Blade Runner 25th Anniversary DVD

Blade-Runner 25th Anniversary DVDPost submitted by: Darren Seeley You can submit a post here

Great, great news! From the looks of this, it appears that fans of Blade Runner (Sealer included) have finannly gotten a wish come true: via Reuters/Hollywood Reporter :

“Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic “Blade Runner,” one of the first movies to appear on DVD in 1997, is being restored and remastered for a brief reissue in September. The DVD, featuring the 1992 “director’s cut,” will be deleted after four months, and replaced by a 25th anniversary “final cut,” which Warner Home Video is billing as Scott’s “definitive new version” of the film. After a limited theatrical release, the newly spruced-up “Runner” will be released in a multidisc special edition DVD that also will include the original theatrical cut, the expanded international theatrical cut and the 1992 director’s cut.”

Now, I feel this is terrific news, because this DVD reissue had been on and off again in the past several years. Glad to see it’s finally on the way. While Warner’s hasn’t given specifics, here’s what I hope is on there:

1) Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott and/or David Peoples [cowriter];

2) Any/all deleted or alternate scenes some of which appeared the “workprints” – including the legend behind the ‘missing’ replicant, fellow Blade Runner Holden in the hospital, and the hockey masked go-go dancers in the cylinder cages.

3) All of Syd Mead’s designs.

4) A *special* section dedicated to model building and production design. Despite being made in the early 80’s, there was no CGI used in this film and all of the effects in model and art direction hold up well to this day. I would even argue that some of BR is BETTER than CGI.

Runner’s FX and look was highly influential, but the difference in this film was there was varied scenes where the audience could appriciate the work that went into the design. Having the Vangelis music didn’t hurt either.

However, as for the DVD itself, I’m not exactly sure why there would be a need for the original domestic cut -after all, when the film caught on video and became a cult phenom, we were practically RAISED on the international cut.

The main difference between the Original domestic and the original int’l is extra seconds of nail piercing, eye gouging, one more gunshot to the back of an unarmed woman and Daryl Hannah sticking her slender fingers up Harrison’s Ford’s nose. The DC generally sans the voiceover and the happy yet ambigious ending.

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5 thoughts on “Blade Runner 25th Anniversary DVD

  1. I’m looking forward to see Ridley Scott’s long awaited SF masterpiece again on the big screen. I’m such a loyal fan, I’ve illustrated a ’11×17′ Blade Runner poster for one of the best BR sites (BLADEZONE) I’m currently working on a second poster, this one will be my version of the upcoming theatrical release of Blade Runner:The Final Cut. If you love the 1st BR poster I’ve worked on,the second one will definitely blow you away!

  2. I agree Ridley gives great AC’s. And I liked the voiceover as well; for when the DC came out, many Runner fans considered the “inner mind” of Deckard. I for one did not get the first DVD issue of BR with the notorius snapper case. Every now and then I heard about “will they/won’t they’ make a SE of Runner.

    Now it is on its way.
    Now I can spend my money.

  3. Wolf? WTF?
    Just kidding man.

    Any ways, I think I am the only one who actually liked the voiceover in the original release, but having both versions (or 3) is geat. This DVD is way too long over due. And who agrees with me that Ridley Scott pretty well gives the best director commentaries out there. I just bought the directors cut of Kingdom of Heaven just for that.

  4. I’m glad I don’t use my real name on blogs…because I have not seen Blade Runner…I know right now people are like WTF. See if I used my real name some people might just hunt me down and murder me.

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