The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.) - Page 80

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hulk-Limited...335066&sr=1-17

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fly-Ultimate...7335097&sr=1-7

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/87253...t/Product.html

to name a few.. there are alot more.

Jacob

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

I think that Jacob makes a fair point.

I'm working with a major studio and one of the problems with the special boxsets is around risk.

The merchants are in the business of selling shelf space ... so they obviously want to maximize it and what's turning on it. Special edition/gift boxsets take a lot more space and often don't fit on the standard fixture. Merchants also need to work within a budget. It's fine to carry a bunch of 19.95 new release titles, another thing to carry a bunch of specialty boxsets at 39.95.

The studios are concerned that if they misread demand, they could have a lot of returns from merchants.

Neither group wants to be burned so there needs to be a really compelling pitch for a special edition boxset.

How many Blade Runner type titles are out there i.e. titles with big followings that have not been (at least) adequately released to this point?

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

When it states "Ultimate Edition" no matter what the image shows, it's the briefcase!

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Believe it or not but there are many die-hard BR fans out there who are not entirely satisfied with any of the 5 versions. The best and most complete release of Blade Runner should include a way for the fan to make his own cut. I think we already have the technology. The interface/menu should look something like this:



----------------------------------------

MAKE YOUR OWN CUT:


Narration: On/Off

Alternate Narration: On/Off

Original Ending: Yes/No

Alternate Ending: Yes/No

Unicorn Dream: Yes/No

Extra Violence: On/Off


Return To Film

-----------------------------------------


So what do you think? A missed opportunity?


Alex

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Not that I would in any way endorse bootleg/fan cuts, but given the multiple versions of the films, deleted scenes and the unbelievable wealth of alternate footage encorperated within the docu's - an enterprising fan with the right kit/software could really go nuts and make any cut they wanted.

IMHO - an option to seamlessly branch unlimited cuts would be overkill yes.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

No, I certainly wouldn't go as far as "unlimited cuts", just some of my above proposed options will do. I can imagine that it's indeed overkill to someone who is perfectly happy with a certain cut but there are plenty of fans who, for instance, want the voiceover but not the "Happy Ending" or those who like the Director's Cut but find the unicorn dream too decisive.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Tell them to negotiate rights, write a script, and produce their own damn film.

Sorry, but I find fan-edits, with a couple of exceptions (notably the Thief and the Cobbler: Recobbled - for obvious reasons), to be truly atrocious in concept, arrogant beyond words, and disrespectful to everyone that worked on a feature.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

I agree 100%!

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

I think we need to stop talking about fan edits.. I know that some people like them.. its also about the legal problems surrounding that. besides its the filmmakers movie.. he is releasing his different version for the fans. I am fine with what we are getting.

Jacob

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Then they don't really like the film and should deal with it. There are 5 different cuts of the film, plus nearly an hour of deleted scenes, that the digial bits has called a 6th version. It's not up to the audience to edit a film, if they don't like it their loss, move onto another film.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

With such limited freedom and with options kept to a minimum, options that, by the way, only deal with known issues like voiceovers, happy endings and unicorns, you know, the eternal points of controversies, I hardly see this as a fan-edit.



No, these people really like the film. In fact, I think they like the movie too much.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Couldn't agree more with this.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Cheers I now understand what you mean.

Here is another example

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Ham...7335097&sr=1-7

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Speedy1961 posted the prices for BB over at dvdtalk

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=519706

Recap:

Blade Runner: The Final Cut – 2 DVD Special Edition >>>> $12.99 ++++
Blade Runner: The Final Cut Blu-Ray >>>> $34.99 ++++
Blade Runner: The Final Cut HD-DVD Collector’s Edition >>>> $34.99 ++++
Blade Runner: The Final Cut – 4 DVD Set >>>> $22.99 ++++
Blade Runner: The Briefcase Set >>>> $54.99 **** ++++

THX-1138 >>>> $14.99 ++++
Forbidden Planet: Unrated >>>> $17.99 ++++

++++Get either THX-1138 or Forbidden Planet for $5 with the purchase of ANY version of Blade Runner // Must be purchased on the same receipt

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Ron kindly asked me to refrain from posting until the chat tonight, but here's just one for the road.


Way, way ahead of you. I proposed those same options to Warners a couple years ago, but with catchier/cheesier names, like "Scene Splicer" and "Custom Cutter." After multiple meetings with the authoring teams, it was determined that it was too complicated to make work with player compatibility issues what they are, and could jeopardize the already tricky branching to handle the three Archival Versions. You might disagree, but we felt that experiencing the various cuts of the film itself glitch-free had to take top priority over a cool-but-gimmicky interactive feature.

There were other ideas and concepts that we tried to accomplish, things I seriously doubt anyone but the most devout "Blade Runner" fan would imagine or be interested in...be sure to ask about them at tonight's chat.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Perhaps WB should think about releasing yet another BR DVD.

Blade Runner: The Gimmicky Edition

I've been a BR fan since I saw the movie in '82. It's been my #1 movie since then and probably always will be but I don't see all the fuss people make over all the silly little cuts and voice overs etc etc. What I love about the movie doesn't change one bit no matter what edits are done to it, voice over or no voice over, happy ending or no happy ending.

It's like Bruce Lee said "It's like a finger pointing to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory"

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

WTF?

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Will there be a transcript of the chat available tomorrow? I'll be asleep when this is happening.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Yeah its one thing to try to create a third version of Superman II from footage shot for other films, but Blade Runner? Come on! This movie's been through hell and back already.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

"Immediately tomorrow morning" might be asking too much, but "pretty soon after" is what usually happens here!



I wish I was living in another time zone!
Have a great chat, gentlemen (and ladies)! Must be fun.


Cees

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

WTF is this? Unrated? So is this the version that restores the long lost Robby the Robot sex scene or something?

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Charlie,

Totally agreed. Never risk the product on 'nice-to-have' functionality.

Here's wishing you a home run on this release!

That said, I think that some of the comments have been a bit harsh on user-created versions (i.e. those done on their own). Comments like why can't fans leave things alone for example.

They don't hurt anyone and allow the fan to get off the couch and be creative. To my thinking, it's not significantly different in intent than a remix version of a song.

Now, you may say that you dislike remixed music so that just reinforces your opinion. Fair enough. But keep in mind that this is how David Arnold came up the ranks to the composing career he now enjoys. I could see fan edits to be an interesting idea for someone interested in editing as a career, sound design or the budding filmmakers wanting to try some ideas out. For the fan it could allow them to change some things, for example, take THUNDERBALL where the sequence of events is wrong so that Bond is absurdly wearing the same bathing suit and robe he was wearing at lunch by the pool when coming back to his hotel from the casino at night. Boom, a bit of software editing and it's changed.

With the differences in BR, I think it is legitimate for someone to prefer certain scenes or scene elements e.g. say the classic noir element of the voice-over. As the differences become more apparent as the boxset is analyzed to death (and you know we will ) this will only increase the options. Even George Lucas is allowing fan scene mixes of his Star Wars saga.

As long as it's done for enjoyment only and the original filmmaker's version is readily available uncompromised, I don't really see a downside to a bit of creativity and fun.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Since I am also living in a different time zone, I'd say well done on your dream project coming alive.

I cannot wait to watch this .... I am not found of late online deliveries

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

This may open up a whole can of worms but Roger Ebert wrote a controversial piece in his "Movie Answer Man" column a couple years ago explaining why he didn't think video games were art. I happened to agree with him fully.

The whole thing is a very interesting read but the basic point he made was that the interactive aspect removes the authorial input from the artist and that's the fundamental thing that invalidates a video game as art, however well-crafted it may be.

I think that could also be applied to doing a "make your own cut" feature on a movie. It's one thing to offer several pre-determined variations (like the 5 cuts on this "Blade Runner" set) but the moment you give the viewer control over the film itself it's no longer art.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Couldn't agree more! If I remember correctly, Clive Barker got riled-up and responded very defensively.

We live in an age of interactivity out-or-control, and we shouldn't forget that film is an art form, fundamentally the vision of the creator(s), not those that want the "boring parts" cut!

Later

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Honestly, my key issue with fan edits isn't so much the arrogance of many cuts (some merely replicate obscure edits from better quality source material), it's the concept that film is everyone's, and it's not. Unlike (for instance) Nine Inch Nails releasing their master tracks for people to remix, Ridley (and Charlie) are giving us pretty much every version of the film, not for us to say or attempt to show that we know better, but to allow a historical and archival perspective on all the versions, much like spielberg recently allowed for the first time with CE3k.

Personally, I can't stand fan-films either, but that's all I'll say on that for the moment. Fan edits on the other hand, are often used to replicate the long-thought-lost - a noble idea, but for someone to consider that they know better than the filmmaker, and, without the pressures of production crew, studio time, budget, etc, re-edit a film because they feel they know better.

The majority of time, if they truly knew better, they should be working in Hollywood. Unfortunately, mummy's basement is far from working at Skywalker Ranch.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Or the "offensive bits", for that matter. Anybody remember CleanFlicks? Just because the technology is available does not mean it should be used, as we all learned from Jurassic Park.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Well, looks like I'm going to buy TWO movies that day. (WB hasn't released a single-disc version of THX, have they? Just checking.)

Edit: can I call this a brain fart? I think I will...

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Well, one could say that a viewer edit completes the authorial input the same way the original version (and subsequent versions were). If Scott can change things is that not art? Well then, if it is true for him it is true for anyone else's changes.

It is an open can of worms around the the interactive element that you bring up. But I would ask the question, is architecture not art because people interact with it?


Well, mummy's basement is far from working at Skywalker Ranch but everyone has to start somewhere. Let's not forget that Coppola and Lucas started American Zoetrope which was pretty darn different from a Hollywood Studio of its day too.

Also, has the technology ever been closer between the basement and the studio then it is right now? For sound, is anyone from film school to studios not using Protools? Aren't film students getting school discounts and getting full featured versions of Avid or Final Cut Pro to use? Has not the move to digital lowered the barrier to entry of shooting a film? If not the basement, where are tomorrow's filmmakers coming from?

Your point about the pressures of budget, production schedules and the like ... totally agree.

Re: The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.)

Basically, he is the author of the film. My personal loathing for the majority of "a film by" credits aside, he is the key creative force behind the film. Personally, I loathe revisionist cinema, but at least he is giving almost equal care (as did spielberg with CE3K) to his less-preferred versions.

And having been production manager on a low budget feature (plug: http://www.nothroughroadmovie.com /plug), I can only say how valuable Final Cut and the like are to low budget filmmaking. We are coming from the basement, but there is a difference between being actively involved with original filmmaking, and disrespecting someone else's art and hard work enough to feel that you know what is better. It's not yours to change. You haven't been given permission (either legally, or more to the point, morally).

Sometimes a film is just bad (not referring to BR here), and it is no-one outside of the production's right to change that. To quote Lloyd Kaufman; "make your own damn movie".