MovieChat Forums > The Avengers (1998) Discussion > Directors Cut?

Directors Cut?

posted 19 years ago by mark-1237
25 replies | jump to latest

I know that this will never happen, but it would be great to see the full 2.5 hour cut of this movie, maybe it's better. The story is that after a bad test screening the studio cut this down from 2.5 hours to 89 minutes. I haven't seen it since it first came out, but I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't quite the disaster everyone was saying it was. Being a fan of the original series (even though I wasn't even born when it first aired), I can say that the filmmakers at least tried to get the tone right with this film. There were lots of cool touches here and there, it's just that the story didn't make much sense. Maybe the full original cut would make more sense.

Of course Warner Bros. would never spend the money on having this recut or on putting it out on DVD, not when the movie is so poorly regarded.

Recut versions of Superman 2 (Richard Donner's cut) and 4 for would be welcome too.

Here's dreaming.

[–] csisagent 19 years ago

I too have been longing for such a director's cut of this movie. I hope the extra footage hasn't been destroyed.

[–] wben750 19 years ago

couldnt agree more i love the film but would love to see a directors cut i mean its over an hour of extra footage is there anyway we can petition this

I found something id thought id lost... Faith to keep looking

[–] misbegotten 19 years ago

Despite it's various flaws, this movie is a personal favourite of mine, and I'd love to see the director's original version - but I'm realistic enough to know that it's VERY unlikely to happen.

This film flopped so badly that Warners clearly regard the idea of spending time and money in restoring a Director's Cut as throwing good money after bad. I ever heard a rumour a couple of years ago that the director offered to sit unpaid in the editing suite and put together the original/complete version for free, but Warners weren't interested.

[–] Toxie2k2 18 years ago

I'm sure it'll happen one day, WB have just released a Special Edition of 'Batman and Robin' and that lost them a lot more money than 'The Avengers' IIRC.

[–] tenou_haruka 18 years ago

I hope I'm not the only one finding it slightly amusing that Uma was in both of these movies..

And good GOD we need the Director's Cut of The Avengers. I would sacrifice a lamb or something for it.

[–] misbegotten 18 years ago

Warner Bros only released 'Batman & Robin' as a Special Edition because they thought they could flog a few copies on the back of 'Batman Begins.'

I was hopeful about a year ago that all the publicity about Uma's role in the 'Kill Bill' movies might result in an Avengers Director's Cut, but no such luck.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] natasha_fatale 18 years ago

I really liked this movie from the point of the art direction and the characters, the story was lacking, but I loved the surreal aspects a lot.

Sounds like the director, Mr. Chechik, didn't work for a long time after "The Avengers." That's too bad.

Oh, I loved "The Saint" too. These two movies have very British sensibilities that the American studio system did not understand, nor did the North American audiences.

[–] Toxie2k2 18 years ago

Would anyone be interested in setting up a website that supports the film and could work as a base from which we contact WB about getting a Director's Cut?

I have a lot of web space thats not going to be filled with my personal site that could be put to use, i'd be happy to buy a URL as well.

If anyone would like to help with suggestions, content etc, PM me.

[–] frosty-29 18 years ago

Sounds great but I can't upload my own music at myspace.com so I guess I won't be very useful. Anyway, if I can help with something, you've got my support, mate.

Frosty :)

"All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players."
William Shakespeare

[–] misbegotten 18 years ago

There used to be a website set up for just that purpose. I think it was either 'avengers98.com' or 'avengers98.co.uk' but I believe it's been closed down.

[–] Toxie2k2 18 years ago

Yeah I do seem to remember someone posting a link to a site now you mention it, I don't think making another site would hurt the cause though :)

[–] frosty-29 18 years ago

The guy's name was iwbeazley. He hasn't been around for centuries.

Frosty :)

"All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players."
William Shakespeare

[–] blackman_806 18 years ago

My name is Paul Flavel (age 17) and adore the TV series but have ALWAYS been very fond of The Avengers movie. In fact when i saw it i never doubted that it was a hit, alas it was not. It simply just did not find an audience. And chopping it to bits didn't help either (Stepford all over again..see trivia on imdb.com).

Anyway i hear that avengers98 has been down for sometime. I would like to help by launching my own fansite in Yahoo! Geocities of the movie. I shall be positive about the film because it is one of my favourites and i think i am sick of hearing about how bad it apparently is. It is merely a big budget flop that will soon find an audience and it big in the cult status.

I have a lot of trivia on the film and pictures that will slowly build up and suprise eager fans who have not seen behind the scenes pictures and...deleted scenes.

Stay tuned,
Paul

PS: my email address is [email protected] for any questions

[–] Toxie2k2 18 years ago

My idea was to start a single website that would centralise support of the film.

How about we work together on the site rather than have two separate ones?

[–] frosty-29 18 years ago

I also think that if you work as a team it would be better.

Cheers:
Nick :)

"All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players."
William Shakespeare

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Toxie2k2 18 years ago

Thanks, I've done a rough version of the front page of mine, I'm hoping to hear off Paul soon about combining our efforts to create the "ultimate" page!

[–] fog-9 18 years ago

am i the only person on this thread who saw this movie?... have you lost your minds?

~~^^~~^^~~^^~~^^~~^^~~^^~~^^~~
Things mean alot at the time
don't mean nothing later

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bizarro_Saints 8 years ago

Actually Batman and Robin made a small profit. It's budget was $125 million and worldwide it made $238.2 million. The Avengers meanwhile had a budget of $60 million and made only $23.3 million. Batman and Robin is by no means a good movie but it did turn a small profit.

I am Bizarro Saints! http://tinyurl.com/5oal5q

[–] TheSolarSailor 14 years ago

If WB wouldn't give a Director's Cut to Batman Forever, which was a very successful film that could have been given the special treatment thanks to the new special edition releases of the original four films, then they certainly aren't going to give The Avengers the time of day. I hate to say hat, as I'd love to see a longer cut of the film. But let's face it, Batman Forever needs a recut just as badly as this does. If it couldn't make WB deliver, then there is no hope for The Avengers. The best we can hope for is a fan edit if the footage ever manages to surface...much like what happened with the Producer's Cut of Halloween 6: the Curse of Michael Myers. It's bad quality, but better than nothing.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] MCal27 14 years ago

It would take something like an Avengers series reboot to make this happen I think... I keep checking the film out whenever its on... usually halfway through. Its quite fascinating as a curiousity as you can see what they were aiming for but it just doesn't gel, And this thread has made it clear why.. I too hope someday.

Al.

[–] TheSolarSailor 14 years ago

Well, The Avengers will never be a big money maker like Batman, which is why I go back to my point that if Batman Forever couldn't get a director's Cut in the wake of the Nolan reboot films and it's own anniversary, then there is no chance of The Avengers getting one even if it did get redone again.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] Lokisgodhi 9 years ago

There *WAS* a director's cut........across his throat. Self inflicted.