Blade Runner - The Final Cut

[horacethegrey]

Some of you may have caught gist of this. If not, here's the score. This December, Ridley Scott releases his final cut of one his most memorable films on DVD. Releases include a standard 2-disc version with the film and a special features disc; a 4-disc version that includes the original 1982 theatrical cut and the 1992 Director's Cut, along with a new disc full of extra features; and a special 5-disc set contained in a briefcase which contains a never before seen "workprint" version of the film. You can get more info from this page and the official website.

Just so you all know, Blade Runner is one of my all time favorite films. And I wait for this release with baited breath. I've read that they're showing the final cut in a limited theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles. Anyone going to catch it?

 

[frankthedm]

And I wait for this release with baited breath.

Brushing your teeth after eating seafood helps with that.

 

[horacethegrey]

Brushing your teeth after eating seafood helps with that.

It was a figure of speech, just so we're clear on that.

And I'll have you know my oral and dental hygiene is impeccable.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

The Lowdown

Standard-Definition DVD
Blade Runner - The Final Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition): Standard-definition two-disc widescreen DVD. From Warner: "In celebration of Blade Runner's 25th anniversary, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut, spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and scanned at 4K resolution, will contain never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby® Digital audio track and more. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Joanna Cassidy, Sean Young, and Daryl Hannah are among some 80 stars, filmmakers and others who participate in the extensive bonus features. Among the bonus material highlights is "Dangerous Days," a brand new, three-and-a-half-hour documentary by award-winning DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika, with an extensive look into every aspect of the film: its literary genesis, its challenging production and its controversial legacy. The definitive documentary to accompany the definitive film version.

Disc One:
RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM
Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:
- Commentary by Ridley Scott
- Commentary by executive producer/co-screenwriter Hampton Fancher and co-screenwriter David Peoples; producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
- Commentary by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two:
DOCUMENTARY DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER
A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film -- from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history."

Blade Runner (Four-Disc Collector's Edition): Standard-definition Four-Disc Collector's Edition widescreen DVD. From Warner: "The Four-Disc Collector's Edition includes everything from the 2-Disc Special Edition plus three additional versions of the film, as well as an 'Enhancement Archive' bonus disc of enhanced content that includes 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film's amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

Disc Three
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford's character narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT
The Director's Cut omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famously-controversial "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC - "Enhancement Archive": 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film's amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

-Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
-Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
-Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
-Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
-The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
-Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
-Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
-Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
-Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
-Unit Photography Gallery
-Deleted & Alternate Scenes
-1982 Promotional Featurettes
-Trailers & TV Spots
-Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
-Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
-Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
-Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers"

Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition): Standard-definition five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition widescreen DVD. From Warner: "The 5-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition includes everything from the previously described 4-Disc Edition, plus the ultra-rare, near-legendary WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. The Ultimate Collector's Edition will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard's own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector's photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.

Disc Five
WORKPRINT VERSION
This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also includes:
- Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
- Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut

Blu-ray Disc
Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]: Blu-ray five-disc widescreen Ultimate Collector's Edition. Playable only on Blu-ray compatible players (including the PS3). Same disc content as the five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition above, and including the briefcase.

Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]: Blu-ray five-disc widescreen Complete Collector's Edition. Playable only on Blu-ray compatible players (including the PS3). Same disc content as the five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition above, but NOT including the briefcase.

HD DVD
Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) [HD DVD]: HD DVD five-disc widescreen Ultimate Collector's Edition. Playable only on HD DVD compatible players (including the Xbox 360 add-on). Same disc content as the five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition above, and including the briefcase.

Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [HD DVD]: HD DVD five-disc widescreen Complete Collector's Edition. Playable only on HD DVD compatible players (including the Xbox 360 add-on). Same disc content as the five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition above, but NOT including the briefcase.

 

[Tetsubo]

The Ultimate Collector's Edition shall be mine!

 

[Arnwyn]

This will be my first blu-ray movie - it's definitely the Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-Ray briefcase for me!

 

[Nifft]

It was a figure of speech, just so we're clear on that.

The figure of speech is "bated breath", as in "abate". "Baited" means ... worms.

- - -

Anyway, I mostly enjoyed The Final Cut. The sound was really well done, the CGI models were gorgeous, the few changes to dialog fit really well.

I did feel the "porn jazz" was too heavy-handed at times, particularly the piano-playing scene (when maybe we should have heard, I dunno, maybe some PIANO instead of saxophone), but overall an improvement.

Cheers, -- N

 

[horacethegrey]

The figure of speech is "bated breath", as in "abate". "Baited" means ... worms.

Great... now I'm being accused of having a diet of creepy crawlies. Ugh.

Anyway, I mostly enjoyed The Final Cut. The sound was really well done, the CGI models were gorgeous, the few changes to dialog fit really well.

I did feel the "porn jazz" was too heavy-handed at times, particularly the piano-playing scene (when maybe we should have heard, I dunno, maybe some PIANO instead of saxophone), but overall an improvement.

Cheers, -- N

But that "porn jazz" soundtrack is one of the reasons why the film is so memorable. It fit in perfectly with futuristic noir atmosphere Ridley Scott created for the movie.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

Blade Runner has two major elements that make it one of my favorite films: Film Noir narrarated in First Person Perspective. It may be set in the future but it has all the ingredients that the very best of the very best film noir movies of the 1940s provided.

The grittiness of LA is stricking, especially with all the rain and shadows.

 

[Wombat]

Hmmm, not sure here. I might pick up the two-disc version someday.

Basically what I would want would be Bladerunner 1.5 -- bring back about half the voice-overs so you don't just have long, silent, rather pointless pans of the city (and also to underline plot points), but to leave in the proper "ambiguous" ending.

Maybe I "simply" need to do my own edit...