King Kong (2005)
What Was Cut: A whole load of logo concept art for Peter Jackson's remake, courtesy of artist Tom Schillinger . Schillinger made over 20 different logos for the film, any of which would have been awesome on the final poster. We particularly like this rock-carved variant…
If It Had Stayed In: The film might have had a fresher identity than it got by using the obvious, '30s deco-inspired logo that was eventually approved. We'd still love to see all of Schillinger's designs turned into an alternative-run poster series. How about it, Jackson?
The Lovely Bones (2009)
What Was Cut: Ryan Gosling. He was cast as the father in Peter Jackson's book adaptation. Weeks before filming, though, Gosling was fired.
According to the actor it's because he was too fat H.e put on 60lbs for the role, thinking it would work for the character. Jackson disagreed and replaced him with Mark Wahlberg.
If It Had Stayed In: We'd have had a chubby Gosling on our hands instead of an earnest Wahlberg. Probably would have been better.
Kill Bill: Vol 2 (2004)
What Was Cut: Bill (David Carradine) fights Michael Jai White in an epic skirmish that never should have been cut - mostly because it shows us just how deadly Bill can be.
If he can better Michael Jai White, we should definitely be afraid. Very afraid.
If It Had Stayed In: It would have livened up what is an undeniably talky sequel, made Bill a more tangible threat, and given that last scene between the Bride and her prey a great deal more tension.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
What Was Cut: The Beast (Kelsey Grammar) launches into the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V in order to rally the troops before they head into battle.
If It Had Stayed In: It would probably have had people either rolling in the aisles or scratching their heads in confusion.
Bridesmaids (2011)
What Was Cut: "Wanna watch me dance?"
This is a brilliantly kooky scene in which Annie (Kristen Wiig) meets the young son of a guy she's going on a date with. It was cut when it was decided that we didn't need to see Annie going on a load of unfortunate dates amid the rest of her tribulations,
If It Had Stayed In: An over-long film would have been even over-longerer. Though it's a great, funny scene, the film still works perfectly well without it.
Superman Returns (2006)
What Was Cut: A six-minute, dialogue-free sequence in which Kal-El returns to Krypton. The use of light and shadow is stunning.
If It Had Stayed In: Mainstream audiences might have balked at the wordless sight of a crystal spaceship floating through the cosmos and then slowly exploring a dead planet, and the scene definitely would have slowed down the film's pace. Still, it's a beautiful sequence that permeates a stunning sense of wonder. The film would have been richer for it.
The Wolverine (2013)
What Was Cut: Darren Aronofsky was originally set to direct Hugh Jackman in this standalone Wolvie adventure, but after six months of pre-production, the director departed.
“It became clear that the production of The Wolverine would keep me out of the country for almost a year," he said in a statement. "I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time.”
If It Had Stayed In: We would, arguably, have gotten a far better movie than the one we ended up with. We can't help wondering what a Wolverine from film the unswervingly artistically-minded Aranofsky would have looked like, though to be fair, with the film's director James Mangold redeeming himself ten times over with this year's Logan - a film with more than a shade of Aranofsky's The Wrestler about it - it's much less of a pressing issue.
In Bruges (2008)
What Was Cut: Matt Smith beheading somebody. In this deleted scene, Smith gives amazing crazy as a younger version of Ralph Fiennes' character, Harry. It's a shame it was consigned to the cutting room floor.
If It Had Stayed In: It would have made us even more terrified of Harry. He executed the decapitation in a damn police station, for God's sake.
Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
What Was Cut: The original, quieter, darker, and entirely better ending. Picking up some time after the (successful) robbery, John McClane - now disgraced and kicked off the force, having been scapegoated for the previous events of the film - tracks down Simon in Hungary and forces him to play a game of Russian Roulette with a rocket launcher. Simon loses, but it turns out that John had stacked the odds anyway, because of course he had.
The ending was scrapped because the studio thought it lacked a proper (ie. explosive) climax, and that it made John look too cruel. Rich, given what a humorlessness asshole the later sequels turned him into anyway. And besides, the rocket launcher ending included a wonderful allusion to The Lavender Hill Mob, with Simon smuggling the gold in the form of moulded souvenir statues of the Empire State Building.
Sometimes studios are monsters.
If It Had Stayed In: The film would have got a much better, more distinct, and more iconic ending, and with McClane's life apparently it tatters, we might have been spared the next two films.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
What Was Cut: Benedict Cumberbatch's John Harrison taking a quick shower, presumably to wash off some of that evil. Or more likely, to show off how ripped Cumberbatch got for the role. He admitted to being a bit peeved when it got cut, after working out for months and eating 'a lot of chicken' in preparation.
If It Had Stayed In: Cumberbatch fans might have appreciated it, but it's hard to think of what it would have added narratively. Not that that stopped director JJ Abrams from including gratuitous underwear shots of female Starfleet officers, to no small amount of criticism.
