CHUD.com Community › Forums › DVD, HOME THEATER, & GADGETS › DVD General Discussion › Blade Runner final cut announced
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Blade Runner final cut announced

post #1 of 87
5/26/06 at 6:04am
Thread Starter 
From variety:

Warner homevid has disentangled "Blade Runner's" famously thorny rights issues to pave the way for a September reissuereissue of the remastered "Director's Cut" version, followed by a theatrical release of a version promised to be truly Ridley ScottRidley Scott's final cut.
Warner's rights to "Blade Runner" lapsed a year ago, but the studio has since negotiated a long-term license. The pic, now considered a sci-fi classic, has had a troubled history from the start: When Scott ran overbudget, completion bond guarantors took control of it and made substantial changes before its 1982 theatrical release, adding a voiceovervoiceover and happy ending. That version was replaced by the much better-received director's cut in 1992, but Scott has long been unhappy with it, complaining that he was rushed and unable to give it proper attention.

The helmer started working on the final cut version in 2000, but that project was shelved by Warner soon after, apparently because the studio couldn't come to terms with Jerry Perenchio over rights issues.

The restored "Director's Cut" will debut on homevid in September, and remain on sale for four months only, after which time it will be placed on moratorium. "Blade Runner: Final Cut" will arrive in 2007 for a limited 25th anniversary theatrical run, followed by a special edition DVD with the three previous versions offered as alternate viewing: Besides the original theatrical version and director's cut, the expanded international theatrical cut will be included. The set will also contain additional bonus materials.

The massive "Blade Runner" project comes on the heels of Scott's four-disc treatment for "Kingdom of Heaven," released this week by Fox homevid, less than a year after the pic's initial homevid release.
Reply
post #2 of 87
5/26/06 at 6:12am
Please please be true. I'll wait for Hellboy to confirm this before I get excited. The wait had been long on this one.
Reply
post #3 of 87
5/26/06 at 6:16am
Now this is a film I'll be really happy to see. It's one of the very very few sci-fi films which has not aged a day since its original release. I can see it being just as sad, beautiful and relevant in 50 years as it is today.
Reply
post #4 of 87
5/26/06 at 6:55am
I just got the Future Noir book, sort of reawakened my interestin the film, and I can't wait to own this. But this seems like stuff we have heard before, and if Hellboy says it's on then I'll believe it.
Reply
post #5 of 87
5/26/06 at 7:31am
The news I've been waiting on for so damn long... And, if this is all true, I'm glad that Warners is announcing all the different versions and when they'll be released. Personally, I'll be dumping my money on that multi-disc, multi-version edition.
Reply
post #6 of 87
5/26/06 at 8:17am
Thread Starter 
I actually like the theatrical version. The voiceover fits the mood of the film and I don't really understand why Scott wanted Ford to be a replicant. (Which he is the in the director's version.) It's a neat twist I suppose, but it destroys the meaning of the film. Dekard learns how precious and short life is after observing and understanding (especially Batty's last speech) the replicants.
Before his encounters with the replicants Dekard may have been human but he was living like a dead man.
Reply
post #7 of 87
5/26/06 at 9:29am
I agree with sport. The voiceover version gives it a noir atmosphere - like a Bogie detective story.

Maybe it's because the only version I've seen in the last 15 years is the Director's Cut, but I'd really like to see the theatrical version on DVD. My brother-in-law has the Criterion Laserdisc, which I think is called the 'international release', and it contains the voiceover. But I haven't seen it :-(
Reply
post #8 of 87
5/26/06 at 9:33am
This is awesome. In germany, Blade Runner DVDs are really rare and priced up to 300 euro...
Reply
post #9 of 87
5/26/06 at 11:19am
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/c...entryid=328205

Guess its official. This is great, since I've been holding off buying the film for ages because I knew they'd release a new edition someday.
Reply
post #10 of 87
5/26/06 at 12:11pm
Yay!!!!

I can't wait to see this film on the big screen (well, bigger than my home theater at least).

"Wake up, time to die!"
Reply
post #11 of 87
5/26/06 at 1:10pm
I must have a remastered Director's Cut. I'd like a copy of the original theatrical release for obvious reasons, and I'm curious if not excited about what the Final Cut Ridley Scott has in mind will turn out to be, but a nice DC is a must-have. I'm really looking forward to seeing it on the big screen again as well. It's been 13 or 14 years, and those little arthouse theatres don't do Blade Runner justice. I'd rather it was a re-release of the Director's Cut, but who knows, maybe the Final Cut will kick all sorts of ass. Good or bad, I'm sure it won't be as derivative as the yearly re-building of the Star Wars franchise.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sport
I actually like the theatrical version. The voiceover fits the mood of the film and I don't really understand why Scott wanted Ford to be a replicant. (Which he is the in the director's version.) It's a neat twist I suppose, but it destroys the meaning of the film.
Not at all. Realizing that it's a replicant and not a human whose story we've been following enhances the dilemma Deckard-as-human faced: what's the difference between us and them? The line "How can it not know what it is?" takes on an almost sad meaning in the DC.

Which isn't to say the original isn't a fine movie too, but it carries a little less food for thought than the DC.
Reply
post #12 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:26pm
I liked the voiceover originally, but when I saw the DC, I realized how useless it was--there is really no information conveyed in the vocieover that isn't conveyed in the action and dialogue.
Reply
post #13 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:33pm
If you've already seen the Theatrical Release it's hard to watch the Director's Cut without hearing parts of the voiceover in your head.

The perspective of someone who saw the DC before the Theatrical Cut (i.e. old VHS copy) would be interesting.
Reply
post #14 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco
If you've already seen the Theatrical Release it's hard to watch the Director's Cut without hearing parts of the voiceover in your head.
I can't say I can agree with that. I grew up watching the theatrical release, and watching the DC after is a breath of fresh air, with the voiceover never really coming into my mind. Although my fiancee has only seen the DC, so it'll be interesting to see what she thinks after the theatrical cut.
Reply
post #15 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:38pm
Thing is, I like the suggestion that Deckard's a replicant, but I don't want to be told that he's a replicant, if that makes any sense. And from what I understand, Ridley Scott did not want to make that ambiguous at all. I might be wrong about that, though.
Reply
post #16 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:43pm
Love this movie. Another Scott classic. *excited*
Reply
post #17 of 87
5/26/06 at 2:52pm
Removing the voice over from the original cut of BLADE RUNNER is like removing Jar Jar from EPISODE I. A welcome relief. I never hear Deckard's voice in my head when watching the Director's Cut.

Also, I think the whole Deckard-is-a-replicant thing is still very ambiguous, even in the 1992 cut. It's not like Deckard gets VK'ed by Gaff, only to fail the test. No one says that he's actually a replicant.

Otherwise, great news!
Reply
post #18 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Brigden
I grew up watching the theatrical release, and watching the DC after is a breath of fresh air...
I agree that the DC was amazing to see, and when I saw it in a theatre it became my favourite version of the film. But looking back, I know that the atmosphere created by the voiceover influenced the way I viewed the DC, and that I'll view any future cuts of the film.

Compairing the voiceover to Jar Jar is just plain crazy.

And forgive me, but in the DC there's no ambiguity.
Reply
post #19 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:03pm
All this "final cut" talk has me intrigued. I don't know what's wrong with the DC, but any chance to see this film properly restored for home viewing is welcome by me. The idea that Scott is going back to the archives to deliver something new is just icing on the cake.

Some of my HS buddies saw the DC first and they were confused as to what exactly was going on. The narration apparently helps clear up some of the confusion. I wouldn't know since I saw the TC first. Maybe they were excessively stoned or something, but they're fairly astute guys.
Reply
post #20 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:04pm
Jerry Perenchio could come to my house and nail a press release about this to the door and I'm not sure I'd still be able to believe it.
Reply
post #21 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco
Compairing the voiceover to Jar Jar is just plain crazy.

And forgive me, but in the DC there's no ambiguity.
Well, at least you're wrong on both counts.
Reply
post #22 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:11pm
Exclusive new image of BR "Final cut":

Reply
post #23 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:19pm
Fucking brilliant.
Reply
post #24 of 87
5/26/06 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration
Well, at least you're wrong on both counts.
I'm betting that two wrongs don't make a right. At least we agree on Fett's 'final cut' image.
Reply
post #25 of 87
5/26/06 at 4:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Brigden
Exclusive new image of BR "Final cut":
Great work Charlie.

I'm sure if this gets released in theaters it will be limited so that means Dayton Ohio will not have this. This is a movie that I need to see on the big screen.
Reply
post #26 of 87
5/26/06 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Brigden
Exclusive new image of BR "Final cut":
Actually a better composite than the Han steps on Jabba's tail bit...
Reply
post #27 of 87
5/26/06 at 7:24pm
I read this here http://www.cinematical.com/2006/05/2...cut-is-coming/

Quote:
And if you've ever seen what Ridley Scott helped put together for the Extended Editions of Alien, Legend, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and Kingdom of Heaven, then you have an idea of what these Blade Runner DVDs will look like.
I gotta agree with that. Can anyone think of any other director that's put together stacked releases of his work on DVD like Scott has?
Reply
post #28 of 87
5/26/06 at 7:27pm
Peter Jackson?
Reply
post #29 of 87
5/26/06 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco
The voiceover version gives it a noir atmosphere - like a Bogie detective story.
It's already a noir detective story - just one that happens to be set in the future. Adding the voiceover just labors an already obvious point. It's like John Carpenter adding a cowboy voiceover to Precinct 13.
Reply
post #30 of 87
5/26/06 at 8:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Whitehead
Adding the voiceover just labors an already obvious point. It's like John Carpenter adding a cowboy voiceover to Precinct 13.
Great, now whenever I watch Precinct 13 Sam Elliot's voiceover from Lebowski's gonna pop into my head. It just won't be the same.

From what I can remember from the v.o. in Blade Runner, it seemed like they were trying to crowbar unnecessary exposition into the film. It just destroyed any sense of place and atmosphere for me. Haven't watched the theatrical cut in a long time though
Reply
post #31 of 87
5/26/06 at 8:51pm
This news has made my frikkin day.

As many others here Ive been waiting a loooooong time for this and, having read Future Noir about a decade ago remember Scott saying that neither the TC or the DC were his final vision for the film so - as much as Im a DC man for life with this film - Im really keen to see the final Scott approved version of this, and chomping at the bit for that multi-disk release to come out.

Now please oh please let this get a theatrical run here in Oz.

Im sure it will - Aliens DC did last year.
Reply
post #32 of 87
5/26/06 at 11:12pm
Cool news. I've seen some photos of an additional scene where Deckard goes to visit his fellow Blade Runner (wounded in the opening scene) in the hospital, so maybe that will be in the "final cut."
Reply
post #33 of 87
5/28/06 at 1:50am
So there will be a new Dc. Followed by the Final cut boxset which will have all the other versions in it. Will the Final cut box set have all 4 verisons in it or just TC DCv.1 adn the IC?
Reply
post #34 of 87
5/28/06 at 3:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashxking2001
So there will be a new Dc. Followed by the Final cut boxset which will have all the other versions in it. Will the Final cut box set have all 4 verisons in it or just TC DCv.1 adn the IC?
Um, huh?
Reply
post #35 of 87
5/28/06 at 6:20am
My thoughts exactly.

I wouldn't have thought they'll include the Theatrical and the International Cut, as both are the same, give or take a bit of violence, unless they do some kind of seamless branching thing. This is what I hope to see:

1. Theatrical/International Cut

2. 1982 Workprint

3. 1992 Director's Cut

4. 2006 Final Cut
Reply
post #36 of 87
5/28/06 at 6:45am
Anyone know what the difference's are between the Final and the Directors cut?
Just going to add My Two Cents into the narration discussion:

I grew up with the original version, narration included, and to see it without was momentous for me.
Without Ford's tired, labored disintrested monologue you are left with beautiful passages of cinema where all one can do is soak in the delicious visuals on display.
Those endless neon vista's never get old.

I can't wait for this.
Reply
post #37 of 87
5/28/06 at 8:25am
I'm skeptical, official or not, after all the previous delays. But I'll be a happy mofo when I've got this sucker in my hands/DVD player.

But hell, I'd be happy with just a decent transfer of the "director's cut"(without a damn snapper case) with a commentary.
Reply
post #38 of 87
5/28/06 at 5:49pm
Sod whether the voice-over is better or worse in the overall scheme of things, just tell me the farking guy-ropes on the 'Spinners' take-off have FINALLY been removed.

Oh, and is there any news on a soundtrack re-release?
Definitely one of the greats!!
Reply
post #39 of 87
5/29/06 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Rocco
If you've already seen the Theatrical Release it's hard to watch the Director's Cut without hearing parts of the voiceover in your head.

The perspective of someone who saw the DC before the Theatrical Cut (i.e. old VHS copy) would be interesting.
I've only seen the DC, so I'll let you know whenever I see the theatrical cut. Still, its a great movie.
Reply
post #40 of 87
5/30/06 at 3:05am
I saw the Theatrical Cut first, and I've always thought that, apart from adding a rather cool Noir vibe, it speeds the film up somewhat. If nothing else, the pace of the Director's Cut is... deliberate. Not that that necessarily is a bad thing, I just find the TC very easy to sit through. But I haven't seen it in at least 5 years, so I don't quite remember exactly *how* obvious and annoying the voiceover is.
Reply
post #41 of 87
5/30/06 at 12:12pm
I've actually only seen the film twice (once on VHS and once on DVD). I am fairly sure that both times I saw it, I was watching the DC version.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashxking2001
So there will be a new Dc. Followed by the Final cut boxset which will have all the other versions in it. Will the Final cut box set have all 4 verisons in it or just TC DCv.1 adn the IC?
From what I could decipher, the 1992 DC will be released on DVD (with newly restored picture and sound) in September and only be on sale through the end of the year.

Then, in 2007, WB will release Scott's final (revised) director's cut theatrically and then once it comes to DVD, the set will include the '82 theatrical cut, the expanded international cut, the '92 director's cut and this final (revised) director's cut that he began working on in 2000.
Reply
post #42 of 87
5/30/06 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Brigden
My thoughts exactly.

I wouldn't have thought they'll include the Theatrical and the International Cut, as both are the same, give or take a bit of violence, unless they do some kind of seamless branching thing. This is what I hope to see:

1. Theatrical/International Cut

2. 1982 Workprint

3. 1992 Director's Cut

4. 2006 Final Cut
Ahem.
Reply
post #43 of 87
5/30/06 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by moovyphreak
Then, in 2007, WB will release Scott's final (revised) director's cut theatrically and then once it comes to DVD, the set will include the '82 theatrical cut, the expanded international cut, the '92 director's cut and this final (revised) director's cut that he began working on in 2000.
*head explodes*

I don't think I could sit through that many cuts of the film. Looking forward to seeing Scott's intended version of the film.
Reply
post #44 of 87
5/30/06 at 2:03pm
I had no idea that many versions existed.
Reply
post #45 of 87
6/1/06 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desslar
Cool news. I've seen some photos of an additional scene where Deckard goes to visit his fellow Blade Runner (wounded in the opening scene) in the hospital, so maybe that will be in the "final cut."
Yes, that scene was in a BBC documentary called ON THE EDGE OF BLADE RUNNER. Unfortunately, it isn't very interesting or useful and Ford seems kind of lethargic in it. I do hope that the go-go dancers in hockey masks from the preview version of the film are in the Final Cut, though...
Reply
post #46 of 87
6/1/06 at 2:33pm
It was a Channel 4 documentary.
Reply
post #47 of 87
5/15/07 at 10:57am
This is pretty fucking cool.

This is an Aussie website, but hopefully we'll get a shot at this in the US as well.
Reply
post #48 of 87
5/15/07 at 11:40am
Great set. Will it be, like all the other kick-ass sets, unreleased in North America ?
Reply
post #49 of 87
5/15/07 at 12:44pm
All I can say is:

it's about fuckin time!

That is all.
Reply
post #50 of 87
5/15/07 at 6:22pm
So have they ever revealed the US release date for the ultimate edition, or whatever they're calling it?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DVD General Discussion
CHUD.com Community › Forums › DVD, HOME THEATER, & GADGETS › DVD General Discussion › Blade Runner final cut announced