Reminds me of Troma when they get their grubby little paws on some film people want and they mess up the aspect ratio or for a bonus, make the film quality look like ass.

I'm gonna call the hotline tomorrow and ask, as they have the UNRATED VIDEO for sale on the page!

Good idea Redux,

And does anyone have the UK release of the film and can confirm it is the full uncut verison or not?

I emailed AB UK,but it could be awhile until I receive a reply.

And upon searching the BBFC website. The 2004 release of the film(which is the SE) stated it was submitted at 92 minutes and 28 seconds. It did not state whether it was submitted on film or video though. Usually when something is submitted on film. They mention the full length of the print,then that the video release time will be a few minutes shorter because of PAL speed up.

They also have other listings for past release and most are the same length. But one was also listed as 89 minutes and so many seconds.

On amazon.uk,they list the running time of the dvd as 89 minutes. If this is the PAL running time,it would be the R rated version most likely. On the AB UK site it states it runs 92 minute,28 seconds. But looking at the running times listed for the first two films in the series. Which state 93 minutes and 99 minutes(the NTSC running times). I'd like to make sure the dvd release is the 97 minute unrated version at whatever length it would be in PAL(92-93 minutes seems about right).

So I hope someone can answer my question and clear up the confusion.

I've checked online sites and none list the bonus disc as containing a 4.3 bonus uncut HR3. Only the single disc verison is listed.

But all previous VHS and laserdisc...+ most bootleg and I think some legit pre-SE releases were all 4.3 only(most likely open matte).


And the reason the UK print if uncut would still have a shorter running time is the PAL speed up. They run at a slightly faster frame rate,which results in a slightly different running time despite no changes being made to the film itself.

I've just checked my R2 HR3 (the 4:3 version on the bonus disc) in my player, and it runs at around 92:30...

Dazza.

and this is the uncut version, right?

Seems to be, taking PAL speedup into account and looking at Julie's calculations above.

If memory serves me right I think there is a very small discrepancy between the running time of the 16:9 disc and the 4:3 disc in that set, but I put this down to the different distributor/production company opening titles...

Dazza.

so where is everyone coming with this supposed 97min director's cut?

Isn't the 97 min version excluding PAL speedup? So such a version, when put into PAL, would run for the 92/3 mins mentioned above. I don't know of a version that runs at 97 mins in PAL, but can see that the 92/3 min version would be around 97 mins if reverted to NTSC/cinema speeds.

Dazza.

oh okay, now it's all sort of making sense:

it's interesting to note BBFC's website and their database for the film:

- Video 17/08/2004 Anchor Bay Entertainment UK Ltd 92m 28s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

- Video 26/08/1998 Video Collection International 89m 14s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

- Video 18/06/1998 Video Collection International 92m 28s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

- Video 20/05/1993 High Flyers Video Distribution 92m 28s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

- Video 12/01/1994 High Flyers Video Distribution 89m 14s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

I gathered this is the PAL compressed running times.

and then's there the Film listing:

- Film 23/09/1992 Arrow Film Distributors Ltd 92m 55s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH (which when converted to PAL video would be the 89m 14s running time)

Anybody know if the TOP release is the unrated version?

in theory yes, the current Anchor Bay video version would be the most complete.

as well as these two:

- Video 18/06/1998 Video Collection International 92m 28s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

- Video 20/05/1993 High Flyers Video Distribution 92m 28s HELLRAISER III - HELL ON EARTH

No one has still taken into account that the Canadian DVD runs a full 93 minutes (no company logo title cards), has all the gore footage intact, but does not include some of the small character moment sequences mentioned earlier, such as:

"And theres a new short scene before J.P discovers that the box is missing from the pillar of souls. The scene opens with the last employees of the "Boiler room" leaving and saying Goodbye to J.P. The scene is ap. 10 sec and ends with J.P comming out of his office.

Immediately after Terri moves out from Joey, there is a scene inside the Boiler Room nightclub where a couple are seen buying some drugs from a drug dealer. Terri is in the Boiler Room, where she witnesses a couple in love, which makes her even more lonely. Next, she purchases some coffee, and looks up to see JP who says "Hey baby, glad you could make it. This new scene ends here; next JP is seen telling Terri to "come on in" to his room. When Elliot tells Joey about his past, they are standing around a campfire. There is a new scene immediately before the footage from Hellbound (Elliot playing with box at start), in which Elliot is seen buying the box in an Indian bazaar."

So, the Canadian version appears to be the same unrated version as the UK one even though the Canadian one is still 30 seconds longer (?) than the UK print for some reason, but even at a full 93 minutes, it appears to still be missing those small character scenes (unless those scenes were only tv-padding and never in the unrated version). If those scenes are supposed to be in the film, there definitely could be a 97 minute version.

Not asking about the Anchoy Bay version. Asking about the TOP version I have. Here is a picture.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...c7d36010.L.jpg

oh sorry there. That soooo looks like a bootleg.

On that image you can see where it had the original Hellraiser font.

So while the 4.3 version is not listed in the specs on the bonus disc on any of the websites I have checked. It exists??

And does that version or the version in 16.9 widescreen contain those great bits with JP including the one featuring his exGF? I always loved that coffe cup reflection of him in the scene,which is how his ex first notices him. It's a quite sinisiter little bit and would be a shame if it's missing.

I have seen that sequence when it comes on USA btw,but they cut the hell out of the film otherwise.

I have'nt seen the unrated VHS in years though. But I could try to look for it and see if the sequences are intact or not.

I do want the UK dvd. But if it's not 100% complete,that would be disappointing.

And now with the said to be 'uncut 4.3' version on the 'bonus' disc. I'm wondering if I should get the dvd set instead then? How are the dvds packaged in the nonpuzzle box set?

Another mystery to the fire. The box for the R rated Paramount release states it is 91 minutes,not 93 minutes!

I'm glad I found a copy of it(tape was rented though),since I could have sworn I remember the R version being listed at that length.

I'm curious to do just like I did with Waxwork to determine the exact running times and rent both the R & Unrated versions,if I could find them that is. I may scower ebay for them now if the price is right.


On another forum when someone listed all the Miramax/Dimension films which Paramount co-distributed for them. They wondered how Paramount still holds the rights to HR3,since many of the other releases went back to Miramax or the director in the case of Dust Devil. Then they speculated whether Paramounts rights to the rights may expire soon and if to save money,used AB UKS 16.9 master. If they did do that,that could explain the 93 minute running time,

But I wouldn't jump to that conclusion until reviews by those who've seen the previous versions can accurately state whether that's the case or not.

It sure does exist in the UK R2 box set - I have mine in front of me now. But as you say, I notice that the likes of Amazon UK etc don't list it in the specs.

As I don't have time right now to trawl through the whole film again, give me a rough timing for this point in the film and I'll try check it out over the weekend.

Far better than the puzzle box, IMO! In a fairly standard pack (like you'd get, say, a TV season in) which looks far sturdier than the puzzle set. I'd much rather have that than the puzzle set I own, given the problems I've had with the discs (I don't even keep them in the puzzle box any more). Only reason I didn't return it was because I got it very cheap, but I'd recommend others get the standard box every time...

Dazza.

OK, just checked my 4:3 version on the bonus disc and the "coffee cup" scene is indeed there (at around 41 mins in.)

Dazza.

OK, well this proves that the Canadian disc was some sort of anomaly - a version somewhere between the R-rated and unrated cut. At least all the gore was there, but it definitely looks like the Region 2 is the best option out there.

Yes, that is the "Top 10 Media Productions" bootleg that is circulating on Amazon and other places. Fullscreen with low quality. Don't know about the transfer (cut vs. uncut), but I could only play it on one of my players.

Guess I got burned buying it from Amazon thinking it was legit but OOP.

What are the key times in the movie that would tell you if a version is the unrated verison or not? Just curious. Given the low quality of this boot I'll likley be buying the new Paramount disc anyway.

I am gonna buy the Paramount disc so I can have it widescreen 16x9

wow, that was quick - ordered the Puzzle Box just last week and it arrived at my doorstep yesterday.