Theatrical Cut: ★★★★★
Special Edition: ★★★★★

It’s not easy being a cast-iron bitch. It takes discipline, years of training… A lot of people don’t appreciate that.

James Cameron’s deep sea science fiction tale is one of those rare instances of a director revisiting a finished work and genuinely improving the film. The 1989 theatrical release was marred by an abrupt, confusing ending that was the product of Cameron removing almost an entire storyline to bring the film down to a more commercial 146 minute running time. This drastic surgery earned it some lukewarm reviews when it first hit theaters.

Four years later, Cameron re-released a 171 minute cut to theaters and then home video. (more…)