Director's Cut
A Director's Cut is a specially edited version of a movie that is supposed to represent the director's own approved edit of the movie. It often comes some time after the original release of the film, where the original release differs from the director's approved edit. 'Cut' being synonymous with 'edit' in this context.
With most studio films the director does not have final cut, and the studio can insist on changes to make the film more likely to succeed at the box office. This sometimes means happier endings or less ambiguity. Most common, however, is that studios ask that the film be shortened. Thus a Director's Cut is often considerably longer. Sometimes for the better ('Bladerunner'), sometimes not, ('Donnie Darko'), but then it's all a matter of opinion. Scroll below to discover Alice's treasure trove of Director's Cuts and decide for yourself.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (Blu-ray) (1977)
8.6/10
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Voice O...
The story of a boy, a girl and a universe. Now a classic, this blend of pulp magazine sci-fi, comic book action, old fashioned cliff-hanger story and... Read more
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
8.8/10
Director: Irvin Kershner
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Alec Guinness, Vo...
The sequel to the original 'Star Wars' (Episode IV) finds our heroes under attack by the Evil Empire. Luke is taking advanced Jedi training from Yoda... Read more
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (Blu-ray) (1980)
8.7/10
Director: Irvin Kershner
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Alec Guinness, Vo...
The sequel to the original 'Star Wars' (Episode IV) finds our heroes under attack by the Evil Empire. Luke is taking advanced Jedi training from Yoda... Read more
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
8.3/10
Director: Richard Marquand
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Sebastian Shaw, I...
The last chapter in the popular series delivers more thrills and adventure as the forces of good and not so good battle on the forest moon of Endor, i... Read more
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (Blu-ray) (1983)
8.3/10
Director: Richard Marquand
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Sebastian Shaw, I...
The last chapter in the popular series delivers more thrills and adventure as the forces of good and not so good battle on the forest moon of Endor, i... Read more
Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
6.4/10
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: The Rolling Stones
French director Jean-Luc Godard's documentation of late '60s western counter-culture intercuts footage of the Rolling Stones hard at work on their 'Be... Read more
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
7.1/10
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Robert Patrick, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger the cyborg is "baaack" in a big way, this time defending Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her young son from a killing machine from th... Read more
Terminator Salvation ( Blu-ray ) (2009)
6.6/10
Director: McG
Starring: Christian Bale, Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dall...
It is the year 2018, John Connor (Christian Bale) is attempting to organise the human resistance against the machines, when a mysterious stranger arri... Read more
The Act of Killing (2012)
8.2/10
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
This chilling and inventive documentary tells the stories of members of the Indonesian death squads who tortured and killed over 500,000 people throug... Read more
The Big Blue (1988)
7.6/10
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno
Luc Besson ('Nikita', 'Subway') delves into the watery mysteries of the deep in this salute to the legendary free diver Jacques Mayol who has plunged... Read more