Original Theatrical Release gets 5 stars.

The New Extended Release gets 3 stars.



I have a simple plea to film directors. PLEASE STOP TURNING OUT DIRECTOR CUTS when you release older films out on DVD.



Case in point Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves. The original cut was one of my favorite films of all time. I love this movie but now with the additional deleted scenes put back into the film my love for it has dwindle. Through out the original cut of the film there were winks and nods to certain elements in the film like the Sherrif being raised by a witch. The additional scenes that further explains the Sherrif's background turns the movie from an old time action adventure into a campy cartoon. Also there is a scene where a little girl goes to Morgan Freeman, who plays Robin's Moorish companion from the Crusades, and asks why did God paint him. In the original cut Freeman explains with some charm and a smile and the scene cuts away but in this extended edition the holier than thou fryar marches in and confronts Freeman. I do realize the extended scene was to further set up the differences between the two men and religions so to make it more meaningful when the come together to fight tyrany but I have to say in the end the dialogue is forced and it feels a bit like a lecture being acted out. The editor of the original theatrical version of this film was wise to cut that scene short.



True the clarity of the digital transfer is much better than the previous DVD release (which was the theatrical version)and its nice that I don't have to flip the disc over to watch the second half of the movie but it matters little when dealing with the horrible alterations done to this film.



I'm sure this is part of a Warner Bros marketting ploy; continually ruining their film franchises all to make a few extra dollars. Milk the buyer for all its worth. First offer a dvd of the original release that has a lousy video and audio transfer. Second offer a special edition dvd that offers better quality but also a version of the film that is not what audiences fell in love with and then lastly (hopefully) release a dvd that is the original theatrical release, with superior quality, and extras. Well I say forget them. I'm going back to my crappy old dvd. The video may look comparable to an old vhs tape but atleast its the Robin Hood I know and love to watch.