Which version is the best version of this movie, in your opinion?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Léon: The Professional
coindudej2 — 13 years ago(August 18, 2012 11:44 PM)
There are two main versions of this film, namely the theatrical version (110 minutes) and the international version (133 minutes). I have only seen the international version (which I personally thought was excellent). I've heard mixed opinions on which version is the best, and I was wondering if there was any common preference.
So, yeah. Please tell me your opinions on the matter.
"Your mother ate my dog!" -Braindead -
psyenergy — 13 years ago(August 19, 2012 02:07 PM)
BOTH versions are good I watched the theatrical version first but when i was like 13 and i'm 16 now so.. I watched the intenational version multiple times and i really enjoyed it.. I think the international version is better but i do remeber slight differences from when i watched the original version compared to the internation.. Hope i helped a little
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coindudej2 — 13 years ago(September 04, 2012 07:43 PM)
Thanks for the reply. I think the biggest difference was that they took out the whole scene with Mathilda telling Leon that she wanted him to be her lover. It offended Americans. But I haven't seen the original, so I wouldn't know.
'Your mother ate my dog!"- Dead Alive -
m-slovak79 — 13 years ago(August 27, 2012 04:50 AM)
to me unless a film is not too good to begin with i most likely will prefer more footage of it. so with that said i would say definitely with go with the
133 minute
version.My Vote History
http://imdb.to/rb1gYH -
lajnusontheline — 13 years ago(August 28, 2012 11:50 AM)
After watching the theatrical version countless times over the years i recently bought the "directors cut" version on blu ray.
I was fairly disappointed, i definitely prefer the shorter version.
I felt the longer version lacks much in tempo and brings the relationship between Leon and Mathilda a step too far and in the wrong direction. -
coindudej2 — 13 years ago(September 04, 2012 07:52 PM)
How was their relationship in the shorter version? I thought that the relationship in the longer version was interesting for several reasons It was of course entertaining to watch Leon getting intimidated by Mathilda, but I was really surprised to see that it portrays Mathilda as the aggressor in the relationship, trying to push Leon into a more physical relationship. Few movies would do that
'Your mother ate my dog!"- Dead Alive -
alekesam — 13 years ago(September 06, 2012 09:25 PM)
The original (which is the 133 min version) is the best. The edited down American version lacks the fuller relationship of the uncut version.
I used to like both for different reasons but the more I watch the uncut, the less I enjoyed the cut version. I haven't watched the cut version in years. It has heart, just not as much as the uncut.
It's almost like the difference between Point of No Return and Le Femme Nikita (but not as extreme in comparison). The differences between the two make them almost two entirely different movies.
Just my one cent since I can't afford two. -
DFC-2 — 13 years ago(September 07, 2012 03:15 AM)
Besson calls the original short version his director's cut. It was the only version shown anywhere prior to the Summer of 1996. The only edit he did not choose himself was the short propositioning scene.
http://www.imdb.com/board/10110413/board/thread/2406531?d=41099842&am p;p=3#41099842
He created the extended version, containing all the footage he had edited out of his director's cut, as a gift for fans who cared more about the two characters than the story arc.
While I love some of the scenes in the extended version (e.g. the Russian Roulette sequence), I prefer the shorter version for everything else. It better supports the story arc of her childhood and innocence being preserved because of Leon's kindness and chivalry.
This wouldn't work as well, at least for me, if she was shown participating in murders and celebrating her role in them. I think this part was a holdover from the colder and older sociopathic Mathilda in the earlier script and that Besson took it out because he saw that it didn't fit the revision. -
playtoyer — 13 years ago(February 09, 2013 01:23 PM)
there is the theatrical version and the extented version that had a theatrical release in france and maybe a few other countries the first version came out in 1994 and the extended version in 1996 for the fans of luc besson,like they did with the big blue and for economic reason to make more money,you can find the extended version on dvd althought the extented version is good with great new scenes added in the movie but I find the theatrical version much better then the extended version
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paulfitzpa — 13 years ago(February 28, 2013 10:29 PM)
I recently re-watched the international version. The way Matilda pushes the relationship in that direction is definitely uncomfortable to watch and they probably didn't think US audiences could handle that uncomfortable feeling OR they thought it just got in the way.
I find it interesting how in many ways Matilda is the adult in the relationship and Leon is the naive childlike character. In fact they kind of trade that role.
That interplay is what helps make this film so well done. It has aged very well and is still very entertaining! Great villains, great acting.
IMHO this is the BEST role that Natalie Portman has landed. She is just so good in this film, it's an oscar worthy performance. -
ame88 — 13 years ago(March 24, 2013 04:19 AM)
I have both versions on DVD and now the Blu-ray, which has both versions of the film on the same disc. The Theatrical has French opening/closing titles, too
I have difficulty choosing a version, although I did watch the shorter version the other day after not seeing it for years, and remembered how much I loved it. So I DO love the longer version, but I think as I have done editing and know about moving stories on etc, I think the shorter version gets the story told in a better way. But there is nothing wrong at all with the longer version, I wouldn't have bought the longer cut if I felt I didn't like it
It's all about personal preference.
"Yes! I am invincible!" - Boris Grishenko, GoldenEye, 1995