Films and Their Director's Cuts
by ultimatenexus | created - 12 Aug 2014 | updated - 23 Jul 2015 | PublicA list comprised of all the films and director's cuts of those films I've seen, and my opinions on which one(s) is better. However, if I've only seen one version of a movie (like Blade Runner or Night of the Creeps), I will not include it, since the purpose of this list is to compare the versions of the same movie that I've seen.
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1. Kite (1998)
TV-MA | 50 min | Animation, Action, Crime
A young girl, orphaned at an early age, carries out assassinations at the behest of her mentor.
Stars: Konami Yoshida, Kinryû Arimoto, Kôsuke Okano, Tatsuo Matoba
Votes: 5,308
International Version: 7.4/10
Director's Cut: 7.8/10
I strongly disagree with people who think this is just a hentai. It's a lot more than that. But that argument, I will leave for another list. While the majority of scenes taken out of the original version are graphic sex scenes, there were still a few alternate shots and additional scenes that didn't need to be taken out either.
2. Mezzo Forte (2000–2001)
Not Rated | 80 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A young woman and her mercenary for hire team run afoul of a violent mob boss and his sociopath daughter.
Stars: Tomoko Kotani, Takumi Yamazaki, Taichirô Hirokawa, Shôzô Îzuka
Votes: 1,533
International Version: 7.4/10
Director's Cut: 7.2/10
As enjoyable as the sex scenes can (sort of) be, unlike Kite, they don't really serve much of a purpose to the story, except to titillate. Nothing else was cut out of the original version, either, so the Director's Cut has nothing new to offer except two graphic sex scenes, which aren't needed to tell a side of the story.
3. Watchmen (2009)
R | 162 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
In a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.
Director: Zack Snyder | Stars: Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman
Votes: 582,295 | Gross: $107.51M
Theatrical Cut: 8.5/10
Director's Cut: 9/10
I haven't seen the Ultimate Cut yet, but anyway. The Director's Cut adds so much more to the story, it's definitely up there among the best director's cuts ever made.
4. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)
PG-13 | 101 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An ex-mercenary is forced out of isolation when three mysterious men kidnap and brainwash the city's children afflicted with the Geostigma disease.
Directors: Tetsuya Nomura, Takeshi Nozue | Stars: Takahiro Sakurai, Ayumi Ito, Shôtarô Morikubo, Maaya Sakamoto
Votes: 58,195
Regular Cut: 7/10
Complete Edition: 8/10
Yet another DC that greatly improved upon the original. I've never had the money to upgrade to Blu-Ray, and unfortunately that's the only way to own the DC. Shame.
5. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000 Video)
PG-13 | 76 min | Animation, Action, Crime
The Joker is back with a vengeance, and Gotham's newest Dark Knight needs answers as he stands alone to face Gotham's most infamous Clown Prince of Crime.
Director: Curt Geda | Stars: Will Friedle, Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, Angie Harmon
Votes: 29,774
Regular Edition: 8.8/10
Director's Cut: 9/10
Mostly violence was taken out (and put back in for the DC), and some redone dialogue, but frankly, I HATE censored editions of movies (biased, I know) so the Director's Cut is more enjoyable. Not to mention, without all the cuts to take out extra kicks and punches, etc. the DC flows a lot more smoothly.
6. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
PG-13 | 120 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A bored married couple is surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other.
Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody, Vince Vaughn
Votes: 541,154 | Gross: $186.34M
Theatrical Edition: 6/10
Uncut Edition: 7/10
The uncut version just seems to fit better, and it's not as... restrained, I guess I should say, as the theatrical edition. Although I do miss the "Oh look. More desert." line that's only in the theatrical.
Oh well.
7. Naked Killer (1992)
R | 89 min | Action, Crime, Horror
A young woman is trained by a martial arts specialist to become a professional assassin.
Director: Clarence Fok | Stars: Chingmy Yau, Simon Yam, Carrie Ng, Madoka Sugawara
Votes: 2,676 | Gross: $0.03M
Fox Lorber Edition: 5/10
New Hong Kong Version: 7/10
Absolutely disgraceful how they butchered this gem. Adding *bleep* noises in the dialogue (while leaving the subtitles uncensored, no less), cutting out large portions of violence and sex, and you've got a toned-down HK version of Basic Instinct.
The uncut version is the superior version, of course, partly because all the violence and sex has been restored, but also because I don't have to hear any *beep* bleeping noises in the Cantonese language!
8. Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
PG-13 | 98 min | Animation, Action, Drama
The fate of the world is threatened by seemingly monstrous entities known as Angels. NERV is an organization set up to counter this threat and it is up to young pilots to protect Earth but exactly what are the real motives behind NERV?
Directors: Hiroshi Haraguchi, Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Hideaki Anno, Kôbun Shizuno | Stars: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Kotono Mitsuishi, Yuriko Yamaguchi
Votes: 27,620 | Gross: $0.11M
1.0: 7.8/10
1.11: 8/10
Not much was changed between releases, aside from a few altered shots, new dialogue and additional footage, but again, it just feels much better than the regular version.
9. Max Payne (2008)
PG-13 | 100 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Coming together to solve a series of murders in New York City are a police detective and an assassin, who will be hunted by the police, the mob, and a ruthless corporation.
Director: John Moore | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris
Votes: 130,160 | Gross: $40.69M
Theatrical Cut: 6/10
Unrated Cut: 6.7/10
Okay, so this isn't that great a movie. To you guys. To me, it's a guilty pleasure. Again, this is just more my issue with censorship, what with the additional blood and a few extra scenes that make it more gritty. I hate when this kind of violence gets censored, especially to compromise for a freaking PG-13 rating. I mean, come on...
10. Pineapple Express (2008)
R | 111 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A process server and his marijuana dealer wind up on the run from hitmen and a corrupt police officer after he witnesses his dealer's boss murder a competitor while trying to serve papers on him.
Director: David Gordon Green | Stars: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Danny McBride
Votes: 357,362 | Gross: $87.34M
Theatrical Cut: 7/10
Extended/Unrated Cut: 7.1/10
Only the second stoner comedy I enjoyed, and the only movie with Rogen and McBride that I like. The Extended Cut has more going for it, though. And some of the additional scenes were actually funny.
11. Taken (I) (2008)
PG-13 | 90 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.
Director: Pierre Morel | Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser
Votes: 634,287 | Gross: $145.00M
Theatrical Cut: 8/10
Extended Cut: 8.1/10
Another case of bias against censorship. Frankly only one or two scenes were added back in so it doesn't change much of the overall movie.
12. American Pie (1999)
R | 95 min | Comedy
Four teenage boys enter a pact to lose their virginity by prom night.
Directors: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz | Stars: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Jennifer Coolidge
Votes: 433,595 | Gross: $102.56M
Theatrical Version: 7/10
Unrated Version: 7.4/10
I prefer the altered shots and additional scenes in the unrated version.
13. The Warriors (1979)
R | 93 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A street gang known as the Warriors must fight its way from the Bronx to its home turf on Coney Island when its members are falsely accused of assassinating a respected gang leader.
Director: Walter Hill | Stars: Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright, Brian Tyler
Votes: 110,634 | Gross: $22.49M
Theatrical Cut: 8/10
Director's Cut: 6.5/10
A rare example of a DC that actually ruins the movie. The whole comic book edit was annoying and it really affected my judgement on the movie. Thank God I saw the TC, because it changed my opinion on it.
A lot.
14. The Punisher (2004)
R | 124 min | Action, Crime, Drama
An undercover FBI agent becomes a vigilante and sets out to unleash his wrath upon the corrupt businessman who slaughtered his entire family at a reunion.
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh | Stars: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Samantha Mathis, Laura Harring
Votes: 170,525 | Gross: $33.81M
Theatrical Version: 6/10
Extended Cut: 8/10
The DC just felt so much more enjoyable and complete with the added subplots and additional scenes. Many people complain that it's too long. I disagree.
15. Alien (1979)
R | 117 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Votes: 949,942 | Gross: $78.90M
Theatrical Cut: 9/10
Extended Cut: 9.2/10
I didn't think much of the EC at first, but when I went back to the TC, well... it just didn't feel right. I missed the additions of the EC.
16. Lethal Weapon (1987)
R | 109 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Two newly paired cops who are complete opposites must put aside their differences in order to catch a gang of drug smugglers.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan
Votes: 276,269 | Gross: $65.21M
Theatrical Cut: 8/10
Director's Cut: 8.7/10
Once again, the DC felt much more complete.
17. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
R | 114 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Patsy Kensit
Votes: 188,739 | Gross: $147.25M
Theatrical Cut: 9/10
Director's Cut: 9.5/10
And again, the DC adds a lot more material to the film. This is also my favourite film in the series, and the DC's the best way to view it.
18. Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
R | 118 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh pursue a former LAPD officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo
Votes: 178,457 | Gross: $144.73M
Theatrical Cut: 6.9/10
Director's Cut: 8/10
Not as good as the other two, but with the DC version, it almost reaches the first film's level of awesomeness (I love all four films, though).
19. Death Race (2008)
R | 105 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Ex-con Jensen Ames is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in our post-industrial world's most popular sport: a car race in which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane
Votes: 218,862 | Gross: $36.32M
Theatrical Cut: 6.7/10
Unrated Cut: 8/10
The UC was a BIG improvement over the regular edition. More enjoyable scenes, and seeing Jason Statham's character get back up after getting knocked down to beat the crap out of some cops is a bonus (exclusive scene only to the UC, as the TC cut out after he fell).
20. Hancock (2008)
PG-13 | 92 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
Hancock is a superhero whose ill-considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when the person he saves helps him improve his public image.
Director: Peter Berg | Stars: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head
Votes: 511,457 | Gross: $227.95M
Theatrical Cut: 7.5/10
Extended Cut: 8/10
The EC is much more fun and not as restrictive as the TC. Plus that scene near the beginning where he and that girl are tossing the trailers around was priceless. It was also more unflinching with its dialogue and violence.
21. I Am Legend (2007)
PG-13 | 101 min | Action, Drama, Horror
Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.
Director: Francis Lawrence | Stars: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Votes: 813,799 | Gross: $256.39M
Theatrical Cut: 6.7/10
Alternative Theatrical Cut: 7.4/10
I prefer the version where Neville lives. Not that I'm against movies where the heroes die at the end, but... the TC's ending just felt unnecessarily forced.
22. Rambo (2008)
R | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
In Thailand, John Rambo joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-torn Burma, and rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by the ruthless local infantry unit.
Director: Sylvester Stallone | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish
Votes: 244,486 | Gross: $42.75M
Theatrical Cut: 8.3/10
Extended Cut: 8/10
While the additional scenes in the EC are nice, the violence didn't need to be cut out. Stallone seems to do this quite a bit--does something to make a point, and then goes back to try and 'fix' that point. The violence was fine. What we need is an additional version with the EC's extra scenes and all the violence still intact.
23. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
PG-13 | 99 min | Horror
A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier, Lorna Raver
Votes: 217,417 | Gross: $42.10M
Theatrical Cut: 6.7/10
Unrated Cut: 7.2/10
Not Raimi's best. Not Raimi's worst. But the UC is just better, in my (biased) opinion, as this was clearly another case where a movie was edited to obtain a PG-13 rating.
24. Underworld (2003)
R | 121 min | Action, Fantasy, Thriller
Selene, a vampire warrior, is entrenched in a conflict between vampires and werewolves, while falling in love with Michael, a human who is sought by werewolves for unknown reasons.
Director: Len Wiseman | Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen
Votes: 285,098 | Gross: $51.97M
Theatrical Cut: 7.3/10
Extended/Unrated Cut: 8/10
The UC may be longer, but it's no drag to sit through and it improves itself with its additions.
25. Death Wish (1974)
R | 93 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad after his wife is murdered by street punks. In self-defense, the vengeful man kills muggers on the mean streets after dark.
Director: Michael Winner | Stars: Charles Bronson, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, Steven Keats
Votes: 44,023 | Gross: $22.00M
Edited Version: 6.5/10
Original Cut: 7/10
While the rape scenes are hard to sit through, I find it's nonetheless necessary to get the point across. Having to see what's happening to Paul Kersey's family in full force, without turning away, helps us justify his one-man war on the street thugs that plague his neighborhood. Without those scenes, it just seems like another revenge flick.
26. Death Wish II (1982)
R | 89 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Architect Paul Kersey once again becomes a vigilante when he tries to find the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper, this time on the dark streets of Los Angeles.
Director: Michael Winner | Stars: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia, J.D. Cannon
Votes: 18,116 | Gross: $16.10M
Edited Version: 5.4/10
Original Cut: 6.3/10
Same as the first one, only instead with poor Paul's daughter. Her entire death scene is omitted from the edited version. I can see why someone would take the rape of their housekeeper and her rape scene afterwards out, but to take out the full death scene actually hurts the impact of the film. Not to mention the edited version seems to simply imply that if Paul tracked those thugs down, he'd get his daughter back, but I don't recall them ever mentioning her again aside from the final scene, where he says, "He killed my daughter."
But how in the hell did he know that, and why did he just automatically assume that they killed her?
27. Death Wish 3 (1985)
R | 90 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey arrives back in New York City and is forcibly recruited by a crooked police chief to fight street crime caused by a large gang terrorizing the neighborhoods.
Director: Michael Winner | Stars: Charles Bronson, Deborah Raffin, Ed Lauter, Martin Balsam
Votes: 17,367 | Gross: $16.12M
Edited Version: 7.8/10
Original Cut: 8.1/10
A silly and enjoyable film either way that didn't suffer nearly as many harmful cuts as its predecessors, but I still prefer the OC.
28. Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)
R | 99 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Architect/vigilante Paul Kersey takes on the members of a vicious Los Angeles drug cartel to stop the flow of drugs after his girlfriend's daughter dies from an overdose.
Director: J. Lee Thompson | Stars: Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan, Perry Lopez
Votes: 11,101 | Gross: $6.88M
Edited Version: 7.5/10
Original Cut: 8/10
Cutting up the opening scene the way they did was just terrible and an unnecessary edit.
29. Battle Royale (2000)
Not Rated | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill one another under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
Director: Kinji Fukasaku | Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Votes: 194,374
Theatrical Cut: 7.8/10
Director's Cut: 8.4/10
The additional flashbacks and upgraded effects on this film applies a new layer of humanity to the rest of it, strengthening its message as a whole.
30. Natural Born Killers (1994)
R | 119 min | Action, Crime, Romance
Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Rodney Dangerfield
Votes: 251,688 | Gross: $50.28M
Theatrical Edit: 7.5/10
Unrated Director's Cut: 8.3/10
While no amount of censorship can hide this film's satirical message/criticism of the media, I can't help but lean more towards the edgier UDC.
31. Commando (1985)
R | 90 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
A retired Special Forces colonel tries to save his daughter, who was abducted by his former subordinate.
Director: Mark L. Lester | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells
Votes: 174,816 | Gross: $35.10M
Theatrical Cut: 8/10
Director's Cut: 8.2/10
The toolshed scene works SO much better in the DC! It flows much more smoothly, while in the TC Matrix seemed to be all over the place with a new tool in every shot.
32. RoboCop (1987)
R | 102 min | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
In a dystopic and crime-ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox
Votes: 282,964 | Gross: $53.42M
Theatrical Cut: 9/10
Extended Cut: 9.3/10
The additional gore and violence helped further prove its point. Plus the edited scene of the malfunction ED-209 near the beginning was outright butchered, with all the tongue-in-cheek humour sucked out of it by the MPAA. Glad it was all restored.
33. My Bloody Valentine (1981)
R | 90 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A decades-old folk tale surrounding a deranged murderer killing those who celebrate Valentine's Day turns out to be true to legend when a group defies the killer's order and people start turning up dead.
Director: George Mihalka | Stars: Paul Kelman, Lori Hallier, Neil Affleck, Keith Knight
Votes: 25,088 | Gross: $5.67M
Edited Version: 6.1/10
Extended Cut: 8.4/10
A slasher movie with all of its death scenes slashed (no pun intended) and thrown onto the cutting room floor? Unforgivable. It also totally ruins the pacing and even makes some scenes downright confusing. Thank God for the EC.
34. American Psycho (2000)
R | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A wealthy New York City investment banking executive, Patrick Bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.
Director: Mary Harron | Stars: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage
Votes: 714,861 | Gross: $15.07M
Theatrical Edition: 8/10
Extended Cut: 8.3/10
Either version's enjoyable but Patrick is more of a slimeball with his original dialogue and additional threesome with those hookers. It just makes you more disgusted with him, and that's partly of the point of the movie.
35. Daredevil (2003)
PG-13 | 103 min | Action, Crime
A man blinded by toxic waste which also enhanced his remaining senses fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero.
Director: Mark Steven Johnson | Stars: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan
Votes: 229,024 | Gross: $102.54M
Theatrical Cut: 5.4/10
Director's Cut: 7.1/10
Another prime example of a film that was greatly improved by its DC. Although still not a great film, the DC made it at least watchable.
36. Elektra (2005)
PG-13 | 97 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Will Yun Lee, Kirsten Zien
Votes: 97,914 | Gross: $24.41M
Theatrical Cut: 3.3/10
Director's Cut: 3.4/10
Really, no amount of re-editing could save this movie...
37. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
PG-13 | 178 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean
Votes: 2,006,159 | Gross: $315.54M
Theatrical Edition: 8.4/10
Special Extended Edition: 8.7/10
An excellent extended version that only improves upon an excellent movie.
38. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
PG-13 | 179 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,782,994 | Gross: $342.55M
Theatrical Edition: 9.5/10
Special Extended Edition: 9.7/10
Probably one of the best extended cuts ever, up there with Watchmen's first DC. Being my favourite of the trilogy, I suppose it's appropriate that it has the highest rating in the franchise.
39. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
PG-13 | 201 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,978,256 | Gross: $377.85M
Theatrical Edition: 8.2/10
Special Extended Edition: 8.4/10
While still an improvement over the regular edition, it seems to drag in its last hour. This is a movie that was already three and a half hours long, and now it's extended by an extra hour. Granted, most of the additional material went to the battle sequences and whatnot, but it still made the whole thing feel like it'd be dragging along by the two-hour-forty-minute mark.
40. Superman II (1980)
PG | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.
Director: Richard Lester | Stars: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty
Votes: 114,592 | Gross: $108.19M
Theatrical Version: 6/10
Richard Donner Cut: 8.3/10
This movie is when the series started to take a turn for the worst. Or maybe I should say: "When Richard Donner was fired, it granted Richard Lester the opportunity to steer the franchise into self-parody."
Thankfully, Richard Donner's vision was released... twenty-six years later. Better late than never, really. And it was worth the wait because the Richard Donner Cut was a HUGE improvement over the original, and it took itself more seriously while still adding a little humour.
41. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
PG | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.
Director: George Lucas | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Votes: 1,449,051 | Gross: $322.74M
Theatrical Cut: 8.4/10
Special Edition: 7.4/10
George Lucas skewered the original trilogy with his idiotic CGI.
42. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
PG | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Director: Irvin Kershner | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,379,151 | Gross: $290.48M
Theatrical Cut: 8.6/10
Special Edition: 7.6/10
Again with the CGI-butchering.
43. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
PG | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
Director: Richard Marquand | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,120,996 | Gross: $309.13M
Theatrical Cut: 9.1/10
Special Edition: 6.4/10
Okay, I can handle some re-edits and CGI touch-ups for some films. I get that an artist is never fully satisfied with his work. But when you replace an actor's image with the horrible CGI-ed image of an inferior actor in a way that doesn't even make SENSE (Hayden Christensen's replacing of Sebastian Shaw) is just downright unforgivable. Just seeing the grin on Hayden's face at the end during the big celebration just downright pisses me off.
Well done, Mr. Lucas.
44. xXx (2002)
PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
The US government recruits extreme sports athlete Xander Cage to infiltrate a Russian criminal ring, which is plotting the destruction of the world.
Director: Rob Cohen | Stars: Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Samuel L. Jackson
Votes: 186,466 | Gross: $142.11M
Theatrical Version: 6/10
Uncensored Unrated Director's Cut: 5/10
The DC was a disappointment. Mind, I hadn't seen the original version until after I saw the DVD for the director's cut (which had a Canadian 18A rating--when I see an 18A and an MPAA R rating on the back of an action movie DVD case, I expect the following: strong, intense, bloody violence.). I watched both back-to-back, despite my disappointment with the DC. Why was I disappointed? I felt misled. The theatrical cut has: 14A/PG-13 on its cover. The DC: 18A/R. With such a drastic change, one would think it would be a lot more intense.
What did the DC have differently? Four seconds of nudity, and a slightly extended no-nudity striptease. THAT changed the ratings for it?! And they kept the violence bloodless?! That was THE FIRST TIME I'd ever seen bloodless violence in a (supposedly) 18A-rated action movie, and I hope it's the last time.
I understand the movie's rating suffers due to my expectations, but come on... they didn't even make an effort for CGI blood (which, for the record, I'm not a fan of, but it doesn't bother me too much).
45. Rango (2011)
PG | 107 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.
Director: Gore Verbinski | Stars: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Timothy Olyphant, Abigail Breslin
Votes: 292,912 | Gross: $123.48M
Theatrical: 8.5
Extended: 8.5
I like both versions equally, and I don't have any complaints for either version of the movie.
46. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
PG-13 | 128 min | Action, Thriller
John McClane and a young hacker join forces to take down master cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel in Washington D.C.
Director: Len Wiseman | Stars: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q
Votes: 420,582 | Gross: $134.53M
Theatrical: 8.0
Unrated: 8.4
The unrated version feels more like a Die Hard movie than the theatrical version.
47. Amadeus (1984)
R | 160 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.
Director: Milos Forman | Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice
Votes: 427,812 | Gross: $51.97M
Theatrical: 9.0
Director's Cut: 9.1
I'm a completist, okay? It feels more complete as a whole than just as a... partial whole. Or whatever.
48. Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1973)
R | 104 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A young woman, rendered mute after a childhood sexual assault, is trained to seek violent revenge on those who kidnapped and forced her into prostitution.
Director: Bo Arne Vibenius | Stars: Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf, Despina Tomazani, Per-Axel Arosenius
Votes: 8,516
Vengeance Edition: 6.1
Limited Edition: 6.1
Honestly I don't think I would have liked this movie any more if the hardcore sex material was kept in or left out.
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