alexander-the-great.co.uk

GLENDALEFALCON · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

Overall, I like the changes, but I did notice a minor mistake. In his big speech
to his troops before the battle of Gaugamela, Alexander puts his helmet on
TWICE and the guy handing it to him is on his left side, then on his right side
after the cut. Hopefully, these clips aren't final, because I can't imagine Stone
allowing something that sloppy to take place.

Now, the new version clears up Hopkins character a great deal. By cutting
directly to the battle of Gaugamela from Hopkins it makes his line of "I know,
I was there" much clearer to any one who had forgotten who Hopkins
character was. In the first two cuts, you've got a ton of Alexander
childhood scenes between the first time Hopkins appears and the next time
we hear his VO about being there (at the battle of Gaugamela.) Next, Stone
added several bloody minutes to the Battle of Gaugamela which added a
great deal of much needed action and extended the running time of the
battle, which many thought was too short. Stone also included more titles of
where you (the viewer) is on the battle field, so to clear up any outstanding
issues people had with being confused, although I never was during the first
two cuts. Stone added a nice panning shot out of the dissolve to black
after the battle and introduction to the killed/wounded tent scene. He cut
out the worst moments of the first two cuts by getting rid of Jolie picking
up a snake and then playing with a young Alexander for FAR TOO LONG. In
this cut, we go right to young Alexander on the bed with Jolie already holding
the snake instead of all that wasted time beforehand. I do miss the panning
shot through the lobby-type room from the first two cuts, which featured
wonderful production design, but you can't have everything I guess. I also
enjoyed how Stone kept the camera OFF of Alexander during the opening
death bed scene and allowed nearly all of the supporting characters a chance
for the audience to see and identify them. Stone has put the Henry V-like,
the-night-before-the-battle walk through his troops tents BACK into the film
as well as make a bigger deal of the ecplise of the moon and put Alexander's
chat with Heph. back into the film that was cut from the second version of
the film. In the end, it's the best version yet of the first 1/3 of the story.
I can't wait until I see the whole messy affair in two weeks.

Oh, I LOVE the new planning meeting between Alexander and his generals. MUCH
better than the first two attempts. I'm glad Stone went with a different take for
Cassander's chat with Alexander, the first one was a little...um...sexual in nature
with the way he looked into Alexander's eyes, etc. I'm glad Stone went with a
more...um...straight take.

ALSO, I like how Stone introduces Ptolemy in this version with him on the
balcony and then there's a beat or two....then Ptolemy starts talking. I didn't
like (in either of the first two cuts) how Stone had Ptolemy start right in with his
history lesson without giving the scene a little bit more time to recover from
watching Alexander die.

apelles · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 1152

Great post GDF!I feel,like you, that the extra footage is making everything much clearer and allowing the development of the complex ideas more scope.I'm very happy with what I've seen so far.There was an absolutely minute mistake but it was on something I've been investigating recently so I spotted it. I heard Alexander say that Craterus didn't need a cloak because he came from Thrace whereas he was from Orestis.I know,I know,it's nit picking!!!! Rolling Eyes

I'm exasperating!
It's going to be a lovely movie and I can't wait!

Susa · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 39 Location: England

The missing clip of Bagoas being introduced to Alexander can now be found on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAx9aUVedY4

siwa · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Barcelona

Its a funny scene!, Collin looks very relaxed... near to the laught.

Bagoas.........this spanish accent..... bufff...... no effort to seem asian.

But new footage is welcomed

birdiemom94 · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 195

I thought it was a decent clip. I'll will also take anything new, at this point in the game.

Oliver Stone hired Fransisco Bosch more for his dancing than acting. He needed someone who could do the dance sequences. So, no, he's not a seasoned actor, but the dances are good.

At least people can't complain that he has an Irish accent. Wink

Dara

Maz · Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 88 Location: England

I have to wait till April Shocked

?! Oh well, I'm kind of happy I found out about this so late as the wait won't be as long as other's who found out earlier. My prayers have been answered. All I wanted was a scene or two more capturing Alexander and Bagoas' relationship. Mary Renault's novel is a favourite of mine as I'm pretty sure it is Stone's, too. Extactic isn't the word. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. That was necessary.

Alexandros_19 · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 1230 Location: Argentina

I received a message today from Amazon saying that my order has been shipped already. Wasn't it going to be released on the 27th? Well, I can't complain, a week earlier is much better. Laughing

My estimated delivery date (no, I'm not having a baby, but is almost as exciting Laughing

) is March 14th, so I think I'll probably make it on time for the online discussion.
Every additional second of footage is gold!!!!!!!

birdiemom94 · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 195

Thats terrific news, Alexandros.

I know you were a bit concerned that you wouldn't get the DVD before the chat. It sounds like you will be getting it right on time.

I can't wait for the chat. Hopefully the other European members doing the chat will have theirs on time, as well.

Cool!

Dara Smile

SPQR5 · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 16

http://media.dvd.ign.com/media/878/878685/vids_1.html

here is the battle of gaugamela with better picture

Cynisca · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject:

Cynisca · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:55 am Post subject:

Well....it's [size=24]AR[/size] day for some lucky people....!
The rest of us have to wait a little longer....
Sad

Maz · Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 88 Location: England

apelles · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 1152

GLENDALEFALCON · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:27 am Post subject:

Oliver Stone, my three-time Best Director winner, answered two of
my questions on the 'Alexander Revisisted' myspace website!!!!

I asked about Anthony Mann's 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' and
how a recent book on Alexander may have influenced the new cut.

http://www.myspace.com/alexanderrevisited

siwa · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Barcelona

Hi,
I've seen the the final cut version, and i love it. For me is even better than the first one. In my opinion this is the best epic movie ever done. Probably is not as enjoyable as other kind of movies more centred in pure intertaiment but this version is not open to all types of audience. In my opinion you must like history to enjoy this movie. When i saw Alexander sitting with the ascetic hindus i felt hapiness to see something that till that moment only existed in my mind, its just a simple exemple of what i mean, and it was only few seconds.

I really enjoyed the first version but the Final Cut evidences some subjective lacks of the first one. Now Hephestion is "in his place" and also Bagoas. Old Ptolomy is more enjoyable and easier to understand.
The Alexander's death takes more time and it was necessary for the drama. I can tell the same of Aristotil school scene, Philip and his son in the caves and the intro of Ptolomy.
And i like a lot what Olver did for ending the film adding few lines about the library and what has been lost, it lets you with a beatifull nostalgic feeeling.
Thaks Oliver for this film, you put the level very high and you honored Alexander's legacy.