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On the Edge of Blade Runner
Channel 4 documentary on the best movie ever.
Oct 31, 2006 8:16 AM
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
In 2007, Blade Runner is set for another theatrical release, this time being the "final cut" overseen by Ridley Scott. Then a multi-disc DVD box set including a U.S. and International cut will be released with special features, this documentary being one of those features. It will also be available on HD DVD and Blu-ray disc formats.
By: lyzard
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
Will it have the narrative by Harrison Ford in it?? (Like the original theatrical release) Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes.
PS IamDeK
It is not the “best movie ever.” I think I speak for the rest of humanity when I say it is far, far better than that! The term “movie” does this masterpiece no justice whatsoever, as does the term “best” as it implies that a comparison with others is deemed appropriate. Only comparisons with itself can be deemed righteous or appropriate.
PS IamDeK
It is not the “best movie ever.” I think I speak for the rest of humanity when I say it is far, far better than that! The term “movie” does this masterpiece no justice whatsoever, as does the term “best” as it implies that a comparison with others is deemed appropriate. Only comparisons with itself can be deemed righteous or appropriate.
By: theEDUCATOR
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
:D
>Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes.
Who knows. I think they did this new version because the two companies who own the rights for the previous two didn't manage to find a deal and make a DVD. (A nice side effect of copyright...)
So, don't sell your old crappy Director's Cut DVD on eBay.
(I love the version without the voice over more, but I only saw the Italian dubbed version of the original one.)
>Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes.
Who knows. I think they did this new version because the two companies who own the rights for the previous two didn't manage to find a deal and make a DVD. (A nice side effect of copyright...)
So, don't sell your old crappy Director's Cut DVD on eBay.
(I love the version without the voice over more, but I only saw the Italian dubbed version of the original one.)
By: IAmDeK
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
FYI:
The laser disc version was the original theatrical cut.
I used to love those old giant DVDs. :')
The laser disc version was the original theatrical cut.
I used to love those old giant DVDs. :')
By: theEDUCATOR
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
To my blame I admit I've new seen a laser disc.
Well, I played Dragon's Lair, so... almost there... :D
Well, I played Dragon's Lair, so... almost there... :D
By: IAmDeK
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
If you think that that the "Blade Runner" movie was good, you really ought to read the book: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick. The movie essentially hacked out all the action scenes and glued them together, without any of the accompanying motivations and philosophy. Why was Rick Deckard hunting down the androids so aggressively? What is his favorite dial-a-mood? What is the theory of "kipple"? Read the book!
By: cthomas
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
My opinion is that novel and movie are two separate things, just sharing an idea and loosely the background.
Roy Baty is not Roy Batty. Blade Runner's Deckard is not DADoES' Deckard and doesn't share his motivations.
Roy Baty is not Roy Batty. Blade Runner's Deckard is not DADoES' Deckard and doesn't share his motivations.
By: IAmDeK
I have an opinion and a sock full of Susan B. Anthony dollars.
How can anyone defend the terrible original cut? As mentioned in the documentary, Harrison Ford botched the voiceover on purpose in a vain attempt to make sure a voiceover doesn't show up. The original cut's ending has a mood and theme that clashes with the everything else in the movie, and simply contradicts the inevitability of mortality and the moral ambiguity.
And the best line of the movie is a clear tie between "Then we're stupid and we'll die" and "Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here."
And the best line of the movie is a clear tie between "Then we're stupid and we'll die" and "Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here."
By: ByteBaron
Re: I have an opinion and a sock full of Susan B. Anthony dollars.
>How can anyone defend the terrible original cut?
I think it's presumptuous to say that everyone finds the director's cut superior.
The fact is that Blade Runner existed for it's first decade as the international/domestic cut with the narration. A lot of people liked it as-is because it contained some esoteric concepts and the narration made the film more accessable.
I think discounting the original release and subsequent Hi-Fi VHS, LaserDisc viewing experience by millions and millions of people over a period of 10 years is a bit much.
>Harrison Ford botched the voiceover on purpose [snip]
Conflicting stories on this. IMDB trivia has "Ford has denied this vehemently" but does not source it. Conflicting second/third-person accounts in the documentary too.
>The original cut's ending has a mood and theme that clashes with the everything else in the movie [snip]
Yes. However you have to understand how this was marketed at the time. A sci-fi action adventure movie, not a drowsy cerebral character film.
Take a look at the original trailers on youtube. No wonder the test audiences were disappointed.
At the original theatrical release, I'm glad they had the tacked-on happy ending. The original dreary ending would have have seriously cramped my chances of having sex with my date that night. :P
I think it's presumptuous to say that everyone finds the director's cut superior.
The fact is that Blade Runner existed for it's first decade as the international/domestic cut with the narration. A lot of people liked it as-is because it contained some esoteric concepts and the narration made the film more accessable.
I think discounting the original release and subsequent Hi-Fi VHS, LaserDisc viewing experience by millions and millions of people over a period of 10 years is a bit much.
>Harrison Ford botched the voiceover on purpose [snip]
Conflicting stories on this. IMDB trivia has "Ford has denied this vehemently" but does not source it. Conflicting second/third-person accounts in the documentary too.
>The original cut's ending has a mood and theme that clashes with the everything else in the movie [snip]
Yes. However you have to understand how this was marketed at the time. A sci-fi action adventure movie, not a drowsy cerebral character film.
Take a look at the original trailers on youtube. No wonder the test audiences were disappointed.
At the original theatrical release, I'm glad they had the tacked-on happy ending. The original dreary ending would have have seriously cramped my chances of having sex with my date that night. :P
By: biggeek
Unicorn Power vs. Noirish Narration
It still cracks me up how the thing actually lost money before VHS. At least it's unlikely that Ridley Scott will screw the new DVDs up like Lucas and Spielberg have a habit of doing, so we can both have our versions. Although I hope they get rid of the weird thumb scene near the beginning of the film. You know the one.
By: ByteBaron
Re: Unicorn Power vs. Noirish Narration
The part a second afterwards where Roy is suddenly in Tyrell's room with his thumb on his shoulder should be cut. But that introductory line is awesome.
"Men? Police... men?"
"Men? Police... men?"
By: ByteBaron
Re: Unicorn Power vs. Noirish Narration
Bladerunner was very popular rental because it was one of the first visually/aurally impressive films released in letterbox format on HI-FI VHS for the first generation of stereo component compatable HI-FI VHS players.
But renting a VHS copy of Bladerunner back then...The beginning credits and Los Angeles was almost always chewed up from people rewinding and replaying it.
Actually buying a unplayed virgin HI-FI VHS tape of Bladerunner cost somewhere around $70-$90 in mid-1980's dollars from the pre-Blockbuster Mom 'N Pop video rental stores.
But renting a VHS copy of Bladerunner back then...The beginning credits and Los Angeles was almost always chewed up from people rewinding and replaying it.
Actually buying a unplayed virgin HI-FI VHS tape of Bladerunner cost somewhere around $70-$90 in mid-1980's dollars from the pre-Blockbuster Mom 'N Pop video rental stores.
By: biggeek
Re: I have an opinion and a sock full of Susan B. Anthony dollars.
Niether of those are close to the best line . . . Which was delivered by Olmos . . .
"It's too bad she won't live . . . but then . . . who does ?
"It's too bad she won't live . . . but then . . . who does ?
By: Voidwar
Re: On the Edge of Blade Runner
It's pointless trying to be too hip or obscure..."tears in rain" is really an excellent line punctuating an excellent moment in the film.
By: ice-9
