The thing is, if Mann wanted to recut the film, that's fine. But don't take the original film away from fans who had spent ten years loving that version. The very least they could have done was include the original cut along with the new one. And not make me have to buy a UK DVD to have the film that I love.

What Mann describes as sentimentalism I've always interpreted as sorrow and I also think the Clannad song works so well that I'm sad to see it go.

I agree - and you know what's funny is that there seems to be three versions of that song: the one on the soundtrack is different from the film version, which is different from the version that was included on the Clannad CD that came out afterward. The film version was perfect for where and how it was used, imo. (I'm such a geek for this movie!;P)