The cinematic heaven – and hell – of director’s cuts

The news that Ridley Scott has released his most recent film, the Joaquin Phoenix -starring Napoleon , in an extended director’s cut that runs to an awe-inspiring 205 minutes , has been met with a mixed response.

Scott is the acknowledged king of director's cuts, with at least half of his pictures being re-released in extended or altered form.

But did it need to be seen at all?.

Zack Snyder is an enormous fan of director’s cuts and extended versions when it comes to his pictures.

The Ultimate Cut of Watchmen is particularly highly regarded, not least due to its incorporation of the Tales of the Black Freighter animated story.

Michael Mann is another paid-up believer in the director's cut, although, somewhat in keeping with his no-nonsense reputation, many of the films that he tinkers with end up being released in shorter, rather than lengthier versions.

The most unnecessary director's cuts include Donnie Darko and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

George Lucas ’s re-released version of the original Star Wars was altered from the cut that wowed audiences in their millions when it was first released.

Francis Fordppola's version of Apocalypse Now was incomplete and re-edited into a new version, which ran nearly an hour longer.