Yes, it's true, the unrated cut is an often overused, annoying marketing scheme designed to draw in fans. You rent a film expecting more gore or nudity and you get a minute of extended scenes and outtakes that add nothing to the film. And not only does it undercut the theatrical exhibition, offering a longer version of the film you didn't get to see in theaters, but it's not always in line with the director's intention, either.
That being said, are there some extended and/or unrated cuts that work? Absolutely!
This list compiles 25 of our favorite unrated and/or extended cuts that may or may not necessarily be director-approved (though some probably are). This list does not include well-known Director's Cuts like Almost Famous, Daredevil, Donnie Darko, Blade Runner and Rambo. Nor does it include big-budget special extended editions, workprints and re-edits like Avatar, Highlander II, Alien 3, Aliens and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. Or more obvious extended editions like King Kong, Lord of the Rings or Gladiator -- all great extended cuts, by the way. Rather, we'll examine the evolution of the unrated cut, and note some top-quality unrated, extended editions that hit the market along the way.
As always, if you've got suggestions for other unrated, extended cuts we might have missed, feel free to let us know in the forums below. A quick Amazon search for "unrated" yields about 80,000 results. In other words, we probably skipped a few titles.
 | Blade Trinity (2004, Action) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 9 minutes | |
While Blade Trinity is still a pretty big disappointment in its unrated form, it's a much more ambiguous, enjoyable experience. With a few interesting character moments restored, the film feels less like a patchwork and more like a real movie. Now if only it would have deleted a few of the sloppy comedic cues and tightened the overall pace, Blade Trinity would be considered a decent movie. Alas, it's still not a great film, but it is a pretty great unrated cut.
 | Team America: World Police: Uncensored and Unrated (2004, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 1 minute | |
Contrarian counter-culture aficionados Trey Parker and Matt Stone were born for the unrated, uncensored market, yet their work is constantly censored and hacked up (see their frustratingly edited 200th two-part episode from South Park: Season 14). Team America's unrated cut doesn't add a whole lot, but one key scene -- a hilarious moment of puppet sex between our two leads -- goes entirely uncensored here. It's the little things that make a movie better, and puppet sex makes Team America a better movie.
 | Eurotrip (2004, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 2 minutes | |
Eurotrip was one of those films that felt like it would be a generic teen sex romp, and it does play to many generic cues, too. But it ended up more refreshing, offbeat and uproarious than most comedies of its day. Matt Damon's "Scotty Doesn't Know" song still gets stuck in my head, and the robot fight sequence ranks among my favorite on-screen comedic battles. The unrated version adds even more comedy to the fray all while tying up a few loose ends in very clever ways. Plus there's a token bit of added nudity.
 | The Comebacks (2007, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 23 minutes | |
The Comebacks was a huge mess when it first came to theaters, a bottom-barrel 84-minute spoof that played to the lowest common denominator (i.e. fans of Date Movie). But when the film came to video, and got a pretty hearty unrated, extended edition, it blossomed into a much sharper, more focused, funnier spoof of sports movies. Admittedly, the film still has more misses than hits, but some of those hits are damn funny. And with an expanded narrative, more members of the cast get to shine. It's hardly perfect, but The Comebacks represents one of the better sight-gag spoofs out there.
 | Swimming Pool: Unrated Version (2003, Sexual Thriller) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 1 minute | |
If you're in the market for a somewhat sleazy Hitchcockian thriller, Swimming Pool should do the trick. Not only is the film riddled with twists and turns, it also boasts a very-naked young starlet, French actress Ludivine Sagnier (best known as Tinker Bell in the 2003 adaptation of Peter Pan). In its unrated form, the film features even more nudity, including a few gratuitous close-ups. Now, one could argue cheeky exploitation; however, the cut scenes actually add quite a bit of sexual tension to the narrative, making the unrated cut superior to the R-rated version
 | Mallrats: Extended Edition (1995, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 29 minutes | |
Love it or hate it, Kevin Smith's goofball follow-up to Clerks got an extended edition a few years back, cut by Smith himself, though he doesn't consider it a Director's Cut -- probably because his re-edit doesn't really save the movie from its own shortcomings. In fact, this version rarely makes the film any better. And if you're not a fan, it makes for an even more unbearable experience. That said, if you're a Kevin Smith fan, or a lover of this strange little movie, you'll dig the added character moments, the additional gags and the humorous set pieces.
 | Doom: Unrated, Extended Cut (2005, Action, Horror) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 13 minutes | |
Doom wasn't a bad action film. Karl Urban and Dwayne Johnson are both pretty badass. But the film wasn't the world's best video game adaptation (it's just slightly above average). When Doom came to video it got a more thoroughly fleshed-out unrated extended edition which added quite a bit of action, character, nudity and gore -- and that surprisingly effective first-person shooting sequence was much longer. Sure the film is still a ways away from a masterpiece, but in its unrated form it's a far more enjoyable, energetic experience that works more as a standalone action picture than a video game movie.
 | The Punisher: Extended Cut (2004, Action) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 17 minutes | |
The Punisher '04 was hardly Oscar-worthy in its theatrical form, but its extended form adds quite a bit of character to the narrative. The 17 minutes of extra footage include an animated opening, more violence and gore, and an extended finale which ties things up a little better. If the 2004 version of The Punisher isn't your thing, be sure to check out the 1989 incarnation. There's an R-rated, extended cut on the market as well as an uncut workprint (available overseas) which runs quite a bit longer and features a totally different opening act.
 | Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky: Unrated (1991, Cult, Martial Arts) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 3 minutes | |
Curiously, the box for Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky claims the film is rated R. However, I managed to catch a special screening of the original R-rated cut a few years back and, to my surprise, the DVD is actually a special unrated version of the film. All the film's deliciously gory moments are no longer blocked out in red, or cut completely. Instead, fans are treated to one of the most gonzo cult gore martial arts epics ever made. The movie is positively ridiculous, even more so now that it's unrated. Expect to see epic levels of violence and gore.
 | The Sweetest Thing: Unrated Edition (2002, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 2 minutes | |
The Sweetest Thing was just another dull romantic sex comedy when it first came to theaters, where it was largely forgotten despite a stellar all-star cast. But when the flick came to video, and got the unrated treatment, it blossomed into an irreverent female-centric spoof of the dating world, complete with crass gags and a hilarious musical number centering on penises. While the film still isn't for everyone, it's a much more entertaining, offbeat deviation with more bite than bark -- and that's exactly the burst of energy this film needed in the first place.
 | The New World: The Extended Cut (2005, Drama) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 37 minutes | |
Terrence Malick's moody tone poem about the birthing pains of America was hacked to pieces before its release, cut from 150 to 135 minutes. Some speculate that Malick himself made the trims in order to better focus the wayward narrative. Others speculate that after the film screened to mixed reactions it was hacked by New Line (perhaps with Malick's blessing). Regardless, this extended 172-minute cut may or may not represent Malick's intended vision. However, it's a much more hypnotic, poetic picture that feels more like a raw journey than a real film, which seems to be what Malick wanted in the first place. While The New World is certainly not everyone's brand of entertainment, this extended version offers a fascinating look at a greatly misunderstood movie.
 | Salt: Extended Version (2010, Action, Thriller) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 1 minute | |
Salt's an interesting unrated, extended specimen. The home video "Deluxe Edition" release actually contains three cuts -- the theatrical cut, an extended cut, and a slightly darker Director's Cut. The extended cut moves things around, deletes some elements and adds new scenes and different motives. It genuinely enhances the theatrical version, adding more intrigue and character to the fray. But if you're in the mood for a darker vision of the film, with a less optimistic finale, give the Director's Cut a whirl. To be honest, though, all three cuts are well worth a look.
 | Dune: The Alan Smithee Cut (1984, Science-Fiction) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 40 minutes | |
A world-renowned unrated, extended cut if there ever was one, this lengthy, non-director-approved 177-minute cut (which was edited down from a 190-minute TV cut) expands on the story (adding roughly 40 minutes to the theatrical cut) and attempts to explain just what the hell is going on in director David Lynch's hypnotic sci-fi thriller. This cut is loathed by director Lynch, so much so that he removed his name from the credits, billing himself as the ever-elusive Alan Smithee instead. And while I very much enjoy the theatrical cut of Dune, this extended edition is much easier to follow, and a slightly closer adaptation of the original book from veteran sci-fi novelist Frank Herbert.
 | Wild Things: Unrated Edition (1998, Thriller) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 7 minutes | |
Wild Things seems the perfect movie for an unrated edition. And it had an opportunity, back in 1998, to be one of the first DVDs on the market to feature an unrated cut. Alas, the ball was dropped and it wasn't until 2004 when an unrated cut made it to shelves. But this extended version adds quite a bit more intrigue, and graphic sexuality, to the narrative -- improving the story while delivering the naughty goods fans crave. Wild Things may be a little long in the tooth these days, but it's still an effective sexual thriller with some great twists and turns, Bill Murray and plenty of flesh.
 | Death Proof: Extended and Unrated (2007, Horror) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 27 minutes | |
Both Grindhouse films came to video extended and unrated. Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror got more violence and silliness whereas Tarantino's Death Proof got more nuance and style, not to mention a full-length version of that sweaty, sultry lap dance. While it's not quite clear whether Tarantino was involved in this extended cut -- though it is likely he was since Death Proof got an extended international release -- this version isn't labeled a Director's Cut for reasons unknown. Regardless, the extended version of the film is a little creepier and more in keeping with the mesmerizing slow-ride of many of Tarantino's other pictures (Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, etc).
 | Waterworld: Extended Edition (1995, Science-Fiction, Action) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 41 minutes | |
Shortly before release, a nervous Universal Studios and hands-on actor Kevin Costner took the over-budgeted soon-to-flop picture Waterworld away from director Kevin Reynolds. They cut the film to 135 minutes. Just a few years ago, Universal quietly released an extended version, which adds an extraordinary amount of material back into the film. It's unclear if this version represents Kevin Reynolds' original vision for the picture or whether it's simply a lengthy extended cut, but regardless, it's a worthwhile edit that enhances this underrated sci-fi film more often than not. If only the transfer quality on the DVD wasn't so scummy. Fingers crossed for a Blu-ray double-dip.
 | Badder Santa: Unrated (2003, Comedy) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 7 minutes | |
Now here's an interesting unrated cut. There are actually three differing versions of Bad Santa out there -- the theatrical cut, an unsanctioned unrated cut and a director-approved Director's Cut. Here's an example of film that's flat-out better in its unrated form. The Director's Cut is fine, but it's much darker and not as emotionally enjoyable (it's shorter than the theatrical cut, too). Whereas the unrated version is filled with hilarious extended scenes and interesting character bits that add a little more to the narrative. So spread some Christmas cheer and give this unrated cut a whirl.
 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: Extended Edition (1991, Action) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 12 minutes | |
No, I'm not referring to the Mel Brooks spoof, or the costly Ridley Scott epic (which also got a Director's Cut), but rather the Kevin Costner hit from the early '90s -- the one that spawned that Bryan Adams song (yeah, remember him?). This one might actually be a Director's Cut -- there is some debate about that among fans. However, it is listed as an Extended Edition on the box, which is why it made this list. This version of Robin Hood is actually quite a bit darker and moodier than the original theatrical version, restoring much of the witchcraft and mayhem from resident villain Sheriff Nottingham (the always-dependable Alan Rickman). If you liked Costner's Robin Hood, you'll likely love this extended cut.
 | Dead Alive aka Braindead: Unrated (1992, Cult, Horror) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 12 minutes | |
Before Peter Jackson introduced the world to his remake of King Kong, or took us to Middle-earth in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, he was a gorehound cult filmmaker who banged out some of the classiest over-the-top sleaze in town (Meet the Feebles, Bad Taste). His masterpiece, though, was an offbeat horror-comedy -- a zombie film gone terribly awry (in the best possible way, of course). The film was released in the States running about 85 minutes. It wasn't until video that fans got to experience the uber-gore of this flick, which was extended to 97 minutes! Be prepared for an all-out blood bath and some of the most hilariously gooey gore ever committed to celluloid.
 | Hancock: Unrated Edition (2008, Comedy, Action) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 10 minutes | |
Hancock was met with much critical distaste when it was first released, but the film went on to be a pretty big box-office hit. Those who know the history behind the film know that it was infamously trimmed from an R to a more family-friendly PG-13. This unrated edition appears to restore many of the trimmed R-rated sequences all while adding more character development. The result: a more rounded experience that delivers exactly what was missing from the theatrical cut. If you didn't like Hancock to begin with, though, it's not likely this unrated cut will fix your problems with the film. But for fans, this unrated cut offers more insight and more drama.
 | The 40-Year-Old Virgin: Unrated Edition (2005, Comedy) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 17 minutes | |
There's not a single Apatow-produced comedy out there that doesn't deliver a stellar unrated cut, be it Knocked Up, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Walk Hard, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Funny People or Get Him to the Greek. To be frank, they're all worthy of being on this list. But the best of the bunch is probably Apatow's feature-length directorial debut, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Stocked with more nudity, more gags, outtakes, deleted scenes, extended bits and more, this cut fleshes out the story and characters, providing a more thoroughly entertaining experience that gets better with each viewing.
 | Caligula: Complete, Unedited, and Unrated Version (1979, Drama) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 54 minutes | |
Financed by Penthouse founder and publisher Bob Guccione, Caligula is easily the mother of all star-studded, kinky, unrated, uncensored, extended cuts on the market. The original R-rated cut ran 102 minutes, but the "fully extended" 156-minute cut featured more explicit sex, fleshed-out characters, far more plot and was an all-around better experience than the hacked-to-pieces theatrical cut. Rumors still persist that an even longer, more explicit versions of the film exists, but until that cut surfaces, this unrated, extended cut is best edit of Caligula around. Another worthwhile star-driven sexual drama is Last Tango in Paris, featuring Marlon Brando, which recently came to Blu-ray uncensored.
 | Robocop: Unrated (1987, Science-Fiction, Action) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 1 minute | |
Here's a perfect example of how much one minute can change the tone, style and message of a film. Of course, Robocop was always meant to be a hardened spoof on graphic violence being spoon-fed to children through action pictures. But that point couldn't be any more clear than in the NC-17 (or unrated) version of the film. The violence and gore are amped up to an incredible degree, painting a nihilistically violent universe primed for satire. Just watch the horrifically violent extended death scene involving Alex Murphy, or the scene with ED-209 malfunctioning in the office (long hailed by a friend as the most hilariously botched product demonstration in movie history) and you'll see what we mean.
 | American Pie: Unrated (1999, Comedy) Available on DVD. Amount of time added: 1 minute | |
While American Pie is hardly the first unrated film, it's probably one of the most notorious unrated cuts out there. And, thanks to massive home video sales, it's largely the film responsible for the entire modern unrated, extended trend. In reality, the first film's unrated footage (cut before theatrical release to avoid an NC-17) is actually pretty funny, though there isn't much of it. You've got a naughtier version of our hero "humping" a pie and much more. And the film's theatrical sequels boasted even more enjoyable unrated cuts. American Pie 2 is quite a bit longer (and arguably better) and American Wedding had scenes shot specifically for the unrated edition. Trendsetting, indeed.
 | Sex Drive: Unrated and Cream-Filled (2008, Comedy) Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Amount of time added: 20 minutes | |
American Pie was the unofficial beginning of the "unrated" era, but Sex Drive: Unrated and Cream-Filled is the ultimate example of a great unrated cut. Not only does it mock and ridicule the very idea of an unrated cut, it also plays to the base, adding copious amounts of full-frontal nudity (both male and female), extended scenes, outtakes and even flubs and line gaffes -- many of which are added to point out how excessive (and funny) this trend can often be. It's a bloated, hilariously unconventional experience that actually makes the movie significantly better. With this cut, the film transforms from a generic teen sex comedy to a commentary on the entire idea of an unrated cut. Impressive.
No comments:
Post a Comment