Beware the director's cut

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2005)

Amadeus is a wondrous, if factually dubious spectacle, but be careful to watch the original theatrical edition rather than the director's cut. The film critic for the Toronto Globe and Mail said that Amadeus needs an extra 20 minutes running time like the Magic Flute needs a drum solo, and he was right.
It is a rare case of film studio being wise to order cuts. The only other example that springs to mind is James Cameron's pious additions to The Abyss for his "special edition". The added scenes do add slightly to our understanding of the story, but two hours and 38 minutes is simply too long, especially for a director as methodical as Milos Forman.