Theatrical cut vs special edition

theatrical is always best. action film should be as short as possible.

same with aliens. special edition too long.

action film well over 2 hour will drags.

i prefer to watch film as theatrical and watch deleted scenes as special feature on dvd and not put back in film.

I do enjoy the new material in the Special Edition, especially the "brain surgery" scene. But at the same time I can see why some of it was let go. Also, the Special Edition did let me down in one regard, as it failed to include one specific scene: the extended Pescadero escape. In the movie's original 1991 trailer, we get a brief glimpse of Sarah asking the Terminator: "Can it be destroyed?". To which the T-800 responds: "Unknown". The absence of this scene has always bugged me. The full exchange of words can be found from the original movie script, which describes how Sarah and the Terminator talk about how the T-1000 is resistant to ballistic penetration. At least some of this survived to the Marvel comic book edition of the movie. It didn't seem that long to be an issue to include it in the Special Edition. Or, at least include it in the DVD bonus materials, like the scene where the T-1000 searches John's room.

But overall, for me it's the Special Edition. More Terminator can only be a good thing.

Theatrical.

Although I do find there's value in the head chip extraction scene and the John Sarah debate that follows.

But everything else can go, ESPECIALLY the alternate ending.

I've seen a lot of people preferring the extended version but usually when it's been on TV here in the UK it's always been the theatrical version which I feel flows a lot better.

For me, the theatrical version is a better film for its flow and pacing. I feel the same way about Abyss, Aliens and Titanic.

ESPECIALLY the brain surgery scene. It's such a cool scene, but the film's version, just a VoiceOver, then the one-shot of the T-800 standing at the window, just plays so much better.

But

When I go back to watch them on DVD and now MP4, it's the extended versions of each that I watch.

I prefer the extended version. In fact I have not watched the theatrical version since the VHS era ended.

Special. I get everything, then edit out what I don't want

Special edition. More content the better..