i miss the full four hour version when it be originally release in theater because it play one week . i have to settle for see the short two and a half hour version a year or so later and be leave stun by what i saw . i leave the theater thinking i have witness a masterpiece and wonder what the full version be like . the full version be mostly good but it have sequence that be so incredibly dull that the whole movie be pull down and almost sink beneath the wave . the problem be entirely in the editing which should be label a the final word on excess . there be time when thing go on and on and on and nothing happens . shot of people in a city that go on much too long with no purpose in the narrative . we get beautiful vista and vision of such beauty that they bring tear to your eye but they be use too frequently a a place holder instead of a punctuation or to set a place . much of the long version seem to be on screen simply because it look good . i have attempt to actually sit down and watch heaven gate with out resort to the fast forward button but somewhere along the way i find i can not stand it any more . i wish mgm would take pity on u and release the short version to dvd as well a the huge dinosaur . perhaps a a two pack so that we could see which be the good version and and whether cimino be mad or not . and while they be at it why not include the once rumor johnson county war edit that run 90 minute . supposedly united artist tinker with a further cut in the hope of get some of their money back . whether it be ever do or still exist be up in the air and but it would be interesting to see .