Movies to buy before they're cancelled
Posted by Definitive_confusion@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 67 comments
Ever since they butchered star wars into the lump of comparative garbage they created I've always had a nagging voice telling me to collect media before they change it.
So many of our movies seem like they could be chopped at any moment so I've been collecting my "soon to be cancelled theatre"
Looking for ideas to flesh out out more. Movies you think will be either completely cancelled or so heavily edited as to lose all value.
I have, to name a few:
Blazing Saddles, Animal House, Big Trouble in Little China, Meatballs, Good Morning Vietnam, Monty Python Life of Brian, Natural Born Killers, Porky's (I, II, and III), Smokey and the Bandit (all 7 because, well idk, but there they are)...
What else? 80s and 90s movies, mostly but late 70s early 2000s are good
Tott1337@reddit
unsurewhatiteration@reddit
One thing to be aware of is that the digital seas have done a good job of preserving media. I have "Star Wars Despecialized" on my Plex server, which is basically an HD 5.1 recreation of the original theatrical release, so I don't have to deal with the "digitally enhanced" slop.
Tott1337@reddit
The one with the Yub Nub !!!
truemore45@reddit
You beat me to it. I am a younger Gen X me and my older Gen X friends all have Plex servers and we share so I have one guy who likes older movies 30-60s for his mom. I am the SCI-FI guy, etc.
ShadowKat2k@reddit
That's how I got my copy of the movie Disney rather forget about.
ronwabo@reddit
There actually was a dvd release of the original (laser disc) versions of the trilogy, but only released as bonus discs with a trilogy set from like 2004 or 2005. I also have the despecialized versions, but if you want the best version of the og movies, look up and download the 4k77, 4k80, and 4k83 versions.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
I have the 3 vhs set that I got sometime in the mid to late 90s. I assume it's still fine since I haven't had a vcr in at least 25 years.
unsurewhatiteration@reddit
I'd check it. There was a VHS release in 1993 that was the original (plus THX sound and some cleaning up of grit, etc.) and then the "special edition" which was a few years later, I believe in 1997 (same year as the special edition theatrical re-release) or perhaps 1998. I had the special edition VHS trilogy (well, technically still "have", it's probably in a cupboard at my mom's house) and it was with the digital enhancements and included a segment at the end of each tape about the changes/"enhancements" they made.
Tott1337@reddit
Revenge of the Nerds 1-2-3
OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit
None of those movies you mentioned are ever going to get "cancelled" to the point where they're only available in censored versions or not available at all.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Keep telling yourself that.
OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit
I will keep telling myself that because I see no indication that it's likely to ever happen.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Again, you mean. Or should we forget what we've lost?
OreoSpeedwaggon@reddit
What have we lost?
BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit
A lot of those recently got new UHD or blu-ray releases so definitely not getting cancelled. Blazing Saddles not only didn't get cancelled it just got a new UHD 4k disc release not long ago and I think even a theatrical re-release.
The only one that I know outright cancelled is Song Of The South.
Although they have been mysteriously dragging on 4k UHD releases for Gone With The Wind and Breakfast At Tiffany's (even if both just had theatrical re-releases this year alone).
There have been edits at times to dialogue or scenes, pretty much only for streaming though and not for physical media versions (although maybe for TV shows a few times some episode was missing or changed even on physical media), sometimes just a word or two. Well actually a few times, basically all home versions of Lion King and Roger Rabbit had a few things changed and a few frames of most home releases of The Little Mermaid, mostly to get rid of stray dirty gags the animators snuck in. But Adventures In Babysitting and The Bad News Bears physical discs are the original theatrical while streaming, at least for AIB, has a brief dialogue change or two. The PG film Splash somehow still is stuck on DVD only (other than for a few small scale foreign blu-ray releases). The streaming version was changed for a few scenes to cover up nudity with CGI or re-framing although I've heard they put back in some of the original scenes again since, not sure if all.
There have, at times, been things like director's cuts or extended or special editions or altered versions and sometimes once they make a change all future releases take that on. At least with physical media you may have a choice to go see whichever version you wish (on at least some format or another). Streaming might lock you into a certain cut and that's that. Maybe the theatrical and not extended or vice-versa, etc. etc.
And some director's tend to think and a little change or tweak here or there with each new release.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Thank you for explaining this so much better than I could.
djbaconfat@reddit
who is “they” you’re taking about here. be specific.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Could be anyone. Could be the original director making a cash grab, could be the production company trying to save themselves from opposition, could be legislators deciding to "protect" us, it could be distributors virtue signaling, it could be the media applying pressure...
There are a lot of ways our lives are controlled. Or did you not know that?
djbaconfat@reddit
you sound like one of those guys who shared that cartoon with the misattributed voltaire quote when talking about "rootless cosmopolitans."
congratulations on building up a physical media library; encouraging people to buy hard copies of their favorite entertainment is a good thing. the thing about "lots of ways our lives are controlled" is that they're all actually one thing: capitalism.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
So, you've identified the problem. Now, what is your action plan to offset or overcome? I just buy old media. I'm not some kind of revolutionary. But, pretending we aren't losing our history and with it our identity isn't going to help.
Reasonable-HB678@reddit
Taking a wild guess, the OP probably means the "woke mob." On the assumption that disclaimers involving stuff that was acceptable "back then" aren't enough.
vhc8@reddit
The idea that you think some movies are going to be "canceled" tells me everything I need to know about you to know I don't want to know you.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_banned_in_the_United_States
This doesn't include movies that have been edited beyond recognition (Star Wars being the prime example), nor does it include movies or shows that have been parsed out so as not to include vital parts or episodes (South Park comes to mind since Paramount took over).
Please, I'm seriously begging you, please look closer. We lose more and more of our history every day and now that we've converted basically all our history to digital repositories it's happening faster. Look, listen, remember, and share. It's our obligation to the younger generations.
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
islandcatman@reddit
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
You should know your fellow humans regardless of your feelings for them. Peace.
mdog73@reddit
Tropic Thunder and There’s Something about Mary for sure probably American Pie.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
I own all three, actually 😆
Not sure I would expect Tropic Thunder to be in danger but who knows anymore.
jtrades69@reddit
well, have you seen the list of south park episodes they WON'T be showing on paramount? i should have been buying the seasons all this time, now i'm worried.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Truth
Sufficient-Regular72@reddit
Ski School, Hot Dog: The Movie, and throw in Hardbodies for good measure.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Omg hot dog. I forgot that one
Bocephus_Rodriguez@reddit
Cujo?
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
The Stephen King one with the crazy assed dog? No thanks. Not saying it's not a good movie. The fact I didn't want to see it again probably means it's a very good movie. I don't want to be scared of dogs.
You ever watch the Alfred Hitchcock The Birds? You ever trust a bird again? Well, I don't. Evil little bastards with their beady eyes and twitchy necks just sitting there waiting to swarm your ass... You think they're not watching? They're always watching... waiting... plotting... SWOOP!!!! AND YOUR DECAPITATED!
sorry, to what were we talking about?
Bocephus_Rodriguez@reddit
Yeah that one. I figure as traumatizing as it is to you can you imagine the child actor stuck in that car. Has to be a form of child abuse these days. So thought it would fit your criteria of potentially cancelled. The birds was a good movie also. When I was young my parents let me watch grizzly and night of the grizzly. To this day bears scare the hell out of me. Lol
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
It's funny. The birds was the only one that really stuck with me. Then a couple years back I got attacked by a blue jay. Just proved my suspicion that birds are blood thirsty killers waiting to pounce on humanity and end it. 😂
mountaindude20@reddit
Gen-X or not, many Redditors like movies and media content censored or canceled if it’s deemed offensive.
mountaindude20@reddit
There is this cognitive dissonance in which some Redditors revel in identifying with individualistic Gen-X freedom lovers with a with a supposed “live and let live” attitude while simultaneously yearning for the censorship and protection of government and those with authority to espouse the beliefs they have while suppressing those they don’t.
A lot of the classic movies mentioned in this thread would not get made today for being morally objectionable and risqué. So we’re left with watching the classics of our youth or watching the mostly watered down slop that’s served to the masses as entertainment today.
CynfullyDelicious@reddit
History of the World Part I, Revenge of the Nerds, Police Academy, Sixteen Candles, Dazed and Confused, Stripes, Caddyshack…..
Kissing13@reddit
I came here to mention Dead Poet's Society. I figured the guy who wanted to be an actor, whose father insisted on him becoming a doctor would do it. The big "S" can't even be spoken aloud on YouTube.
I suppose The Big Chill could also be added to the list for the same reason, though I think of it more as a boomer movie, even though it came out in our lifetime.
CynfullyDelicious@reddit
Re: DPS, it was that, along with the whole thing with Knox kissing Chris at the party while she’s asleep/passed out,
Kissing13@reddit
Ah, I see. Such sensitive little flowers, aren't they?
whatcouchsaid@reddit
Dick: No. Immediate disqualification because of its involvement with The Big Chill.
High Fidelity
Kissing13@reddit
It's been so long since I've seen High Fidelity. I gather it was a song from the movie? TBC that is.
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Dude... You just spent like... so many of my moneys. Lots of good ones here. Thank you
edasto42@reddit
They just made a history of the world part 2, I don’t think that’s going anywhere.
islandcatman@reddit
Slackers, Down by law, Repoman, Blue Velvet, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, the Adventures of Remo Williams, the Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Time Bandits, Jacob Ladder, The Jerk, the man with two brains, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (trust me), El Topo, Santa Sangre, the 5th Element, Wild at Heart, Stripes, Parents, the burbs, Dr. Detroit and Spys like us. I got more, I need a brake.
Snooey_McSnooface@reddit
Heathers
ComeMistyTurtle@reddit
Heathers was the first thing I thought of.
Snooey_McSnooface@reddit
No way that movie would ever get made today. No way, no how.
rich4pres@reddit
PCU
The_Spectacle@reddit
I have this on dvd... PHEW
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
Never heard of that one. I'll check it out
ylly22@reddit
Airplane! (Or if you’re in Australia it’s called Flying High) and maybe Showgirls
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
How do I not have Airplane yet? Sigh. I shall sit in my shame corner.
The_Spectacle@reddit
it's like the only movie I have on my phone. I like to watch it when I fly
ylly22@reddit
Still one of the cleverest and funniest movies ever made. Put it on your list!
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
I know. I've seen it enough times to have forgotten I don't have it.
I also lost a ton of media a couple years ago when certain people decided that pirating was no longer the noble trade I was led to believe it was. Those DCMA orders are real.
Because it makes perfect sense. You "buy" the movie by owning a license to access it thereby not having actual ownership but pirating is stealing...
Riffman42@reddit
Did they confiscate your hard drive?
0dd3d@reddit
Donnie Darko.
SecondToLastOfSheila@reddit
Jesus, you sound exhausting.
kckitty71@reddit
Most John Hughes movies including:
Breakfast Club
16 Candles
Pretty in Pink
Some Kind of Wonderful
MozzieKiller@reddit
I purchased Blazing Saddles last year for this very same reason. The way things are trending, I need to add “Love, Actually.”
ZuBrain@reddit
Natural b killers... was always pretty messed up...
Tarantino ... may not actually like women , but ... loves an n bomb....
Watch pulp fiction again and listen to those hard rrr's
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
I would buy a dvd copy of a commercial for lawn seed if it was directed by Tarantino.
edasto42@reddit
Using Star Wars as a reference to other edgy (at the time) comedies isn’t the best comparison. Star Wars got to where it’s gotten because of George Lucas not some big scary ‘cancel culture’ monster that some folks get way too into. I mean I can find Troma movies on streaming services, free ones at that. By all means go and get physical media on the premise that it could be pulled from streaming for any number of reasons (the most common is contracts and money).
Definitive_confusion@reddit (OP)
I use it as the pinnacle example of how something great can be almost instantly lost to the winds.
Cancel culture is just a more sweeping threat and more easily identifiable description.
ZuBrain@reddit
Police Academy... I have fond memories of Bobcat Golthwait, Michael Winslow...
I tried watching the first one a couple weeks ago...
I couldn't make it thru it. It's actually pretty fucking terrible. Don't watch it. Save the fond memories & catch phrases in your head...
MaximumJones@reddit
All the John Hughes movies, especially Sixteen Candles... because