Product Details

• Actors: Kathy Bates, Zach Staenberg, Jodie Foster, Michael Tronick, Anthony Minghella
• Directors: Wendy Apple
• Producers: Alan Heim, Barry Rebo, Jeff Pickett, Jennifer Waldo, Nick Ware
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 6, 2005
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009PVZEG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,606 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Provides insight into the process of movie editing.
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NR
Release Date: 6-SEP-2005
Media Type: DVD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

223 of 259 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Does not live up to billing, September 20, 2005

By 

Stanley D. Williams, Ph.D. (Northville, MI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing (DVD)

I'm a filmmaker, university film instructor, and author/writer of film topics. I was excited to hear about this DVD because, to quote it's own blurb "this fascinating program lets you in on the secrets..." of film editing I had presumed. I expected an educational presentation that would dissect the cuts and the tricks, and show the development of a scene from the multiple takes and camera angles, and how an editor selects, massages, and makes it come together visually and aurally. There is a little of that... maybe 10%. The rest of it is talking heads about the "secrets" and the pontificating by directors and editors about how amazing they both are. Good Grief! Save me the self-aggrandizement. I think you've heard the adage: "Don't tell me, show me." There is far too much talking head about what is done, but there are no examples of scenes "in process" but only the final cut. The examples are only referential. Very disappointing. And Tarantino's gushing and hugging his editor has nothing to do with how editing works. This is a blatant ACE promotional piece masking as a documentary. Especially disappointing was the Sharon Stone crotch shots from Basic Instinct that destroys the DVD for high schools and makes it inappropriate for most other audiences. Even the director admits that the inclusion of these shots was NOT at the editor's discretion, but was his intent all along, no doubt to get at the audience's "basic instincts." The shots have everything to do with the story... but little to do with a secret of editing... more to do with the secrets and tricks of marketing. I had hoped to use this in my classes, but I cannot. I am returning the two I ordered. Can't use 'em.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice intro to editing, October 4, 2005

By 

Bob Costa (FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing (DVD)

It's NOT a technician's viewpoint of how to edit. It IS a great overview of the history of editing style and film. If you have never looked took film history classes, this may be the best intro to the art of editing I have seen. It is interesting for non-editors and editors alike. I watched the cable version several times, learning new things each time. It was especially interesting to see how and when editing broke the rules and forged new styles. It has made me much more connected with the art of my craft. WHhen I watch old movies now, I can place them in the correct "editing era" easily. I am now ordering the DVD since it supposedly has some extra material not covered in the broadcast version, and since it has already proven to be a good review for watching multiple times. The material on the relationships between director and editor are also very interesting to me. I would say that things I learned in this one video have improved my editing style by double.

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fascinating documentary, August 3, 2005

By 

Paul "Writer and listener..." (Lake Forest, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing (DVD)

if you are interested in the art of film. Note that this is the same documentary that was included as an extra in the recent DVD of Steve McQueen's "Bullitt" so if you already have that DVD, you don't need this. Of course, if you want to spend a few extra bucks, you can get this some documentary and a kick butt Steve McQueen movie to go with it.