ULTIMATE Blade Runner Coming to DVD

[CoasterMatt]

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/br2007/announce.html

At last! The Definitive Version of Sir Ridley Scott's Sci-Fi Classic starring Harrison Ford

The Film That Started It All

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT

Debuts on DVD December 18 with Exclusive New York/LA Theatrical Launch October 5

Three Spectacular Editions of Director's Long-Awaited New Version, Restored and Remastered with 5.1 Audio, New and Deleted Scenes, Special Effects and More

All 4 Previous Cuts, Including the Ultra-Rare 'Workprint' Version, Available Along with Hours of Extra Content Including Over 45 Minutes of Deleted Scenes & "Dangerous Days," the Comprehensive New Feature-Length Doc

Ultimate Collector's Edition, in Unique Limited 'Deckard Briefcase,'
also Available in HD DVD & Blu-ray Disc


San Diego, July 26, 2007 - The one that started it all. Sir Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, is one of the most important science-fiction movies of the 20th Century -- the film with immeasurable influence on society for its futuristic depiction of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, a film perhaps more powerful and relevant today than when it was made. The film, in fact, has appeared on more 'Top Five' sci-fi lists than any other film.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, director Ridley Scott (Alien, Hannibal and a three-time Oscar® nominee, Best Director, for Gladiator, Thelma & Louise and Black Hawk Down) has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version, which Warner Home Video will unveil on DVD December 18th in the U.S. 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.

A showcase theatrical run is also being planned for New York and Los Angeles October 5.

[blueerica]

Interesting... Blade Runner came up on the car ride home...

[€uroMeinke]

Hmmm I think Bladerunner is one of the first DVDs I purchased - before we even had a DVD player - I wonder if this is an omen of the move to HD/Blu-ray

[Alex]

I can't remember if the copy we have is the original theatrical cut or the director's cut. But the original is the only one I'm interested in as the director's cut just made everything boring and I have no particular hope for any others.

Just leave the movie mostly alone. If you got it wrong the first time (or lost the battles with the studio) live with it and move on.

[€uroMeinke]

Yeah - I'm kinda hoping amidst all those disks is the actual theatrical release (which I think never made it to DVD - ahoy Mousepod?)

[Ghoulish Delight]

The original theatrical cut will be part of the set.

I prefer the Director's Cut myself. Cut the schmaltz, added some meaning to an otherwise meaningless act by Gaff.

[NickO'Time]

Director's cut blows. I'm glad this movie is finally getting it's due. I can't wait to own it. My original VHS is barely holding up. ;)

[flippyshark]

I'm particularly happy that this edition will feature the "International" cut, which makes its digital debut here, though it was available on VHS way back in the day. From what I understand, it's pretty nearly identical to the original theatrical release, with a few extra moments of bloody violence. I remember renting it years ago and really enjoying those extra seconds quite a bit.

The "Director's Cut" didn't do much for me. Interesting, because I had long complained about the "state-the-obvious" Harrison Ford voice-over, but I kind of missed it once it was gone. Go figure.

[€uroMeinke]

The "Director's Cut" didn't do much for me. Interesting, because I had long complained about the "state-the-obvious" Harrison Ford voice-over, but I kind of missed it once it was gone. Go figure.

I had the exact same experience when I saw it again recently - Perhaps because for years after the film release "I don't know why he saved my life" became a cliché bit of dialogue from me.

[CrazyLegs]

sweet thanks for info will need for blu ray

[Kevy Baby]

I have never seen Blade Runner. Now I need to decide which version to see.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Even though I'm a fan of the director's cut, I'd say see the international theatrical version. It's easier to explain how the d.c. differs from that than vice versa.

[NickO'Time]

I have never seen Blade Runner. Now I need to decide which version to see.

I always felt when the movie came out, that it was ahead of it's time in special effects. I miss the Harrison Ford voice over and the original ending. Now it will be available.:)

[mousepod]

There's a great book that came out in the '90s called "Future Noir" that's a pretty exhaustive account of the making of Blade Runner. Worth a read if you're a fan of the movie and are at all interested in why there are so many versions circulating.

For me, my favorite version was always the "International" cut. It's basically the original US theatrical version (not one of the preview versions), with a few extra shots of gore (as noted by Flippyshark). It was released in the US as a Criterion laserdisc way back when. The Deckard voiceovers are, for me, an important part of why the movie is "noir", and for that reason I appreciate them. No matter what version I watch, though, I make sure that I end the movie when the door closes (you know what I mean). This new set will be interesting for the older versions of the movie - but I hope that they remaster them - when they put out the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars movies last year as bonus features, they didn't bother making them anamorphic...

[flippyshark]

but I hope that they remaster them - when they put out the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars movies last year as bonus features, they didn't bother making them anamorphic...

From what I understand, theatrical, international and director's cuts (but not the new Final cut) are all on the same disc and accesible via "seamless branching," which leads me to think they will all be remastered, though there are potential downsides to this approach as well.

[innerSpaceman]

I've never liked this film, though it has great interest to me as a film buff. I hated the Ford voice-over, but despised the film without it.

As mousepod pointed out, it's a noirish touch that fits the movie ... but I don't think it was handled particularly well.

I've never seen the International Cut ... and I'd like to see this umpteenth version as a curiousity. I'm much more likely to see it in its limited theatrical release than to buy the disk.


The DVD intrigues me, though. Examinng multiple versions of the same film can be fascinating (e.g., Brazil) ... but if one of those versions is created 25 years later especially for DVD, I tend not to consider authentic.