Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again! - Page 2

Re: Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again!

Hi Charles. I know that we have had some differences in the past, but having just viewed the FC as my first Blu experience, I have to hand it to you, Ridley and WB for releasing such a definitive package. I am looking forward to revisiting the older cuts and the workprint in the future.

I would also hope that this kind of attention becomes the norm when it comes to films with such a rich history. While the costs may seem high, the end product will maintain its value, and I'm certain Blade Runner will remain among the top picks for many years to come. I'm sure there are many of us who have bought newer versions of films we have known for decades and been disappointed when yet another version appears. This package is one that any fan of the film shouldn't hesitate to own, and any film which is presented with this amount of care should also find itself a home in people's video libraries, even if those people have previously purchased prior versions.

Re: Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again!

Believe me, Will, a lot of us who were involved in the 25th Anniversary campaign were hoping for some kind of merchandising deal for "Blade Runner" to happen. There were serious discussions about it a few years ago, and Sideshow was certainly considered, but the deal didn't happen. It's kind of maddening to go down to Comic-Con every year and see a mountain of collectibles on sale devoted to even more obscure films than "Blade Runner," but I suppose you could make an argument that it would cheapen the film's legacy if you could buy officially-licensed talking Roy Batty bobbleheads. I think a lot of us on the project were hoping for at least classier, more upscale collectibles like prop replicas or coffee-table books. But who knows? Maybe for the 30th Anniversary. Or maybe for the year 2019, which is approaching us far too rapidly for my liking!

Jeff: Thanks for the comments.

Re: Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again!

2019...now THAT would be a killer tie-in!

I do agree that licensing for something like Blade Runner needs to be handled very carefully. Roy Batty Bobble Heads, indeed!

Was it Sideshow WETA who did the LoTR special edition DVD pieces [Gollum, Minas Tirith, Argonath statues]? If so, those were very classy and well-made pieces and I wouldn't mind them taking a stab at some of the figures and ships in Blade Runner.

And as always, thank you again for a wonderful Blade Runner Blu Ray experience. It's been out for a while now, and it is still the centerpiece of my BD collection despite the many dozens of discs I've purchased since then.

Re: Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again!

Ah, I could have deduced you'd be at ComicCon.

I can relate a bit. I'm a Fifth Element fan, and after years of waiting, last year they finally came out with a product: a Mondoshawan bobblehead. Which was kind of nice, in fact, but had me scratching my head a bit.

Ah well. The action figure business is done with until the recession ends anyhow... Maybe in a few years companies will indeed try again.

Re: Blade Runner 5 Disc: Thank you again!

Still working my way through this set. I had been happy enough just with the inclusion of all the different versions, but last night had a chance to view the documentary and must say that this will be a hard release to beat.

The doc is great, and really gives a new appreciation to all the work that went into making this film.

I also found it interesting after watching the US cut for the first time since I saw it in the theatre at how much better the film is without the voiceover. Still have two cuts to watch, but am very glad I picked up this set. If only some of my other favorite films could be treated this well...

Just got the Blu-Ray yesterday, and I would like to know why my copy does not seem to have a True HD soundtrack on Disc 1. I have an Oppo Blu-ray, and D1 only shows Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital (which I assume is the original Pro-logic track), but no hi-rez track. Are there mispressings out there (my disc 5 IS the Workprint)? BTW, great work on one of my favorite films.

Never mind. My Disc 5 may be the Workprint, but so is my Disc 1. Back to Target.

In the dvd review of Thedigitalbits a few years ago, they said:

 

Is there any chance that will happen some day ?

+ it seems that storyboards for a deleted scene of Blade Runner will be sold during an auction next week. The storyboards of Sherman Labby are known to be lost except for these few pages.

 

http://www.profilesinhistory.com/items/hollywood-memorabilia-auction-40/original-sherman-labby-storyboard-art-for-deleted-scene-from-blade-runner.html

 

A few days ago, I discovered the menu for the making-of doc works kinda oddly.  I did a play all on day 1, watched about 3 chapters, stopped and in the intervening day watched another blu-ray.  Then I put the DVD with the doc back in and selected the next chapter.  After it was done I was returned to the menu.

 

So I thought, I'll just  do another play all, and skip to the chapter I want so that I won''t be forced to return to the menu to select each ensuring chapter.  Well, the skip button is not allowed, I could not skip a chapter.  That meant I had to select each chapter individually to watch.  A small PITA.

 

Why disable the skip button?  And if I select chapter 3, why not  continue on to chapter  4?  Seems like odd design to me.

 

On a positive note, I was very pleased with how good the SD documentary looked.  And it is a good doc too.

Jerome:  If I ever have the privilege of working on another "Blade Runner" release, those galleries will be a priority for me.  It doesn't automatically mean that they'll be included but I will, as always, make my best effort.  However, I still think that an elegant "Art of" coffee table book would be the best showcase for all those images.

 

Johnny:  I've never had a problem chapter-skipping through "Dangerous Days" or any other Play All presentation in the "Blade Runner" set.  It sounds like a very unique authoring issue that might be player related.  If it is a widespread problem, this is the first I've heard of it and, I assure you, it certainly wasn't intentional.  I always encourage giving the viewer as much control over their experience as possible.  Sometimes, that desire runs afoul of a particular studio's spec, but I don't believe that to be the case here.

Thanks Charles for your answer.

A coffee table book is the best option I think too.

my local theatre is playing some old classic movies. they will be playing blade runner the directors cut in september. the link is below.

 

http://www.livefromauburn.com/appac_presents/cinema/cinema.htm

 

Jacob

Check this out. Seems like this maybe goes too far: Fans remaking parts of the film, extending scenes, replacing effects... soon we won't be able to tell what is an actual outtake, and what was invented by a fan with tons of time on his hands:

 

 

Some of the bits are good, some are not -- I object to the video screen behind the Leon and Deckard showdown, for instance, because the original background row of buildings featured prominently in the Blade Runner videogame by Westwood. So to delete that is just wrong. And the love of the blimp is taken to an illogical extreme -- it wouldn't be in every single sky shot, realistically! Nor would it be flying low between old buildings. The iced-up Chew was interesting. "Iced-up Chew". Sounds like a product.

 

The odd shots of Leon are evidently an attempt to realize the abandoned idea that Leon would be hiding up in the ceiling of his hotel room (holding himself up just by the sheer strength of pressing his arms and legs against the walls).

You know, there's one thing that feels like it's not quite complete to me in the Dangerous Days documentary; more on Vangelis' music.  It seems like it kinda glossed over what he did (though everyone glows about the soundtrack), and with there still not being a complete nor totally accurate official release of the soundtrack, it would be great to get more on that.

 

Otherwise it's an incredible documentary on one of my top 5 films of all time.  Sometimes I'll just watch the documentary, and when my wife comes in the room the first thing she'll say, "Are you really watching that again?" And the next thing you know, she's been standing there watching it with me for 20 minutes!

I really wanted to do an entire stand-alone featurette on Vangelis.  I had been discussing his participation with his very kind manager Cherry Vanilla for, literally, years.  I was ready to hop on a plane to Greece (tough life, I know) on a moment's notice for this interview.  Imagine my surprise and disappointment when he ultimately chooses not to participate in "Dangerous Days" but then does a BBC interview after The Final Cut comes out.  Oh well, perhaps next time, if there is one.  Those rare times it rains here, I'm always compelled to put on "Blade Runner Blues" and stare out at the stormy horizon from the deck of my hilltop house overlooking 21st Century Los Angeles.

 

Thanks for the nice comments, Winston.

Does anyone else find it freaky that we're 9 (now almost 8) years away from Blade Runner? I'm starting to look around and doubt whether some of these people around me are really human...

 

Fascinating story about Vangelis, Charlie. Would have been great to have him in there, but the documentary is still top notch. Easily the best doc I've watched for a motion picture.

 

 

 

Not really.  It isn't like I booked passage on a Pan Am space clipper or visited our moon colony 9 years ago. 

 

- Walter.

Thanks for the info, and reminding me that Vangelis is in Greece.  I'm going there in a few weeks for my brother-in-law's wedding. Maybe I should look him up and ask him what the deal was with not working with you!?! :-)

Some great videos on the Douglas Trumbull website

 

 

 

Thanks for these videos. I really cannot get enough of the making of special effects, whether they're oldschool, so to speak, or CG.

From: http://blastr.com/2011/03/sequels-and-prequels-to-b.php

 

 

That sound you hear is of a thousand female fans of Pris reapplying their raccoon-style eyeliner.

 

 

More cinema news sources on this sale of the rights:

 

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/03/02/blade-runner-prequels-sequels-alcon/

Dear Charles

 

I hope it isn't too late to join in and express my thanks,  I also wish to add my heartfelt  gratitude to you and your team for working on the Blade Runner 5 disc edition. This is truly the kind of release that is cherished and loved. I enjoy every little bit detail on each of these wonderful discs, and I am slightly ashamed to admit I watched "Dangerous Days" as many times the Blade Runner film by now, it's fantastic.

 

I have a question relating to Vangelis' film score on the Final Cut, could you recall where the music was sourced from for the final cut? Were the master "Music & Effects" tapes ever found and were they used for FC? I understand that Vangelis (in 1982) produced a 4-channel mix of his music, and was mixed for left, center, right, and surround to be later encoded in Dolby Stereo. I would be interested to hear if the Final Cut was able to use this 4-channel mix, or if it used a stereo mix of the music if the 4-channel M&E tapes were never found. 

 

Thanks again

Joseph

 

Edited by zyser - 7/26/11 at 2:25am

 

 

Wow, that was just awful.

 

Vincent

What aspect of it? The assault on the original filmmakers vision? The  amateurish special effects? The poor decisions about what to recompose? I'd say yeah to all the above, but, you were kind of vague there.

Fan edits suck period. Look at all the fake Superman II ones.

 

I would direct you to Star Wars: Revisited and the upcoming ESB: Revisited. Digitally tweak every single shot, make sure continuity and plot flows, add new sequence shots and visual FX and serve. That's a fanedit done right.