MovieChat Forums > Hard Target (1993) Discussion > did sam raimi really hijack this fimls f...

did sam raimi really hijack this fimls final cut?

posted 14 years ago by KevinCa316
6 replies | jump to latest

just had an interesting read on another forum here...

"during the filming of Hard Target. John didn't have creative freedom neither did he get the final cut. Raimi cut it down to the version we see today. John explained in a documentary that they told him how he should direct. At least Michael Douglas gave him creative freedom and let woo cut face off the way he wanted to. God bless Douglas"

any truth to this? i find it hard to believe, cause this movie felt like pure woo to me...

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ikke_for_let 13 years ago

Disgusting if true.

[–] MaouriCeltic 13 years ago

Certain scenes have the manic energy and quick zooms of Raimi. Watching it I was sure he had some hand in shooting and cutting some scenes.

[–] ZOMBIE-8 13 years ago

The reason the "grenade in the pants" shot is missing from the workprint is because it wasn't filmed at the time. Supposedly after the first test screening, either the audience, Universal, or both, felt that the finale between Chance and Fouchon needed to be "bigger".

So, that being said, *someone* shot the "burning board" fight between Van Damme and Henriksen. You'll notice that the set looks a bit different as well, as the flames aren't quite the same... a sign that it was shot at a later time. As to whether or not it was Woo, it's up in the air. But yeah, the "Heh heh heh *spark* Whoop!" shot felt very "Raimi-esque"

[–] Vortimer 13 years ago

Does anybody know what version is regularly shown on ITV in the UK? I've seen this film described as a travesty, and the original cut as been incoherent, but the version I've seen (and enjoyed hugely) on several occasions always made perfect sense.