Originally posted by: Obi Jeewhyen
In truth, though I don't care enough to protest outside studios, I distinctively dislike it when filmmakers "correct" mistakes that made it through to the theatrical version of their film, barely noticeable on an 80' screen, seen by millions of people. The car erasure in LotR is lame, as is the cobra-glass reflection elimination in Raiders of the Lost Ark. These were not independent art house films seen by a few hundred people; they were mega-hits seen by millions, with these mistakes deemed "good enough" for such viewing. And with dozens of similar mistakes still in the films after the directors chose to clean up a selective few. It's revisionism, and I'm not in favor of it.
Neither example, however, alters the film to any significant degree. I just think it's silly, and is closing the barn door after the horse has come home.
In truth, though I don't care enough to protest outside studios, I distinctively dislike it when filmmakers "correct" mistakes that made it through to the theatrical version of their film, barely noticeable on an 80' screen, seen by millions of people. The car erasure in LotR is lame, as is the cobra-glass reflection elimination in Raiders of the Lost Ark. These were not independent art house films seen by a few hundred people; they were mega-hits seen by millions, with these mistakes deemed "good enough" for such viewing. And with dozens of similar mistakes still in the films after the directors chose to clean up a selective few. It's revisionism, and I'm not in favor of it.
Neither example, however, alters the film to any significant degree. I just think it's silly, and is closing the barn door after the horse has come home.
I totally agree with everything you just said. Once the film is shipped off to theatres, it's done. The end. The only reason I have yet to buy the Indiana Jones set is because of those tiny, miniscule changes like the reflected snake. It just drives me crazy to think of crap like that being done when it's not at all necessary. And it's never necessary. IT'S A MOVIE! It's not perfect. So you missed it in the editing room that a car drove through your frame. Would it have been better if you had noticed it in time? Yes. Is it worth going back and taking out after it's been released? No.
I watched BTTF with the Zemeckis/Gale Q&A session the other night. Throughout the entire session, Zemeckis made constant comments of things he hadn't been satisfied with, including visible wires on Doc when he was at the top of the clock tower, and how easy it would have been able to make with digital technology. Towards the end, the moderator asked them if there would be any changes to the movies for the DVD release, such as removing the wires he mentioned earlier. For a couple of seconds, there was dead silence, then both of the Bobs simultaneously replied, "No..." as if the thought had never occurred to them, and it was a completely insane thing to even suggest. Zemeckis continued to say that he didn't get this trend of going back into the movie and adding scenes back in and recutting it. He said that a movie represents that moment in time, and that you do your best, but then you're finished with it.
I love that man.