. . .the full uncut version, of course. . .
. . .and I didn't see a problem.
What, did critics and insiders just decide to "get" Michael Cimino??
It sure appears so, from what I just watched.
Anyone know if the full uncut version is available on DVD?
The version you saw last night is available on DVD, but the only special features are the original trailer and French and Spanish subtitles.
shareI tried to watch it too last night but had to give up an hour before the end as I had to get up early. Yes, visually it's stunning to look at. The attention to detail is breathtaking. But the direction and the script..... there was no drama, no tension. Sorry, but that makes it a cinematic dud. There was so much missing story-wise. There were scenes that were so painful to watch because the characters were just on screen with seemingly no motivation. Whole scenes about absolutely nothing. Sure he captured some very lush visual images, but I don't go to see a movie purely for the photography. If stagnancy is what I want, I can go see a photo exhibit.
It appears that a lot more men like this film. I wonder why?
As a woman, I have to say that the gang rape scene was so offensive it made me sick. It was filmed as a sex scene, not as a scene of sexual violence. Could that be why men like it? Is Heaven's Gate a metaphor for female genitalia?
This might have been a masterpiece had Cimino let a screenwriter do the script. This doesn't hold a candle to Jeremiah Johnson, which I consider a GREAT film and Redford's best screen performance. It's not even as good as Once Upon in America, which btw is not a favorite film of mine but totally watchable. There's a questionable rape scene in that film too, but HG is way worse.
I really liked the Deer Hunter when I saw it. It had visual and dramatic depth. Characterization.... Jeff Bridges spent so much time just walking around in the hall scenes doing absolutely nothing. That's not the stuff of masterpiece. Barry Lyndon is a way better film. Kristofferson mumbled most of his lines. Couldn't understand a damn thing he said.
I'm Huppert fan but she was another one who was also lost on screen. Walken and Waterson were the only characters who came off on screen dramatically. I guess they worked hard on their backstory. John Hurt whom I adore was utterly wasted.
In a word, HG was a mess!
Kristofferson mumbled most of his lines. Couldn't understand a damn thing he said.
Hi there-Im a woman :)
I disagree. The gang rape scene was tame. The scene from THE ACCUSSED far more brutal and disturbing and plenty other movies as well...this one her top stays inntact when for several scenes Ella is completely nude...did I see a different version??? But i respect your opinion. I also thought they showed the women in this movie as fighters and survivors. I was raised to not even look at this film, sensored by the 70's media and I have seen it twice and have enjoyed it.
"Ya makin' fun of me Riz?"- Sandy
I think that's exactly what she said. The gang rape is shot as a regular sex scene and not as the brutal experience that it's supposed to be, therefore its dramatic power as a scene is diluted.
I saw it for the first time the other night as well. I paid close attention to the entire film and I couldn't figure out what it was about. This was the most confusing film I've ever seen. The pacing is so slow, lots of long, irritating silences between characters. Lots of shooting and explosions...who were the good guys, and who were the bad guys? The audio track is absolutely horrible, I had my tv cranked up and I still couldn't understand what they were saying. And that dopey music throughout. I had a hunch that Cimino was trying for an Altman-esque style of storytelling, but the result is a flat depthless mishmash of western cliches that doesn't go anywhere and fails miserably at telling a story. I seldom say this, but the critics were absolutely right, this film is a great big stinker.
shareOver time, I've grown an appeciation for HG. But, upon initial viewings, was left confused and as some have stated, disoriented from the over-arching expanse of the scenes when there isn't something to ground our involvement, like a well-written and filmed actor. As bregund and others have described, you just can't understand what's being said. If it were not for IMDB and other online resources, I probably wouldn't have an attachment to the film.
Regarding being unable to understand dialogue and something I noticed from watching the other night. Cimino wouldn't film discussions between 2 characters in the typical, post silent-film era style using up-close, back and forth, face shots. Instead, he absolutely lets the camera keep a distance from across the room while 2 actors have a discussion on a couch. Something like this would almost be considered a rookie mistate. I'm no film maker, but there more than several blunders similar.
I recall reading that during the filming of Deer Hunter, the senior actors guided Cimino's camera work, when they realized he didn't use established and conventional techniques. As hindsight is 20/20 regarding the issues with HG, it's clear that Cimino could have used some experienced guidance in filming the human dialogues and relationships.
I feel compelled to comment on opinions of the rape scene, which is disturbing enough to rule out being a hint or subliminal message from the director. To suggest that Heaven's Gate could be a metaphor for a woman's privates is wrong, and paranoid. IMHO the film doesn't deserve that demeaning of a suggestion.
I enjoyed this film when it was released in it's butchered form
Bought a long version when it was on VCR
Own it on DVD (long version) and hope someday someone will get Cimino to do a Directors cut & Commentary with an interview on his views on the studios handling of this overlooked film.
Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid.