Danique - On length, 196 min version is the "redux" edition of the film. Like you, it was the first edition I ever saw and it was painfully long. I've since seen the standard length version and it is far better paced.
It's a bit like if they released a 5hr version of the godfather I'd go out of my way to see it, but it's probably a bad idea for a newbie to the film
They should put a warning about it on the cover, sometimes the editor knows best!
You watched the Rudux, it does take away from what the movie is trying to accomplish so go check out the theatrical cut.
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2014-09-23T10:48:46Z
If you consider watching this film, than yes, do read this review!
First off, this film is 196 minutes long, not the 153 minutes as it says here on trakt. That's 196 minutes of your life you'll never get back. Don't get me wrong, the acting is really good, the music used in the film is great. Where the film falls down for me personally is first of all the length. If you cut out all the unnecessary bits and just leave the real story of what this film is about, it can be about 40 minutes, everything else is just pointless filler.
The worst part of the film for me is the ritual killing and slaughter of a cow/ox/bovine type creature. I understand that such rituals happen in certain parts of the world, but to film it and use it just to add dramatic effect to a different scene I found disgusting.