Payback

The theatrical release of this movie would be on the list of what I would consider to be my “favorite” films. Being in the mood to watch it again, Prime or Netflix wasn’t offering it in their libraries (as of this writing, Prime is now showing the theatrical release. Yay!), so I jumped on Amazon to rent it. I discovered there was a directors cut. Wow, a chance to see one of my favorites, only better, because the director wasn’t being restricted by the stupid studio, right? Wrong! Way wrong! Watching both versions verifies two very import facets of filmmaking. 1) The film score is critically important. The score for the director’s cut is bland and in my opinion, detracts from the film. The theatrical release, which is decidedly noir, has a very supportive score, which punctuates the dark humor. 2) Studios know what sells. If you are a budding film critic or a full-time film student, you’ll love the director’s cut. However, everyone else will frickin’ hate it, compared to theatrical release. Why? Because the theatrical release is more ENTERTAINING, whereas the director’s cut is “dark and raw.” Guess what film critics? We ALL get a dose of reality every day and for many of us, it’s DARK and RAW. We don’t want to see a mirror of our troubled lives—we want to take a short break from it and be ENTERTAINED. Please, please, please watch the theatrical release of this movie. And hey, Amazon! Don’t mix the reviews of theatrical releases with other cuts of films. It’s misleading and inaccurate.

This film is a darker shorter version of the "Payback" which Mel Gibson edited with a soundtrack that was comprised of Blues, Jazz, Rock n Roll and other cool original artists tunes. For instance, I put in the DVD of Mel Gibsons "Payback" and went to a non specific scene which was the boxing match and the first music to be heard was BB Kings "The Thrill Is Gone" while this version had the composers darker soundtrack. I feel if you are a film student or just love learning about films buy both this and the theatrical version. By comparison there is so much that may be learned. There is also the director's commentary & four feature-ts /interviews. Very interesting when comparing the both versions. Buy both and learnhow a soundtrack can alter the film along with editing to get two ver different films from the same footage!!!

I read a misleading review of this that made it sound like both versions are on this blu-ray -- they are not. This is only the newer "Director's Cut". The movie is good -- this was the first time I saw the director's cut. But I like the version that was originally released better. I just ordered the original theatrical version on Blu-ray. There are some other listings for this movie that say they contain both versions, so be careful when ordering.

The mass release of Payback was as dark and gritty as any movie you can imagine. The redeeming feature of that film version was that it actually had a storyline you could follow..amidst all the trash mouth talking and bloody junk, the good acting made it a little bit entertaining. This "director's cut", on the other hand, seems to just focus on the toilet bowl of life with NO REDEEMING FEATURE. It is ten times worse than the other version, if that's possible. Just when you think film makers are at their all time low, this one comes along and the commentary by the filmmaker himself made it even sadder. The guy's head is in a very dark place. I threw it in the trash and would recommend that you do the same!

Mel Gibson at his tough guy best...rough around the edges, but has a genuine soft side, which is apparent if he doesn't shoot you first...Great action, steady directing, a really tight script that never deviates from the central theme...payback is a bitch...definitely one of Mel's best...all parts are played to their fullest...from the top gangsters, to their lieutenants, to the flunky cab driver and the Chow gangsters...special acknowledgement to Lucy Lui, the totally twisted Pearl, who revels in her depravity...

Director's cut is a fail. Took a strangely entertaining, comic-book-ish work of near genius and just shredded it.Some reviews think it's a good study for a film student. Maybe so. I'd say it's a study in how to ruin a success. I actually think it's possible that this movie was ruined on purpose for some reason. It's difficult to find the original, as if someone wants to wipe it off the planet and replace it with some junk that nobody will want to watch. No idea why that would be and don't care. Anyway it's horrible.The original is cheesy and not a great movie in any way that I can explain, yet it was always entertaining. This one could have been edited by a cross-eyed 5-year-old.

This one line is an incredibly valuable piece of management knowledge, especially for millennial's who think everything is decided by committee. having a problem? you have to find out who the man or woman is that is stopping it. yes, committees can recommend things, but ONE person, in the right place, in any company can often stop almost anything. This movie should be required management training. "I don't want Mr. Bronson hearing about this... he'll think I'm getting soft. One of his principles has always been: if you don't understand it, get rid of it"

This film hits all the marks for a solid crime drama and has a glorious lack of exposition. It is character driven which is a nice change of pace from our current paradigm for films of its type. It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and while I think it is supposed to be set in the early 70's based on the set pieces, clothes, talk ect...there are a few misses such as Maria Bello's performance which is kind of all over the place, the Outfit "Capos" Fairfax and Carter don't seem to be well cast (which is to say nothing of the actors, both of whom are great) and its sometimes heavy handed approach but all in all its definitely fun . I have read that this film had issues in production which required heavy script doctoring and reshoots and while I have seen both, I still prefer the narrative of the cinematic release.

THIS WAS on tv but nissed the start,.saw it with a friend in cinema years ago so ordered it...its lively and well made..having FOUND my old cooy on a shelf I now have TWO BUT BOTH have flip side two aspect rations..oho..one wider than the other WHY cant rhey all be like that, pretty please,, as amazon often dont put aspect details up...or unknown meaning they dont know which issue..its chancey. MULBERRY BUSH is a n no,.,ITS NOT as adververtised.. both discs same copy..full screen...another reviewer said the same..my reoly from bfi manager says its impossible WELL...HOW MUCH is it worth then..it seems the BBC1 version IS the original 1-85 version. NOT the official release on dvd, theres been a whopping mistake.CHECK them..but its impossible..

Not a Mel Gibson fan at all but this was a thoroughly enjoyable film. Bought it after reading comments in one of the Ed Brubaker's comics and I was glad I purchased the Blu-ray. The sound and image quality was first rate. One I will be re-watching again and again

Mel Gibson when he was good!

Hardboiled revenge & action flick.Gibson plays it tough as nails in one ofhis best roles.The whole thing moves alongat pace,spiked with violence and black humour.This is the German 'flipper disk' release,one sideis 4:3 (no,me neither),the other is lovely 16:9.Extras include cast interviews.GUM....SHIELD

A very good movie sometimes brutal -but everything has a happy ending.I personally watched it FIVE times and never get tired watching it.So true to life I’m sure.