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John Woo / movies / Hard Target / Unreleased long version

Working copy - unfinished version

This longer version I saw runs 115 minutes without end credits. NTSC VHS recording did not have any end credits at all. Also music was different than what it is in finished version.

Most of the additional material is longer action scenes with more violence, more bullet hits. But I think tha biggest loss was not losing some violence but editing and continuity of the film would have been better if some of those scenes were left uncut or trimmed little less.

HARD TARGET (1993, US)

MAKE SURE YOU'VE SEEN HARD TARGET BEFORE READING THIS.
We give the script away. SPOILER WARNING!

European release includes many extra from this version. Italic text points items not in the European version. All other scenes were in European release but not in R-rated US-release. Note: Working copy is not complete version; Woo had to cut the film seven different times and maybe this 'working copy' is not the first version but some cuts were made before this tape was copied. Final fight between Fouchon and Boudreaux is not there! The most complete version of this fight scene is in European release! (When I'm talking about 'European version' I mean UK Laser Disc. It has most of the extra violence and action what was missing from R-rated version but lacks all other extra/alternate material in working copy. By the way: when I say Scene, I usually don't mean the whole scene but a short clip, small picture or one take. I hope this does not make you confused.

In The Beginging, Binder chase:
- Different sound mixing and score. And the second arrow does not bring the name of the film to the screen. In this version it takes shorter time to show movie title.
- Binder (=Pfaffer) running, Fouchon in the car, Vosloo and the 'dogs with bikes', about 8 seconds. (After that bikes beging to chase Binder.
- Close up to bike (less than 1 second) And when Binder tries to climb over the gate but bike throws him down, slightly different camera angles are used, different editing. And he stays a short moment near that gate before start running - and falls.
- Cars. two short clips, released version first clip from fron then clip shot from back of the cars. In this version vica versa. Just different editing.
- In release version Fouchon drives his car and stops, then bikeman kicks Binder down. In this version he kicks Binder and then Fouchon comes and Binder lies on the ground. Seems like he's in the light of Fouchon's car. Binder tries to run but they kick him down again. ca 18 seconds! After that Fouchon says: If he gets to the river he has won. We can't allow that to happen' and at the same time they show bikemen and pfannfer on the ground, 2 seconds maybe.
- When Binder gets his first arrow, hanging in the tree a bit longer: ca 5s.
- Laying on the ground, takes the arrow off himself: ca. 5s.
- After arrow thing Vosloo walks, but not in working copy, 2 seconds.
- They shoot Pfaiffer and they miss. Pfaiffer takes canister of gasoline, rolls on ground and thows it towards enemies. Gasoline and one bike explodes. 25 seconds
- After a small building explodes, Binder has some burning wounds: 4s.
- Arrow hits the leg: 10s. And before the last arrow shot, one short close-up shot, and slow-motion + stillframe when last arrow hits.
- Body floating in the water. US version= 0 seconds. Euro-version= ca.4 second. working copy= 6 seconds, includes close-up.
- Vosloo says to their customer, arrowman: You shoot like a fool. Next time we charge you double. ca. 9 seconds And Different camera-angle, we see Fouchon, arrowman and Vosloo at the same time when arrowman says that it was worth every nickel..

Natasha in Binder's old house
- Natasha is looking for his father and goes to house where Binder used to live. Natasha goes to the door and woman opens door. She says he does not live here anymore , he moved three months ago and tries to close door. Natasha says she wrote to him three weeks ago. ca. 16seconds.
- Natasha says: I'm his daughter, after that woman says come on in. And she goes in. ca. 8 seconds.
- When woman says: he lost his job: after that she looks Natasha and asks: 'You did't know?' and Natasha says: 'No'. ca 6 seconds
- Whne Natasha asks: 'Do you have any idea where he might be now we see some poor homeless people. It is after we saw those photographs. Then Natasha walks on the street and meet a black man, ex-mariner (Elijah Roper played by Willie J Carpenter) and says to him: 'Ex cuse me, I'm looking for someone. I have a picture.' ca. 65 seconds. When he says: 'I'm afraid you're father was like rest of us, out of door.' we see 6 seconds of the scene we did not see when Natasha was in his daddy's old house. Af ter that Natasha says:' You mean he was homeless...ca. 7 seconds. So the is some different editing, but also new material about 66 seconds in these two pieces.

Boudreaux meets Natasha
When they meet those bad guys try to steal Natasha's money. Boudreaux (Van Damne) comes to save her. Only difference I saw was different music. In released version music is more or less like 'and now we get some fun action and violence-groove'. But in working copy, when Boudreaux says: Its a shame, this used to be a nice part of town' you could almost believe he really meant that.

Police Station
- When Natasha goes to Police Station, there is a strike. We see more polices outside. ca. 18 seconds. After that working copy misses one shot outside with cops (5 seconds) but includes longer shot inside Police Station when Natasha is looking for someone (ca. 6 seconds).

Mission
- When Boudreaux and Natasha leave harbour they ask each others names. Different camera-angle.

At the police station
- Before that woman police detective comes Natasha and Boudreaux are waiting at the station, ca. 8 seconds
- When that woman police detective comes Natasha is sitting and she gets up, one close-up and then the same camera-angle as in releasesed version when Nat starts walking. ca. 7 seconds
- In released version Boudreaux explains to female police detective he was helping Nat to find her father. This and also short picture from empty street (10 seconds) are not in Working copy. In this version first we see freeze-frame of Nat and police detective while Nat says: ' It was my fault' (4 seconds). After that Nat and Boudreaux are alone talking, Nat says taht why didn't he tell her, why didn't he ask for help. Boudreaux telss that he's been out of door and it is hard to go ask help. Because Nat's father loved her so much he did not want to pull her into it. Partially new material. ca. 76 seconds

Randal Poe and his ear
- Van Cleaf (=Vosloo) cuts his ear and we see it happen when in released version is only short image of Fouchon smiling. ca. 5 seconds
In released version. After Van Cleaf and Fouchon leave Randal alone we see some part of the conversation between Nat and Boudreaux about why Nat's fathert did not ask help. 49 seconds. In working copy it is longer scene and it was seen earlier.

Elijah gets a job
- In working copy Elijah gets a job before Boudreaux gets beaten up. Before Randal asks if Elijah have aney relatives we see once more how Fouchon is playing piano. ca. 4 seconds
- Elijah says:' I've got nobody'. After that we see how Fouchon plays piano but also many short clips of men hinting animals , elephants and other. And all pictures of Fouchon are quite close shots, unlike in released version. ca 28 seconds longer
- Van Cleaf (Vosloo) talks to a new customer, Bouchon is still playing piano. Short clip when Van Cleaf says the deal so albsolutely personnal. An they use different canera-angle when the shoot Bouchon playing.ca. 3 seconds But slightly different editing also.

Boudreaux gets beaten up.
- When client and doctor leave, Van Cleaf and Bouchon start to read some papers including information of Boudreaux. In released version this is placed before Elijah Roper gets that fatal job.
- Van Cleaf gives a file to Bouchon and says: 'Take a look on this'. ca. 5 seconds
- In this version Van Cleaf say that Boudreax is still asking questions, but he does not mention his uncle or call him interesting. Slightly different editing and in released version Boudreaux looks Binder's papers a bit longer.
- Boudreaux in the house where Binder were burned. Bad guys attack Boudreaux. Just before Boudreaux get the rope on his neck he is looking around and sees someone. about 3 seconds extra - Boudreaux gets two more hits when he lies on the ground. 4 seconds maybe
- At the police station again. That woman police detective says she is gonna order new autopsy. Last thing she says is that she calls (to Natasha) as soon as she knows something. ca. 5 seconds

Natasha and Boudreaux getting romantic.
- They are in a house and Natasha asks if Boureaux is still going to go to ship and he says he tries to do that. They are talking and then they kiss. Suddenly Natasha tells that she mut be going. Boudreaux says that it is nobodys fault. Natasha goes and comes back saying: 'I changed my mind'. It happes says Boudreaux. This romantic moment is not in the released version. This long scene may not be a masteriece but at least it explains another scene later in the movie when Natasha asks why she should trust him with her eyes closed. 3 min 25 seconds

Boudreaux meets one-ear-Randal.
- When Boudreaux is going to see Randal we see ho he walks in slow-motion picture ca. 3 seconds

New autopsy.
- That same female police police detective is walking on corridor. It is easy to see that see knows what she is doing. After that we see a doctor who makes some autopsys and she is going to meet him. ca. 8 seconds
- After that Fouchon goes to meet the autopsy doctor. First Doc goes to see outdoor and hall. The we see bouchon in short extra clip and Doctor says: 'I've been trieing call you all day.' Fouchn answers: 'I am here now.' Released version shows empty hall and no-one says nothing. ca. 2 seconds
- In Africa when hunter gets killed they bury him.
- When some one knocks the door camera hoots the door. And when doctor is going to the door we already see Van Cleaf. Maybe second more

Elijah gets a job.
- Before Fouchon shows moneybelt a short clip where Elijah says that he does not drink. ca. 4 seconds.
- That new customer (Ismal Zenan) shoots but when Elijah is running. Bullets hit really close. In released version Zenan does not have time to fire his gun before Fouchon comes to say: 'This is New Orleans, not Beirut'. ca. 2 seconds.
- Bikes are chasing after Elijah. amera is in front of them. ca. 9 seconds. But in released version new shot shows running Elijahs feet for 3 seconds.
- Bouchon says Zenan to finnish him, but he doesn't want to. In released version Fouchon says: God damn what a fissie, but in working copy he says something else. I don't know what he said and if I knew I would not tell you. Bad language.
- Elijah shoots Zenan and then Van Cleaf shoots Elijah and it seems he did not miss. Elijah stands ca. 2 seconds before he continues running. And then Fouchon comes and shoots wounded Zenan. In released version he hardly see Zenan in this scene. In working copy camera goes real close to Zenan. Real close.
- Elijah begging help on the street. Elijah walking desperately, slow-motion-picture and cars coming closer. 7 seconds
- Elijah looks the car where Fouchon is. After that he runs on the street longer time saying to everybody: please help me. But nobody does. 14 seconds
- When they shoot Elijah, first he gets some bullets and falls. But he gets up again and then bullets really start to fly. and bloody bullet hits, not one or two but many. ca. 22 seconds
- When Elijah lies dead on the ground, Vosloo walks to get the money belt, a car is behind him and the lights are very bright. Slow-motion. ca. 5 seconds
- Boudreaux is next to dead Elajis. He looks that female police detective and Natasha. In missing cut he turns to look Elajis and natasha looks Boudraux. after that they close Elajis' bodybag. ca. 9 seconds
- Boudreaux walks to police detective and Natasha. In working copy: Thay are moving Elijah's body to ambulance ca. 4 seconds of new material. police detective says that Elijah was seen with Randal Poe and Boudreaux says Let's pay him a visit. In working copy it happens before they get Elijah into ambulance.

Hunt begins.
- Police detective is wounded since Van Cleaf shot her with shotgun. She is shooting a car and the shoot back with machine gun. police detective gets more than one bullet hit before she falls. ca. 6 seconds .
- Police detective lies shaking on the ground (second almost similar picture). ca. 2 seconds .
- Boudreaus drives a bike with Natasha and Fouchon's men chase them with cars and bikes. Few more seconds of chase on the streets.. ca. 4 seconds .
- Natasha drives a bike while Boudreaux shoots that bikerman in head-to-head fight. Before that he shoots driver of one car and the car will crash and explode. ca. 27 seconds .
- When Boudreaux is riding bike up there where road ends and those working men are running away one car comes from ramp on the left. And they shoot. Maybe they did those holes in the gasoline tank. ca. 5 seconds .
- And when Boudreaux drops Natasha off the bike we see a little longer how gasoline tank is damaged. Bullet holes in the gasoline tank. And a little longer when Boudreaux get ready to attack. And longer when Boudreaux starts riding towards the car. Two short images from Boudreaux with one short image of car in middle of them. And after the jump over the car Boudreaux is rolling on the ground a little bit longer. In released version he seems to make some magic when he stops rolling almost immediatelly. These all four clips take about ca. 11 seconds .
- After car explotion Boudreaux must run. This is differentlyt edited. In releases version we see the same clip twice (Train coming). But in working copy extras: Boudreaux must run longer and bullets hit close to Natasha. . ca. 5 seconds .

On the railroad.
- Helichopter. Different pictures used, longer in released version (9 second / 6 seconds).
- Man is on the railroad, then he comes down and Van Cleaf stare at him. ca. 40 seconds
- Van Cleaf sees a reflection of Boudreaux and Natasha running. And before that short clip where Van Cleaf walks slowly in slow-motion. And when Van Cleaf says it's two-two and half hours ago, in working copy we see his face a couple of minutes longer before he starts talking. ca. 10 seconds
- Again some differences in what people are talking. Biggest is when Fouchon thinks Boudreaux and Natasha are heading to south and are going to Mexico. But Fouchonn's men keep them away from highways. At the same time we see in extra clip first Fouchon talking and the Boudreaux and natasha walking in the forest. ca. 12 seconds
- Fouchon and his men are trailing our heroic trio. Longer clip. ca. 13 seconds But released version has 3 seconds not in working copy.
- Second romantic roment. First one was not in released version. But now Boudreaux holds the snake for 2 extra seconds when natasha is waiting for something else.
- We see how Boudreaux is making a snake trap. ca. 17 seconds
- We see the snake trap before man walks in to it. And after the snake bites man does make more noise and longer time before he dies. Also After the mercy given to snake bitten man by Fouchon he says how dum those men are. ca. 10 seconds

Uncle Douvee's place.
- When Uncle Douvee and Boudreaux meet they sing (in French) and dance for a while.. ca. 12 seconds
- When Boudreaux gets his shotgun, looks it and then blows the dust away much more powerful slow-motion is used. In relased version it takes 10 seconds, but in working copy 25 seconds. And after that we see many Fouchon's victims when they get killed. Binder, female detective and Roper. And then we see Van Cleaf and Fouchon. 19 seconds
- Boudreaux blows the dust from shotgun and them looks Natasha, but this 5 seconds clip is not in working copy.
- Boudreaux leaves and then uncle Douvee talks to Natasha about promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep. Fouchon's men come. We see in 25 extra seconds how they search Douvee's place.
- Machinegun guy says that place is clean, he just left. After that one of the hunters is pointing a gun to the house and Fouchon hit it down. ca. 3 seconds.
- Explotion-accident. In working copy a lot more fire, but also slightly different editing. It is ca. 29 seconds longer.
- After the big explotion they will blow out that small builbing. In working copy Van Cleaf does that. ca. 5 seconds in three short clips.
- Now Douvee is riding away, Another picture when camera is in front of him. ca. 3 seconds in three short clips.
- Van Cleaf is looking for Boudreaux with helicopter and also we see Douvee and Natasha riding. ca. 25 seconds in three short clips. One short picture where Boudreaux riding. ca. 2 seconds Anyway, this sequence is differently edited.
- When they start shooting Boudreaux, Camera catches chopter from under. And they shoot some more bullets. ca. 7 seconds

US release (1993)

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HARD TARGET