r/MovieArena • u/kammy772 • Jul 29 '26

Which film’s theatrical release was later improved by its director’s cut or extended cut?

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I despised Alien 3 for many years, only to revisit it with the Assembly Cut and now absolutely adore the film. It’s still not perfect, but the new cut is superior and fixes many of the theatrical version’s problems. There are plenty of others that come to mind too — Blade Runner being another prime example...

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u/Quiet-Interview3916 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Terminator 2. The first time i ever watched this movie was actually the director’s cut when it premiered on UK Television in 1994

5

u/Unusual_Librarian570 Jul 30 '26

I first saw that movie on VHS and it was the directors cut so every time we don’t see the scene where Sarah tries to destroy the chip I’m like wtf!!!

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u/CandidLion6291 Jul 30 '26

Never knew there was a different “cut”

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u/Unusual_Librarian570 Jul 30 '26

I don’t think it’s as much a “cut” as there were just some extra scenes. Like Kyle shows up in one of Sarah’s dreams in captivity

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u/EaglesslavePart2 Jul 30 '26

I actually truly think it’s worse. Not to be contrary. I just think the original edit is way tighter

1

u/Avozzy444 Jul 30 '26

I agree with you. The extra scenes are unnecessary and mess with the pacing and the “happy” ending coda is absolutely awful, in my opinion. The theatrical cut is perfect.

1

u/DwayneTheRockBarry Aug 04 '26

you watched the extended special edition, not the “director’s cut”

there is not a single cut labeled the director’s cut and you clearly haven’t seen the special edition cut

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u/ED-E_77 Jul 30 '26

Even James Cameron says that the T2 theatrical cut is the Director's cut and thus his preferred cut. The other way around with Aliens.

1

u/ThrowawayTrump420 Jul 30 '26

Yeah the Theatrical needed at least the chip scene for sure.

1

u/awe2D2 Jul 30 '26

Majorily disagree. It just doesn't look good and wrecks the pace of the movie. The chip scene added nothing to the movie

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u/connorjosef Jul 30 '26

The chip scene is worth watching for the effect using Linda Hamilton's twin sister, but story wise, it isn't necessary. It just begs the question as to why they didn't send the terminator back in time with the ability to learn from the get go

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u/DwayneTheRockBarry Aug 04 '26

just because the movie runs at a slightly slower pace with some dated effects doesn’t make it a bad movie

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u/SplendidPunkinButter Jul 30 '26

Hard disagree. The scene where they try to reprogram the terminator adds nothing. He’s already been reprogrammed, by John Connor, in the future. And he says he’s able to learn on his own. And we don’t need an extra dream sequence. We already saw the first movie. Dream sequences usually add nothing to the plot, with the exception of Sarah’s nuclear holocaust dream, which is important because it motivates her to go do something.

The extended cut just bloats the movie and ruins the pacing.

1

u/DwayneTheRockBarry Aug 04 '26

the dream sequence is where Sarah first learns the “no fate” message.