- Internet Fanedit Database
- Fanedit Listings
- FanFix
- True Lies: Straight Faced Edition
True Lies: Straight Faced Edition
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
141 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
121 minutes
Time Cut:
20 minutes
Additional Links:
Synopsis:
This is TRUE LIES as a more action based film with less silly humor reminiscent of other Cameron/Schwarzenegger films.
Intention:
To create a more action based film with less silly humor reminiscent of other Cameron/Schwarzenegger films.
Release Information:
- DVD
- Digital
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes Montage w/ optional commentary
- Scene Reconstruction w/ optional commentarys
- Music Video
- About This Edit
- Easter Egg
- Scene Reconstruction w/ optional commentarys
- Music Video
- About This Edit
- Easter Egg
Cuts and Additions:
- Fiezel peeing outside van
- Gib (Tom Arnold) dialog cut throughout
- Harry entering chateau through kitchen
- Harry/Juno tango scene
- Harry escapes chateau: snowmobile removed, backflip removed
- Removed “total pooch screw” discussion w/ Spencer Trilby
- Various lines removed throughout from all characters
- Man on toilet in bathroom fight removed
- Aziz shooting at Gib behind lightpole in street
- Horse/Motorcycle chase sequence shortened and restructured
- Harry arriving home late for birthday party
- Harry sad w/ Gib after learning Helen is cheating
- Harry breaks binoculars
- Harry plays dumb with Aziz about what the warhead is
- Terrorist camera battery dies
- Harry/Helen escape sequence shortened
- Helen gets a gun
- Helen drops gun down steps
- Aziz cheers after he shoots bazooka
- Terrorist truck falls over bridge
- Helen hits Juno w/ Champagne
- Harry’s awkward Harrier take off
- Aziz shoots at Dana
- Janitor in office building
- Aziz cringe after nut shot
- Arnolds silly face during dinner
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
141 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
121 minutes
Time Cut:
20 minutes
Additional Links:
Synopsis:
This is TRUE LIES as a more action based film with less silly humor reminiscent of other Cameron/Schwarzenegger films.
Intention:
To create a more action based film with less silly humor reminiscent of other Cameron/Schwarzenegger films.
Release Information:
- DVD
- Digital
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes Montage w/ optional commentary
- Scene Reconstruction w/ optional commentarys
- Music Video
- About This Edit
- Easter Egg
- Scene Reconstruction w/ optional commentarys
- Music Video
- About This Edit
- Easter Egg
Cuts and Additions:
- Fiezel peeing outside van
- Gib (Tom Arnold) dialog cut throughout
- Harry entering chateau through kitchen
- Harry/Juno tango scene
- Harry escapes chateau: snowmobile removed, backflip removed
- Removed “total pooch screw” discussion w/ Spencer Trilby
- Various lines removed throughout from all characters
- Man on toilet in bathroom fight removed
- Aziz shooting at Gib behind lightpole in street
- Horse/Motorcycle chase sequence shortened and restructured
- Harry arriving home late for birthday party
- Harry sad w/ Gib after learning Helen is cheating
- Harry breaks binoculars
- Harry plays dumb with Aziz about what the warhead is
- Terrorist camera battery dies
- Harry/Helen escape sequence shortened
- Helen gets a gun
- Helen drops gun down steps
- Aziz cheers after he shoots bazooka
- Terrorist truck falls over bridge
- Helen hits Juno w/ Champagne
- Harry’s awkward Harrier take off
- Aziz shoots at Dana
- Janitor in office building
- Aziz cringe after nut shot
- Arnolds silly face during dinner
Trusted Reviewer reviews
5 reviews
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
9.0(2)
Audio Editing
9.0(2)
Visual Editing
9.0(2)
Narrative
9.0(2)
Enjoyment
9.0(5)
Overall rating
8.3
Audio/Video Quality
8.0
Audio Editing
8.0
Visual Editing
8.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
9.0
With Arnold's new project "Fubar" just dropping this weekend and being toted as a spiritual sequel to True Lies, I thought it was a perfect time to finally get around to this edit. From the heady days of 2010, this was a big early success in the fanediting community, but does it hold up?
Regardless of what you think of the original film, I'd have to say that this edit MOSTLY accomplishes the stated goal. While you wouldn't want (and couldn't do) a completely serious edit of this film, this does take out the majority of the obvious one-liners and the biggest moments that slow down the story in order to do a gag. I say "mostly" because I thought there were just a few edits that could really accomplish this better. There are several moments where the terrorists are played for goofs, and it's just really at odds with a nuclear bomb on US soil. You've got to cut them at the end bridge scene accidentally firing the rocket backwards, and for god's sake cut down the rigmarole on top of the Harrier jet. That scene is painfully long. Cut out the terrorist landing on his balls, his goofy reaction shots, and him flying away on a missile. It's easy enough to just cut out a half second from each of these and you can still show the bad guy going for his gun, then Arnold pitching him off the plane wing in a sudden dramatic move while hinting to his daughter to hang on. Add a meat-thud sound effect and that's it: terrorist defeated.
On that note, the scenes with the women screaming and flailing go on far too long here. They don't need to be panicked chickens while the guys are all icey cool. A couple screams and a bit of failing is fine, we've got it. That bridge rescue can be half as long as it is. Cut the ending scene where Bill Paxton is randomly at a spy party just to have another peeing joke. And cut yes, even more of the Tom Arnold banter, especially towards the end. On the other hand, I'm with other reviewers that the initial tango scene should've been left in, not only because it's a cool scene, but because it has thematic, serious resonance for the characters at the end.
Overall though, I think what slightly breaks the spell of this edit for me is just that it's not quite smooth enough. The community has gotten really skillful in the past decade, and what used to pass for "very smooth...except for a few cuts" now just seems like jarring errors that need to be fixed. There are several moments in this where the sound just drops out, and about half a dozen hard visual cuts where lines or scenes were removed. The overall sound mix is way too heavy on the foley effects like footsteps and zippers, and way too light on the music. It's really weird when the ruffling of a character's pant legs while walking are the same volume as his conversation!
Overall, it's debatable whether True Lies even works as a "straight" action espionage film. Maybe we just need to be okay with it being completely over-the-top and ridiculous. But I do think there's room to try the concept, maybe as an updated 2nd edition version now that the fanediting community has grown so much. In the end, I don't think this edit quite holds up, but I'd love to see a remake!
Regardless of what you think of the original film, I'd have to say that this edit MOSTLY accomplishes the stated goal. While you wouldn't want (and couldn't do) a completely serious edit of this film, this does take out the majority of the obvious one-liners and the biggest moments that slow down the story in order to do a gag. I say "mostly" because I thought there were just a few edits that could really accomplish this better. There are several moments where the terrorists are played for goofs, and it's just really at odds with a nuclear bomb on US soil. You've got to cut them at the end bridge scene accidentally firing the rocket backwards, and for god's sake cut down the rigmarole on top of the Harrier jet. That scene is painfully long. Cut out the terrorist landing on his balls, his goofy reaction shots, and him flying away on a missile. It's easy enough to just cut out a half second from each of these and you can still show the bad guy going for his gun, then Arnold pitching him off the plane wing in a sudden dramatic move while hinting to his daughter to hang on. Add a meat-thud sound effect and that's it: terrorist defeated.
On that note, the scenes with the women screaming and flailing go on far too long here. They don't need to be panicked chickens while the guys are all icey cool. A couple screams and a bit of failing is fine, we've got it. That bridge rescue can be half as long as it is. Cut the ending scene where Bill Paxton is randomly at a spy party just to have another peeing joke. And cut yes, even more of the Tom Arnold banter, especially towards the end. On the other hand, I'm with other reviewers that the initial tango scene should've been left in, not only because it's a cool scene, but because it has thematic, serious resonance for the characters at the end.
Overall though, I think what slightly breaks the spell of this edit for me is just that it's not quite smooth enough. The community has gotten really skillful in the past decade, and what used to pass for "very smooth...except for a few cuts" now just seems like jarring errors that need to be fixed. There are several moments in this where the sound just drops out, and about half a dozen hard visual cuts where lines or scenes were removed. The overall sound mix is way too heavy on the foley effects like footsteps and zippers, and way too light on the music. It's really weird when the ruffling of a character's pant legs while walking are the same volume as his conversation!
Overall, it's debatable whether True Lies even works as a "straight" action espionage film. Maybe we just need to be okay with it being completely over-the-top and ridiculous. But I do think there's room to try the concept, maybe as an updated 2nd edition version now that the fanediting community has grown so much. In the end, I don't think this edit quite holds up, but I'd love to see a remake!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
(Updated: November 05, 2013)
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Another damn good elbarto fanedit!
A/V Quality - 10
Editing - 10
Narrative - 9
Enjoyment - 10 (original 8)
Recommended drink: Screwdriver
A/V Quality - 10
Editing - 10
Narrative - 9
Enjoyment - 10 (original 8)
Recommended drink: Screwdriver
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
DVD
Overall rating
8.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
8.0
August 9, 2010 @ 2:16 am
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
9.0
March 3, 2010 @ 6:43 am
Really enjoyed this one. It flows very smoothly and is much more enjoyable than the retail version. I agree with the comments that the second half isn’t as good, but nothing could change that. I was ready to give this an 8/10, but decided on a 9/10 because the DVD presentation is simply wonderful. Nice menus and really great special features – I wish more fanedits would have deleted scene montages. And an extra special shout out to Blueyoda for his contribution to the edit, which I thought was brilliant in both idea and execution.
Really enjoyed this one. It flows very smoothly and is much more enjoyable than the retail version. I agree with the comments that the second half isn’t as good, but nothing could change that. I was ready to give this an 8/10, but decided on a 9/10 because the DVD presentation is simply wonderful. Nice menus and really great special features – I wish more fanedits would have deleted scene montages. And an extra special shout out to Blueyoda for his contribution to the edit, which I thought was brilliant in both idea and execution.
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
9.0
February 26, 2010 @ 9:40 am
I was a bit afraid that this edit would take the fun completely out of the movie, But no, it’s just as fun, with less cheese.
I just would have kept “Helen drops gun down steps”. It was a scene I loved.
DVD menus and extras are GREAT. Kuddo to Elbarto1.
I was a bit afraid that this edit would take the fun completely out of the movie, But no, it’s just as fun, with less cheese.
I just would have kept “Helen drops gun down steps”. It was a scene I loved.
DVD menus and extras are GREAT. Kuddo to Elbarto1.
User reviews
14 reviews
Overall rating
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
8.0(1)
Audio Editing
10.0(1)
Visual Editing
10.0(1)
Narrative
N/A(0)
Enjoyment
8.9(14)
Overall rating
8.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
8.0
July 18, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Overall rating
8.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
8.0
April 12, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Overall rating
8.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
8.0
March 24, 2010 @ 7:54 am
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Overall rating
8.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
8.0
August 13, 2011 @ 1:58 am
It is difficult for me to rate this edit. Objectively I have to give it a high rating because it did mostly succeed at its intended goals. Much of the comedy was successfully stripped from it. The edit is also very professionally done with good video, audio, & an awesome menu. I did not detect any technical flaws.
The only objective criticism I can make is that there are a few places where the cutting probably went a little too far at the cost of a little bit of story. Nothing too major. The biggest is probably the cutting of the opening dance scene, which causes an issue both with Tia’s character and ruins the emotional impact of the end dance scene.
Other good news is that the run-time is now much better for this kind of movie.
Overall: 8/10
Now on to the bad news. Subjectively I am not a big fan of this edit. I have always felt that True Lies was a very misunderstood movie. The movie was intended to be a comedy, but it is a very unorthodox comedy that is handled subtly and wrapped up in big budget action shots. People expected a James Cameron action movie and were disappointed when they instead got this weird pseudo spoof. Personally I love this movie in its original form and disagree with the goals of this edit, but that is just my opinion. For those who did not like the original and just want more of an action movie, you will probably be very pleased with Elbarto’s version of the film.
It is difficult for me to rate this edit. Objectively I have to give it a high rating because it did mostly succeed at its intended goals. Much of the comedy was successfully stripped from it. The edit is also very professionally done with good video, audio, & an awesome menu. I did not detect any technical flaws.
The only objective criticism I can make is that there are a few places where the cutting probably went a little too far at the cost of a little bit of story. Nothing too major. The biggest is probably the cutting of the opening dance scene, which causes an issue both with Tia’s character and ruins the emotional impact of the end dance scene.
Other good news is that the run-time is now much better for this kind of movie.
Overall: 8/10
Now on to the bad news. Subjectively I am not a big fan of this edit. I have always felt that True Lies was a very misunderstood movie. The movie was intended to be a comedy, but it is a very unorthodox comedy that is handled subtly and wrapped up in big budget action shots. People expected a James Cameron action movie and were disappointed when they instead got this weird pseudo spoof. Personally I love this movie in its original form and disagree with the goals of this edit, but that is just my opinion. For those who did not like the original and just want more of an action movie, you will probably be very pleased with Elbarto’s version of the film.
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
N/A
Audio Editing
N/A
Visual Editing
N/A
Narrative
N/A
Enjoyment
9.0
February 13, 2011 @ 8:55 pm
I’ll start by saying the last time I saw True Lies I was the same age as Eliza Dushku when she made that movie. So it’s been a while. I watched this version and I didn’t miss anything that was cut, except for the Tom Arnold hiding behind a light pole part, which is dumb. I had to go back and read the cut list to see what was missing only to find myself saying, "Holy crap!" and "Oh yeah!", for each one. Excellent job. There was only a couple spots (that I noticed) where the scene change seemed quick, but that’s nitpicky.
There’s a couple things I’d like to have still seen get axed. Yeah, the dogs thing mentioned before, but also Tom Arnold swerving all over the place on the icy road and his one liner at the end, “You’re fired.” the guy just kidnapped his daughter. I’d be way too upset to think of a one liner, even then it’s completely lame. His jet take off bit was nice too, but I would have gone further to make it look even more spontaneous.
I agree with other people, that whole last scene is weak compared to the rest of the film, but is there a way to ax it and keep the story intact? It would be tough to do.
I loved the whole thing. The movie, and the special features, totally above and beyond.
Excellent excellent work. 9/10.
I’ll start by saying the last time I saw True Lies I was the same age as Eliza Dushku when she made that movie. So it’s been a while. I watched this version and I didn’t miss anything that was cut, except for the Tom Arnold hiding behind a light pole part, which is dumb. I had to go back and read the cut list to see what was missing only to find myself saying, "Holy crap!" and "Oh yeah!", for each one. Excellent job. There was only a couple spots (that I noticed) where the scene change seemed quick, but that’s nitpicky.
There’s a couple things I’d like to have still seen get axed. Yeah, the dogs thing mentioned before, but also Tom Arnold swerving all over the place on the icy road and his one liner at the end, “You’re fired.” the guy just kidnapped his daughter. I’d be way too upset to think of a one liner, even then it’s completely lame. His jet take off bit was nice too, but I would have gone further to make it look even more spontaneous.
I agree with other people, that whole last scene is weak compared to the rest of the film, but is there a way to ax it and keep the story intact? It would be tough to do.
I loved the whole thing. The movie, and the special features, totally above and beyond.
Excellent excellent work. 9/10.
