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The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

  • 2004
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)
DocumentaryHistory

Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles.Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles.Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles.

  • Director
    • Wendy Apple
  • Writer
    • Mark Jonathan Harris
  • Stars
    • Kathy Bates
    • Zach Staenberg
    • Jodie Foster
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wendy Apple
    • Writer
      • Mark Jonathan Harris
    • Stars
      • Kathy Bates
      • Zach Staenberg
      • Jodie Foster
    • 13User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast56

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    Kathy Bates
    Kathy Bates
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Zach Staenberg
    • Self
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Self
    Michael Tronick
    • Self
    Anthony Minghella
    Anthony Minghella
    • Self
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • Self
    Walter Murch
    Walter Murch
    • Self
    Martin Scorsese
    Martin Scorsese
    • Self
    Rob Cohen
    Rob Cohen
    • Self
    Quentin Tarantino
    Quentin Tarantino
    • Self
    Steven Spielberg
    Steven Spielberg
    • Self
    James Cameron
    James Cameron
    • Self
    Antony Gibbs
    • Self
    Mark Goldblatt
    Mark Goldblatt
    • Self
    Sally Menke
    Sally Menke
    • Self
    Craig McKay
    Craig McKay
    • Self
    Richard Marks
    Richard Marks
    • Self
    Ridley Scott
    Ridley Scott
    • Self
    • Director
      • Wendy Apple
    • Writer
      • Mark Jonathan Harris
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    7.73.2K
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    Featured reviews

    10lolique

    A MUST SEE FILM for everybody starting out in the business

    I'm a film director/editor from Colombia with more than 45 years in the business and this film is absolutely the best essay on film editing that I've had the good luck of seeing. The examples are great, the explanations on the "unseen" or "hidden art" of editing are perfect, the pacing is just right, etc., etc. The only thing I felt was that it was too short, but then I'm biased on the subject. This should be a MUST SEE FILM for everybody starting out in the business (and not just those who want to be editors).This is a solid "10" for me and I can't understand how anybody would consider it less, except for those mediocre joes who just can't cut it...
    tadeo38

    THE PRIMER on the importance of the Film Editor

    Do you know of the importance of the Film Editor to making a great film or to leave the best on the cutting room floor? Did you know that Spielberg & Scorcese will not let any Actor into the Cutting Room (but that Sean Penn will do so)....that earlier there were "Basic Rules" to editing but that the rules went asunder under the French "New Wave"! PLEASE: Ignore the low score and note that almost all viewers gave this documentary either a TEN or a one....and we all know that there is a small percentage of IMDb'ers that truly HATE films and will do anything in their zeal to burn their path of ignorance behind them in an effort to bring everyone to their level of ignorance. How sad to disdain our basic need to learn about life and specifically to learn about what make a Great Film what it will become.
    8jazza923

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

    This is a must see documentary for any serious film buff. For all you folks out there that dismiss older films, you may be surprised by your favorite directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and James Cameron praising the magnificence of silent films and many classics. Without these classics and the skill involved in making them, today's movies wouldn't be what they are. A brilliant and informative documentary. It very thoroughly explores a movie art form that is often not understood and certainly unappreciated. The editing of a film is very instrumental in its success. However, not many people appreciate it.
    8Bernie4444

    Movie editors come out of the closet

    This documentary is a general overview of how film cutters evolved into film editors and took their place among the giants of the film industry.

    We are introduced to methods and philosophies used down through the ages and the metamorphosis from celluloid to digital recordings.

    As informative as this documentary is it suffers from sound-bite-itus instead of concentrating on one person or thought, we are leaped back and forth through a collage of people, techniques, and time. This method of presentation can become quite boring after a time. Still, the documentary (that only shows highlights and nothing practical) is worth viewing.
    8TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews

    There's power in juxtaposition

    This is one of the two feature-length documentaries on the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD of Bullitt. With a running time of 95 minutes, it is the longer one, by about 12 minutes. It consists of interviews and film clips(old, new, fiction, documentary(including propaganda works), famous and unknown, and a little real life footage; note that there are spoilers for many of the movies) used as examples or such, and narrated well by Kathy Bates. It is ironic that the invisibility and underrating of the role of the editor is somewhat shown by the fact that a couple of the directors here are actors first(big names, of the kind that draw attention), but other than that, I can say nothing negative about this. Everyone here has something to say(no, I know, I didn't expect much from Rob Cohen, the man behind xXx, either), and those who have the most to offer genuinely *are* the ones we see for the majority of this. Speaking as someone who *loves* the art of cutting, I can't say if this will be as compelling to those who aren't into the craft, however, this is clearly made for said group, and if you find yourself in it, you will not regret watching this. Before seeing this, I would not have dared suggest that one could successfully tell the history of its development and cover this amount of ground on the "theory" of it(like the line I quote in the summary, to give just one example) in a mere hour and a half. The whole thing is extremely interesting and informational. It has a great sense of humor without trying too hard. The numerous analogies and the like are excellent. As is fitting for the subject, this is put together rather well. There is a little strong language in this. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know more. 8/10

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This documentary is featured on the Two-Disc Special Edition DVD for Bullitt (1968), released in 2005.
    • Crazy credits
      Embedded throughout the beginning of the credits are photos of several film editors displaying the awards that they've won.
    • Connections
      Features The Waterer Watered (1895)

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    FAQ

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 12, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 剪接的魔力
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • A.C.E.
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • NHK Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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