I have a lot to say about recent events but I’m not ready to speak about them just yet. That led me to wonder if I should simply stay silent. John Oliver’s preface to his show the other night made me think about that. In the wake of tragedy it may seem petty, even insulting, to try and make people laugh, but then I thought that without laughter we have no way of coping with tragedy. So, please, enjoy my stupid blog.
Deleted Scenes That Completely Changed Famous Movies—Summer Blockbuster Edition
1. “Welcome to my island resort! As you can see I’ve spared no expense providing every possible luxury. I hope to make it as big a success as possible. My accountant can’t see the sense in bringing some scientists here instead of trying to attract wealthier people, but I thought you lot and my grandchildren could help make the case that it’s open to everyone. Seriously, I need as many people as I can get. Lost billions on a major biotech project that looked promising but it turns out it’s just impossible to clone dinosaurs.”
2. “Hi, this is Dean Hoover at Faber College. I understand you and your colleagues have just lost your jobs at NYU. We’re starting up a parapsychology program of our own and we’re desperate for faculty. Would you be interested in coming to work for us, Doctor Venkman?”
3. “Thanks for giving me my dad’s old stuff. I know you’d like me to come with you but I really need to stay here and deal with the death of my aunt and uncle. They’re the only family I ever knew and I can’t just go off and leave the farm and everything else they worked so hard to build. Good luck on your mission Ben, um, I mean Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
4. “I’m sorry, they’ve decided they’re not going to fund the expedition after all.”
“Did they say why, Marcus?”
“Well, you know how these government bureaucrats are. There’s a chance of a war in Europe and they seem to think the money would be better spent on arms rather than going after a long lost cultural artifact.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just hope if the Nazis do find the Ark of the Covenant they don’t melt it down for gold.”
“By the way, Indy, is your father still doing Holy Grail research?
5. “Stay here and work on the farm. The seas are so dangerous right now. I have enough money put aside that we can marry now rather waiting. Won’t you please, Wesley?”
“As you wish.”
6. B-[EXT. REDWOOD FOREST. NIGHT.]
The alien spaceship, like a large onion or the top of a minaret, stands, in a clearing. A dozen or so short squat creatures amble around it. The hoot of an owl momentarily spooks them. Their hearts glow. They separate and explore the woods. One moves away from the group. Long alien fingers carefully pluck a sapling from the ground.
Suddenly trucks drive up nearby. Men in heavy boots wielding flashlights get out. They run into the woods, their lights slicing the darkness. They spread out. One of the aliens appears to be cut off. It runs through the forest emitting a piercing scream. The men cluster, following it. The alien backs up to a massive trunk. The men close in around it.
Then several of the aliens appear out of the surrounding undergrowth. The men are surrounded!
CUT TO
[INT. SPACESHIP.]
A pale beige interior. The floors and walls are covered with strange lumps like the beginnings of stalactites or stalagmites. The room is foggy. Clusters of collected Earth plants are scattered around the room. The men all lie unconscious on the floor.
Overhead two of the aliens look down. One turns to the other.
E.T.: Let’s cut one and see what happens.
Now it’s your turn to test your movie knowledge! Match the movies to their corresponding posters.
Jeez, I hope some of these are included in the DVD box sets!
Mostly on the Blu-Ray special editions.
Thanks for busting our blocks, Chris.
Thanks for the building block of your comments.
Good call – however, I guess you need to be a movie buff to get this and I haven’t seen many movies since the shock of finding Mary Poppins was really Julie Andrews and not the line drawn person in the books.
Mary Poppins was in books? Okay, I’m kidding–but I appreciate the reminder that after all these years I still haven’t read the Mary Poppins books. I love the movie but I’ve heard the books have a much darker tone which I think would be brilliant.