logo Sign In

Idea: Galaxy Quest - non-dubbed theatrical release? (has anyone done this?)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Has anyone explored releasing a theatrical version of Galaxy Quest?

Actually, is there anyone here who has a non-US version? Or perhaps the Oscar review copy? Do they still dub all the curse words?

When I went to the screening for the movie, it wasn’t dubbed. I absolutely love this movie.

When the DVD came out I was completely crushed. The best f-bomb in movie history during the crashy-smashy things … and it was dubbed over. Some AltaVisting shows that it was dubbed to make the DVD release PG.

The DVD is also missing a scene from the film version where Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) comes on stage with his character on the big screen behind him yelling, “By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged!” He turns to the screen, then mutters under his breath, “Shut up!”

Author
Time

I didn’t quite understand your post, so with a Google search for “Galaxy Quest uncensored”, I found the following article that shed light on the matter:

http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/03/10/wait-what-galaxy-quest-was-initially-r-rated

The best best is probably a “For Your Consideration” copy, to check if that contains the uncensored dialogue. I had a look in the usual places but nothing came up.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
Author
Time

JayArgonaut said:

I didn’t quite understand your post, so with a Google search for “Galaxy Quest uncensored”, I found the following article that shed light on the matter:

http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/03/10/wait-what-galaxy-quest-was-initially-r-rated

The best best is probably a “For Your Consideration” copy, to check if that contains the uncensored dialogue. I had a look in the usual places but nothing came up.

That’s precisely what I was talking about. Even if it’s just the audio, I could resync it to the film. I was part of the screening for the movie (with the questionnaire you fill out at the end), and it was definitely not dubbed, and it had that missing scene. I swear it was like that in the regular theatrical release, but maybe I’m only remember the screening.

Now, my dad also remembers it being undubbed when he saw it on a plane (it had subtitles.) Do airlines get different versions than regular DVDs? Could it be that non-North American copies still have the original audio?

Maybe someone outside of North America with a copy of the movie could verify that. If that’s the case, then man, I’ll just buy a DVD from that region and rip the audio track.

There were three scenes to check: Tommy says, “That’s bullshit, man!” when Taggart arrives late for GalaxyCon.
Taggart says, “Shit!” when he loses his gun after rolling (hey, it helps!) And of course, my absolute favorite scene, Madison says, “Well, F*CK THAT!” when she sees the crashy smashy things. 😄

Thanks for any help.

Author
Time

olePigeon said:

Now, my dad also remembers it being undubbed when he saw it on a plane (it had subtitles.) Do airlines get different versions than regular DVDs?

Yes, they do on occasion. Others will probably weigh in with more detail but The Rock, Fantastic Four(2005), The Abyss, The Truman Show and allegedly BTTF 2 are just some of the films to have received alternate versions for airlines.

Here’s some articles on the topic:

https://stephenfollows.com/in-flight-movies/

http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/director-pulls-credit-after-airlines-cut-film

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1549215/BA-airbrushes-Branson-from-in-flight-Bond-film.html

http://www.newnownext.com/carol-movie-delta-airlines/08/2016/

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2017/01/sanitise-skies

olePigeon said:

Could it be that non-North American copies still have the original audio?

Unfortunately it doesn’t appear so:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=557

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
Author
Time
 (Edited)

I saw this in theaters when it came out, it was already censored - it was to get the PG rating the studio wanted. The theatrical release was also PG. The only difference between theaters and DVD/Blu-ray was that everything from the convention to right before the big doors open up and Jason looks out into space was pillarboxed at 1.85:1, this effect was removed for all widescreen home releases in favor of a 2.35:1 ratio as soon as the TV show clip transitions into the convention.

I believe the movie was shot with the intent to go for PG-13 (some say R, I’m honestly not sure the version that was filmed went THAT far). Sounds like you saw a test screening before the edits were made, you are incredibly lucky. I’d assume that the only way the original dialogue would ever surface would be if someone found a copy of a workprint.

Airline versions generally are not less censored than theatrical, if anything they have extra censorship. A lot of the time, edits/overdubs in broadcast/basic cable versions show up on the airlines first. (For example, I know from a friend that “you mewling quim” was altered in the airline cut of The Avengers long before the movie hit basic cable…)

Author
Time

Oh, nuts. Guess I should count my lucky stars that I saw it in its original format, but it’s been a sort of curse trying to find that original version. May not be possible.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

As I said, unless someone out there has a tape of a workprint, that version will remain unseen. The film was cut due to test audience reactions.

(Actually, I’ve read there were more things cut before release, so if those are the only differences you remember, you could have attended a later test screening with an edit that was already close to the final release, but still with saltier dialogue…)

Author
Time

The one scene that stands out that I remember is Alan Rickman’s character telling his onscreen self to Shut Up! after complaining about “not saying that stupid line one more time.” (By Grabthar’s hammer …)

Sure would be nice if they’d just release an unrated version like they do with so many other movies. Or a director’s cut. 😕

TServo2049 said:

As I said, unless someone out there has a tape of a workprint, that version will remain unseen. The film was cut due to test audience reactions.

(Actually, I’ve read there were more things cut before release, so if those are the only differences you remember, you could have attended a later test screening with an edit that was already close to the final release, but still with saltier dialogue…)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

I read that the film was darker and more violent before it was cut for release. I don’t know what specifically was in those scenes, other than that I thought the scene in the DVD extras with Sigourney Weaver pretending to seduce Sarris’ henchmen to distract them was one of those scenes that was cut to soften the film (creating the continuity error where her zipper is suddenly open and her bra is exposed for no apparent reason). If that wasn’t in your version, maybe you were indeed in a later round of testing.

I just re-watched the convention scene and I do see a cut where “Shut up” could have been (if it’s not one of those false memories we often have about movies). He turns to the screen, then it cuts to him walking toward everyone else. I think Guy saying “This guy can act” may be slightly joined in progress (unless Sam Rockwell just sort of contracted “This”), but the music doesn’t sound to have an edit, so the cut would have been made before scoring.