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Post by thathoboravioli on Jan 5, 2019 23:48:46 GMT -5
I remember hearing somewhere that the 2004 movie originally had an alternate ending.
I own a DVD of the movie that contains in the "Orphaned Scenes" feature an alternate ending (I don't remember if it was "Dismal Deletions" or "Obnoxious Outtakes") with Olaf escaping, but I found it odd that it was mostly just random cuts of different scenes and then there was the video game, which ended with Olaf's escape and a narration from Lemony Snicket about how he was going to continue his investigation into the Baudelaires' lives...as the screen shows a sketch of the Baudelaires sitting in a train station.
Somehow, I think the ending might have been changed either because of someone realizing the movie wasn't gonna do that well or because test screenings, but I'm not sure.
Does anyone know anything about this?
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Post by Mr. Dent on Jan 6, 2019 0:03:19 GMT -5
Yeah, the original ending had Olaf flying away on a wire while the audience gasps and wonders how he did it. I'm sure I can find it on YouTube, if you'll give me a moment.
Now then, that is odd. I would have absolutely sworn I have seen the original ending. But I can't find it anywhere online. All the other deleted scenes are uploaded, though, so what gives?
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Post by ryantrimble457 on Jan 6, 2019 15:31:52 GMT -5
That "wire" was one of the main shots in the early trailers! I remember it well. See 1.30 here: youtu.be/fccho1IyX8YWould love to see that train station sketch from the game! How cool.
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Post by Strangely on Jan 6, 2019 17:36:53 GMT -5
In the test screenings of the movie, after the fake out with Olaf being punished for his crimes, Lemony Snicket explains that unfortunately that didn't really happen and then shows the real ending with Violet telling Olaf he's a terrible actor. He makes one last menacing threat and then flies away on a wire with the assistance of his troupe (he laughs about how he'll be back for an encore). Then it cuts to the Baudelaire's leaving Olaf's house and getting into Mr. Poe's car and the movie plays out like the ending of the theatrical cut.
The test audience was confused about this as they couldn't tell if Olaf was actually arrested or if he escaped. So, Brad Silberling, in his infinite wisdom, decided to cut out the real ending and leave the joke one in instead, leaving us with that hideously confusing monologue that gives us no idea of how Olaf escaped. Terrible decision, show don't tell, that's film making 101! Yeah, the joke ending is kind of funny, but nothing about it is so good that we should get that instead of the ending that actually happened! Rant over... For now...
As for the games, they only have a tenuous connection to the movie. They were in development at the same time as the movie and as a result often bear only a passing resemblance to the plot of it. Likely, they probably only had an earlier version of the movie script when developing the game. The ending of the PC and console version for instance feature the joke ending and real ending (like the test screening), but neither version actually match what was filmed. Both of the 'real endings' presented are based on the book rather than the movie (the lights go out and Olaf escapes rather than wires). Even the joke endings don't totally match the movie.
The train station in the console version of the game (the only version of the game this scene appears in) is undoubtedly a reference to the books instead of something filmed for the movie. When the game began development it actually was more heavily based on the books, some of the earliest concept art features characters designs based directly off the books (in fact in the PC version of the game there's actually textures for Violet's purple dress from the books hidden in the files, sadly unplayable in the game). As a result many of the objectives and plot points in the games are actually based more heavily on the books than the movie (this is particularly true in the PC version). The console version of the game I believe was likely developed later than the PC version as it resembles the movie a bit more (at least in looks). It also is the shorter game and more prone to bugs, which tends to suggest it's development was heavily truncated. But just the same it features many elements specific to the books.
I suppose it's possible there was another version of the ending too, but I tend to think the fake out ending and the Olaf escape ending were likely the only ones committed to film. The movie is infamous for it's production issues and going massively over budget (Jim Carrey was famous for his temper tantrums during this movie, demanding dozens of retakes and constantly delaying production. The director wasn't much better, he kept making questionable decisions like building an entire set for a 30 second scene (Yes, he built that hallway for the second story of Uncle Monty's house just so he could film that scene of Jim Carrey making a joke about a hall pass, brilliant decision making!)), so I doubt the studio let them film anymore endings than those two.
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Post by thathoboravioli on Jan 6, 2019 19:39:54 GMT -5
Thanks for clearing it up, StrangelyI think I almost forgot how much of a mess the movie's production was (I think the only thing that wasn't a mess was the music, and even then there are a ton of alternates in the film vs. the official release and the recording sessions haven't leaked AT ALL), so I didn't keep that in mind. I do know the original ending was in the deleted scenes, but I wish I could find the version from the test screenings, especially with Lemony Snicket's narration.
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Jan 6, 2019 20:06:50 GMT -5
The test audience was confused about this as they couldn't tell if Olaf was actually arrested or if he escaped. So, Brad Silberling, in his infinite wisdom, decided to cut out the real ending and leave the joke one in instead, leaving us with that hideously confusing monologue that gives us no idea of how Olaf escaped. Terrible decision, show don't tell, that's film making 101! Yeah, the joke ending is kind of funny, but nothing about it is so good that we should get that instead of the ending that actually happened! Rant over... For now... thathoboravioli I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom here, but this is literally the exact opposite of how it actually played out. I highly recommend that anyone interested in the making of the 2004 movie checks out the book "The Men Who Would Be King". The book itself is a fascinating look at the early success and then expensive flop of Dreamworks Studios but the most relevant portion is a whole chapter on the Snicket film. To make a very long and complicated story short, Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler were fired from the movie by two Dreamworks executives (Laurie MacDonald and Walter Parkes) when they came into conflict with Jim Carrey and the studio over the tone and budget of the movie. The studio then hired Brad Silberling, largely because he wasn't powerful enough to contradict the wishes of the studio and Jim Carrey. The movie's production then turned into a nightmare when Jim Carrey and the Studio came into conflict, neither side backing down. Silberling had almost no creative control over the movie itself and was for all intents and purposes just a hired hand. He only ever filmed ONE single ending, the one where Olaf escapes. Parkes and MacDonald at Dreamworks didn't care for the ending and so essentially kicked Silberling out of the editing room as they removed the escape and various other sequences they deemed "too dark" throughout the film. Silberling even tried to get his old mentor (and the head of Dreamworks) Steven Spielberg involved, but Spielberg sided with the executives. The narration from Lemony Snicket at the end of the film about Olaf being acquitted was added in later because Dreamworks realised that they needed a way to bring Carrey back for potential sequels.
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Jan 6, 2019 20:15:23 GMT -5
Yeah, the original ending had Olaf flying away on a wire while the audience gasps and wonders how he did it. I'm sure I can find it on YouTube, if you'll give me a moment. Now then, that is odd. I would have absolutely sworn I have seen the original ending. But I can't find it anywhere online. All the other deleted scenes are uploaded, though, so what gives? For some reason, the video of the alternate ending got taken down for Copyright reasons but it can be found on both the DVD and the Bluray. Though I must warn you, it's only half of the original ending. It only has Olaf flying away on the wire and not the narration from Lemony Snicket over the fake Olaf punishments about how much he wishes this is the story he could tell us.
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Post by Strangely on Jan 6, 2019 22:16:26 GMT -5
The test audience was confused about this as they couldn't tell if Olaf was actually arrested or if he escaped. So, Brad Silberling, in his infinite wisdom, decided to cut out the real ending and leave the joke one in instead, leaving us with that hideously confusing monologue that gives us no idea of how Olaf escaped. Terrible decision, show don't tell, that's film making 101! Yeah, the joke ending is kind of funny, but nothing about it is so good that we should get that instead of the ending that actually happened! Rant over... For now... thathoboravioli I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom here, but this is literally the exact opposite of how it actually played out. I highly recommend that anyone interested in the making of the 2004 movie checks out the book "The Men Who Would Be King". I'll have to give that a read. I was basing my information on what Silberling had said in the past (I believe he mentions it being his decision in the commentary), but I suppose he likely was just trying to save face in a difficult situation (unfortunately you have to play along if you want to get more work in the future). As for all the cut material, I do wonder what else got cut out that never saw the light of day. I know that often the deleted scenes contained in the special features are only a small portion of what was really cut. Makes me wonder if there's a better cut of that movie sitting in a film vault somewhere. Thanks for the info gothicarchiesfan!
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Post by thathoboravioli on Jan 8, 2019 23:30:17 GMT -5
Upon hearing these comments, now there's two things I want from the movie to be released that will likely never be released
1. The complete soundtrack recordings (plus demos and alternate tracks) 2. The complete version of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Movie with all the deleted material put back in
Both of these will probably be gone forever, lost into the Great Unknown.
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Post by Mr. Dent on Jan 9, 2019 0:30:38 GMT -5
Agreed. Honestly, the White Faced Women were the best part of the movie, and they had all their funniest bits removed.
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Post by thathoboravioli on Jan 9, 2019 21:51:23 GMT -5
Agreed. Honestly, the White Faced Women were the best part of the movie, and they had all their funniest bits removed. "I am so much more milkier!" "I'm more desperate." "Are you KIDDING? I was BORN to play that part!" "It's the milkmaid, not the cow." (laughter) "You smell like garbage."
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Post by Mr. Dent on Jan 9, 2019 22:09:12 GMT -5
Agreed. Honestly, the White Faced Women were the best part of the movie, and they had all their funniest bits removed. "I am so much more milkier!" "I'm more desperate." "Are you KIDDING? I was BORN to play that part!" "It's the milkmaid, not the cow." (laughter) "You smell like garbage." "It's a terrible life in the theater, you know. People think, 'Oh, I'm gonna be the star of the show.' But then they make you a little tree in the background, or maybe not even the tree. Maybe the dirt that the tree is planted in. I spent a whole day under a brown sheet. Then they forget about me and turn the lights out." "...you look ugly in that dress."
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Post by deathtentaclesandpip on Jan 10, 2019 7:43:26 GMT -5
"It's a terrible life in the theater, you know. People think, 'Oh, I'm gonna be the star of the show.' But then they make you a little tree in the background, or maybe not even the tree. Maybe the dirt that the tree is planted in. I spent a whole day under a brown sheet. Then they forget about me and turn the lights out." "...you look ugly in that dress." YES! That's literally my favorite deleted scene of all time. Her strange accent is the funniest thing ever!
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Jan 10, 2019 13:50:34 GMT -5
The complete version of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Movie with all the deleted material put back in A complete version of the movie will likely never be released simply because it's impossible. One of the reasons the movie's filming took nearly a year was because Jim Carrey would constantly rewrite scenes even after they had been finished. Which means that there are not only a lot of cut scenes but also a lot of alternate versions of scenes that ended up in the movie that couldn't be put back in because it would clash with the other stuff. One example being Carrey's original portrayal of Stephano which was supposed to be a parody of dashing European actors like Antonio Banderas and who Carrey insisted be changed after they had already shot most of his scenes. Resulting in them rewriting and refilming many of the scenes that had already been shot for the film's TRR sequence. I would love to see all the cut footage of course, but I have a feeling that if it does ever surface, it won't be through 'official' channels. The complete soundtrack recordings (plus demos and alternate tracks) However, you're in luck when it comes to the soundtrack. Not only is there a very good chance that it may be released, but it might also be through official channels and be out a little bit sooner than you may think. There are quite a few music companies nowadays -LaLaLand and Intrada, for example- that make most of their business from re-releasing the scores of movies in their complete form, often including material like alternate tracks and demos. And in the last couple of years, Paramount and Dreamworks (who financed the film together) have been licensing a lot of their music out to these companies, especially for their films from the late 90s and early 2000s. It could just be a matter of time...
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Post by Mr. Dent on Jan 10, 2019 14:10:57 GMT -5
However, you're in luck when it comes to the soundtrack. Not only is there a very good chance that it may be released, but it might also be through official channels and be out a little bit sooner than you may think. There are quite a few music companies nowadays -LaLaLand and Intrada, for example- that make most of their business from re-releasing the scores of movies in their complete form, often including material like alternate tracks and demos. And in the last couple of years, Paramount and Dreamworks (who financed the film together) have been licensing a lot of their music out to these companies, especially for their films from the late 90s and early 2000s. It could just be a matter of time... Maybe my dreams of owning ASOUE on vinyl may come true after all. Fingers crossed, I was crushed when they cancelled The Bad Beginning vinyl.
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