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***The Official "Willard: The Ratman's Cut" Info & Feedback thread***

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This morning, I completed work on my edit of the 2003 remake of 'Willard' starring Crispin Glover. I don't know if anyone is really into this movie (aside from Garrett), but I went ahead and did my own little re-edit of it, based on a bootleg copy of the workprint I have on VCD. It was shot to be an R-rated film, but after it didn't test well, it was cut to PG-13. It still didn't test well, but the director (Glen Morgan) didn't fight for the original cut, so it was released in theaters as PG-13. While this is the version I fell in love with (and really, it's not bad by any means), the film definitely stronger with some of the scenes that were cut.

Luckily, almost all of these scenes were included on the DVD (only random shots here and there were excluded) in wonderful quality. Most of these were just drag-and-drop jobs and I finished the edit in only a couple hours. Below, you'll find the list of what I added and what I didn't add. I did not cut anything from the film, except scenes that I replaced with their original versions.

ADDITIONS:
*A long scene between Willard and Cathryn at the office, working after hours. Very nice character showcase.
*A scene of Willard's mother almost catching him as he's leaving to sicc the rats on Mr. Martin's car.

ALTERATIONS:
*An alternate shot featuring Mr. Martin's assistant cursing the fact she has to give him a foot massage.
*Mr. Martin is now seen attending Willard's mother's funeral.
*The original version of Willard getting fired is re-instated. This features harsher language by Mr. Martin.
*Longer scene of Cathryn in the bathroom, and Willard finding Scully the cat's mutilated corpse.
*An extended version of the ending.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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Willard is definitely an underrated, overlooked gem of recent years. I was surprised as how much I liked it. It's almost Psycho-esque. After watching that great documentary on the DVD where they discuss the PG-13-ifying of it (which was pretty strange to do for this movie, even in this age of test audiencing to death), I am very interested in The Ratman's Cut. Email on the way!
We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
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I am interested as well/// Very cool flick

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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The five have been snatched up, so look for at least a couple reviews here sometime soon.

-Alex

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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I got my copy yesterday. It may be early next week before I get a chance to watch it, but expect a review when I've gone through it.
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I also got my copy today, hope top have time to watch it tomorrow.
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One of my favourite films of recent times, well done.
I'm starting to think though that we need two forums now, a 'Star Wars Trilogy Preservation and Fan edits' forum and a 'Other really cool movies Preservation and Fan edits thread'... but it *would* get awful quiet here if that was the case.
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Originally posted by: Laserman
One of my favourite films of recent times, well done.
I'm starting to think though that we need two forums now, a 'Star Wars Trilogy Preservation and Fan edits' forum and a 'Other really cool movies Preservation and Fan edits thread'... but it *would* get awful quiet here if that was the case.


I agree, another forum would be nice. I felt kind of weird posting about it here, but it would go unnoticed by the people I wanted to notice it in the off-topic forum.

Looking forward to the reviews!

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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Any chance of this showing up in a torrent or in the newsgroups? I would love to see this! I attended the premiere of the film in Austin at the Drafthouse with Glover, Morgan and Wong and love the flick.

A long time ago in the faraway galaxy...

Star War: The Third Gathers
Backstroke Of The West

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This DVD is great, by the way. I recommend it.
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Originally posted by: ReverendBeastly
Originally posted by: Laserman
One of my favourite films of recent times, well done.
I'm starting to think though that we need two forums now, a 'Star Wars Trilogy Preservation and Fan edits' forum and a 'Other really cool movies Preservation and Fan edits thread'... but it *would* get awful quiet here if that was the case.


I agree, another forum would be nice. I felt kind of weird posting about it here, but it would go unnoticed by the people I wanted to notice it in the off-topic forum.

Looking forward to the reviews!


AS JAY CHANGES THIS SITE OVER TO A SCI-FI WEBSITE RATHER THAN JUST A SW SITE I WILL BE DOING FAN EDIT REVIEWS ALONG WITH MY REGULAR DVD REVIEWS IN MY COLUMN. I'LL SPOTLIGHT A NEW EDIT EVERY WEEK. I MIGHT EVEN DO TWO A WEEK. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide

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i love the willard remake. it has awesome sets and lighting/atmosphere and there are some pretty funny things in this movie too. will this show up on myspleen?
"but i was going to the toshi station to pick up some power converters!" wahhhhh
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If anyone wants to seed it over at MySpleen or on a binary newsgroup, please, go right ahead. I would, but I have no way of doing so.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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Very nice work Rev!!!

I’ve had the DVD now for maybe over a week (or so) and I finally dropped this in.

Well to start I have to say that I was a HUGE fan of the original movie (I was about 11 when I first saw the film on a Saturday Monster Movie show that they aired in Colorado Springs) but the remake was incredible! With Glen Morgan (of Space Above and Beyond, X-Files and Millennium fame) directing & writing the screenplay and with James Wong (the other half of one of the greatest SciFi teams ever - second to Niven & Pournelle ) as producer, I expected a lot going into the film, and it was more then expected!

The cinematography and lighting REALLY make this version so much more gloomy and dark then its predecessor and with Crispin Glover playing Willard it’s even creepier. (yikes I almost went into a full review of the film!) DOH!

BACK to the edit…

Anyway with the added scenes you really can feel the characters so much more like the odd chemistry that Willard and Cathryn share (the extended after hours office scene is sweet!), and if you disliked Willard’s boss Mr. Martin (R. Lee Ermey – HE SHOULD have been Jedi Master Mace Windu IMHO!!) in the original cut you’ll really enjoy his demise even more now that his hatred for Willard is showcased in the all to brief alternate scene where he fires Willard.

In closing, the edits are near seamlessly cut into the film and really do add to the overall dark gothic feel and is a MUST HAVE if you enjoyed the remake or the original 1971 film and I’ve added this DVD to my upload pile and it’s NEAR the top!!!!!!

- Exquisite work my friend!!!!!!

This edit rates a big ass Diggity!

Rikter Blaksvn





Note to ReverendBeastly - Please contact me with full details for the torrent release!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Yeah I once had the VCD of the workprint but after loaning it to a friend I haven't seen it since. This edit sounds great however, and I certainly don't blame Glen or James for being angry over having to PG-13ify the film. They've been screwed enough over the years between not getting the creative credit they deserve with "The X-Files", "Space: Above And Beyond" getting murdered after they refused to turn it into "Melrose Place" in space, their hard work during season 2 of "Millennium" getting contradicted up the yin yang during season 3, "The Others" not only put on Saturday night but not even advertised and axed right away... and now this.

I think I ranted enough but I'm looking forward to seeing the Ratman's Cut of "Willard."
Brian The Demolition Man Little
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Sorry for the delays gang - I will be posting this awesome DVD soon AFTER I post Halloween VI: The Workprint (which will be after the ADM Hannibal )

Rev - I'm also gonna send it over and see about a NEWSGROUP release!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Sounds excellent! I'm glad some people are enjoying what I did to the flick.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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New Torrent up!


Willard: The Ratman’s Cut
Fan Edit by The Ratman
Running Time: 01:50:11

Fan edit based on the workprint version of the film – Willard is one of the most underrated remake films ever and this edit only makes it sweeter - the edits are near seamlessly cut into the film and really do add to the overall dark gothic feel and is a MUST HAVE if you enjoyed the remake or the original 1971 film.

ADDITIONS:
*A long scene between Willard and Cathryn at the office, working after hours.
*A scene of Willard's mother almost catching him as he's leaving to sic the rats on Mr. Martin's car.

ALTERATIONS:
*An alternate shot featuring Mr. Martin's assistant cursing the fact she has to give him a foot massage.
*Mr. Martin is now seen attending Willard's mother's funeral.
*The original version of Willard getting fired is re-instated. This features harsher language by Mr. Martin.
*Longer scene of Cathryn in the bathroom, and Willard finding Scully the cat's mutilated corpse.
*An extended version of the ending.

- Fan Created Edit
- 1 DVDr
- Source: Official DVD
- MPEG 2.0 (192 kbps)
- Anamorphic Widescreen


Torrent also has a cover by me
http://home.comcast.net/~tk420/Willard_The_Ratmans_Cut.jpg

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Nice cover, may have to add that to my shelf now that there is a cover.
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My apologies to ReverendBeastly. I was one of the people that received this edit from him for free since I was so quick to respond to his announcement, and with the promise that I would review his work. Usually, I'm much quicker to make good on my promises, but real life(tm) got in the way.

I was able to see the original cut on the retail DVD from the local library months ago. The movie was a good remake of the original Willard. The changes that ReverendBeastly made with the resources contained in the special features makes this movie a lot more tense and a little more adult. (I really wish the pandering to PG-13 would go away.)

Final decision: Great Job, man! I really like the changes, and I commend you on a job well done. Highly recommended! Grab it if you can!

(Next time I'll make my review much more quickly in return for discs. ) Thanks again to Rev. Beastly.
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Thanks for the belated review! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love being able to watch it this way, so it was really a selfish project to begin with, and I'm glad that others enjoy it.

Thanks for the torrenting, Rik!

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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REV, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR EDIT BEING SUBMITTED TO THE FAN EDIT CONTEST. I KNOW THAT ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS WAS NOT HAVING COVER ART, BUT RIKTER HAS NOW TAKEN CARE OF IT. I JUST NEED A DIRECT LINK TO THE COVER FOR DOWNLOAD WHICH I WILL SHARE WITH THE OTHER JUDGES. NOW, I CAN SEND ALL OF THE OTHER JUDGES A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT EDIT, OR IF YOUR INCLINED TO ADD AN AUDIO COMMENTARY TRACK TO YOUR MOVIE WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT VERSION. JUST LET ME KNOW EITHER IN THIS THREAD OR THE FAN EDIT CONTEST THREAD IN THE ORIGINAL PRESERVATION FORUM. EITHER WAY THIS EDIT MUST BE PART OF THE CONTEST.

"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide

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If you want to submit it to the rest of the judges, please be my guest! I've been really busy lately and making 6 copies of that edit fell by the wayside. I'll put up the cover somewhere where you can download it soon.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.