Stephen King's IT clarification - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Mr. Incredible · 11-21-2003, 01:23 PM

I remember when the DVD for Stephen King's IT mini-series came out that there was some uproar because it had been altered and edited in some way from its original broadcast form. I can't find it anywhere. Can anyone clarify exactly what was edited/trimmed from this DVD release? Or is it exactly as it should be? Thanks

spot778 · 11-21-2003, 02:32 PM

This is available here in Toronto at HMV or any other chain, I think it'll run $15 - $20. I watched it not all that long ago and it seemed to me the same that I saw on TV.

Granted the TV version and the book are QUITE different when handling certain events but never heard anything being cut out. I think it runs around 4-5 hours but I could be mistaken.

downhuman · 11-21-2003, 03:12 PM

The only cut that I can think of that caused an uproar was the fact that the miniseries completely gutted the book.

Editted to not derail the thread:

Other than that, I haven't heard of the DVD version being altered at all from the TV edit.

Sid · 11-21-2003, 06:12 PM

"The only cut that I can think of that caused an uproar was the fact that the miniseries completely gutted the book."

Which is a stupid uproar. I've read all 1000+ pages of the book and anybody that complains about it being different, should try and write their own script for IT that would be under 180 pages long. And be as good as the movie was

But back to the subject. The opening credits to the second part are ommitted. This irritated me, because I was always used the the credit sequence with the eerie score.
Also, kinda on a sad note, Johnathan Branis (who played the young Bill Denborough) died yesterday. And John Ritter a few weeks ago. For some reason, I'll bet another star from this film dies by the end of the year.
This will be the next Poltergeist (as in curse) since Poltergiest and IT were the only movies to scare me

ebuzz79 · 11-21-2003, 07:43 PM

I think maybe the problem was something to do with the dvd being matted?

downhuman · 11-21-2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

Which is a stupid uproar. I've read all 1000+ pages of the book and anybody that complains about it being different, should try and write their own script for IT that would be under 180 pages long. And be as good as the movie was

That's kinda my point. IT , I think, was unfilmable. The most effective parts of the novel were things that were IMO impossible to translate to screen. And the omission of those things make a lot of the sequences in the movie really fall flat--espeicially the final confrontation. In the novel the climax was pure white knuckle terror on both a physical and psychological level. The movie representation was sorely missing the psychological ingredient of that mix.

I agree that they probably did the best they could with the source material--hell I'll even forgive the omission of almost half of the childhood portion of the novel (including the novel's version of their childhood confrontation with IT). But the movie's inability to portray what in a lot of people's eyes (including mine) were the scariest parts of the novel was what caused the initial uproar. All in all, I guess it's not bad for a TV movie from the late 80's.

UFO · 11-21-2003, 09:24 PM

FYI…the kid who played Richie (the main character) died today (last night). He was in his 20s and they think he committed suicide.

larphillips · 11-21-2003, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UFO

FYI…the kid who played Richie (the main character) died today (last night). He was in his 20s and they think he committed suicide.

Actually, Jonathan Brandis died on November 12th... 9 days ago. The weird thing is how long it took for this story to officially break. We are having a whole discussion on the matter here:

http://forums.dvdfile.com/interactiv...ad.php?t=39040

Mr. McMinn · 11-22-2003, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebuzz79

I think maybe the problem was something to do with the dvd being matted?

If you listen to the commentary track, director Tommy Lee Wallace says that IT should have been shot in the 2.35:1 ratio. But, because of televison the way it is, you can't shoot anything made for tv in scope.

I'm glad the disc is in widescreen, even if it's matted.

11-21-2003, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Incredible Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2003	Stephen King's IT clarification I remember when the DVD for Stephen King's IT mini-series came out that there was some uproar because it had been altered and edited in some way from its original broadcast form. I can't find it anywhere. Can anyone clarify exactly what was edited/trimmed from this DVD release? Or is it exactly as it should be? Thanks

11-21-2003, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
spot778 Actor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, ON	This is available here in Toronto at HMV or any other chain, I think it'll run $15 - $20. I watched it not all that long ago and it seemed to me the same that I saw on TV. Granted the TV version and the book are QUITE different when handling certain events but never heard anything being cut out. I think it runs around 4-5 hours but I could be mistaken. __________________ End of line.

11-21-2003, 03:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
downhuman Actor Join Date: Oct 2001	The only cut that I can think of that caused an uproar was the fact that the miniseries completely gutted the book. Editted to not derail the thread: Other than that, I haven't heard of the DVD version being altered at all from the TV edit. Last edited by downhuman : 11-21-2003 at 03:18 PM.

11-21-2003, 07:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
ebuzz79 Actor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canada	I think maybe the problem was something to do with the dvd being matted? __________________ "Yes folks, this isn't any cheap x rated movie or any fifth rate porno play. This is the show you want. The sleaziest show on earth!" My DVD List at DVD Aficionado

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11-21-2003, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sid Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Antioch, California, U.S.A.	"The only cut that I can think of that caused an uproar was the fact that the miniseries completely gutted the book." Which is a stupid uproar. I've read all 1000+ pages of the book and anybody that complains about it being different, should try and write their own script for IT that would be under 180 pages long. And be as good as the movie was But back to the subject. The opening credits to the second part are ommitted. This irritated me, because I was always used the the credit sequence with the eerie score. Also, kinda on a sad note, Johnathan Branis (who played the young Bill Denborough) died yesterday. And John Ritter a few weeks ago. For some reason, I'll bet another star from this film dies by the end of the year. This will be the next Poltergeist (as in curse) since Poltergiest and IT were the only movies to scare me

11-21-2003, 09:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
UFO Actor Join Date: Feb 2002	FYI…the kid who played Richie (the main character) died today (last night). He was in his 20s and they think he committed suicide.