Payback

A lot of the "Director's Cuts" I've seen don't do much to justify their existence. They have a few "cut" scenes dropped in, but most of the time they interrupt the pacing and offer no real change to the film. The term has become synonymous with "Unrated Cut" and comes off as a marketing gimmick to get people to shell out for the same movie again. I haven't seen the original cut of Payback since probably 2000, but I remember enjoying it. It was a gritty crime film with a good dose of humor and Mel's trademark "I love being tortured" shtick. I rented this director's cut to see how it played, since it was apparently a dramatic difference rather than a few new scenes thrown in here and there. I'd say the new cut is a much better movie than the old one. It eliminates Mel's narration, which I think greatly improves the way Mel's character is explored. We get to watch it rather than hear it, so he is now Porter rather than Mel Gibson. One of the strengths of this character is that we don't fully understand his motivations (see also Point Blank with Lee Marvin); we have the duration of the film to try and understand his code, his principles, and the original narration spoiled the process. Another change is the filtering. The movie is no longer entirely washed out blue, it's full of warm tones as well as cool. I like this as well. It still fits the mood of the movie, and it's more visually pleasing. As for new scenes, I couldn't really tell what was added in. I could tell what was removed, which was the kidnapping sub-plot, Kris Kristofferson's character, and the subsequent torture and escape. The new cut features a tidier finale, and the whole movie is actually shorter than the original cut. It clocks in at around 90 minutes, which works for this story. I remember liking Porter's escape scene in the original (clawing his way through the backseat), but I think the new cut keeps the pace consistently and serves the story better. It's definitely worth checking out.

I never knew there was a director's cut version being made while I was renting it one day at Redbox sometime ago in 2011. But now I realize they changed a few things that was leftover or never made it through the theatrical version (whom I'm a real fan of). No question that all versions of PAYBACK stands on its own and remain a true classic movie ever. For fans who love real influential movies like this e.g. Dirty Harry Collection (Dirty Harry / Magnum Force / The Enforcer / Sudden Impact / The Dead Pool) , NEW JACK CITY:SPECIAL EDITION , The French Connection, Diva, Cool Hand Luke, Scarface, Boyz 'N The Hood (Anniversary Edition) have all these elements and mixtures collide together in this piece that they can relate from. A few things were added was a new score done by music editor turned composer Scott Stambler (whom did a terrific job creating a remarkable and burning score, and please check him out on ReverbNation which contains all or most of the score featured on this Director's Cut), a few scenes that never made it through from the theatrical version of Payback , and for people who like to know the real truth behind it all should watch the almost 29-minute featurette "Same Story, Different Movie - Creating Payback: The Director's Cut". One thing interests me was the quality and in-depth opinion on how Payback became the movie what it was, but everybody has their own opinion or statement behind the theatrical and director's version also. So what's the difference it's still the same movie, but all have different elements. Props to director Brian Helgeland, Mel Gibson (whom starred and co-produced in this film), the crew, among others who gave their all commenting on this great picture and how it all laid out, and why the fans became impressed with it. For fans on the score that Stambler put down, should suggest listening to various composers from David Shire, Barry White, Henry Mancini, Jerry Fielding, Lalo Schifrin, Don Ellis (whom done some scoring for The French Connection), Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield (e.g. Superfly or Sparkle), Marvin Gaye (e.g. Trouble Man Score Soundtrack), Donny Hathaway (e.g. his first and only score for the film Come Back Charleston Blue), etc. You'll never be disappointed.

Despite what the description of the information on what is on this particular dvd, it does not contain the Director's Cut only the original theatrical version. It states that it has both version but does not.

Versión directors cut alemana pero en perfecto español de España,la versión del director es otra película a la original igual de disfrutable y con más detalles,la película genial con un Mel Gibson en su prime,super recomendable.

100% OK Goede verzending en besteld item beantwoorde volledig aan de beschrijving van de verkoper ( uiterst tevreden ) :-):-):-)

dvd works well, clean, love this movie! will ALWAYS be a fan of Mel Gibson, great man , great actor! a sinner just like everyone else! its so brutal , in the way its hard hitting and bloody and mean .. everyone things their a tough guy, even the little wesal little JEWlry lone shark pus. until he got his . loved that !

Excellent blu ray