Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

http://i56.tinypic.com/2hp4mc1.jpg

Fox have been releasing some absolutely amazing discs this fall, I seriously hope they aren't dropping the ball by only including the Extended Edition of the film on this release. When I see words like XXth Anniversay, Im expecting at least something close to definitive, and the lack of a theatrical cut is not something I'd expect from a "definitive" release.

Going by the cover art, Id assume this is going to be a digibook type release as well.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I'll definitely drop my import if this has new material and comes in a digibook. Extended cut is nice too.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I must admit I thought the extended cut of Dances with Wolves was a snoozer. but my opinion may change since it's been ages since I've last seen it.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Save for "Last of the Mohicans".

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

^ don't remind me.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Glad I held off in buying that German release. I'll be getting this Day 1. Just wish they could put the theatrical cut on the set as well.

Question though - if Fox and MGM will be releasing the Blu Ray, who will actually be remastering it? If I recall, all previous DVD releases were produced by MGM. I would assume/hope MGM would handle the transfer. I dunno...

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Well, I suppose Mann should be "blamed" for that, rather than Fox

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

What'd Mann do?

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

A lot of people seem to hate the new Transfer for Mohicans due to how dark it is, but the blu-ray was supervised and re-cut by Mann, and since the darkness is due to the color timing, etc, rather than due to the transfer, Id guess that its something that Mann himself approved.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

The Last of the Mohicans BD is great, but there's a place to talk about it, and it's not here.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/576...er-amazon.html

Can this derail end now? Cool.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Well, smell you!

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

This was one of my Dad's favorite films. I've never seen it though, unfortunately. I think I'll make a blind buy of this when it comes out.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I dunno....I never really thought this film was all that great. Thought it was pretty boring in comparison to Goodfellas. Yeah that's right...I brought up that argument again.

On a HD tech side of me...I'd like to know which version of hte film is here and what features are associated w/ it....

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Careful Solid Snake, doctorthodt is gonna dig up old threads about this.
And end the discussion here. You really want that?

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

It was...I DO kinda want to see it again JUST to see if maybe...I've matured enough or something to dig it.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Your opinion won't change, it drags like hell at 236 minutes. The Theatrical cut is long at 181 minutes, but very well-paced.

The fact that they are withholding the cut of a film that won Best Picture and Best Film Editing is a travesty, especially in the age of seamless branching.

:thmbsdwn: :thmbsdwn:

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Spot on.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I think the 3 hour theatrical version is awesome and not boring at all, and even I found the 4 hour extended version boring as well and never want to see that version again! It just drags completely, whereas the theatrical version was paced perfectly in my honest opinion. So if you've never seen the original theatrical version, give it a fair chance and if you still hate the film, then it's just not for you and that's fine.

The film did win Best Picture, so it's strange the version that won Best Picture is not being released on Blu-ray? The least they could do is include both versions of the film, but MGM/Fox have been really bad in that regards. They released a special edition of the extended version on dvd and regulated the theatrical cut to a pan & scan only dvd release. So I had to track down the old Image dvd release for the theatrical version in widescreen. Now it appears that trend of shunning the superior theatrical version is continuing on the new format unless the specs change, and that's a shame.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Agreed. This has also happened with:

• Amadeus (Best Picture, 1985), missing Theatrical Cut;
• The Last Emperor (Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, 1987), missing Director's Cut, altered Aspect Ratio.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510K1SDVT9L.jpg :wub:

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

If we only get the extended version on blu, I will buy it and watch it and just wait for the UK version to reach bargain bin price and pick that one up as well. It's a barebones release and while the theatrical version is a terrific movie, it's not like I'm going to be sitting down and watching the 3 hour version any time soon after watching the 4 hour one anyway.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Seriously, no theatrical cut? That would really suck :hairpull:

The main reason that I didn't buy the Last of the Mohicans was because it didn't have the theatrical cut. (The dark video do bother me, but wouldn't have effected my decision)

Lot of movies had both or more versions on the same disc, why can't the "Best Picture" movie??

Alien Anthology, Beauty and the Beast, Leon, Gladiator, King Kong, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, T2, Terminator Salvation, Stargate, and others had it.

I would rather pay little more and wait longer for this blu-ray to be done right than to have this released on January. :(

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I'd much rather have Costner's Open Range on blu than DwW.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Yikes. A 4 hour movie????

I really like the movie but can't say I've ever seen the extended cut and can't imagine myself ever wanting to sit through a 4 hour movie.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

:drool:

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I loved this movie when it was called Little Big Man. (When is that coming out on Blu?)

DWW is a good enough movie so I'll probably pick it up. Nice cinematography at any rate.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Don't get me wrong, the length of a movie in itself is neither a good thing, nor a bad thing. If it takes 4 hours, 5 hours, or 6 hours to tell the story, so be it. The problem comes when there is an internationally lauded film that's received numerous awards for its content and its editing (no small task, to be sure), that is intentionally held back in favor of a revised cut.

I'm all in favor of Directors', Extended, Expanded, re-imagined, or whatever cuts that surface after the initial release. Many of these are recognized to be better than the original, while others are not. The point is, these should be supplemental or complementary to the original vision.

See Blade Runner for a template on how to release a film for home viewing.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

While I have no problems with revised versions of movies being released as long as the original theatrical version is not replaced. I do think artists are their own worst critics and they don't realize when they struck gold and wind up destroying it in the pursuit of 'perfection' that will never be achieved(Lucas, Mann etc). So as a precaution and also to preserve what was originally released, the original version should always be included and never ever replaced. But since some studios are either lazy or just assuming audiences want only the 'directors unrated extended super enhanced revised version'. They do wind up shunning the theatrical version in favor of this new version by only making that version available which is a shame.

Sometimes the new versions are better, but the majority of the ones being released today are pretty bad and destroy the film instead of enhancing it. That's the case with Dances with Wolves in my opinion, though this version is not new and had been released on video in the 90's. It is funny that I'm now more skeptical of revised versions than in the past. I remember seeing this giant 'extended' collectors edition of this film on vhs in the past and I could just imagine how 'awesome' it was, as I loved the theatrical version. But upon finally viewing this extended version, it was such a disappointment of epic proportions.

I do think had only the extended version been released in theaters, it would not have won Best Picture and so forth. It's a bloated dull experience in extended form, while the right editing did enhance the film in the theatrical version with perfect pacing and just made for an enthralling experience. Editing plays an important role in how a film works and sometimes even that one extra second in a scene can make or break the flow of a film.

Is there anyway to contact MGM/Fox to voice our concerns and request the theatrical version also be included?

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I have always enjoyed DWW, but I hope the theatrical cut is included. It flows better in some parts. Isn't the 20th aniversery this year?

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Add my name to the list of those that also want the theatrical cut included.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I personally love every second of DWW and would welcome an 8 hour cut. But I also agree that the theatrical version should be included. What the fuck happened to seamless branching?

All the dvd proponents promised it in the late 90's. Here we are a decade later with even better technology and it is still hardly ever used. Retarded.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

The theatrical cut should be included as well. For it to not be on this release would be pretty lackluster and disappointing.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

The UK BD is the theatrical cut (181 min) and region free. While it sucks you would have to pay for the movie twice, at least you can have both cuts in 1080p that way.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Other Blu-ray films with multiple editions, ones that come from FOX/MGM:

Alien Anthology contains two versions for each film in the set on the respective discs due to seamless branching with most of the special features residing on their own separate discs.

Avatar contains three versions (theatrical, special edition, and collector's edition) of the film on a single disc due to seamless branching with most of the special features residing on their own separate discs.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show technically contains four versions of the film (US edit, UK edit, plus conceptual versions for each edit) in addition to all of the bonus material on the same disc.

If MGM goes the route with the director's cut only, it's either because they're lazy or Kevin Costner has some say he's trying to pull. Either/or, I don't know. However, the special edition DVD was the director's cut only... so that might say something if FOX/MGM is doing the same thing twice.

However, FOX is pretty consistent with its use of seamless branching on its titles. Other studios have decided its a good idea to create two separate encodes for various edits (Warner, Universal, Summit). Or in the realm of unrated release, not giving the option of the theatrical cut at all.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

This is a good way to go if you like the theatrical cut. (I prefer it to the extended myself). For those that don't have the UK disc, it's pretty cheap but barebones (no extra features, not even a trailer). I got it from amazon.co.uk, and I am happy with it.

If this MGM BD is extended cut only, I'll probably get it eventually but am in no hurry.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I remember hearing that Costner prefers the Theatrical Cut, anyone else able to back that up?

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Add mine too.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

I'm also wondering about "most" of the extras and what isn't included. The previous set was pretty nice and don't appreciate when good stuff is cut.........

I would love for both cuts to be included, but if having to choose, want the extended.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Not including the theatrical cut in this release would be an epic blunder and would piss me off something AWFUL. The extended cut isn't just like a few minutes here and there, it's a whole goddamn hour of boring-ass scenes. I've been waiting forever for a quality release of this and then they only release the 4 hour version? Who do I need to punch in the face to get this fixed???

On a less important note that cover art sucks too.

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Blu-ray.com just added the extras. I'm kind of disappointed in these offerings. Even more so since the theatrical isn't on there.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5503

Special features include:

* Commentaries:
o Kevin Costner and producer Jim Wilson
o Director of photography Dean Semler and editor Neil Travis
* New interactive features:
o Military Rank and Social Hierarchy Guide
o Real History or Movie Make Believe
* A Day in the Life on the Frontier: featurette (new)
* The Creation of an Epic: retrospective documentary
* Original making-of featurette
* Original music video
* Dances photo montage with introduction by Ben Glass
* Poster gallery
* TV spots

Re: Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary - 1/11/11
 

Is this movie anything like Avatar?

Sorry, couldn't resist! :D

Not having the theatrical cut included is ridiculous. Should have been included as others have mentioned.

--John