Yes, I agree, the Richard Donner directed film TIMELINE back in 2003 wasn’t very good in comparison to the book by Michael Crichton. In fact it wasn’t a very good film at all. However, what we saw in the theater and have on DVD is a very different cut than what it was originally. The original cut of the film apparently had more scenes in it and a completely different (and much more beautiful) orchestral score by the late Jerry Goldsmith (the last film he composed AND conducted). I wonder how much better the original cut was before it got manhandled by the studio to appeal to a “broader audience”? I’m sure the film would still not be great, but I am genuinely curious as to how much better it could have been.
Anyone ever seen or heard of this alternate version being passed around? Could it still be in existence?
Here is the imdb page for the movie:
Read it and weep:
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/comic-con-grindhouse-two-dvd-releases-two-release-dates.php
Although it is cool to see unrated full cuts of each film, by not having them as a double feature, with the trailers, it indeed does loose it’s charm.
Perhaps they will release the theatrical version (as a double feature with the trailers, as seen in theaters in the US) in another year or so… but you never know.
Anyone have a good copy of the theatrical version? A TS, TC, or Screener?
I loved this movie and am very angry that the DVD of it is LONG out of print and goes for insanely high prices on ebay (Over 100 dollars?!). Does anyone have a copy of this? And I heard numerous rumours about a 2-disc edition in Germany in the Region 2 PAL Format and also a fan-made 2-disc set. I would love to get the Germany one but I have an NTSC Region 1 TV of course, living in America. Anyone have anything on this film?
Ah well, at least I got em saved. As much as I am displeased with it not being in anamorphic widescreen, I realized I still want them mostly because I know no one on this site will give away bootlegs of any attempt of a "anamorphic fix" of the new dvds, which i really want. Although I read that at least someone will put up instructions on how to do it IF YOU OWN THE NEW DVDS. And since I have a 20 percent discount working at Hollywood Video, that means they will only be 15 bucks each for me, which isn't bad at all. So it is worth it I guess for me. I know there is an edit around here called the Spence Edit of KING KONG 2005, but as some of you may know, this November there will be an Extended DVD edition of KING KONG with 13 more minutes added to the film (mostly action sequences… including one with a swamp monster called the Pirhanadon that attacks Denham and company on makeshift rafts), as well as an addition 40 minutes of deleted scenes that WON’T be integrated into the Extended Cut. Since it isn’t out yet there is not much anyone can do at this point, but I propose the idea of perhaps making a solid 2 and a half hour version of KING KONG using the Extended Cut’s new scenes and some of the other deleted scenes to make a cut truer to the original KING KONG from 1993. Not only is the Pirhanadon scene going to be closer to the vision of the original 30’s version (along with it being more action oriented), but I know there were some other deleted scenes that were great homages to the 30’s version (like one in the trailer where Anne “screams for her life”). THOSE scenes should have been in the film and replace ones of like Hayes and other pointless minor scenes in the theatrical cut. I am thinking of combining SOME of Spence’s ideas for his edit with all new ones. Who is interested in this idea and who would like to help me when the time comes?
Thanks!
I own The Goonies, a great cult fan film, on dvd, that I am sure most of you have seen, and probably many like. Since I am only 19, I obviously did not see this film in theatres. I first saw it on the Disney Channel when they used to show all the REALLY cool movies like this one. Anyway, on the dvd, the cut of the film is indeed the theatrical cut, however, there were a few scenes missing from it that I remember being on the Disney channel version, and at the same time, scenes I didn’t remember from the Disney channel version. A couple missing scenes were of the Goonies at this store where Chunk gets his head stuck in the ice cream machine, and another one is the infamous octupus scene. Scenes that were added were mostly scenes with cussing and Mouth and Chunk saying a few more funny, if a bit vulgar, lines. Now, luckily, the missing scenes with the ice cream machine and the octupus are on the dvd but in the deleted scenes section. How come these deleted scenes were put on the Disney channel version? Probably to make up for the lost time they took out of the more vulgar scenes. They are in widescreen, but not the same widescreen ratio as the actual move is. I was wondering if there would be a way to incorporate these scenes into the theatrical release and somehow make the deleted scenes be the same aspect ratio without it looking too wierd.
As a side note, one of the main reasons why I want especially the octupus scene back in the film is because the octupus is actually mentioned at the end of the theatrical release! What gives?! lol. They forgot to edit that line out, I guess.
There is a movie, originally made in the 50’s called “Cesta do praveku”, or translated in english: “Journey to the Beginning of Time”. It is a film by a relatively unknown Czech filmmaker named Karel Zeman about a group of boys who travel on a river that somehow takes them back into time. It is in color and has stunning and unique and charming special effects for its time, and I think is one of the first using “go-motion”. In the film they come across saber tooths, giant birds, crocodiles, a good number of dinosaurs, and more. Anyway, it was first released in Czech Republic and was a hit, and won a few awards I believe. It wasn’t until the 60’s that they decided to bring the film over into the States. However, when they did, they changed quite a bit. First, they dubbed the film with perhaps the worst dubbing since the Godzilla movies. Its REALLY bad. Second, they added a completely unnessasry opening and closing to the film to make it set in America and make it more “educational” by starting out at the Museum of Natural history. To top it all off, they cut a few bits and pieces from the original version of the film.
Now, I happen to have both versions of the film. I got the USA version from a company called Bijou Flix, and is perhaps the best transfer I have ever seen of it for the USA version. But in saying that, it is not in great shape. But it doesn’t matter, since the Czech version, which I got off Ebay is INCREDIBLE and the best quality the movie could ever be, short of a total restoration! The problem? Its all in Czech! I don’t know a word they are saying! There are no subtitles for it!
And this is where I am hoping one of you might come in. Maybe there is some way you could add optional subtitles or something to the Czech version. I know you probably don’t know Czech either, but you don’t really have to. We could use the USA version as a guide or something and kind of fill in gaps with our own imagination or scientific fact (which I know a lot about prehistoric earth). I know this is an odd request, especially for a movie you don’t even know about and nobody is really a big fan of. But it is a most remarkable film for what it is. I don’t know how to explain its effect on me really. So I am wondering if anyone is interested, that I could send you a DVD copy of the USA and Czech version if you are in helping me out with this.
For some more information on the movie, you can check out the IMDB page. If you want some screen caps from the film, I can try and get some.