Ok then i have a reasonable dvd collection but i always seem reluctant to buy ANY dvd as theres always a new cut soon after the initial release
What i am after is EXTRA footage IN the movie and not just in the extras or at the end
Can you guys think of any that are worthy of changing ? And value for the extra money

I advise you to get its an old war film called Das Boot Extended Full Version from this site great to watch an decent price to buy too.

Hands down - the greatest extended edition/director's cut I have ever seen is "Kingdom Of Heaven" - the extra footage completely changes the movie, several extra subplots that make the characters and their actions unassailably logical and compelling, and an extra fight scene which adds a whole new level of closure to the hero's journey. A true epic if ever there was one.

Also worthy of mention are Peter Jackson's extended cuts of the Lord Of The Rings saga, and in particular the 3-disc version of King Kong adds in more than one extra action/adventure sequence on Skull Island.

Without a doubt they all bury the original dvd releases and theatrical cuts.

Have Das Boot and the rings trilogy but as for Kong i couldnt get through the normal version as i though it was so bad- sorry! you are right about kingdom of heaven though

Was thinking about getting the Commando directors cut but theres only 4 mins between this region1 vrsn and the standard region2, being ntsc the region 1s already are longer anyway has anyone seen the new cut and is there more footage in the movie?

Re: Commando Director's Cut (Region 1 DVD) - I have that (guilty pleasure) and it's not radically different to the regular version. Both the theatrical and director's cuts versions are selectable on the DVD, so let's have a look for you:
Theatrical Cut = 1h30m10s. Director's Cut = 1h31m46s.
So, it's about a minute and a half longer.

The added material amounts to a couple of extra talky scenes (nothing major) and an extra helping of gore in the "toolshed" scene, which now plays more like something out of Peter Jackson's "Bad Taste."

Of course the version of the film that we have here in the UK was cut for violence by the BBFC (15 seconds) so if you're going from a UK version to the US Director's Cut then you'll be getting those cuts restored as well as the Director's Cut additions.

Director's Cut editions of films that add something to the theatrical edition:

"Aliens : Special Edition" - fills in plot-gaps, background, and motivations. A more complete film.
"The Abyss : Director's Cut" - essential, because the film actually makes no sense in the shorter cut!
"Dawn of the Dead : Director's Cut" (1979) - a slower, talkier cut but much more atmospheric.
"The Frighteners : Director's Cut" - some really good scenes restored.
"Army of Darkness : Director's Cut" - a quite different, even more comedic version of the film.
"Pitch Black : Unrated Director's Cut" - talky scenes, not violence, but they do add something.
"Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves" - a whole lot more Alan Rickman, which is A Very Good Thing.
"Star Trek : The Motion Picture" - re-cut, re-edited, and with enhanced special effects.
"The Wicker Man" (1973) - thought lost for many years, the original full-length version is sublime.
"Watchmen : Director's Cut" - bit of a sore point with UK fans as currently only available on import...

well it does seem that you have the guilty pleasure of seeking out those extended versions as do i!
well i have all 4 aliens on special editions which do add alot but shorter Ridley scott Alien but with slightly differing ending- was bang on tho!
, the abyss which was a whole different movie with extras
, frighteners - was great as was longer and added a whole meaner look to the movie, army of darkness - what can we say its just class and the best of the trilogy by far esp for humour,
prince of thieves - i thought with the extra sherrif and esp the witch gave it a new dimention explaining alot that was only guess work in the original cut
Star trek; motion picture - i have as region 1 and i thought were only minor differences apart from spock on vulcan

Will take your advice and shall get the pitch black as been thinking about it for a while now and maybe the watchmen also when a sensible price! was thinking about Payback extended what do you think?
I did think Hancock and Con Air both added to the movie but the one which still has it for me in the extra footage stakes is Terminator 2-T100 Edition

Just checked out the Commando dvd and the Region 1 US Directors cut is 90mins long and the Region 2 is 86 mins long, so i dont understand which version you have as you say its only a minute and a half longer or is it a region 2 directors cut and being pal not ntsc explain it being one and a half minutes - am i digging a deeper hole for myself!!!!!!!!!!

The Directors cut of Leon is superb. The new scenes really change the dynamic of Matildas character. Dark City is superb as well

Kingdom of Heaven is one of the best examples I've seen. It's almost a completely different (and certainly much better) film!

Aliens also adds a lot more to the story than the standard version.

Never got around to Leon as it is still talked about there being some sexual chemistry between Leon and Matilda so never realy fancied it on that basis or is that an urban myth and i should try it?

youre right Dark City that was a good one tho it was and still is an underrated movie, i think all 4 Alien movies are bang on with the extras and its good to see that all is installed in the movie - give Bournes a miss as extended cut my butt - its all in the extras and totaly pointless footage to boot!

If you like westerns Major Dundee Extended Cut is good value for money

Does anyone know if the extra 2mins in the Hollow Man extended cut is worth the money?

I agree with most of the above but nobody seems to have mentioned the Directors Cut of Dances with Wolves. Its an extra hour long and fleshes out a lot of the stuff that never really gets explained in the original such as why the soldiers had disappeared from the fort when Lt Dunbarr arrived and a lot more. Don't know if this version is coming out on the blu ray but I hope so.....

I agree with most of the above but nobody seems to have mentioned the Directors Cut of Dances with Wolves. Its an extra hour long and fleshes out a lot of the stuff that never really gets explained in the original such as why the soldiers had disappeared from the fort when Lt Dunbarr arrived and a lot more. Don't know if this version is coming out on the blu ray but I hope so.....

My old man has Dances With Wolves as several different versions from 3 disc special edition, dutch imported extended edition (both 227mins!- very strange!) none the less a cracking good movie which was well pointed out!

A couple by Oliver Stone are certainly worth spending your hard-earned on:

JFK adds an extra 17 minutes (ish) and makes an already superb film one of the best from the 1990s.

Nixon (only available as a region 1 import) adds 28 minutes and makes this already complex film even deeper and more brilliant.

Aliens, The Abyss and Terminator 2 by Jim Cameron, as already mention, are classics.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy are obviously essential.

Loose Change Final Cut is a thought-provoking documentary, this final version clocking in at around two hours.

"Just checked out the Commando dvd and the Region 1 US Directors cut is 90mins long and the Region 2 is 86 mins long, so i dont understand which version you have as you say its only a minute and a half longer or is it a region 2 directors cut and being pal not ntsc explain it being one and a half minutes - am i digging a deeper hole for myself!!!!!!!!!!"

It's the Region 1 Director's Cut DVD, so I'm comparing like with like as both versions of the film are NTSC. You can choose theatrical or director's cut from the top menu, so I just started each version one after the other and noted the exact total run-time that my DVD player reported for each. The director's cut is 1 minute 36 seconds longer than the theatrical version, definitely.

Sounds like the figures you saw are comparing the approximate NTSC and PAL run-times of the theatrical cut.

"Never got around to Leon as it is still talked about there being some sexual chemistry between Leon and Matilda so never realy fancied it on that basis or is that an urban myth and i should try it?"

Definitely you should. The full-length version of "The Professional" ("Leon" to us) is fantastic. As for the relationship between Leon and Mathilda in the full-length version, yes it could be a little uncomfortable for some in a couple of scenes where you might wonder, briefly, where it's headed - but it's absolutely not what you might fear. Mathilda does act very precociously toward Leon, as if she considers them to be a couple, but rest assured that Leon remains the professional at all times. Any "sexual chemistry" is completely one-sided, and Leon is proven to not be that sort of a chap - even when he is quite literally asked to be. If the viewer feels uncomfortable with the situation, they're no more uncomfortable than Leon is, and so it works.

As with most extended cuts of films, it's the depth of the characters that benefits most from the additional material. The extended cut of Leon underlines and expands upon both of the main characters, and the film feels much more complete for it.

if you want to see which dvd's have the most extras go to www.dvdcompare.net it is a very good site indeed, as for the film Terminator 2-T100 Edition may i suggest T2 JUDGMENT DAY (skynet edition) blu ray version i have the region A version and on there you have all 3 films on one disk!

Aliens, The Wicker Man, Terminator 2, Dawn Of The Dead and Leon - all have additional scenes which both expand the plots and add to characterisation. I wish more dvds would insert the deleated scenes back into the film rather than having them as a special feature as deleated scenes. It would be great to see the James Bond films with the deleated scenes put back into the actual films.

does anybody knows about another version of The Saint with Val Kilmer?
they call it - alternative ending or something...
there are 2 additional versions:
- emma dying and fight scene at Tretyak's manor
- emma is ok but still fight scene :)

Aliens or any ridley scott film(gladiator, alien, american gangster have all had good expanded editions), as other message stated "the boat"-das boot, is superb and closer to its tv movie presentation, than the movie version.
et isnt bad, or the star wars movies(dependent on your view on sw though).

David you hit the nail on the head as it is also one of my pet gripes when buying movies the fact that alot of dvds stating a special edition say just sling it all in the end extras and now i personally check out the lenght of the movie compared to the original cut to see if there is any difference or a con!

James Bonds would be a belter to see extended cuts of all the movies with original restored footage -- another one i always thought was Tango and Cash as there is for sure additional footage out there as if you watch the "theatrical trailer" in the extras on the dvd theres loads that isnt in the movie

I'd say get the blade runner 5 disc box set it is awesome - it has all 5 versions of the film in it and a 3 hr documentary - its well worth the price

Ther are a few I can think of which are not listed:

DVD - E.T. 20th anniversary 3 disc edition - New digital scenes added
DVD - Punisher - U.S. Import, dif begining and a small story arc added
DVD - Fantastic Four extended edition
DVD - Blade Trinity extended cut - 10 mins longer
DVD - Doom - Slightly longer cut
DVD - Wedding Crashers - 9 mins longer

I know Alien has been mentioned BUT ALL FOUR FILMS are available with directors cuts!!!!!

Blu ray - Sin City - recut & re mixed - also on DVD
Blu ray - Hancock - extended edition
Blu ray - Halloween (2008) - extended edition
Blu ray - Sleeping beauty - first time available in original aspect ratio
Blu ray - Pinnochio - first time available in original aspect ratio
Blu ray - Superbad - extende cut
Blu ray - spiderman 2 - extended cut (also on DVD)
Blu ray - Ghost Rider - extended edition

The greatest, IMHO, is Daredevil: Directors cut (on Blu ray & DVD) 30 mins longer!!!! turns an ok movie into one of the best comic book adapts EVER!!! If you have not seen it yet GO. SEE. IT. NOW.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope my lil list helps!!!

have got region 1 Punisher, Fan4 , Blade Trinity, Ghost Rider, Hancock, Superman2 and Daredevil which is highly underrated movie all extended cuts from your list but i have cinema projector unit that projects dvd picture 15ft wide on lounge wall so Blu ray not worth it to me as cant tell difference! sorry !

glad i never got round to buying Watchmen Directors Cut as turns out theres an Ultimate Cut due for release thats another 25mins longer even than that,----- this movie is getting Blade Runner syndrome !