Filmmaker

With the recent arrival of the Unrated Extended Editions of CON AIR, CRIMSON TIDE and ENEMY OF THE STATE, Buena Vista appears to have finally shed its idiotic "no unrated cuts of R-rated films" policy; any theories on whether the famous unrated editions of SCREAM and RANSOM are far behind?

digitalfreaknyc

Considering the Ransom SE finally came out not too long ago (with a pathetic non-anamorphic transfer), I don't think you should bet on it.

Mr. Cinema

This year would be the best time to release an unrated Scream dvd with a new anamorphic transfer. It is the 10th Year Anniversary afterall.

ThatGuamGuy

I think the only thing that should raise your expectations of a 'Scream' unrated cut being released would be an actual announcement.

I don't know what their "rule" is on the books, but I can see how they might have a POV which allows for extended cuts which are marketed as 'unrated' but clearly would *not* have changed the rating if they'd actually been included (which is what I understand these three extended cuts to be) and a cut of a movie which had to be trimmed down to secure an R-rating.

I do hope I'm wrong, though.

Technically speaking, opening this up a bit to all the Disney subsidies (since they're all under the same rules, assumably), was the Sundance cut of 'Clerks' given any sort of rating?

Filmmaker

If true (and I hope not) that still leaves RANSOM open to be done correctly at last (third time's the charm?)...

Randy Miller III

[intercom]

*psssh*
Scott Weinberg...RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!
*psssh*

[/intercom]

Giles

but the fact that the majority of these films in their unrated forms would hardly quailfy for a NC-17 rating (sans 'Scream') is just a marketing scheme that all the studios are playing.

djtoell

The policy was something more like "no films with X/NC-17 ratings, or films that would get such ratings." I doubt any of the three new releases you cite to would have been barred by the policy, so I don't think there has been any change.

DJ

Filmmaker

I daresay you are mistaken because the policy was cited at the time for Buena Vista's refusal to offer a DVD of the extended cut of RANSOM that can be found on LaserDisc; as an owner of that LD, I can assure you, none of the additions would have come close to putting the film in NC-17/X territory.

Giles

actually Filmmaker, I am siding with djtoell on this one, the clause came right arond the time Buena Vista was just about to acquire Miramax - the numerous films that they were releasing unrated (and specifically 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover) was what broke the camels back in terms of BV making strict contractual obligations that nothing from Miramax went out unrated, X: (NC-17).

djtoell

Given that the extended cut of Ransom was actually given an R rating (listed as 'Ransom (Long Version)' in the CARA database), BV was confused at best. Since you own the LD, you can take a look at the back of the sleeve and confirm it for yourself (the R rating is the leftmost logo near the bottom, next to the 'stereo' logo).

DJ

Filmmaker

Well then I'm confused as a mofo--why isn't the extended cut of RANSOM on DVD?!

dvd_luver

Seriously, this seemed to have went under the radar with me. They really did that to Ransom with it previously being available in N-A WS? How dumb of Buena Vista and a waste of money, paper and plastic to release something very similar.

Josh-da-man

I doubt we'll see an unrated version of Scream any time soon. For the simple fact that it's an unrated edition people actually want.

If have been people clamoring for an unrated "Enemy of the State," I sure haven't noticed them.

I find myself agreeing that this whole "unrated" thing is just a meaningless game. Typical Hollywood bullshit where they want to sound edgy, but are too conservative to actually make it mean anything more than a marketing gimmick. They just want to pretend they're releasing UNRATED! TOO HOT FOR THE THEATERS! MORE GORE! MORE NUDITY! when all they're really doing is slipping in some useless crap from the cutting room floor in order to technically qualify as unrated.

Watch the bastards not do this with any Dimension/Miramax films. At least in any meaningful way.

Rammsteinfan

BV needs to give us an Anamorphic Unrated DEEP RISING!

bboisvert

Probably for the same reason that the SE is non-anamorphic, when other regions got a 16x9 transfer.


What that reason is (besides the obvious "stupidity") is beyond me, though...

Julie Walker

I'm sure Scream uncut could pass with an R rating today. Just look at how more grisly and intense R rated films have gotten lately! Scream is quite tame by comparision. So I think if they still rated it NC-17,they are as pathetic as always!

I don't think the film deserved an NC-17 back then either. But the MPAA is always hard on horror films that involve teenagers.

And they did change their minds on Trainspotting when the uncut version was rerated. It passed with an R when before it got an NC-17 back in the day. I think it was only 2 seconds of footage,but it was two explicit seconds(one sexual/nudity the other needle shooting up).

So if Scream can't get an R uncut today,I will lose what little respect I have for the MPAA.

Mr. Cinema

I don't think people were clamoring for unrated versions of Enemy of the State, just an anamorphic one. Same goes for the other 2 released: Con Air and Crimson Tide. I guess BV needed another banner to place on these to show that they are better versions of their crappy non-anamorphic counterparts and they chose "Unrated Extended Edition"