Let me make a couple recommendations.  Three, to be precise.

Just a few days ago I stretched out and watched my DVD of The Wolfman.  The unrated director’s cut of the film, yo yo yo.  If you will allow me, don’t watch the director’s cut.  I was hoping, as in some cases (e.g. Rob Zombie’s Halloween slashers), the director’s cut would improve upon the theatrical version.  Not so.  Sometimes, cuts are made wisely.  Now, the theatrical version isn’t perfect, but it is one of the more entertaining movies I’ve seen this year.  Feel free to read my review of it here.

The most noticeable change in the director’s cut is the beginning of the movie, in the summoning of Lawrence Talbot home after his brother’s disappearance.  Gwen, his brother’s betrothed, visits him in London at the theater.  We then see Larry on the train, where he meets a nice old man (Max Von Sydow), who gives Larry his cane.  As much as I like MVS, this director’s cut lurches.  The added scenes bog down the movie.  Stick with the theatrical version.

Now, suggestion the second:  Read the novelization.  The Wolfman was novelized by Jonathan Maberry, author of the Pine Deep Trilogy (Ghost Road Blues, Dead Man’s Song, Bad Moon Rising) and Patient Zero.  Maberry brings his A game to the novel, and creates a rich, rollicking story.  He expands the movie and writes one of the best werewolf novels available, and considering the lack of great werewolf novels, it’s a blessing.  Buy it.  Read it.  Treasure it.

Suggestion, part the third:  For crying out loud, get your sticky fingers on Danny Elfman’s score of the movie.  It practically makes the film.  It ties the room together nicely.  Ha ha.  It’s a Big Lebowski joke…never mind.  I’ve listened to this little movie souvenir ever since it came out, and I think I’ve just about driven Chatty Kathy mad with it.  But that’s okay, because she just bought the Eclipse soundtrack, and I’ll be going mad here pretty soon myself.

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