Enter the Fan Editing subculture. A group of tech-savvy people set out to re-cut and alter films for their betterment. At the helm of Final Cut Pro and After Effects, these dedicated fans use amazingly clever techniques to shed new light on their favorite films.
Divided into three sections on the main site, fanedits are either "true," meaning the editor completely reworks the film, "extended," where the editor adds in the deleted or excluded scenes, and "special edition," which consists primarily of behind-the-scenes like material.
Fanediting became more mainstream when The Phantom Edit was released underground. The Phantom Edit was recut by Mike Nichols and removes nearly all the elements critics deemed to have ruined the film. This includes reworking nearly every Jar Jar Binks scene and removing his movie-destroying antics, re-editing the Battle Droid dialog, and removing redundant exposition throughout.
This redone version actually won over many more critics than the true film. Which sucked. Ass.
Since then the fanediting community has expanded greatly, with the site awarding the best edit each month.
And not only do these edits have the purpose of making a better movie, but also to allow the viewer to witness the story in a brand new way. One edit I was able to watch was a revamping of the Lord of the Rings trilogy edited to better follow the book. Divided into 6 movies (to coincide with the original separation of the books), the new film follows the books as closely as possible by reordering certain scenes or removing them entirely. So far 4 of the 6 have been released to the public, "The Return of the Shadow," "The Ring Goes South," "The Treason of Isengard," and "The Journey of the Ringbearers." I have seen the first two and was blown away. The editor, Kerr, manages to completely remove the original expository intro (adding his own in with Tolkien reading the infamous lines "One ring to rule them all...") and later edit it in as flashbacks with dialog from the later scenes dubbed over. It really is an amazing way to rewatch the film.
These movies do not infringe on copyright laws due to two facts: 1. They are never made for profit and 2. The downloader must own the movie before they view it.
There are other amazing projects, like creating a chronological version of Pulp Fiction, dividing Pan's Labyrinth into two movies (one that follows the fantasy parts and another that follows the war drama).
Many edits are simply taking all the deleted scenes and adding them into the movie, making a more fuller experience. A version of the cult classic Army of Darkness that not only includes all the alternate endings and beginnings and deleted scenes, but also manages to edit in the scenes presented exclusively on the SciFi channel's broadcast. It really is the most definitive version of the film to date.
Also, endless special edition dvds have been created. These include rare interviews, promo clips, featurettes and many more on the specific films that were not included on the official DVDs. There are even multiple sets of purely Star Wars parodies and spoofs.
The fans even create their own disc and cover art. Here is a cool one from the Lord of the Rings edits I mentioned above:
Probably the greatest fanedit I have viewed, though, is an alteration of one of my favorite films: Fight Club. Subtitled "The I Am Jack's Laryngitis Edit," this version removes any and all of the protagonist's internal monologues. It is the film in its entirety minus the voice overs and creates a truly new experience. Is it better than the original? No, but I feel it is such a different experience that it is unfair to even compare it.
The site is definitely something to check out, and if you can manage to get ahold of some (they are huge files, ranging from 1 to 7 gigs) indulge yourself in an epic revamped version of loved films.
I will leave you with a fan edit I guess that I created unknowingly. A few months ago I got bored and decided to edit ABC's Lost into a chronological experience. I have not finished it (this clip is all that is done), but since none of the official fan edits are available on youtube, it will give you an idea of what the deal truly is. Note, spoilers:
Enjoy and keep on keepin on my friends!
