Plot-changing recuts for international or English releases?

[odioustrident]

I just finished watching the Ocean Shores dub VHS print of 2 Crippled Heroes, and the finale (which seems awkwardly spliced in) looks to be a continuation of an earlier fight in the movie! The setting, clothes and visible injuries are exactly the same.

The Brentwood (Kung Fu Theater) print of Men of the Hour has an insane amount of cuts, probably for content, but whole action scenes are cut short in really abrupt ways. There is non-violent action seen in the trailer that is not available in this print. I remember thinking scenes were spliced in at odd places also.

I understand plenty of films are cut for content or running time, but what about rearrangement of scenes? Maybe when a film is cut for running time, some distributors etc.. try to create a more cohesive film? I really hope this is not the original print of 2 Crippled Heroes...

[wigsplitta]

Yep, it's pretty frustrating watching a film that is blatantly cut or re-edited for no good reason! A couple of my favourite Sonny Chiba films - Karate Warriors and The Bodyguard - have had this treatment!
Karate Warriors had scenes in the first half of the film rearranged, whilst The Bodyguard had a load of scenes cut and the storyline changed!

[The Dragon]

Black Mask, US release.
:nerd:

[HyperDrive]

The Brentwood (Kung Fu Theater) print of Men of the Hour has an insane amount of cuts, probably for content, but whole action scenes are cut short in really abrupt ways. There is non-violent action seen in the trailer that is not available in this print. I remember thinking scenes were spliced in at odd places also.

It's especially blantant when the main character first walks into that palace room and all of sudden there's a body behind him.

One movie that is cut on the same level as this is The Protector version of Tom Yum Goong.

[Killer Meteor]

The US prints of Mighty Peking Man were cut to make it seem that a character had survived. This change is not on the US DVD though.

I suppose the opening of Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave sorta counts. What with that, The Bodyguard, Dr. Butcher MD (a rejig of Zombie Holocaust) and others, Aquarius could never leave a film alone!

[Markgway]

In some prints of Tiger Cage 2 the identity of the person who kills our lead villain was changed.

Master with Cracked Fingers is a bastardization of Cub Tiger from Kwangtung.

[Asmo]

I believe the plot was changed for the US release of Accidental Spy.

[dionbrother]

They should have just completely re-shot ACCIDENTAL SPY.

Ocean Shores' print of THE MASTER STRIKES had two reels out of order.

Some movies are improved with US editing. RUMBLE IN THE BRONX, ONG BAK, and I've heard that Jackie Chan racing movie (was it THUNDERBOLT?) is far easier to watch in cut form. The euro versions of the ACES GO PLACES series are altered quite a bit, but fun to watch in their own odd way.