1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Never saw Blade Runner and bought the Blu-ray (which has 5 differnet versions) based on what is considered universal recommendation of it.

So for the first veiwing with the family which is the best version to watch?

1. RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM
2. 1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
3. 1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
4. 1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT
5. WORKPRINT VERSION

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Start with the International Version...It's the one most of us greew up with for those of us who first saw in on Video. Then Do the Final Cut. After that do the Workprint Version.

Then Repeat viewings with the version that you like the best. I prefer the Final Cut but it really is to each his own with Blade Runner. My best friend will only watch the International Version.

And enjoy the film. I envy you in seeing it for the first time.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

i'd say final for sure if it were me giving a opinion, coming from a long time many version fan

-Gary

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Having seen the theatrical cut on release day, I have to say start with the Final Cut. While I loved Blade Runner from that first day, for my money The Final Cut its the best version of the film.

Doug

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

The Final Cut is the best version of the film. For curiosity's sake, I'd also watch the International Version to see it with the voice over.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

The Final Cut, in my opinion, is the best version of this film. You should really watch them all and form your own opinion.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I bought the five-disc too, only to find out the discs were labeled correctly, but disc one and disc five were both the Workprint Edition. Since I have never seen Blade Runner as well, I wanted to start with the Final Cut, which I still don't have received yet. So, the entire package is still unseen, unfortunately.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

As an interesting historical exercise, you could watch the theatrical or international cut (not much difference between them), followed by the director's cut and finishing off with the final cut--that way you could see the progression from the viewer's point of view.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Another vote for the final cut.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Thanks for the opinion guys looks like the Final is winning out.

But I am guessing I should have emphasized first time for the whole family (me included).

While I’ll most definitely sit down to multiple versions. I only have one shot to get my wife, daughter (16) and son (10) into it. And for them I’m more concerned as to which one first. I can pretty much bet the house that they will not be so interested in watching the film three and four times for development concerns. Sometimes they could care less about deleted scenes and stuff.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

this movie is a fine film.. its not for everyone. its a very stylish movie and might be considered very slow todays standards. I would recommend you and the wife watching it. its R rated for a reason.

Jacob

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I have to agree, the 16 and 10 year old are probably going to find the film rather boring and are likely to not grasp everything that is going on. As has been stated, it is a very dark film and is rated R for a reason.

Doug

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Definitely. My parents took me to see this with them when I was nine, and I didn't have a clue as to what was going on.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Excellent film - I'll also recommend the final cut first. I had actually never seen this until it came out on HD-DVD. Based upon others' recommendations, I watched the final cut first, followed by the international version, then the workprint. Then the "Dangerous Days" documentary.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I would go with final cut first if it's the first time watching with your wife. I don't see any problems with letting your 16 year-old watch it, but 10 is way too young. My 14 year-old has asked and I've told her she's not ready yet.

As a side note, the DC was my first official "date" with my wife. She'll never watch it again, but she did buy the briefcase set on DVD for Christmas when it came out.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I guess maybe I’ll watch it first with the Mrs. And see how it goes.

But we are not really the kids can’t watch anything R rated types. As long as there is no out right raunchy sex they get to see and enjoy a lot. They have both watched things and liked to a degree things like 300, Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Fifth Element just to name a few. And my son and I recently watched the original Day the Earth Stood Still and he really enjoyed it. It was just we saw on a movie poll that it was voted greatest Sci-Fi movie of all time and every ones interest in it got peaked.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

There is more action in any randomly-selected 15 minute stretch of any of those movies you mentioned (except the original Day the Earth Stood Still) than there is in all of Blade Runner. If the 10-year-old is *really* into Science Fiction, then he might enjoy it.

I recommend watching the International Version with the kids (at least the 10-year-old), since the voiceovers make the story much easier to follow.

There is some bloody violence, but not more than they've already seen, and there is a little nudity, but no raunchy sex scenes. As with all kids, YMMV.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Yeah if they can handle those flicks then you've got nothing to worry about with Blade Runner. The only question is how much they'll enjoy it, as it is a cerebral head-trip of an experience. That being said it really is a great movie that only gets better with repeat viewings if one has the patience for it.

I'll agree with others here that the Final Cut is the way to go. It's really the most polished and complete version of the film yet at the same time not a radically changed "revisionist" version. The icing on the cake is that it has the most gorgeous picture quality of all the versions, so if nothing else the family can admire how good looking a 27-year old film can be.

Happy viewing!

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I would show The Final Cut. It is intended to be the 'definitive' version of the film.

Reading carefully, it sounds like everyone in the family wants to see this film after seeing that it ranked as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. So like it or hate it...they asked for it!

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Depends on the individual. Restricted rating aside there's no reason why a 16 year old wouldn't be able to follow the film. I first watched BR in 1982 and had no trouble "grasping" it at the age of 14.

FWIW - watch the International version first.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I forget to mention what version to watch. I saw the final cut twice in the theatre. I also saw the theatre version and the directors cut in the theatre. the final cut is the best version. the workprint was very interesting to see.

Jacob

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I'd say Final Cut first, it's the best version for me. I would say that I, like the majority, saw the v/o version first and that inevitably made it easier to watch the Directors cut without narration when it came out in the 90's.

As for the 10 year old - as I recall I was about that age when I saw Blade Runner for the first time. Can't say I remember much about the story from then, but the visuals and atmosphere certainly made a lasting impression.

It'd be interesting to hear your thoughts after you've watched the film, I'd love to have the opportunity to have the Final Cut as my first viewing experience.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Funny you say that as my parents took me to see it when I was 10 and I was disappointed Harrison Ford wasn't like Han Solo or Indiana Jones.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I hear you. I remember taking the robe off my 12" Obi-Wan Kenobi, putting it on my 12" Indiana Jones with revolver ready, and blasting Replicants; but that was the extent of what I 'got out of' my first viewing.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

My first viewing was the international cut on VHS in all its P/S glory. I think I was 14-15 @ the time and only somewhat enjoyed it, because it didn't match what I had imagined while reading the book a couple years earlier. I couldn't get in to see it on theatrical release, because the ratings board in Alberta had rated it R (no one under 18 admitted; no way, no how), and my parents probably wouldn't have taken me to see it anyway. I gained a greater appreciation from the DC, and really like the final cut. Other than the Star Wars films and some Disney animated titles, this is probably the film I've owned the most versions of (VHS widescreen, first DVD release of director's cut, and briefcase set on DVD--I know I'll eventually get the BD 5-disc).

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

If you dont mind your boy seeing Joanna Cassady's fine rack...i know i was 13 before i ever got to see naked boobs, on a movie.
Ahh, I still remember it like yesterday. Jenny Auguter in Logan's Run, fine woman.
Anyway, back to Blade Runner, the violence is far worse than the skin. Its not Starship Troopers over the top, but still, its pretty graphic.
Another vote for the Final Cut, by the way.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I first fell in love with BLADE RUNNER was I was 12 or 13 and rented the "unrated" International Cut on VHS. I didn't find it boring it all, in fact I was completely enraptured in it. When I saved up over the summer and bought my first LaserDisc player at age 16, the Criterion BLADE RUNNER was the first LD I bought*.

But then again, I was a weird kid.

Vincent

* Along with the Japanese import of Dario Argento's PHENOMENA. I still have both LDs.

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I tend to agree w/ the consensus.

Go w/ the Final Cut first, especially if the 10-yo won't be seeing it on first showing (so he can maybe see one of the voice-over versions for his first viewing in case it's hard for him to follow w/out the VO).

How much your kids will enjoy it probably depends on how much they enjoy actual Sci-Fi vs the typical Sci-Fantasy, etc. When I first saw it back in the late 80's in my mid-teens, I was still just a Hollywood blockbuster Sci-Fantasy popcorn flick kinda kid and didn't really "get" this film -- it was just slow and boring to me. Heck, I even liked Short Circuit quite a bit back then too. And now, the reverse is true (even though I still enjoy many popcorn flicks of course ).

_Man_

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

I also saw it in 82 when I was 16. But was into things like 2001 at that age. I think there were some things going in some of the performance that I didn't really get until I was an adult. Most of the other kids I knew at that time were pretty bored by Blade Runner, and I suspect the average 16 year old today would find it to be like watching paint dry.

Of course this isn't to say that there aren't those who would enjoy and understand it. But it is clearly not a film that spoon feeds you the story.

Doug

Re: 1st time watching Blade Runner, Which Version?

Go with "The Final Cut".

The other versions are worth watching too, but if you listen to the theatrical version with the narration, you're always going to be hearing it in the back of your head. Better to see it fresh as it was intended (in its "Final Cut" form) and then you can go back, watch the theatrical version and see if the narration fills in any backstory you might have missed or wanted.