical cut, which it labeled “Love Conquers All.” This version removed the dark twist ending, causing the director to rebel publicly. He even took out an ad in Variety complaining before secretly screening his version to critics. His version ended up winning major awards and is what is most widely circulated today.
6
‘Daredevil’ (2003)
Before the critically acclaimed TV series, there was Daredevil, starring Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who becomes the vigilante Daredevil, relying on his heightened remaining senses. He sets out to clean Hell’s Kitchen, both the legal way and the street way, all while maintaining a romantic relationship with Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner). His biggest enemy? The crime boss, Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (Michael Clarke Duncan),
Before Daredevil, director Mark Steven Johnson had shown skill in combining comedic elements with grounded, realistic storytelling. Critics thus concluded that he struggled with the darker Marvel movie. Ben Affleck was unconvincing, too, and the Razzies were quick to pounce.
Well, opinions changed when a director’s cut was released on DVD a year later. Not only is the extended version more enjoyable, with newly recorded commentary, but it also includes a compelling subplot featuring a drug addict, portrayed by rapper Coolio, who is charged with killing an informant for the Kingpin. Additionally, there are more violent undertones, with less focus on the romance arc.
5
‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984)
Based on Harry Grey’s semi-autobiographical 1952 book The Hoods, Once Upon a Time in America traces the rise of the best baddies, Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods), to become two of the most feared Jewish gangsters in New York City. It is the final film directed by Spaghetti Western legend Sergio Leone.
The 139-minute theatrical version was panned, with critics labeling it incoherent and overly sentimental. It only made $5.5 million at the box office, and the poor reception is rumored to be a major reason why Leone left Hollywood permanently. Tragically, Leone never lived to witness the film’s eventual recognition, passing away five years after its release. The director’s cut would only receive proper recognition years later.
This painstakingly restored version compiles all the best elements, including the excessive violence. By the end of filming, Leone had a whopping 10 hours of footage, something that left the studio baffled. He trimmed it to six hours and originally intended to release the gangster flick in two parts, but the producers rejected the idea because of the failure of Bernardo Bertolucci’s two-part epic 1900. Though Leone cut it further to 229 minutes, the studio released the 139-minute version.
4
‘Superman II’ (1980)
Here we go again! Another superhero seeking to fit in with society and live a “typical” life. This is Superman’s goal in Superman II: he hopes for a normal life with Lois, but fate has other plans for Clark Kent. Zod and his gang show up on Earth, hoping to terraform it into a new Krypton. In addition, Lex Luthor is also somewhere out there.
The campier comedy excesses will irk fans of the first Superman movie. Terence Stamp gives an energetic, infectious performance as General Zod, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Gene Hackman. Consequently, the film feels like a puzzle missing a crucial piece. That piece is Richard Donner, who was fired after making 75% of the movie. It was thus completed without him.
This situation parallels the controversies surrounding Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Well, the Donner Cut was finally released in 2006, edited by Michael Thau and overseen by Donner himself. It immediately becomes a must-see, featuring significant new footage and alternative scenarios. The director’s handling of the interlocking action scenes, his exquisite sense of time and pacing, and the unbelievably fluid camerawork lend additional harmony to this engrossing DC movie.
3
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
In the early 1980s, Ridley Scott envisioned a dystopian society set in 2019. He thus made Blade Runner, presenting a scenario where bioengineered humanoids known as Replicants were banished from Earth following a violent mutiny. Four of them have fled back, with former Blade Runner Rick Deckard sent to track them down.
Partially based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner explores themes of authoritarianism and society’s overreliance on technology, with Harrison Ford starring as Rick Deckard. Critics initially hated it, claiming that the plot was sacrificed in favor of excessive special effects and that the film was slow, failing to deliver on the studio’s marketing as an action thriller.
Among all the films discussed here, Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece underwent arguably the most significant changes. Seven different versions of the movie exist, stemming from numerous controversial changes demanded by studio executives. Scott’s definitive The Final Cut was eventually released by Warner Bros. theatrically in 2007 and is the only version over which the director had complete artistic and editorial control. This version nails all the cyberpunk basics and shouldn’t be missed by any fan.
2
‘The Godfather Part III’ (1990)
Every great gangster gets the itch to go clean at some point, and that’s what The Godfather Part III is all about. Seeking to legitimize his empire, an aging Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) partners with the Vatican on a business deal, but old sins pull him back into a life of violence, especially after his ambitious nephew Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia) comes into the picture.
Widely considered the worst in the trilogy, the original film’s glaring flaws stand out like dirt on a white shirt. Sofia Coppola gives the only bad performance in the entire trilogy, and the story weirdly veers into conspiracy-thriller territory instead of staying within the gangster-drama genre.
In 2020, the director’s version titled The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone was released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the original movie. This time, Coppola’s brilliance is more evident. Working firmly within the outlines of the gangster genre conventions, the filmmaker delivers a comprehensive and chilling crime-fest that doesn’t let up from opening to the closing frame. The director’s cut removes much of the earlier version’s sentimentalism and restructures key scenes to heighten narrative tension.
1
‘Justice League’ (2017)
The chaotic behind-the-scenes story of DC’s Justice League could itself be a compelling film. While making Justice League, a film about Batman gathering various superheroes to stop Steppenwolf, Zack Snyder was forced to step down because of a personal tragedy involving his daughter. Warner Bros brought in Joss Whedon, hoping he’d recreate the magic he had delivered in the early Avengers movies. Unfortunately, that is not how things turned out.
From Henry Cavill’s infamous CGI-edited mustache (he couldn’t shave because his Mission Impossible role required him to have facial hair) to silly banter and terrible characterization, Justice League had too many flaws. Rumors of a Snyder Cut surfaced, and fans became very vocal about wanting to see it.
Not only was Zack Snyder allowed to release his version, but $70 million was spent to complete the score, visual effects, and editing, with new material added. The end product treads desirable territory by accentuating the best things about each hero and improving Cyborg’s arc, while turning up the dial on cinematography. The Joker even makes an appearance. However, Snyder fans will likely never see a continuation of the story after James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios.
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