Mel Gibson as an asshole criminal, whose single recognizable character trade is that he shoots everyone, who gets on his nerves. as he also does with everyone, whose getting shot by him proves others, that he's serious, when he says he's gonna shoot someone. light entertainment, but there's something fun about a protagonist who's only motivation is getting back some money.

Shamelessly implausible, with cardboard characters and morally bankrupt, but hard not too enjoy. The coherent but oblique plot is full of surprising kinks, the casting is about the best I've ever seen (choices like Devane, Coburn and Duke are utterly inspired, Gregg Henry rocks, Gibson's expressiveness brings a flatly written protagonist to life), and the pace in this cut is breakneck, and the result is a bubbly and very tense action movie.

Lacks the sensibilities that make the theatrical cut as popular as it is today. Theatrical Cut is a better story, a tall tale worthy of the silver screen. The Director's Cut is just a run of the mill crime movie; could of been made by anyone.

Payback is my second favorite movie of all time. Payback: Straight Up is shit. Every action scene in Payback either cut or replaced by a cheesy half-assed student film looking action scene. Mel Gibson is no longer in most of the new scenes. And all the humor is removed. This is SHIT!

Much better than the theatrical cut - which was bullshit because it toned down Porter's viciusness to make him more likeable, and had the stupid tacked on happy Hollywood ending. In this cut Porter (or Parker if you're familiar with the Donald Westlake books) is how he's supposed to be; a ruthless chiseller who's not very nice most of the time. Yes, some humour is cut out, but this was never meant to be a comedy.