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The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing
 
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The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Starring: Kathy Bates, Zach Staenberg Director: Wendy Apple Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: DVD
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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Customers buy this DVD with A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies DVD ~ Kathryn Bigelow

The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing + A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
  • This item: The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing DVD ~ Kathy Bates

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  • A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies DVD ~ Kathryn Bigelow

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing
87% buy the item featured on this page:
The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing 4.1 out of 5 stars (29)
$5.79
A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
4% buy
A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies 4.8 out of 5 stars (24)
$13.99
Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography
3% buy
Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography 4.4 out of 5 stars (41)

Product Details

  • Actors: Kathy Bates, Zach Staenberg, Jodie Foster, Michael Tronick, Anthony Minghella
  • Directors: Wendy Apple
  • Writers: Mark Jonathan Harris
  • 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
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: September 6, 2005
  • Run Time: 98 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0009PVZEG
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,576 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #6 in  Movies & TV > Documentary > Film History & Film Making
  • For more information about "The Cutting Edge - The Magic of Movie Editing" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Editing is what makes film a film." That audacious statement is made at the beginning of this 2005 documentary about the art of film editing. After listening to many editors and directors, movie novices as well as cinephiles may agree. Kathy Bates narrates this whirlwind history of the art punctuated by dozens of scenes to illustrate the effect of film editing in heightening reality and making a visceral impact on the filmgoer. In fact, the profession seems to be run on "a gut feeling" whether it's clipping a few frames, or 20 minutes of the final act (which we learn happened with Lenny). James Cameron illustrates the importance of a frame as we see a scene from Terminator 2 with 1 frame out 24 missing (24 frames representing one second of film). Or as Quentin Tarantino states, "musicians have notes, editors have frames." It's fascinating to see how editing--the process of assembling the film after it's been shot--can save films, make performances better, and become the ultimate jigsaw puzzle. The last concept is demonstrated as we return time and again to the most well-known editor of the time, Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The English Patient), as he edits a few scenes from Cold Mountain in front of us. We see how he works with light, covers mistakes, and controls emotion. For those who wished for a sequel to the excellent documentary on cinematographers, Visions of Light (1993), here's the next step (although made by different folks including first-time director Wendy Apple). Now, anyone want to tackle art directors? --Doug Thomas


Product Description

Bullitt's dynamic editing, highlighted by its twisting, squealing, hill-leaping chase sequence that leaves viewers whooping and woozy, earned a 1968 Best Film Editing Oscar and helped make the film an action classic. How do film editors work this kind of magic? This fascinating program lets you in on the secrets. "What makes a movie a movie is the editing," says Zach Staenberg, Academy Award-winning* editor of the Matrix trilogy. Closeups, flashbacks, parallel action, slow motion, juxtaposition of images - these are just a few tools that make clips from Birth of a Nation to Pulp Fiction, The Battleship Potemkin to Gladiator indelible. Narrated by Kathy Bates and with interviews of a who's who of contemporary directors and editors, The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing is, shot for shot and frame after frame, reel magic.

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29 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
177 of 202 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
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.
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45 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fascinating documentary, August 3, 2005
By Paul McElligott "DVD junkie" (Lake Forest, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
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.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice intro to editing, October 4, 2005
By Bob Costa "John Galt" (FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Edgy and educational
I have enjoyed showing this DVD to students that are interested in editing. It's educational AND edgy. Not rated for children though! Read more
Published 1 month ago by SHP

5.0 out of 5 stars Decades of Filmmaking Wisdom Crammed into One DVD
This is a must buy for any film fan, film maker or film editor. An extremely informative, if talky, exposition on the art, the craft, the science, the illusion, the storytelling,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Greg Lefevre

1.0 out of 5 stars The Cutting Edge- The Magic of Movie Editing
I don't know who would need to use this product. It has very little use information about cutting a film.The material is not for any students. Waste of time.
Published 2 months ago by Kenneth M. Watson

1.0 out of 5 stars Total waste... "F" bombs used alot in the DVD
Did not learn anything. Lots of foul language. Not a training DVD for sure.
Published 2 months ago by Robert Cook

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for editing class
This is a great introduction to what editors do to make movies. Film school, it's not. But it's a great overview of the evolution of editing. Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. Cole

3.0 out of 5 stars The Editing Paradox
As an aspiring film editor, I felt almost obligated to pick up "The Cutting Edge". I know for too long film editors are due for recognition for the work they put into making a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Florian T. Boyce

5.0 out of 5 stars An Eye Opener
The name says it all. All of movie making is a kind of magic produced by very hard work. Editing is sometimes overlooked when people see and talk about films -- unfairly so... Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Daniel

5.0 out of 5 stars A Motion Picture Editors Delight
This is an Excellent review of film editing, it's history, techniques and a few of the main contributors in the industry over the years. Read more
Published 21 months ago by JT

5.0 out of 5 stars A good way to learn the craft
This film is a great way to see much of the work that goes into the editing side of movie making. From looking at what happens when bad edits are made to seeing Jim Cameron show... Read more
Published 21 months ago by George Hellmer

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I first saw this video in class. It is an excellent video for those who are interested in being in the film industry. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Raelene A. Samuels

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