Posted by Claudia on December 08, 1999 at 14:07:42:
I recently watched "Star Wars" on television and George Lucas had changed scenes since the original came out...
I notice too, in the supermarket, that books and TV Guide come with your choice of cover these days...pick your favorite...
Now there's several versions of LOTM...maybe when the unions flex their muscles, there will be an "Actor's Cut" with all those great lines (including Soldier #2's lost scenes)that were edited out... and a "Camera-man's Cut" where the dialog is flubbed but boy, does the scenery look great! And a "Costume Designer's Cut" showing close-ups of the Clothes In Action put through their paces...Maybe a "Director's Assistant" Cut showing only the scenes that HE directed...Or a "Best Boy and Gaffer's Cut"...to clear it up for us what it is that they DO!
To wax philosophical for a moment, it has interesting implications for discussions, if books and movies are released in many different forms, you'll never be too sure which version the other person is referring to. It will lead to confusion.
To some extent releasing different versions seems to be a marketing ploy more than the purist dreams of the director come true. They count on the die-hard fan to pay for many versions of the same product instead of only one. Stands to reason, if the DVD is exactly the same version as your video you won't buy it, so their strategy is to include "extra" or different footage.
I wonder if there is any meaning to a "classic" movie if the director keeps changing it, for whatever reason?
And, my feeling is that most people who saw the version with all the dialog will always prefer it...if the DVD is the FIRST time you see the movie, with no preconceptions, maybe you'll like it better.