Blade Runner re-released on DVD

[greg]

I'll have to buy the DVD again. I'm most excited about the opportunity to perhaps see it re-released in the theaters, since I missed it in '92 for the director's cut. I really wanted to see it then, but I was in high school, no car, and didn't know anybody else who liked the movie.

Read about it here.

[DC906270]

cool, good news. i will probably take the opportunity to see it at the cinema, films always seem different that way. this is kind of like what Ridley did with Alien, but the re-released version in the cinema WAS the updated version, followed by a dvd special edition. this film has been deserving of an SE for soooo long. i much prefer the original Bladerunner, though, corny Harrison voiceover n all!

[judesalmon]

What about an HD-DVD/BD version?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I got to watch the Director's Cut of Blade Runner in 1996 or 1997 at the Modesto, CA-based State Theater...very cool art-movie house to show that there. ^_~

I do have the International Version of Blade Runner on VHS tape (the one that shows the replicant pushing a nail through his hand to extend his lifeforce for a few more hours since he is already dying + the scene where the founder/inventor of the Replicants has his eyes pushed in by the Rutger Hauer character). Pretty graphic stuff especially for a dark & gritty cult classic sci-fi film.

There was talk about making a Blade Runner sequel from Ridley Scott in the book of "Film Noir: The Making of Blade Runner"...but it still hasn't materilized yet. ^_~

Makes me wonder how the real 2019 year will be like when it comes...only thirteen more years and 2019 A.D. is finally upon us. ^_~

Believe it nor not, the Director's Cut of Blade Runner seems to push the idea that the Richard Deckard character is a Replicant pursuing a rogue group of Nexus-6 type of Replicants whereas if one were to watch the original unaltered version, it portrays the Richard Deckard character as a human being pursuing the Nexus-6 group. During the filming of Blade Runner, the love scene between Rachel and Deckard in his apartment, it was filmed with an extended longer version that was trimmed down for the final print shown in movie theaters back in 1982.

There are some people who saw the early "Working Print" version of Blade Runner film and say that version is the best version of Blade Runner shown because it is different from the original theaterical version or even the Director's Cut version of the same name.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[incognoscente]

I held off buying the previous DVD release, hoping that something like this would happen.

Thanks for the heads-up, greg :)

[sven666]

... the love scene between Rachel and Deckard in his apartment, it was filmed with an extended longer version ...

must have been one looong "version"

8==================D

great news btw, i love the directors cut.

[greg]

A while back, Undamned and I were talking about what it would be like if Blade Runner would've been made today as a recent movie. It most likely wouldn't be directed by Ridley Scott, since he's busy with all these historically-based action/dramas. So it would be made by Spielburg if we're lucky, but even then that wouldn't be so great anymore these days. We figured that the Replicants would probably be way over-emphasized, it would have all sorts of CG, probably a chase scene with the Spinners, martial arts combat, etc. If I want to watch a hyperactive Blade Runner, I'd watch Bubblegum Crisis instead (the original 2031 version from the 80's, not the new dumb 2040 version).

It's sad how they don't make movies like Blade Runner anymore. By today's standards, it's "boring." There's not even one explosion or a car crash in the movie.

One other sad thing is that apparently some of the scenes in this new release of Blade Runner will be shortened a bit, like when Deckard is waiting for a seat at the sushi bar in the beginning. I heard that Scott did this with the re-release of Alien a few years back. You only see lengthy shots of anything in Asian cinema anyore. It's as if Western viewers get bored if a scene is a second or two too long. People don't have patience for classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner anymore.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

... the love scene between Rachel and Deckard in his apartment, it was filmed with an extended longer version ...

must have been one looong "version"

8==================D ~~~0 ~~~0 ~~~0

great news btw, i love the directors cut.

For sven666,

I added some ascii stylized sperm to your extended ascii stylized penis... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[greg]

I think I'll go wash my eyes out with soap.

[Specineff]

Nexus 6? Ha. I knew I heard that before. Trivia: In Xenosaga episode 1, Ziggy has a flasback in which he remembers his son getting a replicant puppy. The dog's name was Nexus 6.

[LoneSage]

Believe it nor not, the Director's Cut of Blade Runner seems to push the idea that the Richard Deckard character is a Replicant pursuing a rogue group of Nexus-6 type of Replicants whereas if one were to watch the original unaltered version, it portrays the Richard Deckard character as a human being pursuing the Nexus-6 group.

In my opinion, I believe Deckard was a replicant implanted with false memories, or something like that, to make him think he was human.
I've read Scott himself said Deckard was supposed to be a replicant, not sure if that's true or not.

[Twiddle]

A while back, Undamned and I were talking about what it would be like if Blade Runner would've been made today as a recent movie. It most likely wouldn't be directed by Ridley Scott, since he's busy with all these historically-based action/dramas. So it would be made by Spielburg if we're lucky, but even then that wouldn't be so great anymore these days. We figured that the Replicants would probably be way over-emphasized, it would have all sorts of CG, probably a chase scene with the Spinners, martial arts combat, etc. If I want to watch a hyperactive Blade Runner, I'd watch Bubblegum Crisis instead (the original 2031 version from the 80's, not the new dumb 2040 version).

It's sad how they don't make movies like Blade Runner anymore. By today's standards, it's "boring." There's not even one explosion or a car crash in the movie.

One other sad thing is that apparently some of the scenes in this new release of Blade Runner will be shortened a bit, like when Deckard is waiting for a seat at the sushi bar in the beginning. I heard that Scott did this with the re-release of Alien a few years back. You only see lengthy shots of anything in Asian cinema anyore. It's as if Western viewers get bored if a scene is a second or two too long. People don't have patience for classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner anymore.

you lost it at the bolded part

[judesalmon]

Believe it nor not, the Director's Cut of Blade Runner seems to push the idea that the Richard Deckard character is a Replicant pursuing a rogue group of Nexus-6 type of Replicants whereas if one were to watch the original unaltered version, it portrays the Richard Deckard character as a human being pursuing the Nexus-6 group.

In my opinion, I believe Deckard was a replicant implanted with false memories, or something like that, to make him think he was human.
I've read Scott himself said Deckard was supposed to be a replicant, not sure if that's true or not.

Scott says that the unicorn dream squence in the Director's Cut proves that Deckard was in fact a replicant.

However, the writers said that they wrote Deckard as a human.

I think it's more interesting if Deckard is human - he relates more with the replicants, which if he's one too is only natural. If he's human though, it makes him a much deeper character.

[DC906270]

yeah, i agree with Jude, its better if Deckard is human.

[Fost]

So it would be made by Spielburg if we're lucky, but even then that wouldn't be so great anymore these days.

Spielberg and adult scifi are two things that should never be mixed as far as I am concerned.
Let's look at the evidence:

Minority Report - watchable, but he ruins the concept with the double twist (I actually liked that it was the guy who killed his son, why ruin that cool idea with some other guff.) Pretty generic action.
AI Why did Kubrik have to die, and more to the point, it's a sad world when someone of Kubrik's talent has to collaborate with the King of Summer Blockbusters just to get a scifi movie made. Enjoyable, up to the point the kid leaves the house, I'm suspecting Kubrik died at this point.
War of the Worlds Hmm, another alien invasion movie that isn't in the slightest bit scary - just what we need. I'll actually go out on a limb here, and say that 'Independence Day' for all its cheesyness, actually has better looking and scarier aliens, and a couple of good lines like:
President: What do you want us to do?
Captured Alien: DIE!

Ok, he did Close Encounters, which is ok, if not exactly the kind of film I'd bother watching again.

[bpe]

I am secretly proud that I have never seen Minority Report, AI, War of the Worlds, nor ET or Jaws. Hah.

[Mikey]

So it would be made by Spielburg if we're lucky, but even then that wouldn't be so great anymore these days.

Spielberg and adult scifi are two things that should never be mixed as far as I am concerned.
Let's look at the evidence:

Minority Report - watchable, but he ruins the concept with the double twist (I actually liked that it was the guy who killed his son, why ruin that cool idea with some other guff.) Pretty generic action.
AI Why did Kubrik have to die, and more to the point, it's a sad world when someone of Kubrik's talent has to collaborate with the King of Summer Blockbusters just to get a scifi movie made. Enjoyable, up to the point the kid leaves the house, I'm suspecting Kubrik died at this point.
War of the Worlds Hmm, another alien invasion movie that isn't in the slightest bit scary - just what we need. I'll actually go out on a limb here, and say that 'Independence Day' for all its cheesyness, actually has better looking and scarier aliens, and a couple of good lines like:
President: What do you want us to do?
Captured Alien: DIE!

Ok, he did Close Encounters, which is ok, if not exactly the kind of film I'd bother watching again.

Well put.

[judesalmon]

I am secretly proud that I have never seen... Jaws. Hah.

What?

[icycalm]

I am secretly proud that I have never seen Minority Report, AI, War of the Worlds, nor ET or Jaws. Hah.

You are kinda missing out on some good films there. Jaws and ET.

As for Blade Runner, you guys know there are 2 more novels? NOT written by Phillip K. Dick.

I read one of them ages ago and I vaguely remember that it was decent. I think I'll track both down.

[judesalmon]

As for Blade Runner, you guys know there are 2 more novels?

Are they based on Balde Runner, or Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?

[Ceph]

Deckard was supposed to be a replicant, Scott himself said so- the dream sequence of the unicorn and the origami unicorn left by his colleage at the end of the movie prove it. The moment Deckard picks up the origami unicorn, he realizes he is a replicant with implanted memory and, just like Rachel, with an expiry date.

The voiceover-ending of the theatrical version where Rachel and Deckard are seen driving away through a sunlit landscape with green grass and where he is not a replicant and Rachel is a prototype with no expiry date was slapped on because the test audience didn't like (or understand) the original, dark ending. Fuck test audiences. The beautiful-landscape-sequence was stupid; in Blade Runner the whole planet earth is supposed to be contaminated. Read Philip K. Dick's short story "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" on which Blade Runner is based for more info.

In my opinion, Deckart himself being a doomed replicant makes the movie so much better. The strap-on happy-end is completely out of place.

[icycalm]

As for Blade Runner, you guys know there are 2 more novels?

Are they based on Balde Runner, or Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?

They are both based on the movie.

I once tried to read the original book but quit after 10 pages. At least those pages had a different tone to the movie. Not noir, for sure.