Kingdom of Heaven and 4 Other Cult Classics You Should Only Watch in Their Director's Cut
The scenes originally cut from these films contain very important information.
When we go to the movies, we don't always see the film the director intended to show us. Producers and distributors sometimes force filmmakers to cut scenes, which can result in the loss of important scenes and even characters.
That's why sometimes director's cuts appear.
1. Aliens, 1986
Aliens was one of the first major films to receive an extended director's cut after its theatrical release. This version shows the family of the young heroine, Newt, before the alien attack and includes more action. It also includes a scene in which Ripley learns of her daughter's death.
Sigourney Weaver was outraged when this scene was cut from the theatrical cut. She rightly believed that this was a pivotal moment for her character and for subsequent events in the film.
While not all critics agree that the early introduction of Newt improves the movie, the rest of the additional scenes certainly do.
2. Blade Runner, 1982
The history of the various versions of Blade Runner is as fascinating as the film's plot. Over the years, eight versions of the movie have been released, five of which are the most famous, including the theatrical version.
At the studio's insistence, this version was given voice-over explanations from the main character, as well as a happy ending.
Following the theatrical release, several attempts were made to restore the director's original vision. The most successful attempt is considered to be the Final Cut, which was released in 2007. It is the only alternative version of Blade Runner created under Ridley Scott's direction.
3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1991
The theatrical release of Terminator 2 is great. However, it got even better when James Cameron released the special edition of the film in 1993, which was 16 minutes longer.
These minutes included several scenes and details that made the plot more coherent and convincing. For example, the scene in which John and Sarah switch the Terminator's processor to learning mode was reinstated.
This explains why the killer robot becomes more humanized later on, though nothing like that happened with the previous Terminator.
4. Once Upon a Time in America, 1984
When Sergio Leone first began planning his crime epic, he intended to create two films, each three hours long. The project was gradually cut down to 269 minutes, but this version was never seen by audiences in the 1980s.
In Europe, the 229-minute version was shown, while the US received the 139-minute version. Viewers in different countries saw completely different films, and the 139-minute version was considered a failure.
Conversely, the European version is considered one of the greatest gangster films of all time. It is worth watching either this version or the even more complete 251-minute version released in 2012.
5. Kingdom of Heaven, 2005
When the 144-minute medieval epic about the Crusades and the Saracens was released, it was met with criticism. Many viewers and critics noted that the film looked like a puzzle from which large pieces had been pulled out. A hurricane of criticism fell upon the movie as a result.
In the same year, 2005, director Ridley Scott released a director's cut that was 45 minutes longer. This version was much improved, and critics wrote that it should have been the version shown in theaters.