Be warned the coming HD DVD and BD of The Warriors is the basterdised "directors cut," which features lame faux comic-book inserts between scenes, and some pointless and confusing re-editing. This revamp came out to cash in on the video-game version of the film, and IMO it sucks.

It's an instance where the director should have left well-enough alone. It's not quite as bad as the "Night Of The Living Dead 30th Anniversary Edition" travesty, but it's of the same ill-advised school of thought.

Too bad, cult-movie fans love this type of release, but hate this kind of tampering.

I've only ever seen the original version of the Warriors on DVD, but it's such a bad transfer that I actually kind of yurned(sp?) to see the new version just for the cleaned up picture. A buddy of mine says that that Warriors game on Xbox offers more story and is infinitely a better version of the movie than anything else could possibly offer. Apparently it goes into how they were formed and a lot of other things. Sounds interesting.

What kills me, and it's the same thing that's been killing me since I got an HD DVD: Why in the Hell can't these studios be bothered to put both versions of the film on one HD DVD disc? 30 *gigs* and they can't seem to do it. Payback? Just the new one, they couldn't even be bothered to put the other on the other side of the disc. Now this. It's hard to be an HD DVD supporter sometimes.

I've only ever seen the original version of the Warriors on DVD, but it's such a bad transfer that I actually kind of yurned(sp?) to see the new version just for the cleaned up picture. A buddy of mine says that that Warriors game on Xbox offers more story and is infinitely a better version of the movie than anything else could possibly offer. Apparently it goes into how they were formed and a lot of other things. Sounds interesting.

What kills me, and it's the same thing that's been killing me since I got an HD DVD: Why in the Hell can't these studios be bothered to put both versions of the film on one HD DVD disc? 30 *gigs* and they can't seem to do it. Payback? Just the new one, they couldn't even be bothered to put the other on the other side of the disc. Now this. It's hard to be an HD DVD supporter sometimes.


Well, this film gained cult status for the version you saw, not this revamp. My guess of why you don't see both cuts has more to do with Paramount cheaping out on a remaster of the original than disk space. I've said this a bazillion times, just because studios "can" doesn't mean they "will," especially if they gotta spend extra dough.

I had the SD of both the new and original edit, and the new edit is not a quantum leap in PQ above the old. You have to keep in mind that this is a low-budget, 70's drive-in film, shot fast and cheap. There is gonna be grain and a few rough edges, it's the nature of the beast.

While I like the original version better too, this was re-done by the director and if he says it's the way he always wanted it, I believe him. It doesn't ruin the movie at all, just takes some getting used to.

I've never seen this movie, BUT I did have a comment.

They wouldn't even really have to have both complete versions of the film on the disc. It could easily be done via seamless branching (similar to T2 Ultimate Ed., the latest reissue of the LOTR discs, Stargate Ultimate Ed., etc.)

It would be a nice touch :)

While I like the original version better too, this was re-done by the director and if he says it's the way he always wanted it, I believe him. It doesn't ruin the movie at all, just takes some getting used to.


Well I guess we disagree then, I find the comic panels very out of place, and obtrusive.

I feel like a director can screw up his own work, sincere or not. My opinion is he did it to tie it in with the video game, it's just too fantastic of a coincidence that they appeared at the same time.

At the very least both should be included. I had the first Paramount SD, sold it thinking this would be better, then ended up dumping this and buying a PAL DVD of the original cut, because the price for the OOP domestic had shot up to $75+ used on Ebay and Amazon! The only thing he did was make a collector's item out of his original cut.

What's with these directors ruining their own films nowadays? Last of the Mohicans, Payback, The Natural, each Star Wars re-release, etc.

What's with these directors ruining their own films nowadays? Last of the Mohicans, Payback, The Natural, each Star Wars re-release, etc.

I also wasn't crazy for Apocalypse Now; redux, the new footage was interesting but only helped the movie on rare occasion, and mostly just took it off on tangents.

The PAL UK DVD has a superb transfer considering the age and origins of the movie, and I'm glad I kept hold of mine. Because of that I will be buying the HD-DVD edition, as the comic-book panels and re-editing will be a small price to pay to get this classic in HD.

While I like the original version better too, this was re-done by the director and if he says it's the way he always wanted it, I believe him. It doesn't ruin the movie at all, just takes some getting used to.
I'll never quite get used to NOT seeing the tense version of the Baseball Furies big reveal... you know, the part where the Warriors hear them first, then see them (before we do, as they are offscreen) and then the slow reveal of each Fury member.

The new version just kinda says "oh yeah, and meanwhile the other Warriors have run into trouble, UH OH!" and removes the majority of this scene. If that were the only scene untampered with, I seriously wouldn't have minded the comic panels AT ALL. Its just that one scene that ruined it for me.

Thanks for the heads up, looks like this one just went from "Amazon Pre-order" status to "Rent First".

Still looking forward to several scenes in this classic "Warriors...come out to playeee."

The problem with director they sometimes fall in love with the raw material, that they forgot that the first version is better movie for the story.

Movies that I think worked better in a long version
The Abyss
RoboCop(we talking the uncut version here)

Movies that worked but isnt better
Aliens
LOTR TTT
LOTR ROK
Gladiator
KOH
Blade runner
Alien3

Movies that were worse in its longer cut
T2
LOTR FOTR
Alien

I couldn't even make it as far as the Baseball Furies section when I rented the new edition. I shut it off in disgust. Won't be buying the HD edition, that's for sure.

What's with these directors ruining their own films nowadays? Last of the Mohicans, Payback, The Natural, each Star Wars re-release, etc.
Gah, I have to ask, what was added/changed about Last of the Mohicans?

Be warned the coming HD DVD and BD of The Warriors is the basterdised "directors cut," which features lame faux comic-book inserts between scenes, and some pointless and confusing re-editing. This revamp came out to cash in on the video-game version of the film, and IMO it sucks.

Indeed, Walter Hill is to "blame" as much as Paramount, so you may want to update your topic title.

On the other hand, the picture quality on the "director's cut" is a million times better than the old, standard DVD of the theatrical cut. I actually didn't mind the comic book additions all that much, they didn't really alter the film a whole lot, and the trade off in the picture quality compensated for it IMO.

Gah, I have to ask, what was added/changed about Last of the Mohicans?

LAST OF THE MOHICANS had some dialogue added in places, music changed in one sequence (rather jarringly), and not all of it was good -- the preachy, added dialog at the very end of the film ruined the moment for a lot of people.

Thanks for the heads up, looks like this one just went from "Amazon Pre-order" status to "Rent First".

Still looking forward to several scenes in this classic "Warriors...come out to playeee."

I'm saying the same. Loved the original, never saw the directors cut. Same thing that happened with Payback on HD.

Movies that I think worked better in a long version
The Abyss
RoboCop(we talking the uncut version here)

Movies that worked but isnt better
Aliens
LOTR TTT
LOTR ROK
Gladiator
KOH
Blade runner
Alien3

Movies that were worse in its longer cut
T2
LOTR FOTR
Alien

Totally agreed! ALIENS has interesting footage but if I had to watch the movie fresh, I would prefer the theatrical cut. There's something mysterious about arriving on the planet without having seen that lengthy, and pretty much unnecessary, intro with Newt and her family. You can figure it out yourself that the aliens wiped out the colony and how it happened, the intro doesn't add much.

THE ABYSS gets a little preachy with its no-nukes/anti-war statement being thrown in your face, but it does improve the film a good deal at the same time.

T2, on the other hand, just feels longer than it is with those additions.

I hate the way US studios handle their releases of "cult"/rare films. Not that they're that rare or anything but, for example, the only versions of the two Transporter films on BD are the clearly inferior, less-action-packed, less-streamlined versions of the films - when the much better, "international uncut" versions have existed and been well-received for quite some time now.

What makes it worse is that for some such titles the US studios will never "get" the need to re-release the better version, and we'll all end up having to wait til a non-US studio finally does it overseas. And for that to happen with HD it could take forever. First HD media needs to gain mass popularity, then this needs to happen, then that. We may likely never see the best, longer, uncut, and original versions of titles like Transporter, many HK films, and certain cult films on HD media at all.

I'm saying the same. Loved the original, never saw the directors cut. Same thing that happened with Payback on HD.

But to be fair, it's not anything like PAYBACK. There aren't any scenes removed or any sequences altered OR toned-down!

The only additions are a very brief intro and some comic book freeze frames which Hill intended to convey that the movie was a fantasy. (Remember also how controversial the film was back in the day, I almost think all parties involved opted to add those scenes so the movie doesn't come off as advocating violence or the lifestyle in "reality").

Otherwise, scenes, score, etc., the film is still "uncut" and completely the same. I don't think the changes amount to anything more than an added minute or two of screen time.

PAYBACK is a totally different version of the film. This has some tweaks that certain fans may not like, but they do not change the tenor of the film in a major way whatsoever.

If you're a fan of THE WARRIORS I can't see holding off from seeing the movie in HD, even with the alterations, unless you're a real purist. In which case you may never see the film in HD. I'd take a Director-approved edit (even if I didn't like the minor alterations) over not having it at all in HD.

As far as the re-edits/Director's Cuts go, I agree with everyone that in a perfect world we'd always have the option of seeing a disc with multiple versions being released so fans can have a choice. I don't care what Ridley Scott does to BLADE RUNNER, at least he's giving us the original theatrical cut (that was everyone's problem with George Lucas -- as long as the originals were available of "Star Wars" in a quality presentation, few people would complain). But we all know from how standard DVD goes that ain't gonna happen, for marketing purposes sometimes alone.

Sometimes, though, you have to be realistic and make the call if you're going to live with the compromise. I know I'd rather watch the theatrical cut of THE WARRIORS than the DC, but to me the changes aren't any great shakes (unlike, say, PAYBACK, which is a whole different movie) and I'd still prefer seeing it in HD (it should look amazing) than waiting 10 years, if not longer, for the original to re-appear. Probably isn't going to happen whether you "boycott" this release or not.

Movies that I think worked better in a long version
The Abyss
RoboCop(we talking the uncut version here)
The Grudge
Spartacus

Movies that worked but isnt better
Close Encounters (seen 3 versions, all about the same. There was a 4th LD version I haven't seen)
The Frighteners
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (director's cut, never saw extended cut)
Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn
Superman: The Movie
Aliens
Alien: Resurrection (would have been better if not for the horrible opening credits)
T2
LOTR FOTR
LOTR TTT
LOTR ROK
Gladiator
KOH
Blade runner
Daredevil

Movies that were worse in its longer cut
Payback
LOTR FOTR
Superman II: The Donner Cut
Alien
Alien 3

Ther are a bajillion director's cuts right now. Usually they don't make much difference and sometimes they make it worse.

Good list there too Fettastic. I would only disagree on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS -- I strongly dislike the "Special Edition" where Dreyfuss is shown going inside the ship. It is unnecessary and detracts from the pacing of the ending otherwise. Spielberg hated it too (as we know it was added, re-shot material intended solely to sell the "SE" to the public in 1980), which is why he took it out from the subsequent re-edit, which IMO is probably the best-rounded of every version out there.

Good list there too Fettastic. I would only disagree on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS -- I strongly dislike the "Special Edition" where Dreyfuss is shown going inside the ship. It is unnecessary and detracts from the pacing of the ending otherwise. Spielberg hated it too (as we know it was added, re-shot material intended solely to sell the "SE" to the public in 1980), which is why he took it out from the subsequent re-edit, which IMO is probably the best-rounded of every version out there.
I guess I agree because it was so anti-climactic, but I didn't think it harmed the film as much. In my opinion if you're going to go inside the ship it has to be much more substantial then just a quick glimpse.

I miss the pillow corner for some reason which was in the 1980 version but not the most recent one. It's not even in the deleted scenes.

Movies that worked but isnt better

KOH



Lost all credibility right there. The "Directors Cut" of KOH wasn't better than the botched (thanks Fox!) theatrical release?

agree on that your list 100%, Fettastic!

Lost all credibility right there. The "Directors Cut" of KOH wasn't better than the botched (thanks Fox!) theatrical release?
That's correct. The inclusion of the boy subplot adds nothing to the film at all. It's a boring dead-end that was rightfully omitted from the theatrical edition. I resent having to sit through it on the director's cut. No other additions even change the story, making it either better or worse. The major problems with the film still exist.

I liked KoH. Couldn't watch it again, but liked it the first time around.

I don't blame Paramount, I blame Hill. This is what he says he wanted.
The inserts aren't THAT bad, but the opening narration (which reportedly they wanted Orson Welles to do back in the 70's...!) now done by Hill in the new intro IS awful. But it's easy to skip that and start right at the wonder wheel.
It wasn't just the comic book inserts, there were several new slow and subtle digital zoom in's and zoom out's on some previous static shots, (like when we see the orphans for the first time, when the warriors are running from the 96th st. train station (in reality the 72nd st. station on the UWS of manhattan, I grew up 6 blocks from there!) The PQ and the remixed audio on the new DVD were MUCH improved over the original though so all in all a mixed bag.
My NYC apt is actually on the block the Warriors run down when they are being chased by the Furies into Riverside Park (on 100th st.) and they stop RIGHT in front of my window (when Ajax says, "Did we lose these f*cking clowns...?"

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1356/100thstgx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My window on far left (bars sticking out)

I would LOVE to get the original on HD but Paramount's not going to bother. I can't blame THAT on Hill....

:)


(edit: MAN, I miss NYC...!)

That's correct. The inclusion of the boy subplot adds nothing to the film at all. It's a boring dead-end that was rightfully omitted from the theatrical edition. I resent having to sit through it on the director's cut. No other additions even change the story, making it either better or worse. The major problems with the film still exist.

100% disagree

Good list there too Fettastic. I would only disagree on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS -- I strongly dislike the "Special Edition" where Dreyfuss is shown going inside the ship. It is unnecessary and detracts from the pacing of the ending otherwise. Spielberg hated it too (as we know it was added, re-shot material intended solely to sell the "SE" to the public in 1980), which is why he took it out from the subsequent re-edit, which IMO is probably the best-rounded of every version out there.

I consider the original of CETK to be the best. Speilberg cut out footage that went towards furthering the story, in favor of space ship shots. A complete waste from my perspective. The original version (theatrical) only came out on LD (Spielberg disowns it), but that's the only one I bother with.

They do need to restore CE though because the DVD version is one of the worst transfers I've seen. I gave it a scathing review at www.dvdivas.net:

http://www.dvdivas.net/movies/reviews/c/closeencountersofthethirdkind-special.html

LAST OF THE MOHICANS had some dialogue added in places, music changed in one sequence (rather jarringly), and not all of it was good -- the preachy, added dialog at the very end of the film ruined the moment for a lot of people.

Does anyone remember the scene in the theatrical release where the one Indian kills a baby(breaks it over a rock)? I've noticed that in every release or re-release of the film, they've NEVER had the balls to put that scene back in. ;)

I consider the original of CETK to be the best. Speilberg cut out footage that went towards furthering the story, in favor of space ship shots. A complete waste from my perspective. The original version (theatrical) only came out on LD (Spielberg disowns it), but that's the only one I bother with.

I respect that Trevor. Spielberg's most recent version is the one I prefer myself, since it incorporates the best of both cuts (minus the unneeded mothership FX), though the Carl Weathers scene does remain on the sideline.

The only additions are a very brief intro and some comic book freeze frames which Hill intended to convey that the movie was a fantasy. (Remember also how controversial the film was back in the day, I almost think all parties involved opted to add those scenes so the movie doesn't come off as advocating violence or the lifestyle in "reality"). Yup they filed the edge right off it. I like controversial to stay controversial, why Mickey-Mouse it up?
Otherwise, scenes, score, etc., the film is still "uncut" and completely the same. I don't think the changes amount to anything more than an added minute or two of screen time.Not from some of the observations coming in.
If you're a fan of THE WARRIORS I can't see holding off from seeing the movie in HD, even with the alterations, unless you're a real purist. In which case you may never see the film in HD. I'd take a Director-approved edit (even if I didn't like the minor alterations) over not having it at all in HD.If your a fan of The Warriors, I can see waisting your time on this. HD is great and all, but I'll stick with my PAL SD DVD, I had both versions and though the SD director's cut looked better, I couldn't dump it fast enough.