The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.) - Page 86

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

I am about to watch "Dangerous Days". I have been waiting so long for the next 3 1/2 hours.

ej

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

So they get to keep your money until that time arrives and you don't get to enjoy your purchase ... interesting strategy. Have you ever noticed that video prices have gone down over time? Way to buck that trend.

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

I think a good idea would be to just take the discs to a store that sells blu-ray players and test them out. You could say you're in the market for one...(which wouldn't be a lie, right? )
LOL! I did the same thing with the Star Wars "faces" laserdiscs (I think I had them 10 years before I actually got a LD player).

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

I would add that none of the films mentioned has as compelling a "making of" story to tell.
I love the LOTR sets, but the documentaries
could be summed up as "The Little [Kiwi]Engine That Could."

By comparrison, BR's making of story would be closer to
"The Great Train Robbery."

NOTE: After watching the documentary, and seeing Roger Ebert's original review quoted in the film as THE critical response to the film, I LOVE seeing now on Ebert's site that he has "The Final Cut" listed and categorized under his "GREAT MOVIES" section.

mw

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

This is not addressed to you Mark (at all) but just as a general comment. I guess we need to make up our minds. Do we want critic's opinions to evolve about a film or do we want them to be static?

I mention this because so often I read about some critic being bashed about for finally 'waking up to the light' i.e. finally reaching the opinion of the guy doing the bashing. If we want them to evolve, we then shouldn't be critical of them for evolving.


I guess GCI is the new CGI. I think that Ebert is uninformed. I don't see the difference between Scott going to green screen to re-work scenes then what Lucas did in in Star Wars. You use the computer to make changes, you're using the computer to make changes.

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

Cept Zhora still gets shot in the back, its just now it looks like her.

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

"I don't see the difference between Scott going to green screen to re-work scenes then what Lucas did in in Star Wars."

I think theres a big difference. Alot of Lucas additions were self indulgent.

Scotts changes were very minimal and can actually be called "fixes" by comparison.

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

so does anyone have any pictures of the spinner that comes with the briefcase?

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

Agreed. Best to leave Lucas out of things (shudders) as I don't think we need/want the SW posts. My bad.

So, let's keep it more generic.

Self-indulgent? Separating self-indulgence from film direction is like separating a leopard from his spots ... i.e. unnatural.

Semantics about 'changes' from 'fixes' by how "minimal" they are is like saying the girl is only 'a little bit pregnant.'

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

my local indie cinema is still re-releasing the BRFC on the big screen next Tuesday for a 2 week limited run. it's still worth it seeing it on the huge screen. i've seen it once a month ago even though i have a front projector as well. it's just not the same @home vs. hugeass screen

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

heres the spinner:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...runnerswag.jpg

source: DVD, Blu-ray & HD-DVD Review - Blade Runner: The Final Cut - All Versions

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

I don't know that I'd necessarily agree with that, at least not across the board. With certain releases, such as a popular sci-fi trilogy that shall go unnamed in this post, I'd agree completely. Why? Because that filmmaker is simultaneously putting out a new version of the film with things that hadn't been part of the plan when it was originally made, telling us it all was part of the plan, and that the movies we grew up with and fell in love with aren't actually the movies, and doing everything possible to keep us from seeing them again, at least with any quality presentation.

For Blade Runner, Ridley Scott is saying, here's my new version, it's called the final cut, and I got to fix things that always bothered me and do a couple things I had always wanted to but the money men stopped me from doing years ago. So that's part of it. Tastefully using digital technology to fix an obvious stunt double that always took away from what is supposed to be a very hypnotic, powerful scene might be a little self indulgent in that the film was made years ago, but it doesn't really call attention to itself. In that other filmmaker's trilogy, every change screams out "Look at me! Look at me! I'm new!!" even if you've never seen the films before, whereas Ridley's changes are designed to blend into the film seamlessly, and if you were seeing Blade Runner for the first time, you wouldn't notice. When I saw The Final Cut, the thing that really touched me is how immersive the experience was; all of the little things that really took me out of the film even momentarily have been tweaked so that I don't get taken out of the film. Though the way the film was "fixed" wasn't possible 25 years ago, with more time and money, Ridley would have been able to get those shots the old fashioned way back when the movie was made. That's the best possible kind of change as far as I'm concerned.

The biggest reason that I don't consider this to be an over-the-top or revisionist release is that in addition to Ridley's new version, the previous versions of the film are also included. For about $25, you can get all of the major versions of the film (workprint aside, which was never meant to be a release print anyhow and doesn't count in the context of this writing), as they were then, in a quality better than anything we've ever had access to before. Ridley's telling you which version he likes the most, but he's not telling you which one you should like the most or that you can only see it in his new way.

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

Sorry, but have to bite as well:

Ridley Scott's final cut: He shoots new footage of Joanna Cassidy to digitally add her face to that of an obvious stunt double.

George Lucas' final cut (if he directed Blade Runner): He shoots new footage of Joanna Cassidy so in this version, while running from Deckard, she pulls out a gun, swings around and unloads an entire magazine, just missing Deckard before he finally gets a shot in.

Though I must add that not all the changes in the SEs of Star Wars call attention to themselves. There's literally hundreds of minute changes.

I'll also add that having decent presentations of the three previous theatrical cuts of the movies pretty much absolves Ridley Scott of any wrong doing, even if you want to play Devil's Advocate and believe changing or altering your film (with state of the art technology) so many years after the fact is wrong.

Even if the changes were as overt (obvoius cgi) or preposterous (Greedo firing first), it wouldn't be really fair to complain since we can choose to watch the original theatrical cut in relatively pristine condition.

Lucas is the kind of person that no matter what he does, people are going to complain, but if he released a version of the OT that was on a par with this release, then very few people would have the right to complain.

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

[BEGGING]Can we please leave the Star Wars Special Editions out of this discussion?[/BEGGING]

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

^i agree with travis =P.

those of you that have the Hidef version of the movie, did you watch the FC in the cinema? if so, how does the Hidef compared to the cinema's version? i'm going to get mine next thursday, a bit later but have enjoyed it in the cinema.

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

It's a good point.

My personal opinion is, if the critic acknowledges, "I didn't like it the first time around, as I explained then; now, after seeing it again / seeing this version / 20 years of thinking about it, this is my new reaction...." (something like that), I think it's cool. Ebert always seems to do this (though I've never read his two-star review of 'Unforgiven'), so it's cool, I think.

If a critic tries to act as if they never liked something now that it's reviled (often done by making a negative reference to a movie years after giving it a positive review), I think that's a bit shady. [I wonder if Ebert ever made a positive reference to 'Clockwork Orange' in that way.] If they remove the old review from their library, and put a new one on, I don't like that.

Much the same way that, if a filmmaker makes a "new" version, I like them to leave the original (a la Ridley Scott, in this version) and not pretend it never existed (a la a certain other fella I could name).

I will put this in spoiler, even though I assume everybody here knows the spoiler:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

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

Not to turn this into a Deck-A-Rep thread, but at no point in any of the versions, including The Final Cut, is that spoiler confirmed to be absolutely true within the context of the story or the film. It's merely a question that's posed, and it's a very Dickian question at that.

Unlike Han Solo's gentlemanly trigger finger, which is now officially slow.

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

Sean, you should hear what Frank Darabont has to say about the unicorn.

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

I agree. The best of reasons for a change would be to allow the viewer to stay in the moment.

But we didn't see a final cut of any substantial scene differences from the Director's Cut. What we got was a image and sound enhanced, Director's Cut. I think for most film fans, final cut ALSO means (at least) something of substance changing in the film. If you remember back in this thread, people were shocked when they found that the length of the film was only changed a few seconds. What we really got was a sweetened Director's Cut. This after they re-released the Director's Cut last year I might add.

Bottom line, the Director's Cut because a yawn of an option for most people. Why not have the enhanced sound and image of the Final Cut and also not have anything altered of substance?

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

In complete agreement. I found the comment before that spoiler rather puzzling.

I would also like to make a personal comment to Mr. de Lauzirika and thank you for the segment on Jordan Cronenweth. My main regret is that is isn't included on the 2 disc edition, so more people could see it. He has been sadly little recognized (relatively) for his skill. I hate to think how much worse that injustice would be if not for Blade Runner. I also had no idea his Parkinson's was misdiagnosed for so long. That's such a shame. The extras you produced for the release are outstanding. I rarely watch many extras, since they are almost always nothing but mutual gratification, but the ones I have watched so far in the Blade Runner set are excellent. I have been a professional, Commercial photographer my entire adult life, and Mr. Cronenweth has long been an inspiration.

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

Jesus christ Charlie... Jesus christ.

I just finished watching Dangerous Days and I am speechless. You did an amazing job with that documentary. Congratulations are in order and big thank you from me. Blade Runner is my favorite movie and this documentary is everything I ever wanted.

Thanks again!

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

My 5 disc set in the briefcase just arrived.

Deep Discount DVD shipped it in two cardboard boxes. Very secure.

The case is shrink-wrapped and inside a clear slipcase. The slipcase has art and specs on the back. It's a keeper.

It is #038666/103000. (It's made in China. Wonder if it has lead in it?)

Has "press here" stickers on the latches. Here goes...

Wow. It's heavy.

There is a Blade Runner folder with conceptual art work. The card stock is thick and glossy -- suitable for framing. There is additional artwork on the inside of the folder, too.

The lenticular film shot is house in a magnetized plexiglass case. It's display ready.

There is a thick plastic cover over the bottom portion with conceptual artwork and a letter from Ridley Scott. (Read it yourself.)

The origami unicorn is sturdy. (Probably loaded with lead to make it so shiny.)

The previous comments about the spinner are correct -- be careful opening the doors. The body of the vehicle is heavy but the doors are delicate. Not suitable for the kids to play with.

The digipack is in fine shape. All in all, the best special edition DVD package I have ever seen. I would have liked a replica of his blaster, as well. Life size. To carry around. Otherwise, no complaints.

What to watch first?

Disc 2: Dangerous Days seems appropriate.

If the viewing experience is even half the fun of opening the package, I'm in for a great day of viewing.

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

Does anyone know who composed the Ladd Company theme?

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

Alright I forgot about the PoTA ultimate edition that had the ape head.

That had every movie, every TV series, even Burton's hack movie had to be included. That would be on par with this set.

Again though that was for a series of movies and not a single movie as this set is.
I still can't think of a set this good for one movie.

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

Criterion's Mr. Arkadin comes to mind, but even it falls short when compared to this. This is the single greatest DVD package for a single film to date.

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

John Williams

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

Well, I guess it falls in a odd category, that being: films really mucked up through the years. After all, none of this happens if Scott does two things:

1. Works within or even close to within the budget and timeline
2. Works well with others ... including cast, crew and backers.

Another terrific release with another filmmaker with some of the same issues is Terry Gilliam, as it were with another sci-fi film, Brazil.

Whether the boxset of Brazil beats Blade Runner depends on how you score things

If you want a director's commentary, Brazil

If you want virtually everybody else but the director commenting on the film, Blade Runner

If you want a feature around the music and with the composer participating, Brazil

On-set documentary, Brazil

Long and comprehensive documentary over the battle over the film and retrospective (3 1/2 hours), Blade Runner

Short and less comprehensive documentary over the battle over the film and retrospective (1 hour), Brazil

Workprint of the film, Blade Runner

Multiple versions of the film, Tie (unless you value the fact that Blade Runner just happens to have more versions through the years)

Sweetening the film, Final Cut documentary (I liked it), Blade Runner

Deleted Scenes, Blade Runner

Available in high-def version, Blade Runner

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

Has anyone else's suitcase been melted by Amazon?

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

I hope mine hasn't. Its arriving on Wednesday.

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

Mine arrived in perfect condition. Sadly, still haven't had time to watch anything yet...