It’s common for movies to film far more content than you see in the cinema. After the editing process is complete, a lot ends up on the cutting room floor. Often to curb runtimes or to get a lower age rating to maximize the potential audiences.
Sometimes, directors get a chance to release the edit they originally wanted to put out there, and most of the time these versions of the films are really no better than the theatrical cut, or even worse. Showing that the original editing decisions were correct. Sometimes, however, the intended version of the film is so much better than the original, that it becomes the only version of a movie I want to watch. These are some examples of this rare phenomenon.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Peter Jackson’s genre-defining Lord of the Rings trilogy are amazing films, all of which I saw in cinemas as they released. However, I’ve always thought of them as movies that really only make sense to someone who has read the books. If you never read the books the movies are based on, then there are so many plot holes and unresolved questions that they must feel quite incoherent to anyone paying attention.
Not so for the (massively) extended cuts of these three iconic films. So much crucial background information was lost in the original cut, that these versions of the films feel like you can watch them without having that one friend explain every little thing to you. Some details, such as Aragorn’s true age, are crucial to framing the events of the film and why characters do certain things more sensibly.
Though, honestly, it’s also just more Lord of the Rings, which is great because if The Rings of Power are anything to go by, we’re not going to get this standard of Tolkien adaptation for the foreseeable future.
- Year
-
2002
- Genre
-
Fantasy
- Runtime
-
It’s a long way to Mordor, Sam.
The definitive versions of three of the greatest fantasy films of all time.
Kingdom of Heaven
Ridley Scott’s crusade-era epic is hands-down one of my favorite films of all time, but as critics rightly pointed out at the time, the film doesn’t feel quite right. As it turns out, against Scott’s better judgment, almost an hour of footage was cut from the film to get the runtime down to something more acceptable. On top of this, several violent scenes had to be cut down or cropped for a better age rating. Ironically, today, the run time of this extended version wouldn’t make anyone bat an eye.
With all of this footage restored, Kingdom of Heaven is a much better film. Entire subplots and character details have been returned that now explain what was otherwise nonsensical behavior in the original cut. If you’ve never seen the film, start with this version, and if you’ve only ever seen the theatrical cut, you’re about to re-think your opinion of it.
- Genre
-
Historical Epic
- Runtime
-
3h 14m
- 4K
-
Yes
Ridley Scott’s flawed epic gets its due in this lavish extended edition.
Terminator 2
The theatrical cut of Terminator 2: Judgment Day is pretty much as close to a perfect movie as you can get, but the extended version with its cut scenes restored is better, in my opinion.
It includes crucial story scenes that explain why Arnold’s character suddenly changes behavior in the latter half of the film, important foreshadowing on the weaknesses and behaviors of teh T-1000, and better versions of existing sequences that make them more impactful and coherent.
The only negative here is the version with a goofy alternative ending showing how Judgment Day never happened, which is terrible, and it was right to cut it. Not least of which is because it closes off the potential for future sequels. Actually, that might have been for the best, now that I think about it.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
OK, here we go. I liked Joss Whedon’s Justice League just fine.It was a fun movie. It was also a confused film that didn’t know whether it wanted to be a weak Avengers clone or its own thing.
I didn’t know what to expect from Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but it certainly wasn’t the coherent, epic and dark film we got. OK, I knew it was going to be dark and stylish (because Zack Snyder), but wow, did I underestimate the edginess here.
It’s also not entirely fair to call this an extended edition of the original. This is its own movie. They are completely different versions of the story, but having seen this version, I can find no reason to ever watch the original theatrical release again.
Apart from the story being better, and the performances making more sense, a lot of the CG has improved, creature designs and costumes are better. It also feels innovative with that IMAX aspect ratio (perfect for my 4:3 iPad at 3AM while my wife sleeps) and honestly, I just feel more satisfied at the end of this one.
I’m sure everyone will agree with me with no controversy at all.