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Comparison of the EU version (Pizza Hut) and the US version (Taco Bell), both available on the British/American 4K UHD Blu-ray from Arrow Video
– 12 changes
In all European versions, the name of the restaurant where John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) is invited has been changed. In the usual US versions, it is Taco Bell, but in the European versions, it is Pizza Hut. All scenes were originally shot with Taco Bell, but then changed for the European releases in post-production by exchanging the logos and overdubbing the soundtrack. Since both companies belong to Pepsi, it is likely that the European version was not adapted for licensing reasons or the like, but simply because of Pizza Hut's greater popularity outside of America (especially at the time). An interesting fact in this context is that the original script planned for Burger King to be the winner of the “franchise wars” among the restaurants described in the movie, but neither this chain nor McDonald's was interested in cooperating. Since the DVD era, it has been somewhat chaotic that foreign versions occasionally use the European image master with the Pizza Hut (= PH) logos, but the film itself and the respective language still refer to Taco Bell (= TB). In Germany, at least, the variant with Pizza Hut was common, even on Blu-ray. In the UK only the TB version was released so far. But now, thanks to Arrow Video, the worldwide 4K premiere is available from December 16, 2024 (UK; the US counterpart is available a day later), and both versions are available together for the first time. The disc is also of excellent quality, and the BD-100 is packed with newly produced extras. After e.g. Showdown in Tokyo, this is another example of why we should be grateful for every title from Warner's extensive archive that the company sub-licenses to specialist labels instead of releasing itself in a suboptimal manner. Sound change
54:17 Dr. Raymond Cocteau says in both versions "I would like you to accompany me to..." In the EU version, "Pizza Hut" follows, in the US version, "Taco Bell." The same shot was used, only overdubbed.
EU version Sound change 54:32 Shortly afterwards, John repeats “Taco Bell?” or “Pizza Hut?” in disbelief (again with identical footage).
Sound change 54:42 John sums up: US version: “...who wants to take me to dinner at Taco Bell, though Lord knows I wouldn't mind a burrito, is also one of the guys...” EU version: ”...who wants to take me to dinner at Pizza Hut, though Lord knows I wouldn't mind a pizza, is also one of the guys...”
US version Sound change 56:58 John says in the US version: “And my reward is dinner and dancing at Taco Bell? I mean, hey, I like Mexican food, but come on.” In the EU version, it's: “And my reward is dinner and dancing at Pizza Hut? I mean, hey, I like a big fat piece of pizza, but come on.” Lenina's response in the US version: ”You do not realize that Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the Franchise Wars. So now all restaurants are Taco Bell.” In the EU version, she says: “You do not realize that Pizza Hut was the only restaurant to survive the Franchise Wars. So now all restaurants are Pizza Hut.”
Image Retouching 57:18 The logo placed conspicuously in the middle of the frame at the beginning of the first scene in front of the restaurant has been replaced.
Sound change 57:28 When the two get out, the employee says, “Welcome to Taco Bell” or “...Pizza Hut.”
Note: The meal that is shown at 58:04 is identical in both versions, indicating that the version with Taco Bell is the original one.
Image retouching 61:02 When Lenina and co come to the window and watch John outside, the Pizza Hut logo was pushed over the original one for the EU version.
Image retouching 61:08 A logo placed on the side of the car was “glued over”.
Image retouching 61:15 Lenina and co go outside. In early EU releases, the TB logo is said to have been visible here briefly by mistake. In the Arrow release, however, the PH logo is visible throughout....
...but after the short re-ordered scene with John, the adaptation has actually been forgotten in the next shot at 61:20. Here the writing is no longer as clearly legible, but as you can see from the previous comparison picture, Lenina (now standing outside the window) is clearly still in front of the logo. The same applies to a few other shots from this perspective.
In the following shots in front of the car, here at 61:42, you could guess that the TB logo had been slipped into the EU version again.
Image retouching 62:03 Here the logo was more visible in the picture again and was thus replaced.
Alternative footage 62:20 A completely different take was used for the first time in the close-up of the bottle John picks up from the floor. It can easily be recognized by the different position of his arm and the bag on the floor, which is visible only in the U.S. version. No time difference
Sound effects 85:40 The usual re-synchronization was done here when John says, “You're the guy outside Pizza Hut” or “... Taco Bell.”
EU version After the identical credits, the US version has the MPAA rating card, which explains the few seconds longer runtime.
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