I suppose it should be noted that, before I continue, I am commenting on the so-called "director's cut" that is supposedly as much the director's cut as that of Blade Runner. From what I have been told, the studio threw in as much footage as possible whether it perhaps belonged or not. It is clear that you can see Orson Welle's style behind the shots and composition, but it is clear there are elements of this film that belonged on the editing room floor. The story is clearly B-movie material, but it still doesn't meet up to my expectations of what to expect from a B-movie by Orson Welles.
The biggest issue I noticed is the pacing. Throughout the entire ordeal, it is very difficult to figure out how this plot moves along. Characters show up that appear all of three times and have histories that are never really explored, while two dimensional characters show up all throughout the film and stick around solely to annoy and build tension. I can understand having fun with things like trying to play Charleton Heston off as a Mexican native, but when the film feels twice as long as it should, all the good moments get lost in the clunkers.
I am not refuting the directing prowess of Orson Welles. Clearly there are moments in this flick I found enjoyable. The problem is they are too few and far between scenes that make little to no sense. I think seeing a different, more condensed version would have benefited my ability to enjoy it greaty. When I get the chance to watch a different version, I'll offer another judgement. However, this cut was clearly not the definitive version.