The Director's version butchers the movie
345650
The Theatrical version is actually better than the director's version. The story is told in a much better manner.

Even the director's version is missing some material. Like at the very end of the movie, the Theatrical version has a slightly longer ending because you'll hear a narrator's voice explaining the conclusion of the movie. In the director's version, the narrator's voice is cut from the ending.

The Theatrical version has a few other pieces that are not shown in the director's version.

You're better off with the Full-Screen Theatrical version.
4221883
Raise the Red Lantern is a great movie.  The story is intriguing and the filming and acting are superb.  Unfortunately, this version of the movie is quite poorly done.  The subtitles are often incoherent, with incorrect words and grammar.  I know this movie quite well, and there were several times when I not only coudn't understand the subtitle, I couldn't even take a guess at what it was supposed to be about. I was really looking forward to this new DVD edition and was very disappointed.
640816
The last five or so minutes of the original movie are missing from the end. These are actually crucial plot threads that are tied off. Don't buy this.
423944
This movie is awful. The acting, the script, the way it was adapted from the book (scenes cut out, adapted). I listened to the audiobook and while I found the content kind of cheesy, the writing was decent and made it a worthwhile read for the commute home. The movie, however, included all of the terrible parts of the book and left out all of the promising aspects. Two stars because if you are really bored, it will at least help you kill time; if you are looking for something to equal the experience of the book this movie is not even palatable.
221489
If this was the first Harry Potter movie, it might be worth a couple more stars.  Unfortunately, it was billed as the third in the series.  I'm sure that the egomaniac that directed this dissapointment feels that he has the true line into the soul of the books.  He might even be right but many of us who purchased this DVD expecting to be entertained for our dollars wasted our money.  The previous movies set a tone that was fun.  Maybe they went too far in that direction but they set a standard that has not been lived up to.  Change was inevitable and probably necessary as the tone of the books is changing.  The fact that the primary characters are growing up and the regrettable loss of Richard Harris all dictated changes.  The bottom line is that when I order a green shirt and get a red one, don't try to tell me that I'm color blind.  At least I can return the shirt.

I appreciate cinematography, special effects, staging and suspense created by a skillful director.  If that was what I wanted I could have bought any number of drama or horror movies that would have equaled the dark tone of this movie.  I feel ripped off, not because it's a bad movie but because it deviated from the reasonable expectation.  A clear victory for ego over predictable consistancy.  I happen to appreciate predictability.
2431471
I bought this DVD for my cousins in Wyoming, who are teenagers and had read the book. They sat down with me and explained 3/4s of the book was missing.  The director who decided to get rid of the subplots, also got rid of the catalysts which moved the plotline forward. It was according to the teenagers a waste of money to make the movie, if you are not going to follow the plotline of the book.
2944687
This movie makes fundamental departures from the book, adding magic spoils it. Jeremy the crow is just plain annoying. My 4 year old likes it, so I can't give it one star. But if you've actually read the book, this pales in comparison, and not simply in the way that most movies are not as good as the book. It could have been so much better, but it has so much nonsense.
2112506
Manhunter is gem of a movie...watch it and expand your mind.
The "Theatrical Version" is beautiful to look at and listen to...watch it or just buy the single DVD release.
The 3 stars aren't for the film but the rip-off DVD.
Anchor Bays' heavily advertised "Director's Cut" sucks. The transfer is pale and lackluster; the framing for the picture is too tight (compared to the theatrical version). Close-ups of half faces dominate; William Peterson (Will Graham, the Lead character) is even framed out of one of the additional scenes. The sound is just as bad, soggy and spatially deficient. In a word: Bites!
2057895
I went to see this movie when it came out in the theater. The action was great, the acting was (for the most part) good, and most importantly, the film is based in a great philosophy about martial arts and life in general. the story was carried by a flawlessly translated script. a class act all the way. When I rented this movie on DVD shortly after its release, I was horrified to find that, for some unknowable reason, the DVD has a whole new set of subtitles, apparantly set to sync up with the dubbing script. The new subtitles are AWFUL. they completely butchered the script. They turned one of the best philosophical conversations in the history of film-(the "quality of tea" scene) into an incomprehensible mishmash. Honestly, you would not believe what a difference the translation makes. Sort of makes me wonder what kind of potential those other kung fu flicks had before they fell victim to bad dubbing.  I hope the director's cut has original subtitles on it and, if that is the case, while the action is still kickass, I advise you to wait for the director's cut so you will have the chance to get the whole movie.
2479822
The origanal was great I couldn't wait to get it on DVD and than it came out I gave my original away I bought the Dvd the directors cut.

Well this brilliant director took the monolisa and cut her up through a bunch of modern crap threw it on top of it and made a real mess. I loved the original where you could watch Pink Floyd play and it was in order,before the Idiot director decided to cover all of the live playing with moon shots,sun spots and volcanoes erupting. The Directors cut is crap the Origanal was brilliant and I wish that I had my original VHS back.
3518180
If you are a fan of the VHS or DVD copies of this movie you want to go ahead and skip this Blu-Ray. The animation is all the same but they changed all the dialogue and voice acting. It ruined the movie for me and I could only get about 20 minutes into it.

If you haven't seen the movie before please consult another review. I, however, recommend picking up the DVD instead.
2611176
They call it "Director's Cut" yet it is the only version with censorship! This is deceptive and they should have put some type of warning label saying that this was the censored version.
1342940
The producers of this film managed to take one of Twain's most enjoyable and hilarious books and turn it into a dull and lifeless "movie of the week".  Perhaps my expectations were too high, but the humour and spirit of the original work was completely lacking.  Not recommended.  Read the book, it's wonderful!
3524312
This film FAILS because of the 'perfume ad' vision of the director, a poor story (novel) which the director changed out of all recognition, and actors who completed it (in the director's words) in just 21 days.

Colin Firth plays himself TOTALLY, not a gay man; Julianne Moore does her best 'Belle Watling', the FEW other characters are transparent to the extent that the best performance is by the dog!

In a series of confusing flashbacks all the actual 'action' (lethargic as it is) takes place in 24 hours. The only change of visual pace includes scenes of 'death in snow' and 'almost drowning', and a fire-red sky owing much to 'Fargo', 'The Piano' and 'Gone with the wind'.

As for the music, it's pretentious, saccharin sentimental, and more suited to Anna Karenina than a film set in California in 1962!

Don't waste your money.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Single-Man/dp/B002VECLVO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Single Man</a>
4430731
I am a fan of the classic film version which starred Charlton Heston.  This version of this movie takes the spiritual heart out of the story of Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.  I was extremely disappointed.  It treated the message of Jesus Christ as a footnote, and changed the plot of the author General Lew Wallace.  This movie is an insult to the spiritual message done so well in the 1959 film.
4539461
The director should be internationally condemned for the way this otherwise interesting movie was shot and cut.  The camera is always in the way, detracting from the story, adding ridiculous closeups of arms, legs, and noses, cutting away constantly--sometimes every other second--to provide a different view.  The jumping around was such that I had to watch the film after an intermission taken every 15 minutes.  My head was spinning when the time came to leave the room for a break.

The story is highly predictable for anyone who appreciates ballet.  Yes, it's a lot of hard work and pain.  Yes, it's interesting to see how ballet shoes are made.  Yes, ballet teachers shout and scream a lot.  Yes, it's glorious to be in show biz.  Yes, interviews with performers usually involve a lot of mumbling and cliches.  It all could have been done easily in 45 minutes instead of 90.

Here is a classic example of how not to shoot a movie.  Regretably, this style has become highly popular.  Some television commercials, for example, can rip your eyeballs out in the apparent attempt to emulate video games.  Which is yet another reason to ignore them.

What a shame that this film, with its fine young star, should have been so badly botched.
2879226
I think the director was trying to communicate with the audience using visuals instead of dialog. The visuals do work, but it also makes the movie VERY long and drawn out.

The movie is subtitled, but also has spoken English segments but it primarily communicates visually.