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Which version is the best version of this movie, in your opinion?

posted 12 years ago by coindudej2
47 replies | jump to latest

There are two main versions of this film, namely the theatrical version (110 minutes) and the international version (133 minutes). I have only seen the international version (which I personally thought was excellent). I've heard mixed opinions on which version is the best, and I was wondering if there was any common preference.

So, yeah. Please tell me your opinions on the matter.

"Your mother ate my dog!" -Braindead

[–] psyenergy 12 years ago

BOTH versions are good I watched the theatrical version first but when i was like 13 and i'm 16 now so.. I watched the intenational version multiple times and i really enjoyed it.. I think the international version is better but i do remeber slight differences from when i watched the original version compared to the internation.. Hope i helped a little...

[–] coindudej2 12 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I think the biggest difference was that they took out the whole scene with Mathilda telling Leon that she wanted him to be her lover. It offended Americans. But I haven't seen the original, so I wouldn't know.

'Your mother ate my dog!"- Dead Alive

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] m-slovak79 12 years ago

to me unless a film is not too good to begin with i most likely will prefer more footage of it. so with that said i would say definitely with go with the 133 minute version.

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[–] coindudej2 12 years ago

Okay. Thanks! The 133 minute version is the version I have... I'm contemplating getting the original version, too.

'Your mother ate my dog!"- Dead Alive

[–] lajnusontheline 12 years ago

After watching the theatrical version countless times over the years i recently bought the "directors cut" version on blu ray.
I was fairly disappointed, i definitely prefer the shorter version.
I felt the longer version lacks much in tempo and brings the relationship between Leon and Mathilda a step too far and in the wrong direction.

[–] coindudej2 12 years ago

How was their relationship in the shorter version? I thought that the relationship in the longer version was interesting for several reasons... It was of course entertaining to watch Leon getting intimidated by Mathilda, but I was really surprised to see that it portrays Mathilda as the aggressor in the relationship, trying to push Leon into a more physical relationship. Few movies would do that...

'Your mother ate my dog!"- Dead Alive

[–] alekesam 12 years ago

The original (which is the 133 min version) is the best. The edited down American version lacks the fuller relationship of the uncut version.

I used to like both for different reasons but the more I watch the uncut, the less I enjoyed the cut version. I haven't watched the cut version in years. It has heart, just not as much as the uncut.

It's almost like the difference between Point of No Return and Le Femme Nikita (but not as extreme in comparison). The differences between the two make them almost two entirely different movies.

Just my one cent since I can't afford two.

[–] DFC-2 12 years ago

Besson calls the original short version his director's cut. It was the only version shown anywhere prior to the Summer of 1996. The only edit he did not choose himself was the short propositioning scene.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/board/thread/2406531?d=41099842&am p;p=3#41099842

He created the extended version, containing all the footage he had edited out of his director's cut, as a gift for fans who cared more about the two characters than the story arc.

While I love some of the scenes in the extended version (e.g. the Russian Roulette sequence), I prefer the shorter version for everything else. It better supports the story arc of her childhood and innocence being preserved because of Leon's kindness and chivalry.

This wouldn't work as well, at least for me, if she was shown participating in murders and celebrating her role in them. I think this part was a holdover from the colder and older sociopathic Mathilda in the earlier script and that Besson took it out because he saw that it didn't fit the revision.

[–] henrik-139 11 years ago

What he said! The original (shorter) version absolutely preferred...

[–] Justincblount 12 years ago

Russian roulette scene was so good, among others, can't believe I forgot about that. I almost would say the additional footage by itself had enough emotion to surpass the main movie.

[–] ClenRen 12 years ago

In my opinion the international version is the best

[–] playtoyer 12 years ago

there is the theatrical version and the extented version that had a theatrical release in france and maybe a few other countries the first version came out in 1994 and the extended version in 1996 for the fans of luc besson,like they did with the big blue and for economic reason to make more money,you can find the extended version on dvd althought the extented version is good with great new scenes added in the movie but I find the theatrical version much better then the extended version

[–] paulfitzpa 12 years ago

I recently re-watched the international version. The way Matilda pushes the relationship in that direction is definitely uncomfortable to watch and they probably didn't think US audiences could handle that uncomfortable feeling OR they thought it just got in the way.

I find it interesting how in many ways Matilda is the adult in the relationship and Leon is the naive childlike character. In fact they kind of trade that role.

That interplay is what helps make this film so well done. It has aged very well and is still very entertaining! Great villains, great acting.

IMHO this is the BEST role that Natalie Portman has landed. She is just so good in this film, it's an oscar worthy performance.

[–] lynchfilmlover 12 years ago

I have the DVD and it says 106 mins so is that another version?

Is the 133 Version available on DVD?

[–] playtoyer 12 years ago

yes the extended version is available on dvd it,s 26 minutes longer it,s luc besson favorite version the first version came out in 1994 and the extended version in 1996

[–] ame88 12 years ago

I have both versions on DVD and now the Blu-ray, which has both versions of the film on the same disc. The Theatrical has French opening/closing titles, too...

I have difficulty choosing a version, although I did watch the shorter version the other day after not seeing it for years, and remembered how much I loved it. So I DO love the longer version, but I think as I have done editing and know about moving stories on etc, I think the shorter version gets the story told in a better way. But there is nothing wrong at all with the longer version, I wouldn't have bought the longer cut if I felt I didn't like it...

It's all about personal preference.

--
"Yes! I am invincible!" - Boris Grishenko, GoldenEye, 1995

[–] thursdayeno 10 years ago

oldman deserved and oscar

[–] Justincblount 12 years ago

From my perspective, this argument is like saying, "Well, some people want a bite taken out of their sandwich when they get a happy meal... it's all down to personal preference."

[–] yoo 11 years ago

Then you don't understand the argument. It's more like saying that some people want a bite taken out of their sandwich when they get a happy meal, when that bite contains poison.

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 9 years ago

I think the more reasonable analogy would be "Some people prefer a smaller sandwich, some prefer a larger sandwich".

[–] DFC-2 9 years ago

The best analogy, since Besson himself calls the shorter version his director's cut, is some people prefer the mistake (e.g. extra salt, more mayo) to the chef special. The only reason the longer version exists is that the chef in this case knew there were sufficient people who would add more salt and love it, that it would go over well and sell more DVDs. The salt, in this case, was more time with Mathilda and Leon.

[–] memo-4 11 years ago

You never go wrong when you have extended versions of your loved movies.Longer the better character development.

cheers.

[–] 11 years ago

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