How many times can you edit a movie before it's no longer the same movie?

Movies and TV shows are re-edited all the time without audiences realizing. But is editing something that's already been embraced by the public a roundabout way of editing history? Are we distorting the past by censoring art?
This video focuses on edits made to Star Wars, The French Connection, The Santa Clause, Scrubs, Bluey, and other popular programs.
Shoutout to Alex for telling me about his annual re-watching of The Pacific!

[@SeriousRyno]

People don't understand that things like director's cuts and special editions are not the problem. The problem is making only those versions available. There is no reason not to release both the originals and the later versions, many movies do that already. If done that way that would make everybody happy, which is apparently WAY too much to ask I guess.

[@Takeshi357]

I feel like this is less of an objective consensus and more of a misunderstanding, if not between people then of ideas. While there may be people objecting to something like, say, the "director's cut" of Alien, there's practically none of the kerfuffle you find in Star Wars circles due to the simple fact that every release with it also comes with the theatrical cut. When people do object to the Special Editions, I choose interpret it at objection to the absence of the theatrical versions, not the Special Editions themselves, although I'm certain plenty of objections to those are entirely legitimate in their own right, as in the changed material is simply not that good, not as in because the changes exist.

[@SeriousRyno]

@@Takeshi357 That's exactly what I'm saying Special Editions are not the problem it only becomes a problem if the director says that you can only watch that version and wants the original to not exist. Like I said if both the original and special versions come in the same release it is not a problem. The only problem is not releasing theatrical versions at all.

[@roberthaynes8830]

Exactly, make the original versions available. Not replace it and try to bury the original.

[@MoviesAtTheBar]

Blame George Lucas. In the contract he had to sell Lucasfilm to Disney, it was stipulated they never release the original versions.

[@That_Emily]

in Lilo & Stitch on Disney+ they took out Lilo hiding in a dryer. They still kept the dryer door sounds but made it a cupboard with a pizza box as the door. But then later in the movie they show the laundry area again and its back to a dryer in the background. I flipped out when i saw the change lol

[@JacobsEVAdventures]

Music copyright is dumb. The drew carry show is still not on DVD because of it. Not even streaming anywhere.

[@medium_x]

I remember the intro very fondly. Ohio!

[@LubbockBabesFan]

It sure is 😑

[@originaldarkwater]

You're absolutely correct about media preservation and that the public should have a right to what was released when it does get released. It's not up to Lucas to decide which version of the movie I fell in love with and why. I can be a simple as it triggers memories of what my life was like back when I first saw it and seeing Lucas' "fixed" version does the opposite when it reminds me that I can't legally do that anymore. The super-weird thing about it is that Lucas is otherwise a big proponent of film preservation, which really confuses me. In general, it's also bad for companies to be able to modify this stuff and change the past to cater to modern sensibilities. Those who don't learn from the past etc. etc. Keeping physical media by whatever means possible is the only answer.

[@msd5808]

I'm glad the fans work so hard on preserving the color timing of the originals. I don't think either Disney or Lucasfilm would have ever bothered with that even if trying to fulfill the demand of offering a 4K release of the originals.

[@medium_x]

Hope springs eternal - in an ideal world Disney would release the original versions in 4K. I know I would buy it

[@achyiron]

The quality of your videos is really good. Cant believe you don't have more subscribers yet. I wish you tons of them.

[@medium_x]

Thank you! The videos come first, subs will follow

[@Takeshi357]

You don't need a 4K display to watch 4K77, they have a 1080p version too.

[@ALoonwolf]

I watched the film 'Crocodile Dundee' a while ago. Everything considered offensive was missing from the film, which was every single iconic scene that made the film entertaining to watch. All that remained was a bland romantic comedy. It was awful!

[@medium_x]

That sucks! What platform did you watch it on? This sounds like a cable hatchet job

[@moisemust]

I’m French and I was a fan of the educational cartoon « il était une fois… la vie » (Once upon a time… Life) growing up. A few years ago they announced the remastered version to be available on DVD and Blu-ray. They announced it by uploading the full, remastered opening credits to their KZbin channel… for them to butcher the opening credits on the final release. I was so pissed I made a Frankenstein version of each of the 26 episodes cutting the butchered opening and replacing them with the KZbin version for use on my NAS. I had bought the SD version on iTunes when I was in college and it wasn’t changed back then. My only guess is they wanted to get rid of the nudity in the opening… in a show teaching kids about biology.

[@DIM_Tech]

Merci pour le partage, je ne savais pas qu'ils avaient retouché le générique de la version remasterisée 😒

[@moisemust]

@@DIM_Tech oui malheureusement. Ça devrait être interdit.

[@Takeshi357]

Since I'm also a bit of a fan of the Albert Barille cartoons, I'm curious as to what sort of butchering you're talking about.

[@moisemust]

@@Takeshi357 they drastically shortened the opening credits. Not by much but it shouldn’t have been done imo. They shortened some parts and even removed others entirely. As I said in my original comment it’s even made worse by them uploading the complete remastered version of the opening on their KZbin channel.

[@video_ouija7114]

Well done. Had no idea about the French connection removal. That's crazy. It's in my dvd copy though

[@Mylittleponyplushies]

The waterboy, where the guy kicked the clansman head got edited out for tv

[@bbumbs747]

There was this joke in Amazing World of Gumball, specifically in the episode called "The Hug" they removed what I would refer to as the Tent scene was removed in HBO Max. It really sucked that they removed it because while yes its not the most appropriate its also subtle enough that kids could watch it and not completely get it. Not to mention it was just a funny scene, so to have the scene removed just felt like a slap in the face tbh.

[@emilianovillarruelhernande343]

5:14 I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone reference degenerate hay una any way

[@mnorth1351]

Here's what I think: MACKLUNKEY!

[@HalfEatenMedia]

The original cut of Roger Rabbit was pointlessly re-edited too. SMH

[@Dasinpa]

I see a future when all films will be scrubbed of offensive content. Old physical media copies will be collector's items until they quit manufacturing the disc players. Is film art or just product to be consumed? Anyone who loves movies knows the answer.

[@medium_x]

I say both

[@realAdamClinch]

Film is whatever the creator intends for it to be. There is an objective nature to that. I say my music is made to be art, not a commercialized piece of media, so that's what it is. Created by me, for the purpose of personal fulfillment. If people enjoy it, that's great, but the moment one of them comes at me for re-recording, re-mixing, or remastering something I created, I'll tell them to go fuck themselves lol and I don't care how much they've listened to it. It's not their right to control that as a consumer. That's called entitlement yk?

[@MabaseDrifter]

But why aren't we talking about the Star Wars Holiday Special?

[@medium_x]

Because I honestly forgot about it :0 mission accomplished George you buried it!

[@jonathantanchan5305]

you make great videos..please make more.. thank you

[@SlyQueguy]

George Lucas (or any artist) changing his own films is not censorship, a company changing art without the artists consent is censorship

[@medium_x]

I agree with you, he's not censoring. However, he is distorting how we view his films by not making the originals available. What we currently have available are not the same films that captured the public in the 70s and 80s.

[@SlyQueguy]

@@medium_x I understand your position but I respectfully disagree because George was making changes as far back as 1977. the mono and stereo mixes had different voice actors and different lines of dialogue, sound, ETC.... I also find it funny you harp on the fact the George changed the effects "that won Oscars with cgi", but he was already "messing" with the effects in 1977, as there were various changes then and 1978. oscars don't mean shit so that is a moot point, they are rigged. film is a director's medium so he doesn't owe the SFX team anymore than a salary. no one is entitles to have everything they made put into a movie expect for the person who is actually making it. is director doing a screwing over actors when he doesn't use very single take?

[@randomdude189]

You think they are George’s films? 😂 apparently the art other people did on the movies which he might have changed is of no consequence to you

[@SlyQueguy]

@@randomdude189 every movie morally belongs to the director of the film as the director is the "author" of it. I don't even understand your response. try better next time without all the crying laugh emojis

[@Vipa567]

@@SlyQueguy Every movie bought belongs to the buyer and they can do with it what the wish.

[@RyanGill86]

4K77 is amazing.

[@medium_x]

Some day when I get a 4K display I’ll have to give it a shot

[@RyanGill86]

@@medium_x even on my cheap tcl 4K TV it looks better than Despecialized 2.7. I could tell fromnthe opening logo. I remember back in 2011 I was just excited to get Dark_Jedi's GOUT V3, which took the 2006 GOUT DVD release and made it actually widescreen.

[@roberthaynes8830]

Looking back at the "Special Editions" of the Star Wars movies, that 90s era CGI is looking a little dated. I know they've often tweaked things between DVD releases, and various Blu-ray releases too. They just can't stop meddling. Each version should exist, and be made available, much as with the Blade Runner set, where you can choose which version, on the same desk. But list which version is which, maybe listing changes. I have no problems with people wanting to make the best possible version of their movie available (the Final Cut of Blade Runner is a good example of improving certain things) but it doesn't replace whatever version that may be your favourite.

[@GamerBoy870]

Die hard when they dub over yippy kai yay mother

[@medium_x]

To be honest I get a kick anytime this line is bleeped or cut off. It’s like we know what he actually says! My mind can never not fill in that gap

[@GamerBoy870]

@@medium_x same

[@mycophobia]

dont have anything substantive to say about this particular video. just that i bought a bunch of blu rays and remembered that this channel exists and is cool. keep it up

[@medium_x]

Thank you! Trying to get something published in the next few days that I hope everyone will like 🙏

[@Evilgrapez]

As a creative I can totally emphasize with filmmakers and other kinds of artists wanting to erase or "fix" their art. I can't say I haven't tried to do the same with some of the stuff I’ve made before. The idea of having something out there that you aren't completely happy with, which anyone can see and associate with you, can be really unappealing. But also, you have to realize that you kind of disown art when it's out there. It's hard because you grow attached to it when you make it and it's hard to disassociate it from the concept of "still being in progress." And there are lots of times when you have to release your art earlier than you wanted. But erasing the original version is unfair to the people who liked it and made it their own. You have to think of it as what you would want as a fan. I definitely think artists have a right to go back to their work and do updates, but there's got to be some way to preserve the original and make it accessible, especially if the change is at all significant.

[@medium_x]

I’m also empathetic to the tension artists face. You want the best version of your work out there, but your audience fell in love with it (if you’re lucky) as it was. At some point the artist needs to step away. At the end of the day, the artist/studio own the work so it’s their call. I would appreciate if they would appreciate the original presentation as a sort of time capsule, sort of as a marker of what things were like in their era. But that’s not their job ultimately.

[@Takeshi357]

I keep thinking of that quote George Lucas keeps using, the one that said "art is never completed, merely abandoned", as a justification for the changes, but in hindsight, I think he may have misinterpreted or misunderstood the meaning of that phrase. I don't know the full context of the phrase, but I think it was more of a warning than a lesson, that an artist should have to accept that sometimes something is done, instead of engaging in a futile pursuit of perfectionism.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

We're still complaining about the special editions? Theyve been out for at least 26 years. Thats as long as I've been alive. The changes really are not that bad. The vhs tapes still exist if you want the original versions. Or you can look at the laserdisc rips from the 2006 dvds. There are options. Theres no way to watch the theatrical cut film noir version of blade runner. Nobody is rioting in the streets demanding for Ridley Scott to release that version on 4k.

[@medium_x]

In the grand scheme of things you might be right, though I wouldn’t say the VHS tapes are an ideal way to watch anything. No one has time to wait for a tape to rewind anymore! I just think the OT is valuable to the culture and I think of films as products of their time. I’d like to have access to the highest quality version of those films that are closest to what audiences saw for the first time in 70s and 80s. It’s very likely my generation (millennials) will be the last to be annoyed by the Special Edition changes cause we’ll likely be the last ones to remember watching them on VHS or whatever.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

@medium_x I just don't think there's much demand for the original versions, so why would they do it? The only people that are vocal about it are Gen Xers online. They make up such a small minority of star wars fans at the moment.

[@medium_x]

@@bilbobaggins9451 If Disney crunched the numbers and found they could make more money selling the original cuts than it would cost to prepare and market them, I believe they’d do it. The fact that they haven’t makes me think either you’re right and they don’t believe it’s worth the effort, or there’s something else like a deal with Lucas preventing their release. Speaking for myself, I’d probably buy them. And I expect a bunch of other nerds would too (see the whole Despecialized scene)

[@bilbobaggins9451]

@@medium_x Disney has been releasing some physical releases of their shows and movies, but they're definitely slowing down. I think the 2019 4ks will be the last official versions of the SW films we'll ever get. Maybe I'm wrong though.

[@medium_x]

I think you’re probably right about 4K being the final destination, but there’s a 50th anniversary coming! A perfect time to release something from the vault

[@almendraman]

This video is excellent and doesn't hold back. These are the words needed on the subject. Lucas opened the floodgates on something terrible. Any changes to a finished and received work are immoral and anti art.

[@realAdamClinch]

So I'm 2 minutes in and am very excited to hear the rest of this, but quoting the 1984 guy to emphasize a point about the awfulness of art being changed by its owner(s) after release is wild. People creatively change what they made sometimes and that's okay. It's their work, not ours, so we don't get a say. You do not disown art when you release it, it's actually the exact opposite. YOU own it and nobody else does. The idea that you somehow shouldn't do this if you want to is perpetuated by the consumers, aka people who are emotionally attached to something they have nothing to do with. This isn't the government or an evil corp ruining society by replacing history or something. This is George Lucas fulfilling his original idea as best he can by making explosions look cooler, making planets look realer, and replacing a furry with an alien. Dude changed everything and we've just consumed what he dedicated his life to.

[@realAdamClinch]

Update: great video! I still completely disagree but it's a great conversation to have. One thing we CAN agree on is that Star Wars is awesome. +1 sub

[@medium_x]

Glad we can agree to disagree! Thank you for watching. For the record I don’t hate the special editions. There are some things that bug me (mostly the Vader saying “no” while overthrowing the Emperor). But I’m also interested in the history of film, and think there’s value in preserving things the way they were originally released

[@MickAshMetalMan]

Come one, man, why didn't you cover the other changes, more recent ones

[@NathanDudani]

It's entertainment--their art--not history lol

[@medium_x]

Why not both? We sometimes use art to give us context about cultures at a certain time. In that way they’re like time capsules and can give us a sense of the values and technology of the past

[@stolensentience]

Is the odyssey, Canterbury tales, great expectations, 1001 nights,huckleberry Finn, etc. not all history and entertainment? It might not matter while it’s fresh in your mind but in time you might not like that a cherished piece of media cannot be retrieved in its original state. Or that future generations are unable to experience what you experienced in any form nor remember how things were. Or the line between entertainment or art and propaganda become thinner each decade.

[@stolensentience]

And a film is almost never the work of just one person. Especially in Star Wars’s case, the film was absolutely the work of many, many great minds, and we’ve all seen what happens when Lucas gets more creative control of his creation. And once a creation is set loose, it belongs to the world. Or do your parents still pick out your clothes?

[@JimmyJamm-uq2gf]

Lol try watching the tv edit of pulp fiction

[@TheGamerZapocalypse]

The fact the original as seen in theaters STAR WARS was never released to the public, but rather the "Special Editions" instead is truly a criminal act in my opinion. He did that, so the public was conned into thinking there was no choice but to buy his shtty special edition remake shite. Then he sold the con game to Disney for Billions with a B. The original movie IS the whole story. Anything else is derivative grifting...