I. Introduction
Agents and spies have always been well-received movie heroes, as proven by numerous B-movies as well as blockbuster like the Bourne- or Bond series. The premise is almost the same every time as the hero fights against enemies on the outside as well as the inside to either prove his innocence or save the world or both. So it's not that big a surprise that in Salt Angelina Jolie is in the line of fire and a fugitive as well. Worldwide, the movie made a solid 294 million dollars with a budget of 110 millions and is now released on Blu-ray and DVD in three versions. In den USA, the Theatrical version is obtainable on its own on DVD. The whole package consists of the Theatrical version (PG-13), the Extended Cut and a Director's Cut, and although it doesn't seem to be all that profitable to release the Theatrical Version regardless of an existing extended version, the case is an entirely different one with Salt.Agents and spies have always been well-received movie heroes, as proven by numerous B-movies as well as blockbuster like the Bourne- or Bond series. The premise is almost the same every time as the hero fights against enemies on the outside as well as the inside to either prove his innocence or save the world or both. So it's not that big a surprise that in Salt Angelina Jolie is in the line of fire and a fugitive as well. Worldwide, the movie made a solid 294 million dollars with a budget of 110 millions and is now released on Blu-ray and DVD in three versions. In the USA, the Theatrical version is obtainable on its own on DVD. The whole package consists of the Theatrical version (PG-13), the Extended Cut and a Director's Cut, and although it doesn't seem to be all that profitable to release the Theatrical Version regardless of an existing extended version, the case is an entirely different one with Salt. To cover all the differences between the three versions, we decided to compare them all in three reports. II. Versions
III. Censorship report
Comparison between the Theatrical Version (PG-13) and the Extended Cut (Unrated) (both on the German DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).
The Extended Cut runs 65 Sec. / 1 minute 5 seconds longer than the Theatrical Version. 33 differences, containing
13 extended scenes in the Extended Cut 8 scenes with alternative footage 4 extended scenes in the Theatrical Version 4 additional scenes in the Extended Cut 3 additional scenes in the Theatrical Version 1 recut Extended scene
0:01:19: The soldiers are being much rougher with Evelyn. A tube is forced down her throat and pushed in further in an additional shot. 6,44 Sec.
Additional scene in the Theatrical Version 0:01:22: Shot of Evelyn with the tube in her throat. + 0,84 Sec. Alternative footage 0:01:31: In the Extended Cut the soldier removes the tube and Evelyn spits water while the procedure continues in the Theatrical Version. The Theatrical Version runs 0,28 Sec. longer Extended scene in the Theatrical Version 0:01:32: Evelyn spits water. + 0,2 Sec. Extended scene 0:01:33: The soldier interrogates Evelyn further. Soldier: "Try again!" Evelyn: "I am not a spy!" Soldier: "You are a spy! Don't you lie to me!" Evelyn: "I am not a spy!" A second soldier kicks Evelyn in the stomach. 13,36 Sec.
Extended scene 0:12:32: While in the Theatrical version the scene in which the children are kissing Vassily's ring continues, the Extended Cut shows them running through the woods. As soon as they have arrived their goal, Vassily asks who was the first and who was the last to arrive. Both boys raise their hand and the one who came last is hit with a birch as punishment. 9,52 Sec.
Extended scene 0:18:18: Evelyn walks through the interrogation room, then signals the personnel behind the one-way mirror: "I gotta pee." 12,92 Sec.
Additional scene 0:26:40: Michael is hand-chopped unconscious and drops to the floor. 3,72 Sec.
Extended scene/Alternative footage 0:29:54 Theatrical Version: Michael: "I'm an arachnologist." Evelyn: "A what?" Michael: "I hunt spiders." Extended Cut: Michael: "I'm an arachnologist." Evelyn: "A what?" Michael: "A spider hunter." Evelyn: "You look like one." In an extended scene we see a spider in a terrarium while Michael tells Evelyn about a species he has discovered. Michael: "There are 40.000 species of spiders in the world and that one is mine." Evelyn: "You discovered it?" Michael: "Inside North Korea. I name it Terrijoolsima peterbesti. Do you get that?" Evelyn: "No, should I?" Michael: "Peterbesti? I named it after Pete Best. The first drummer before Ringo. Best never was a famous Beatle. But now, he's a famous spider." 46,32 Sec.
Extended scene 0:37:59: Evelyn remembers sex with Michael but we don't get to see anything really exciting. 7,96 Sec.
Recut 0:41:59: Evelyn prints out some blueprints of the church and subway, which is shown later in the Theatrical Version. No time difference Additional scene 0:42:23: The Extended Cut shows Evelyn and some colleagues reciting their oath. 25,84 Sec.
Additional scene 0:51:06: The Extended Cut shows a new dialogue between Peabody and another man about the police's jurisdiction. N.Y.P.D.-Officer: "Jurisdiction is clear. This is New York City. N.Y.P.D. has her. She's going to 1 Police Plaza." Peabody: "I'm not arguing jurisdiction. The shooter is CIA. I know her." N.Y.P.D.-Officer: "Have your superior call the mayor." In the foreground Winter speaks on the phone: "We don't know yet, sir. Yes, I'll be there. I'll be on the next chopper out." 15,44 Sec.
Extended scene/Additional scene 0:52:50: Little Salt runs through the training camp in Russia and Shnaider talks to her: "Natasha. Natasha, is that you? Did they give you a new face?" Natasha: "I'm going home tomorrow, Shnaider." Shnaider: "Home to Grozny?" Natasha: "My home is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My favorite place there is McDonald's on Fern Street, because it's near the river. But I won't want to go there anymore because my mother and father are dead." Shnaider: "Natasha... will you miss me?" Natasha: "My name is Evelyn Salt." Then both version show Salt attacking the policemen in their car, with slightly different takes in both versions. 35,56 Sec.
Alternative footage 0:59:49: Salt cannot show emotions when her husband is killed before her eyes. While in the Theatrical Version he is killed by a shot in the chest, she is forced to watch him drown in the Extended Cut. The Extended Cut runs 44,72 Sec. longer Theatrical Version:
Extended Cut:
Alternative footage 1:02:06: The only thing really different here is the order. The Russian soldiers are shown, followed by flashbacks of them as children. In the Extended Cut we see this after every single soldier, while the Theatrical Version shows the flashback after all soldiers were shown. The Extended Cut runs 0,68 Sec. longer Alternative footage 1:02:33: In the Theatrical Version we see Vassily fiddling with a pen and a map, while in th Extended Cut Salt watches him from the side. The Extended Cut runs 0,08 Sec. longer Alternative footage 1:02:38: salt pours something to drink in the extended Cut while the Theatrical Version shows a longer closeup of her. No time difference Additional scene in the Theatrical Version 0:59:20: Here we have a rather big chunk missing in the Extended Cut. In the Theatrical version Salt kills Vassily and his whole crew on the ship while the Extended Cut changes over to the jet directly. This scene is not in the extended cut at all, but rather the introduction to a whole different ending in the Theatrical version. Salt smashes a bottle over Vassily's head and rams it into his throat numerous times before grabbing a gun and several grenades which she throws into several areas of the ship while gunning down anybody she sees. After everyone's dead she sees Michael lying on the ground and remembers their marriage before the Theatrical Version changes over to the limousine. + 117,04 Sec.
Extended scene 1:07:16: Shnaider is hit by bullets. 1 Sec.
Extended scene 1:07:21: In the Extended Cut we see Shnaiders back riddled with exit wounds. 0,4 Sec.
Extended scene 1:14:31: In the Extended Cut Winter shoots the agent twice, but only once in the Theatrical Version. 0,16 Sec.
Alternative footage 1:14:33: When Winter shoots the second agent we only see Winter in the Theatrical version while the Extended Cut shows the agent going down. The Theatrical Version runs 0,36 Sec. longer
Alternative footage 1:14:37: As the Minister of Defense is shot we only see the bullet wound in the Extended Cut. No time difference
Alternative footage 1:14:40: As another man is gunned down we only see the wounds in the Extended Cut. No time difference
Extended scene in the Theatrical Version 1:18:45: Because Salt hasn't killed Orlov in the Extended Cut, the story differs from here on, starting with a dialogue between Salt and Winter. Theatrical Version: Winter: "By the way, how is Mike?" Salt: "Orlov is dead." Winter: "Oh, that's good news. Saved me the trouble. I had to practically twist his arm to get him to blow your cover at the CIA. You see, he wanted you to come out of this thing alive." Salt: "But you needed somebody to take the blame. I'm the patsy." Winter: "And I'm the hero. Congratulations, Ev. You're about to become famous." Extended Cut Winter: "By the way, how is Mike?" + 38,16 Sec.
Extended scene 1:21:27: Winter gives Salt a head-butt and pulls the pen out of his shoulder, leaving a little wound. 2,92 Sec.
Extended scene 1:21:32: Winter slams Salt on the table a third time. 1,76 Sec.
Extended scene in the Theatrical Version 1:21:07: Another scene differing because of Orlov. In the Theatrical Version, Peabody learns of his death. Agent: "Somebody already did. At least some of them. Barge on the East River. Twelve dead, including Orlov." Peabody: "Who did that?" + 4,24 Sec.
Extended scene in the Theatrical Version 1:21:25: The agent answers the question in the Theatrical Version: "Don't know. Forensics are on it." While Peabody keeps looking at Salt, the Extended Cut shows Winter excusing himself to clean himself up. + 0,64 Sec.
Extended scene 1:23:17: Winter is strangled a few frames longer. 0,64 Sec. Extended scene 1:23:19: When Salt breaks Winter's neck, the Extended Cut shows an additional shot of him. 0,84 Sec.
Additional scene in the Theatrical Version AND in the Extended Cut 1:23:43: The final big difference between the two versions, starting with the Theatrical Version. Theatrical Version: After Salt has killed Winter, she is put into a helicopter into prison by Peabody and some soldiers. She tells Peabody about Winter being the real threat and how she killed the rest of Orlov's team. Peabody believes her and lets her escape by jumping out of the helicopter. They do not manage to find her again. Open end, sequel possible... (+ 377,68 Sec.)
Extended Cut: Salt is alone in an interrogation room with Peabody. He tries to coax her with privileges but wants to know where Orlov and his men are in return. Salt thinks about her dead husband, telling Peabody about him. Then she bites on her tooth, claiming that it contained poison. She is taken to the hospital where she manages to escape. Back in the castle where Orlov trained her, he spots Salt and knows his time has come. Salt cripples him with three shots, ties him to a rock and dumps him into a river, watching him drown. As the camera pans away from the castle we see it blow up completely. Closed ending, sequel unlikely... 374,16 Sec.
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