Hi Everyone,
I recently picked up a copy of the Japanese Version of Piranha 2 and for those of you who don't already know, there is no difference between this and the DVD version (well the UK DVD at least).
But i've read on the alternate versions page that the original laserdisc had James Cameron's 20 minute shorter directors cut on it. Can anyone confirm if this is correct and does anyone know the company who issued the laserdisc?
Thanks in advance
Hey,
There is no directors cut of piranha part II. The footage belongs to Columbia-Tristar.
Cameron had no part in editing the main print of the film and since then he has been nowhere near any of the footage shot.
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Forget the other guy's answer (please don't talk when you don't know. That's precisely the way false informations begin to grow on the internet). THERE IS actually a Director's Cut. Almost impossible to find, but still... Cameron edited one for the laserdisc edition.
Here are the best informations i have :
Piranha 2 - The Spawning
Laserdisc NTSC Nelson ENT. 1984
Director's Cut : 1h24min & 30sec (against 1h34min & 38sec on the producer's cut)
Again, this is ONLY on laserdisc, but if you find it somewhere... please let me know ! ! !
It does exist, somewhere... Pandora, maybe...?
Anyway... good luck !
Having just watched the 84-minute "International version" that is being talked about here, I have to chime in with the opinion that Cameron had nothing more to do with it than he did with the other more well-circulated version.
In many ways, it reminds me of the TV version of "Halloween II" that many presumed to also be a director's cut. Nearly all of the editing changes are simply in the order of scenes. There's changes in music and sound effects as well. Nothing noticeable in terms in added value except the much-talked about "Piranha P.O.V." in a couple of scenes and a more romantic-sounding take on the main theme that I don't recall hearing in the other version.
Noticeably absent is the great scene where Anne radios for Aaron, Steve's lieutenant, and it is revealed that he has been attacked. As he struggles to reach the walk-talkie with a half-chewed face, he is eventually pulled away out into the ocean by the attacking piranhas. Also, the scene where the female bandits are killed comes before the nurse's death in the morgue. This is where I really argue with the idea that this is Cameron's prefered "cut" as from the way the morgue attack is set up, it seems like it was intended to be the scene where the audience learns that these piranha can in fact, FLY.
There's also a lot of music cues getting cut short, which would suggest to me that they were edited out of sequence, after the composer scored the film.
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You're right : this so called international version you're talking about is NOT Cameron's work, but the result of the producer's editing (2 versions exist on dvd : one of 1h34min and one of 1h30min).
I see your point (and i usually agree, these kind of movies are rarely the work of their director), but i need to insist :
THERE IS a director's cut, on an extremely rare collector laserdisc NTSC MCA (500 copies out in 1985).
When Cameron heard that Piranha 2 was about to be released in the U.S, he pulled all the strings he could, and had the opportunity to edit himself a version that himself called "acceptable".
Many scenes have been shorten, others changed in the timeline, and some reedited, based on stuff that Cameron unofficialy stole to the production. But this laserdisc version is extremely rare. Unfortunately, i couldn't find anyone on the internet to share it, whatever the way (except with a german seller, but it was way too complicated).
But in the end, don't fool yourself : this is not a good movie. It's better, more logical and less absurd. And some of Cameron's typical themes like relationship with water are here obvious. But the movie is still crap...
I don't know. The version I watched which is 1 hr and 24 minutes and labeled as the "director's cut" seems to be similar to the one you're talking about with the shortening of scenes and changes in the timeline.
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Well, you have my full attention, then. I'm curious : where did you find this one ? Because you could call it a rare item ! Are you sure it's not one of these "fan-made" editings, like way too much fakes circulating on youtube ?
For example, the director's cut is beginning without the pre-credits sequence. The first shots you see (after the psychedelic credits) are submarine views, with the couple surprised by the piranhas. Plus, the frames are composed with a strong blue filter, all around the screen.
Anyway, if you agree, the easiest thing would be to talk about it with a little privacy. Maybe by e-mail ?
You're welcome. Especially if you have any way to share this version you're talking about, or the place you found it (because i desperately try to find a copy of this, for my collection. Even if... it's not the best) !
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DVD transfer of the "director's cut" laserdisc can be found here.
Also, another thing of note with this cut of the movie is toward the end, they actually use some music from Pino Dinaggio's score from the original film. It's kind of odd and not particularly effective but it caught my attention.
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James Cameron appeared on THE HOUR once, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos. An Canadian interview show. George asked a lot about the story where James snuck into the editing room and made his own version, but James denies it. Perhaps he's lying because that would be admiting to a crime, or he's being honest and James never did make his own cut of the film.
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Back in the 80s I saw two versions of this movie, one taped off of a local NYC cable station and one on home video. I noticed some differences between the two, notably certain scenes happening in a different order, and one opened immediately with the credits and the other with the two scuba divers underwater. I'm assuming one of these was the so-called international version.
shareBack in the 80s I saw two versions of this movie, one taped off of a local NYC cable station and one on home video. I noticed some differences between the two, notably certain scenes happening in a different order, and one opened immediately with the credits and the other with the two scuba divers underwater. I'm assuming one of these was the so-called international version.
I remember up until 15, 20 years ago it was pretty common to add additional footage to the televised versions of movies, normally to make up for things that were edited for TV and/or to smooth out the running time. God, that TV version of "Superman" was endless. I think the first three "Superman" movies all seemed quite different on television versus home video.
I do remember "C.H.U.D." not progressing in quite the same order on TV versus video, and "Jaws: The Revenge" is ridiculous in the switcharoo between the TV cut and the home video version (can't recall which of those was also the theatrical version). In the case of some films, the home video version or the TV edit would be based on the cut of the movie assembled for foreign sales as opposed to the American theatrical cut. In the case of "Piranha II", I believe one version went to home video and one went to television, as it sounds like the international cut that people are describing is very similar to one of the versions that I saw.
There are in fact 3 released versions of this film: The "regular" R-rated version, a gorier "Director's Cut" and the "Producer's/Editor's/Cameron's" version (which was on Laserdisc). Both R-rated and Director's Cut version start with the scuba scene whereas the "Producer's/Editor's/Cameron's" start right with the credits and an alternate theme song. I like Cameron's cut the best for the more campy Piranha POV shots and the order of the scenes, but I prefer the music in the 2 other versions more. I really enjoy this sequel and think it's MUCH BETTER than the remake and remake sequel.
I have a DVD-R of this "rare" Cameron's cut, sourced from the Laserdisc. It's pretty available in trading circles and horror download sites these days.
I've since got hold of the Japanese version as well and can confirm it's exactly the same as the UK DVD.
I have seen people in the past quoting the Japanese Version as having extra footage, however that was perhaps from back when the longer version was not avaliable on any other format.
Thanks