Payback - The Hybrid Cut

Have always loved this movie in it;s original release....and when I learned about the controversy and saw the Straight Up cut...I was torn in a few ways....

Theatrical Cut - I loved the washed out coloring. Also, after watching the Straight Up cut, and provided the other version with it's plot and ending....I decided I preferred the sub plot with the MALE BOSS and it;s storyline and ending.

Straight Up Cut - enjoyed the extended scenes shown and hoped they could added to a fanedit of the Theatrical Cut. As for the sub plot with the FEMALE BOSS, I was not as interested , EXCEPT for the scenes before and during the SUBWAY....I think only because I wanted to see those added to the theatrical cut.

SO - for Neglify's Hybrid Cut - I was impressed this edit focused on providing the extended scenes in a matching color format. Awesome work!
As for the MALE vs FEMALE subplot and ending...I now understood how CHOOSING one or the other required certain footage adjustments. In this cut, I see the MALE BOSS version was chosen...and it utilized the subway ending INSTEAD of the HOTEL ROOM ending....so these are my observations:
Using the MALE BOSS storyline requires the son subplot and shows the ending in the HOTEL ROOM with the bomb.
Using the FEMALE BOSS storyline requires the subway sequences....
and so this is the conflict I have....
The MALE BOSS version also has the torture scenes with the hammer....and has ending with the hotel room bomb - So I think that ending should have been used...
I get it - You wanted to use the MALE BOSS and SUBWAY ending....and I believe you did a great job in combining them.
However, would have been possible to show the subway scenes and let Porter survive enough to play play out the ending with the MALE BOSS in the hotel room with the bomb?
Just curious - but OVERALL, this edit was awesome!

‍

Cracking good edit, turning Payback into gritty Noir from the 40s.
Audio work, great. Nothing sounded out of place or jumps around with gain issues.
Video work, also solid. Lot of transitions to Black n White end up losing sharpness, or the blacks pixilate. Not here. Black n White is a pain in the ass to replicate, but Neglify scores big here.

This edit utilizes material from the original Payback, as well as the Straight Up cut.
The ending hews toward Straight Up - which I really do not like.
Writer / director Helgeland seems to have his own conception of Parker, excuse me, Porter, and he knows jackshit about Don Westlake's actual creation.
Anyway, the ending pissed me off, mostly at Helgeland.

As an overall work, though, this edit was terrific and warmly applauded.

May 12, 2012

A superb looking and very enjoyable edit.
Must have been as fun for the faneditor to make (playing with all alternate scenes) as for the audience to watch :)
Great job. 9/10

March 28, 2012
*This rating was given before reviews were required*