History Main / ImprovedByTheReCut

-->--From Creator/RogerEbert's review of ''Film/TheBrownBunny''

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': While ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' are considered to be good standalone games, many fans consider the combined recut of the game, ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' (which you get by locking ''Sonic 3'' onto ''Sonic & Knuckles'') to be the superior version of the game, due to it combining both games into one seamless experience (which was what Creator/SonicTeam intended until they were forced to split it into two games due to time and hardware constraints), on top of fixing numerous bugs in ''Sonic 3'' and having features not found in either game, such as upgraded Super forms and the ability to save in the ''Sonic & Knuckles'' zones. It is likely because of this that more recent re-releases of the game, such as the Steam release in 2011 and the port in ''Sonic Origins'', opt to have ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' instead of the standalone titles.

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if [[{{Infodump}} exposition bloat]] and [[OldWindbag long-winded speeches]] were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some interesting backstory that's crucial to understanding the characters, or R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if [[{Infodump}} exposition bloat]] and [[OldWindbag long-winded speeches]] were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some interesting backstory that's crucial to understanding the characters, or R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if [[{Infodump }} exposition bloat]] and [[OldWindbag long-winded speeches]] were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some interesting backstory that's crucial to understanding the characters, or R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if [[Infodump exposition bloat]] and [[OldWindbag long-winded speeches]] were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some interesting backstory that's crucial to understanding the characters, or R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if exposition bloat and [[OldWindbag long-winded speeches]] were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some backstory and R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if exposition bloat and long-winded speeches were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some backstory and R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back. Sometimes, the meaning of the film may be changed by the director putting back ''their'' preferred ending, which [[ExecutiveMeddling studio executives changed to please focus groups]].

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if exposition bloat and long-winded speeches were removed, it may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some backstory and R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back.

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. If the recut is shorter than the original, if exposition bloat and long-winded speeches were removed, may be a more fast-paced, satisfying film. On the other hand, if the recut is longer, some backstory and R-rated sex or violence that the studio cut in the original may have been put back.

The inclusion of one or more Re-Cuts is often one of the selling points of a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition. The VideoGame equivalent is an UpdatedRerelease, which is when a bigger and better version of a game is released after the original. Common features include more game modes, new gameplay segments, shinier graphics, harder [[DynamicDifficulty difficulty settings]], new costumes and weapons, an added epilogue, a BonusDungeon (especially for role-playing games), improved performance due to being designed to run on a more powerful later generation console, and so forth.

* When ''Film/TheProfessional'' was released in America, some scenes had to be cut out after test audiences took issue with Leon and Mathilda's precocious, semi-romantic relationship as well as the scenes where they participate in assassination missions. In 2004, an extended version of the film titled ''Version Integrale'' was released to commemorate its 10th anniversary which restored those previously deleted scenes into the 2-hour running time. Nowadays, it is considered to be the superior version of the movie by most critics and viewers since it delves more into the personal life of Leon and Mathilda.

** ''Film/Alien3'' is an interesting case, because the Assembly Cut is '''technically''' the original cut, but it wasn't seen by audiences until 2003 when it was released as part of the Alien Quadrilogy box set. Both cuts received mixed reviews, but the Assembly Cut is generally seen as superior thanks to its more focused narrative and increased character development.

* ''Film/DominionPrequelToTheExorcist'': This chapter of ''The Exorcist'' remains one of the most bizarre [[TroubledProduction troubled productions]] in film history. Originally Creator/PaulSchrader was brought to direct a psychological horror movie in the vein of the original; he did his job and almost completed what was called ''Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist''. However, as the movie was being marketed, Morgan Creek Productions [[ExecutiveMeddling decided]] it was not scary enough to fit expectations, so they tossed the unfinished film into a vault and brought an entirely new director, Creator/RennyHarlin, to direct '''an entirely new movie'''. This was the final result, a retooling named ''Exorcist: The Beginning'' that only shared Skarsgard in the main role and the outlines of its plot. Only after it failed with critics and at the box office did they allow Schrader to finish and release his film, edging out the previous one in success and giving birth to the strange event of two films in one. Both versions received mostly negative reviews, but ''Dominion'' is generally considered to be the better (or less bad) version.

* ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald'' was heavily criticized on release for its confusing and crowded plotting. An extended cut on the Blu-Ray contains several expository scenes that add a lot of context and help to smooth out the pacing, especially the second act.

* ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald'' was heavily criticized on release for its confusing and crowded plotting. The extended cut available on the Blu-Ray has deleted scenes that add some much-needed pacing and context.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' franchise:
** All of the films in Peter Jackson's ''Lord of the Rings'' have extended cuts, and all are considered even better than their already-praised theatrical cuts, with scenes added to expand the world-building or even explain major moments, such as the [[spoiler:death of Saruman]], which were not present in the theatrical cuts.
** The ''Hobbit'' films have this distinction, with characters added and plot points explained. The extended edition of ''The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies'' even has an R rating for adding in more violence and action.

* The Director's Cut/Uncut versions of most ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' films are generally considered superior to the theatrical versions due to having new scenes, longer versions of some already-present scenes, and more detailed dialogue. The only exceptions are arguably ''Film/SawIV'', whose theatrical version is notably more polished with exclusive shots that make some scenes more coherent (such as Hoffman actually being seen untying himself from his chair at the end), and ''Film/SawVI'', whose Director's Cut ending received backlash for adding a connection between the two unrelated outcomes that happen (namely, the trigger of the Acid Room also affecting the Reverse Bear Trap 2.0).

* The Director's Cut/Uncut versions of most ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' films are generally considered superior to the theatrical versions due to having new scenes, longer versions of some already-present scenes, and more detailed dialogue. The only exception is arguably ''Film/SawIV'', whose theatrical version is notably more polished with exclusive shots that make some scenes more coherent (such as Hoffman actually being seen untying himself from his chair at the end).

* ''Film/Alien3'' is an interesting case, because the Assembly Cut is '''technically''' the original cut, but it wasn't seen by audiences until 2003 when it was released as part of the Alien Quadrilogy box set. Both cuts received mixed reviews, but the Assembly Cut is generally seen as superior thanks to its more focused narrative and increased character development.
* ''Film/AlienVsPredator''[='=]s Unrated Cut doesn't add much in the way of plot or character depth, but many fans prefer it over the bloodless theatrical cut due to the more graphic violence.

* ''Film/SpiderMan2'' has a recut, known as ''Spider-Man 2.1'', that was released concurrent with ''Spider-Man 3''. The cut contains eight minutes of extra scenes, as well as some alternate takes of scenes that were in the theatrical cut. Among more notable cases is an alternate take of [[UncomfortableElevatorMoment the elevator scene]] (in the theatrical cut, the man thinks Peter's just a guy in a Spider-Man costume. In the extended cut, the man thinks that he is the real thing, and starts suggesting ways he could improve his public image), a scene of J. Jonah Jameson romping around on his desk in the Spider-Man suit when he thinks no one's watching him, some alternate dialogue during the pizza delivery at the beginning of the movie, and a little bit of additional action during Spider-Man's fights with Octavius at the bank and on the 'L' train. The scene of J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man suit alone has caused the ''2.1'' cut to be considered a slight improvement on an already-great film.
* ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'' had two cases of this, the VHS version that added 12 minutes of dialogue that actually advanced the plot and explained what the heck was going on while also giving the rest of the cast and extra more screen time (allowing for some quirky humor and philosophical musings that made them seem more alive and, well, human), and the DVD director's cut, that was thoroughly re-edited to give the derided "Motionless Picture" some better pacing (including a few of the previous cut's deleted scenes), along with getting some new effects to more closely match the original storyboards.

* Both the 1992 Director's Cut and the 2007 Final Cut version of ''Film/BladeRunner'' are considered better than the theatrical cut for remastering several scenes that more effectively push the film's FilmNoir atmosphere, removing the theatrical's loathed voice-over narration, and replacing the [[ExecutiveMeddling studio-mandated]] happy ending with a more ambiguous one. Which of the two cuts is better is up for debate.
* When ''Film/TheBrownBunny'' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, it received an extraordinarily negative reception, with many viewers booing and walking out, and getting severely panned by critics to the point that director Vincent Gallo started a verbal feud with Creator/RogerEbert. However, when the film was officially released for distribution, it had been re-edited, cutting a whopping 26 minutes out of the runtime. Ebert's [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-brown-bunny-2004 review]] (quoted above) gave the theatrical release 3 out of 4 stars, saying it should be shown in film schools alongside the original as an example of the difference good editing can make to a bad movie. At the same time, he still upheld his claim that the original cut was the worst thing he'd seen at Cannes.

Often occurs when the original cut was the result of ExecutiveMeddling. Compare SalvagedStory.

* ''Film/DarkCity'': The theatrical release infamously included a SpoilerOpening which was mandated by ExecutiveMeddling. This features an OpeningMonologue that explains just about every major twist and mystery that will be revealed over the rest of the film, because the executives believed [[ViewersAreMorons viewers would have been confused]]. Naturally, the very first and biggest change the Director's Cut made was to completely nuke this narration from orbit, allowing the plot twists and surprises to be revealed organically. First-time viewers (at least, those who enjoy unspoiled plot twists in their stories) are strongly recommended to start with the Director's Cut. As a bonus, it also removes an overdub for Creator/JenniferConnelly's singing voice so we can hear the actress's own vocals, which are quite good.

Often occurs when the original cut was the result of ExecutiveMeddling.

* ''Film/DarkCity'': The theatrical release infamously included a SpoilerOpening which was mandated by ExecutiveMeddling. This features an OpeningMonologue that reveals just about every major twist and revelation to the backstory that will be discovered over the rest of the film. Naturally, the very first thing the Director's Cut changed was to completely nuke this narration from orbit, allowing the plot twists and surprises to be revealed organically. First-time viewers (at least, those who enjoy unspoiled plot twists in their stories) are strongly recommended to start with the Director's Cut. As a bonus, it also removes an overdub for Creator/JenniferConnelly's singing voice so we can hear the actress's own vocals, which are quite good.

* The extended version of ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'' is generally considered much better than the theatrical cut due to adding way more character-focused scenes and context.