Internet Films/Videos : Poll: Fan edit or real thing?

The history of fan edits began properly a few years ago when an editor made an alternate, unauthorised cut of The Phantom Empire called The Phantom Cut. The phenomenon grew until fan edits are arguably a form of film making in and of themselves, although still in shadowy legal territory, often indistinguishable from the real thing in quality and tolerated by the studios. They benefit from the work of people who know and love each film enough to make things better, in their view at least. I've seen a few now and in some cases imho they supercede the original (for instance de Palma prefers the fan edit of Raising Cain more than his own version and there is a Vertigo which removes the redundant mid-way exposition scene which Hitchcock wanted removed but was too late etc), even though there is still too much duplication with classic films so far largely neglected. It's a funny thing; I would not tolerate a fan-edit of my favourite books but do a film I love. It could be that this is because a movie is always a collaborative effort and I am used to 'director cuts'.

Has anyone seen these edits and feels, like me that they can be worthwhile or would be good idea?




https://fanedit.org/

https://www.reddit.com/r/fanedits/

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I think you'll find things are a little more complicated than that.

I would not tolerate a fan-edit of my favourite books but do a film I love

A film takes a lot of influence and money to get made. Many times movies have things in them that aren't in the director's vision, but they had to appease someone high up. Author's don't have as much interference until they get popular. When I make fan edits, I normally take out most of the things I spot that aren't relevant, but were inserted to push progressive agendas or sell products or ideas. They aren't necessary to the central narrative and it's not what I paid to see.

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My password is password

Yes I can see that. The risk though is inventing what the director did not want or excessive tinkering. That is not a criticism just an observation. In my experience most fan edits works well in their own terms, but tend to go over the same ground.

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I think you'll find things are a little more complicated than that.

The risk though is inventing what the director did not want or excessive tinkering.

I think we are talking about the same sort of thing, just by different groups of tinkerers.

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My password is password

Yes, I have in mind really those seemingly endless reworkings of the Star Wars universe films which grow tiresome, at least to me. But there is certainly a risk in second guessing the original creators.

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I think you'll find things are a little more complicated than that.