63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
Probably the only version of Blade Runner you'll ever need to see
By now, most viewers will be fairly familiar with Blade Runner (1982) in some capacity. For example, I'm sure anyone with a passing interest in film has already seen it, if not on video then most probably on late night television or the initial "director's cut" edition from 1991. This new "final cut" attempts to clean up some of the flaws and errors that director Ridley...
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
Genre defining sci-fi ..... given ANOTHER cut
Did we really need this? How many times has this been re-released? I suppose fans of this genre defining sci-fi classic would argue that to much is never enough where Blade Runner is concerned.
So what do we get in this update? In terms of additional content I didn't spot a single thing in the film that I hadn't seen from previous versions. I think there are...
By now, most viewers will be fairly familiar with Blade Runner (1982) in some capacity. For example, I'm sure anyone with a passing interest in film has already seen it, if not on video then most probably on late night television or the initial "director's cut" edition from 1991. This new "final cut" attempts to clean up some of the flaws and errors that director Ridley Scott was unable to fix at the time of that last particular revision; finally giving us the film as it was always meant to be seen in shimmering anamorphic widescreen; with a pristine image backed by a beautifully mixed soundtrack and all the embarrassing little schoolboy errors touched up with the magic of CGI.
The actual plotline remains almost identical to that of the aforementioned "director's cut"; with the voice over gone and the more open-ended climax present and correct. I thought Scott might have perhaps been a little more radical and mixed in a few of the alternative takes from the legendary work-print version, but no; this is his idea of what Blade Runner is, was, and always should be... and I'm sure most die-hard fans, and indeed, casual viewers, will find little here to complain about. At a first glance the plot seems fairly routine; a loose re-working of the Phillip K. Dick novella, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, in which a grizzled bounty hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) tracks down and terminates rogue androids (here known as replicants) who might pose a threat to the status quo of this dark and dank dystopian future world. Scott adds a sense of further cinematic depth to the story by juxtaposing the science-fiction elements of the plot with the conventions of film noir in a way that was very much revolutionary back in 1983, having only really been seen on a much smaller scale with the Jean Luc Godard film Alphaville (1964).
It is in part his depiction of the world of Blade Runner that gives the film much of its power and mystique, as Scott envisions a world of densely populated, multi-cultural, consumerist drones lost in a maze of looming skyscrapers, neon strip-lights, darkness and torrential rain; all of which is perfectly realised by his team of highly skilled production designers, art directors, set-decorators and craftsmen. The cinematography too was radical for the time in which the film was created, with Scott building on his background in TV commercials and the work that he had done on his first sci-fi masterpiece Alien (1979) to create a look that is continually dark, dank, distressed and decaying; finding beauty in the most bizarre places and capturing a sense of lonesome claustrophobia that became a staple of subsequent films, commercials and music videos for the next twenty-five years.
The film looks better than ever here, with the re-mastered picture and sound quality and the very subtle use of CGI to clear up things like out-of-sync dialog, support wires on the spinners and the obvious stunt-double for Joanna Cassidy's character Zhora; all helping to maintain the endless feeling of plausibility that the world of Blade Runner presents. Admittedly some fans have complained about Scott changing the glorious shot of the dove being released into the bright blue sky for a more suitable shot of cloudy dusk, but I suppose it does make more sense in maintaining the dark world in which the film unfolds. The only new addition that seemed slightly strange to me was in clearing up the original confusion as to how many replicants were actually missing. Much of the film's mystique revolves around the central question as to whether or not Deckard is, in fact, a replicant; a theory that initially came about due to a dubbing error during Deckard's briefing with Captain Bryant. Given that Scott has been one of the most vocal supporters of this theory, it seems odd to me that he would correct this line of dialog in such a way that destroys any real mystery surrounding the "Deckard as replicant" debate.
Whether or not you buy into the Deckard/replicant theory is secondary to the exotic atmosphere created by Scott and his production team, or the central narrative paradox presented by the replicant characters, in particular, Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer). The crux of Blade Runner deals very much with the idea of a synthetic human being more human than the humans themselves; with much of Blade Runner focusing on Batty and his gang of robots in arms trying to prolong their limited lifespan by any means necessary. Once again, Blade Runner is radical in the sense that it gives us a villain that is very much exciting, charismatic, and empathetic in their pursuit of life, and in direct comparison to our supposed hero Deckard, who seems bored, tired and completely lost against the sheer strength and intellectual menace of the iconic Batty.
This isn't a film that everyone will adore; without question it has its flaws like any other film, but regardless, remains a visually impressive and endlessly beguiling science-fiction, mystery noir (and more so than ever on this re-mastered, special edition DVD). Others have already explored the wider aspects of the package itself, pointing out how the five-disk box-set is very much for the die-hard obsessive's, while the two-disk set would appeal more to the casual fan who loves the film and wants the version closest to Ridley Scott's original vision. Without question, Blade Runner is a significant work of science-fiction cinema that manages to overcome any such flaws in character or narrative to take us on a trip into a world far beyond anything we've ever seen before.
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An amazing genre-setting sci-fi classic based on Philip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", his novels always seem to translate well to film, but this was the best.
Nowadays, in an age where numerous throw-away sci-fi blockbusters form a regular part of the mainstream, it is hard to remember the impact that this film had when it first appeared. There had been nothing like it. From the atmospheric swirls of the Vangelis soundtrack to the oppressive intense dystopian-future setting, to the intriguing storyline of secret 'replicants', this was groundbreaking stuff. Many modern sci-fi cliches originate from Bladerunner.
When I first saw this I thoroughly enjoyed it, and got totally immersed in its atmosphere and exciting story. Now, when I see it again, it still holds all that original appeal, but I can see the extra level of allegory, with the two central characters Deckard and Rachael both suffering from somewhat of an existential crisis - it raises the question for all of us: "who are we, really?" and leads us all to examine how unsuspectingly mechanical we are, and to wonder how much of our life-experiences are real, and to what extent they are manufactured or illusionary. 'The Matrix' is a great modern counterpart to this film.
A classic, which can be enjoyed equally as well on different levels.
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Did we really need this? How many times has this been re-released? I suppose fans of this genre defining sci-fi classic would argue that to much is never enough where Blade Runner is concerned.
So what do we get in this update? In terms of additional content I didn't spot a single thing in the film that I hadn't seen from previous versions. I think there are some slight additions/changes in there but they are minimal. That's a good thing because it wasn't broken & it didn't need fixing. There's a foreword from Ridley Scott but it only lasts about 30 seconds making it the most pointless foreword ever! Why did he bother? Apparently the picture quality has been improved. I didn't feel things looked particularly improved from previous DVD versions (remastered directors cut DVD, incept date: October 2006) so I'm guessing that HD/Blue Ray viewers are going to get the best out of these improvements.
For this 2 disc edition you also get the brilliant 'Dangerous Days' documentary about the making of Blade Runner. This is an incredibly detailed analysis of the film making process, from initial idea, script drafts through casting & the realisation of the director's vision to actual filming. It's a fantastic documentary for fans of Blade Runner & film making itself. But I was disappointed that there wasn't a chapter dedicated to the films seminal Vangelis soundtrack as this is without doubt as important to the film as the visual impact, not to mention one of the best & most original film scores ever. It would have been nice to see how Vangelis got involved & how the soundtrack was realised.
There are also commentaries for the crew & cast, which seem almost a standard feature of DVD content these days but in this case will hold strong interest from die hard fans of the film. I must admit though, even though I'm a huge fan of the film & couldn't really be bothered going through this section of the disc.
As for the film itself? Well, what is left to say about Blade Runner? It's widely regarded as one of the best examples of the sci-fi genre & is nothing less than genre defining, spawning countless imitators & inspirations not just in other science fiction films but also in cinematography, special FX, lighting etc. When you watch the 'Dangerous Days' documentary you realise how much work is involved & how close a project this big comes to not being completed at all. This only makes the films achievement that bit more remarkable.
The story itself is a fairly simple one & the themes involved are open to interpretation. It's not hard to see how the audiences & critics were split on the films release. Whatever you think of the film nobody can deny that it is & always will be one of the best, if not the best, example of the science fiction genre as well as a masterpiece of modern cinema & film making.
Blade Runner 5/5 - A masterpiece of the genre & modern cinema
Final Cut - 2 disc DVD edition 3/5 - Excellent documentary but other new additions somewhat lacking.
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Unlike a few of these reviews, I'm writing this after actually seeing the Final Cut 2 disc DVD.
I won't say too much about the film itself. The "Final Cut" is basically the Directors Cut (i.e. no voiceover) plus tweaked special effects and a few minor changes (it's been some time since I've seen the Directors Cut, so I can't give precise details, but it didn't seem drastically different) And "yes", the unicorn scene is there and the "happy" ending is missing.
The picture quality is probably as good as could be expected for a film of this age. Perhaps not quite as sharp as a modern release and some black levels are very slightly off, but overall a good picture, with no noticable dirt, scratches or grain.
The 5.1 mix is particularly impressive. Vangelis' soundtrack fills the room. There are also some nice ambient effects of rain etc, plus the rocket ships have real oomph and zoom from left to right speaker.
The documentary is also worthwhile (not the usual promotional stuff) and is certainly something you can watch more than once.
Overall, a classic film, with good picture, extras and very good sound.
Unless you're a sci-fi geek or completist, I'd opt for the 2 disc edition, rather than the 5 disc.
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At the San Diego Comic-Con 2007 the following was revealed:
On October 5th. "Blade Runner: The Final Cut" will be released in a few theaters in LA and New York. Several DVD editions will be out by December 18th.:
1. A two-disc special edition;
2. The four-disc Collector's Edition, which has two more discs and therefore a lot more stuff;
3. The five-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition, which will contain all
of the above plus a fifth disc and some "Deckard Briefcase"
packaging.
There will be FIVE versions of "Blade Runner" on the 4 and 5-discs sets: the Final Cut; the Original US Theatrical Cut (with voiceover and happy ending); the International Cut; the 1992 Director's Cut, and the Work Print.
The special features will include, other than a three-hour plus documentary on the making of Ridley Scott's masterpiece (the producers interviewed many of those that were involved in the production and, yes, that includes Harrison Ford!), over 45 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes which were miraculously stored by the studio somewhere, and that were approved by Mr. Scott himself for inclusion in this ultra-special edition. And much, much more...!
This will be one of the most eagerly awaited DVDs of the past 10 years, or at least one of those films that people always wanted to have ever since the DVD format debuted.
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The digital restoration and re-editing of this sci-fi classic was long overdue. Ridley Scott now has the film he always wanted. This new version is, for me, the best now available. It's even more visually stunning, with lots more detail, and benefits from a crisper and less intrusive soundtrack. The generous extras are also informative, particularly the lengthy documentary 'Dangerous Days' on the bonus disc. There is also a 5-disc version available, but this 2-disc release should be enough for most fans. Gratitude to Ridley Scott for revisiting one of his finest films - highly recommended.
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It's hard to believe this classic, highly-regarded movie has only just got the top-notch DVD treatment, but it's been worth it as I don't see how it could have been improved upon. The picture quality looks stunning and the sound is awesome! Vangelis' music shines like never before. The extra bits are minimal but really do improve and add to the film, little niggles and continuity errors have been eradicated and effects have been polished up but not changed (take note George Lucas!). The documentary is quite possibly the best documentary ever done for a movie, running at well over 3 hours it covers just about everything you could possibly want to know about the film. The 3 different commentaries are also highly listenable and informative. In my opinion this is the version to get, I wouldn't bother with the 5 disc edition which is just overkill - who needs 5 verisons of the same film when The Final Cut is the definitive version? Not me, I'm happy with this one thank you very much. (plus the cover is very nice too).Overall, Blade Runner_The Final Cut is a quintessential purchase
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originally released in 1982, this is a science fiction movie featuring harrison ford as a man who tracks down androids from outer space who have come to earth illegally. set in a permanently rainy near future city, he tracks the androids down, but may be in danger of falling for one in the process. and could it be that they are just a little more human than him?
a classic of science fiction cinema, and a landmark in many ways as it introduced a style of future vision that has been often copied. not an action flick, it's quite slow at places but it's thoughtful and makes you consider the nature of existence.
originally released with a voiceover and a tacked on happy ending there have been several amended releases over the years, which lost both these elements and added some extra footage. this version is the latest one. they call in the final cut. we shall see! the picture and the sound have been restored, although the age of the film means it looks good rather than great as a result. beyond that the director has made a few minor changes to the movie but I really couldnt spot anything major.
some films you need to see, whether you end up loving or hating them. and this is one such, because it's so talked about and has had an awful lot of influence.
the first disc in this contains the movie. with direct scene access.
a very short introduction from the director.
a commentary from him. and two other commentaries from various members of the production team.
it offers language tracks in english castillan spanish german and polish.
subtitles in english finnish swedish danish norwegian greek polish german and castillan spanish.
and closed captioned subtitles in english and german.
all the above foreign language options are on disc one only. the second disc contains a documentary about the film. this is an amazing piece of work, divided into eight sections that run from 25-30 minutes in length, and you could not possibly imagine a more comprehensive documentary as it goes into incredible depth. and has a few bits of strong language so you may want to watch out for that.
do you need this new version of the film? that's up to you. definitely worth seeing the documentary though
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Our old VHS of Blade Runner, something we bought from a Charity Shop originally, was looking very dull and grainy, and so after hearing about the new DVD editions I decided to make a purchase. We do own a Blu-Ray player (on our Playstation 3), but marketing is very clever these day's. People automatically assume that an old film will magically turn into HD on a Blu-Ray disc... Oh how mistaken they are. Only new films that are "recorded in" HD will play as full HD. When an older film is remastered onto a Blu-Ray disc, the upscaling is minimal - it's impossible to just add extra lines to a piece of film. Please do save your money and stick to standard DVD's!
Blade Runner is a quite simple film to explain, yet it's multiple themes and visual metaphors flowing throughout can just as easily make it complicated. The story see's local Cop Dekard (Harrison Ford) assigned to find and kill 4 "Replicants" on the loose in city. 'Replicants' are the product of the Tyrell company; a cyborg that in it's latest incarnation is almost impossible to distinguish from a human, aside from strength. The 4 mentioned have a history of crime and so they need to be 'retired' (killed) as soon as possible. With Dekard having a history of such tasks, he's the first man to be assigned. And Blade Runners? They're the name given to Cop's that specialise in killing replicants.
The film ultimately progresses in a very steady approach, encountering themes of love, tackling isolation, and even male dominance over women. They're are so many things which are subliminally covered it's hard to under-estimate the genius of this film; in many respects, it actually better's its originally origin, which of course was from the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". It's not only more complex, but is so much deeper, and for it's time (1982) is quite ground-breaking in it's approach to a vision of the future.
This DVD contains "The Final Cut" version of the film; an 8 year project in which Ridley had the entire film restored, uncovered new scenes, and re-edited many shots. This is were we may get to the objectionable part of a review - how does it fare compared to the original? In my own opinion, I believe it works better were there are new scenes, but this isn't to say parts haven't been cut out.
For me, the ending was quite a blow. In the original cut, Dekard and Rachel drove off up 'north' on a sunny, bright day with a wonderful landscape - all themes directly opposing the desolate world they previously lived in. Yet the ending on the Final Cut closes to the credits just after Dekard questions his humanity, when he picks up the Unicorn model off the floor. I was a bit disappointed, as not only was the ending theme tune speeded up, but faded in rather abruptly, compared to the more fitting and happier original ending. Some may find the original ending Cliched, but that's partly the idea - theirs nothing wrong with a happy ending.
I feel 4 Stars is quite a fair rating, but it may come down to personal taste. If the DVD had the option of the Original Cut and the Final Cut, it'd be flawless, but I just feel that with the changes made, it's a bit deceiving if you were expecting an option. Unfortunately, it would had been highly unlikely to have had either version on the Disc, as the "Final Cut" has been mastered as whole film. Whenever other films have a 'Directors Cut', all the DVD does is either Skip or Play a particular extra scene, depending on what option you chose.
Never the less, the quality of the film hasn't been battered, and it's latest restoration is testament to how an, originally, critically battered film has become universally valued over time. It's vision of a commercialised, corrupt, and dark future is becoming ever more questioned as time has gone on, and the camera work/colour composition is second to none. It's just a shame film makers don't go to the time or trouble to make a film of this quality these days. If 'Batman: The Dark Knight' was supposedly 2008's best film, I may as well just quit work right now.
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