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DVD Review: "Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut"

alexander_review.jpg

Take a look at that title up there. Go on. We'll wait.

Had a gander? Did you notice something a little...odd(?) about the title for Oliver Stone's new release to DVD this week? Not only has the title of his theatrical release "Alexander" been modified with "Revisited," but the ominous words "The Final Cut" have been slapped on there as well. What does this all mean, you ask?

If you haven't been keeping score at home, Oliver Stone's "Alexander" released to theaters in 2004 to a critical backlash and pretty dismal American box office numbers. Internationally, however, Stone's monumental epic surged to blockbuster status and an ultimate worldwide gross of $167 million ($133 million of which was overseas). We'll leave it to your own imaginations as to the discrepancy between the US and international numbers, but Stone reportedly blamed the meager US box office on the country's overreaction to the film's homosexual references.

Whatever the case, "Alexander" released to DVD in 2005 as a theatrical cut as well as a "Director's Cut," which reduced the running time to 167 minutes, but didn't do much in the way of appeasing the general public, even with the label declaring "paced, more action packed." So why, nearly two years later, are we getting yet another director's cut?

Perhaps we should let Stone explain:

"Why a third version of "Alexander"? The best answer I can manage is, I couldn’t get it out of my system. It’s a film that’s been haunting me since the theatrical version first appeared in November 2004 in the U.S., followed by a Director’s Cut on DVD in July 2005.

But neither version was complete. It wasn’t an issue of right or wrong, or good or bad, but, like an experiment, one of trial and error. I believe this version now (3 ½ hours) is my clearest interpretation of Alexander’s incredible life.

For those who didn’t appreciate the original, rest assured this is my last pass, as there is no more footage to be found. And for those of you who did like it, please share with me my passion for “Alexander”, every sublime and awkward pixel of it."

Changes from the original include:

* The beginning of the movie is restructured

* 40 minutes have been added to the film, involving:

- Battle scenes in Persia and India

- Alexander’s relationship with his mother

- A fuller picture of Alexander’s relationship with the eunuch, Bagoas

- Additional moments with Roxanne and Hephaistion

- Ptolemy’s character is clarified

It's difficult to remember how much this version differs from the original (it's been 2 long years since we've seen the DVD, and we can barely remember what we ate yesterday), but watching the new cut did feel like a very good version of the film, even though we actually liked the movie to begin with. The edits in this version do a better job of letting Alexander's life unfold to us in a more natural manner, and having the intermission 2 hours in went a long way toward giving us that old epic movie feel from the days of yore.

If there is one issue with this release it's the fact that the special features get dissed yet again. Seeing as how this is Stone's purist vision of Alexander, you'd think he would have pushed for a 4-disc set with extras spilling over the brim. The subject matter, as well as the experiences of making this daring movie, would have made for countless hours of fascinating viewing.

This version's movie grade: B
DVD Grade: D

Visit the official site

"Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut" is set to release on DVD February 27, 2007.

Posted by on February 26, 2007 5:26 PM
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