Cheap Payback - Straight Up - The Director's Cut [HD DVD] (DVD) (Brian Helgeland) Price

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Customer Reviews of Payback - Straight Up - The Director's Cut [HD DVD]

Hmm...you won't like this cut if you liked the "smart-a**" Porter.
My brother and I love the theatrical cut because of the dark humor throughout the film. To the director's cut credit, we always thought the kidnapping part of the rich son was stupid. So we watched this D.C. last night and we were both disappointed. My problem w/ the d.c. is that eliminates a lot of the dark humor. The new score is a more serious one which doesn't mix well with the exsiting parts that were funny or the subtle things all the actors did to give it a "smart-a**" feel. The new voice over for Kris Kristoffersen's character, Bronson, is done by a woman. The new scene with William Devane (Jack Bauer's nemesis) & Porter on the phone with Bronson, doesn't work for me. She sounds like grandma acting ticked off rather than a "head boss". It gets dumber when she's on speakerphone w/ James Coburn. She's says Porter has hit the "end of the road" and will go nowhere in one breath. Then Porter shoots the alligator bags, while Bronson thinks it was Fairfax, and then she just gives in and says Ok, you win pretty much. Again, another "smart-a**" Porter part they cut was the toe torture scene. <
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>The ending is totally different. I didn't mind the newer one but it was the "everyday" shootout. I miss the old phone trick and him blowing the car up with ciggy. I don't see how the theatrical cut was any happier but for us it was funnier & a little less melodramatic. <
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>On the HD-DVD side of things: this disc shares the same problem as my Sleepy Hollow HD-DVD. Horrible digital noise. It's like watching the creepy crawlies all over people's faces and the blurred out backgrounds (on a 56" RPTV). Other than the digital noise the transfer is sharp and the blue tint is gone which I am indifferent on. Again, the newer score is not as fun as the old one and DD+ is fine. <
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>In the end- we missed the darker humor more in this newer cut but it is still worth seeing to see how different it is. Director's cuts are fun to watch even if do or do not like them.

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Point Blank Rip-off
This movie started out with brutalizing women, and continued from one scene of empty violence to the next. Gun shot to gun shot, it left me cold, and I finally went in the next room and let if finish for the benefit of guests who were watching. After the final shots and body count ended, I shut-down my home projection cinema, said goodnight to my friends, and folded the HD disc four-ways and put it in the trash where it belonged. Forget this worthless cXXp.

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Alternate version worth taking a look at!
If you're a fan of Payback at all, I think it's imperative that you watch this version not only because of how differently it plays out but because it is a great opportunity to see how a director's vision can be compromised by the studio system. <
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>From the very beginning, you know you're in different waters when the tone of the film settles in. They do away with the voice over and there is far less humor in this version. Instead of the blue tinted palatte of the original, this film has a more lush and natural quality to it. The character of Porter (Mel Gibson) in this version is even more brutal and cold blooded, which is a big reason as to why the film was asked to be recut by the studio. I watched both versions back to back and I think I can say that this new version is almost like watching an entirely different movie. I like them both equally and this new version really adds to the experience. <
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>That being said, this HD-DVD has several great supplementary features that should make your day. One in particular is a half hour doc that goes into why Brian Helgeland's original cut was rejected by the studio and contains insightful comments by key members of the cast and crew, including Mel Gibson himself who I have to give credit to for being involved with restoring this version and giving a genuinely humbling interview. The picture on this disc looks great and the sound really kicks in during scenes of gunfire and general action. I strongly recommend it, especially if you like the original cut!