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[ManaByte]

Attack of the Show tonight had an interview with Ridley Scott where he says they hope to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Blade Runner next year with a theatrical release of the movie and then a new DVD release. But he mentioned the DVD release will be one without the voice over and with the same ending as the Director's Cut.

 

[Teddman]

No thanks then. I prefer the original version, narration and all. Director's Cut be damned.

 

[Error Macro]

Uhh... Us fans have been waiting YEARS for this mega-edition, 4-disc set that was supposed to come out, with the theatrical version, the director's cut, and the workprint version. This compromised upcoming DVD must be due to the legal nightmare this film has been involved in. WB must have worked something out where they could re-issue the DC with a new transfer. This is a huge blow to the fans, though. I guess I'll have to live with my Criterion laserdisc for the theatrical cut.

 

[DarienA]

<sigh> I'll bite... I'm such a loser...

 

[Mifune]

Wow, people actually PREFER the theatrical cut? I always thought that Blade Runner was an example of a movie where the director's cut made the original obsolete.

 

[Error Macro]

Wow, people actually PREFER the theatrical cut? I always thought that Blade Runner was an example of a movie where the director's cut made the original obsolete.

I prefer the director's cut, but the theatrical cut is important to have for history/nostalgia/whatever. Plus, it's fun to watch it once in a while, just so you don't have to see the same DC over and over. The thing I'm upset most about is that we'll probably never see the infamous workprint version, which sounded like it could have been the best cut of all.

 

[Mifune]

Yeah, I guess given the amount of time this special edition has taken to come out, we deserve both versions.

 

[Simo]

Packaging art...or what would of been anyways:

 

[Dachande]

What was the workprint version like? I don't think I've ever read about that one anywhere.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I'll be happy if the Region 2 version has a menu that isnt the Warner Bros logo, and it comes in a case that isnt one of those crap cardboard things with a plastic snap lock. Jeeeeeesus, that release is SHIT.

 

[gigapower]

Bring it on! Blade Runner is one of the best movies ever.

 

[mattiewheels]

lordy. i've been holding off buying one this ever since i bought my dvd player in 98 because i keep hearing that the new transfer's coming.

i never saw the original narrated version, just a short clip of it. i could see how it could really spoil the atmosphere that i'm used to in the film, it sounded slightly cheesy. but a set that had each version to choose from, YES PLZ.

 

[jett]

Packaging art...or what would of been anyways:

Heh, too Star Wars-ish for me.

I've never seen the theatrial cut, but I've read about it. The original ending sounds pretty lame. In any case, this DVD can't come soon enough. The current one is freaking ass.

 

[swoon]

i'd pay a lot of money to see the workprint cut. i didn't know that anyone had good enough notes or the film to piece it back together, which would be a pretty weird processess anyway.

 

[Jonnyram]

I'll be happy if the Region 2 version has a menu that isnt the Warner Bros logo, and it comes in a case that isnt one of those crap cardboard things with a plastic snap lock. Jeeeeeesus, that release is SHIT.

Yeah, I have that too. I hate WB DVD packaging

 

[jett]

What exactly does the workprint version has that the theatrical and director's cut don't?

 

[Error Macro]

List of things different about the Workprint/San Diego versions:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/alternateversions

(much more info at link)

details about workprint:

The infamous workprint briefly resurfaced, by accident, for a one-week engagement (1/15 - 1/21) at the Seattle, WA Landmark Egyptian Theater in 1999. However, this print was the one-of-a-kind 70mm blow-up, directly from Warner Bros.' vault! There are some additional differences (that have not been reported) between this version and the other "regular" versions:
Sound was mixed in 6-track Dolby Stereo, and contained numerous differences in sound effects, music, and dialogue as compared to the standard 35mm 5-track mixes.
Opening shots did not include close-up and subsequent pull-aways from Holden's eye as he looks out the window, it simply cut closer and closer to the Tyrell Corp. building until the interior could be seen. All the while, air-traffic control headings can be heard being issued during the sequence (it was originally edited to suggest a view from a spinner as it flies toward the Tyrell Corp.).
After Leon fires on Holden and Holden crahes through the wall, hitting the table, the shot stays on Holden as fan blades brush his hair and his back smokes from the gunfire.
Deckard's meal at "THE WHITE DRAGON" can be seen being laid on the bar in front of him, rather than merely being heard.
No narration during the scene where Deckard awaits a seat at "THE WHITE DRAGON", but the blimp's advertisement is un-altered in the background (unlike in the "Director's Cut", where it WAS altered to cover the narration over).
When Deckard and Gaff inspect Leon's address and the attendant opens his room for them, he says, "Kowalski", indicating the current tenant. Kowalski is Leon's "last name".
Roy does not ask Chew, "Now...where would we find this J. F. Sebastian?"; the scene merely cuts to Deckard driving home.
When Deckard plays the piano in a depressed stupor: a) there is no unicorn vision, b) there is no background music, and c) we hear the one or two notes Harrison Ford actually played on the set.
Deckard's search for Abduul Hasaan lasts longer: we see more of Animoid Row and the back streets of the sector.
After Zhora attacks Deckard and flees, we see Deckard loosen his tie from his throat...as if he was nearly beheaded!
"If I Didn't Care", by the Ink Spots, was originally heard in the background when Deckard purchases a bottle of Tsing Tao.
In Deckard's apartment, there originally was no "Love Theme" as we all know and love; the initial music track merely continues on longer. Also, Rachel plays a different selection on the piano when testing herself; it actually was the sheet music we see displayed!
When Roy kills Tyrell, the footage of Tyrell dying was more in tone with the International Version (yet still somewhat tamer) and Roy then turns to Sebastian saying, "I'm sorry, Sebastian. Come. COME", as he stalks J.F.
Bryant's info to Deckard over the CB about Tyrell's and Sebastian's deaths are heard as we see Deckard driving through the tunnel. When Deckard is parked in his sedan on the street, he is merely preparing to call J.F.'s apartment before the police spinner interrogates him.
We actually see Roy break Deckard's fingers, in close up, with a prop-hand.
More shots of Deckard as he hangs on to the nieghboring building for dear life, after "jumping the gorge".
Different, farther-away shots of Roy as Deckard watches him die. Alternate narration was placed here (the only narration in this version), which consisted of this: "I watched him die all night. It was a long, slow thing and he fought it all the way. He never whimpered and he never quit. He took all the time he had as though he loved life very much. Every second of it...even the pain. Then, he was dead."
No shots of the "rolling TV monitors" in Deckard's apartment as he searches for Rachel. The shot merely continues, close up on Deckard, from the opening shot of the sequence, until he reaches down to pull the covers from over Rachel.
No end credits, merely exit music: the same cue heard as Gaff takes Deckard to see Bryant at the opening.

Here is what's different between the Director's Cut and the theatrical version:

http://www.brmovie.com/FAQs/BR_FAQ_Diffs.htm

The OV features a "voiceover" narration by Harrison Ford, and has an extra scene at the end - a "happy ending" scene of sorts - in which you see Deckard drive off with Rachael in (strangely) unspoiled nature under a bright, sunny sky (clip from "The Shining"); both are looking happy...

Also, there is no unicorn footage in the OV. (Original footage WAS filmed, but it was cut at the insistence of the producers, who voted it "too arty"…)

In the DC, the voiceover is gone, and so is the "happy ending", leaving the film ending like the Workprint did, with Deckard and Rachael stepping into the elevator, effectively making the film more open-ended. The DC also features the unicorn "dream" sequence. Finally, some new background "noises" were added to compensate for any voids created by omitting the VO.

There are at least seven differences between the BRDC and the Domestic Cut / International Cut:

1. Deckard's narration has been completely eliminated.

2. Some added dialogue from the blimp was inserted to fill the hole created by Deckard's missing voiceover, originally heard in the Domestic/International/San Diego Cuts while Deckard was waiting for a place at the Noodle Bar ("They don't advertise for killers in a newspaper..."). This added BRDC blimp line consists of a female voice saying "This announcement has been brought to you by the Shimago-Dominguez Corporation. Helping America into the New World."

3. A twelve-second-long unicorn shot was reintroduced as Deckard plays his piano. This was also not in the Workprint, but was originally shot for Blade Runner and is not from Legend.

4. The music track during the unicorn scene was also changed. Originally, in the International/Domestic/San Diego Cuts, the beautiful saxophone solo from Vangelis' "Love Theme" was heard as Deckard plinks on his piano. But for the BRDC, a new twelve-second music cue by Vangelis (which had been composed back in 1982 and was retrieved by Arick and Scott especially for inclusion in the BRDC) is heard instead. This takes the form of an atonal chorus wailing over the shot of the unicorn running through the woods and concludes with the sound of an electronically generated "hunting horn" that's heard as the unicorn shot dissolves back into the image of Deckard at the piano.

5. The Director's Cut features no happy ending or "Ride Into the Sunset." Instead, the BRDC ends with the elevator doors closing on Deckard and Rachael, as did the Workprint.

6. The extra violence seen on some videocassette and laserdisc copies of the International Cut was not included in the BRDC.

7. A newly remixed digital soundtrack was created for the BRDC.

 

[ManaByte]

Scott considers the DC/workprint ending the "real" ending of the movie, which is what he called it in the interview.

 

[krypt0nian]

Being that Blade Runner is my al time fave flic, I am a slave to any new DVD.



Just fucking remove the cables from the first spinner take off scene....they hurt my heart in an otherwise perfect slice of heaven's love for us.