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The official BLADE RUNNER SE thread. (Check out page 8 and #790.) - Page 10

post #271 of 2829
7/21/04 at 5:19pm
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Perenchio has it his way, and so far there is nothing that indicates that he wont have it his way, the original theatrical version of Blade Runner will never again be released

Well, eventually it will become a public domain title...

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This isn't a gift to the fans; it's to make money until they have something more substantial and more desired to offer

Maybe, after several years of trying to negotiate with the right holders, Warner have found out that it won't be possible to release an ultimate edition, and have therefor decided to release the next best thing given that fact?

I could say you have a pessimistic point of view, but believing that Warner can and will release alternative versions of this movie in the foreseeable future (and is merely milking us with this release), is actually optimistic to the point of naivety....
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post #272 of 2829
7/21/04 at 5:29pm
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I currently have the DC which I believe is anamorphic


It may already be anamorphic, but the transfer is pretty poor. This upgrade might be a bigger improvement than some non-anamorphic to anamorphic upgrades. Some non-anamorphic discs look great despite a 25% decrease in resolution; this Blade Runner upgrade might be a true revelation.
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post #273 of 2829
7/21/04 at 5:46pm
I bet the dude who just bought an NTSC copy of the Edge of Blade Runner documentary on ebay for $130 is feeling pretty foolish today.

I'm happy to have this compromise release for now, particularly if the soundtrack is presented in a really immersive 5.1.

A commentary, while it may be nice, could also turn out badly: just image Scott speaking, "Well here I wanted to replace the stars to give the impression that Roy was a fallen angel, but that #(*)&#$*^-hound Perendickio wouldn't let me (chomp chomp cigar chomp)"
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post #274 of 2829
7/21/04 at 6:22pm
Damn you, mulitple cuts of film!
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post #275 of 2829
7/21/04 at 6:28pm
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It may already be anamorphic, but the transfer is pretty poor. This upgrade might be a bigger improvement than some non-anamorphic to anamorphic upgrades. Some non-anamorphic discs look great despite a 25% decrease in resolution; this Blade Runner upgrade might be a true revelation.


Especially since this is going be from a new High Definition transfer. I.e., not your typical non-superbit to superbit upgrade. An actual NEW TRANSFER!
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post #276 of 2829
7/21/04 at 6:34pm
I dunno--reading this thread, reading Charlie's responses--the fact this is seeing ANY kind of re-release isn't exactly "mediocre news" in the least. It's getting cleaned up considerably. By rights, it's probably a minor miracle it's getting released at all. I can't knock Lauzirika and WB for that in the slightest. They're trying like hell to get that big one out. But they're being prevented from doing that--so they're going to plan B.

I don't see where knocking WB and Lauzirika actually does anything constructive. Their hands are tied. The producer of the set can only put out what legal wants, and legal can only clear what they think won't get them sued silly.

You wanna complain about the "mediocrity" of this release, write Jerry Perenchio. His address is in this thread somewhere. but at the least, the fact the Director's Cut is being restored, cleaned up and re-released with more bonus features than the previous release has to actually kinda count for SOMETHING, right? ESPECIALLY when stacked up against the money opposing it.
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post #277 of 2829
7/21/04 at 7:16pm
Thanks Walter. To be 100% sure, there is only one Criterion LD right? I remember buying the Halloween Criterion LD once only to find out there were 2 and I got the wrong one with no features.
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post #278 of 2829
7/21/04 at 7:35pm
Quote:
Well, eventually it will become a public domain title...

Except that now it takes 95 years to do this (rather than 50), so by then just about all HTF members will be gone too... unless we have members still in elementary school?

Sigh. I am really rueing "losing" my VHS widescreen copy of the theatrical cut (loaned it to someone, can't remember who and said person obviously hasn't returned it). I would've liked to have both versions available. But hey, if/when the DC 2-disc comes out, I'm buying.
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post #279 of 2829
7/21/04 at 7:47pm
"To be 100% sure, there is only one Criterion LD right?"

Nope. There are two Criterion discs, though both feature the original theatrical cut (actually, I think it's the European edit). There's a movie-only CLV version and a CAV version that has some extras, though it's been so long since I've seen it that I can't remember what they are.
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post #280 of 2829
7/21/04 at 7:55pm
Quote:
It may already be anamorphic, but the transfer is pretty poor. This upgrade might be a bigger improvement than some non-anamorphic to anamorphic upgrades. Some non-anamorphic discs look great despite a 25% decrease in resolution; this Blade Runner upgrade might be a true revelation.


Plus it's a dual side, single layer per side disc in region 1, so the bitrate is pretty low to start with. Spreading the movie over two layers will help a great deal.

This isn't the version of the film I want, but I'll be happy to replace the old DC DVD.
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post #281 of 2829
7/21/04 at 9:39pm
The old disc also has that silly windowboxing thing going on, which reduced resolution.
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post #282 of 2829
7/22/04 at 12:46am
I really can't understand why people have such an distaste for certain versions of this movie. The differences between them as far as I know are minimal. A few seconds cut or added here and there and the voice over in or out. Blade Runner has been my favorite movie since the day I first saw it in 82 and everything that I love about it is in EVERY version that has ever been released. When I hear people complain about this version or that version not being good enough it reminds of the Bruce Lee quote "It's like a finger pointing to the moon ... don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory"

after ditching my original DC DVD a couple of years ago in anticipation of a new version, I will have built up a nice BR appetite by the time the SE comes out next year.


"Have you ever retired a human by mistake?"
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post #283 of 2829
7/22/04 at 5:45am
Quote:
I really can't understand why people have such an distaste for certain versions of this movie. The differences between them as far as I know are minimal. A few seconds cut or added here and there and the voice over in or out.


Heresy.

Of course, I feel exactly the same way. I like all the versions I've seen.
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post #284 of 2829
7/22/04 at 5:52am
I would be surprised if there isn't a Ridley Scott commentary as he definately recorded one in 2002/2003. There should be no reason why it couldn't be recorded.
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post #285 of 2829
7/22/04 at 7:04am
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I would be surprised if there isn't a Ridley Scott commentary as he definately recorded one in 2002/2003. There should be no reason why it couldn't be recorded.


Wait...so which are you saying. It WAS recorded or it WASN'T recorded??? lol
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post #286 of 2829
7/22/04 at 7:36am
Regarding the two versions of the movie...

I'm no BR expert, but aren't most (key word: most) of the differences in the soundtrack, specifically the voice-over? If that is the case, then including multiple audio streams (one with the narration, the other from the DC) would solve most of the "problems". Correct? Am I way off?

As for Ridley's commentary, he could always release it as a PD commentary available for free over the net...

-Reagan
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post #287 of 2829
7/22/04 at 7:51am
Quote:
Nope. There are two Criterion discs, though both feature the original theatrical cut (actually, I think it's the European edit). There's a movie-only CLV version and a CAV version that has some extras, though it's been so long since I've seen it that I can't remember what they are.

Both Criterion sets feature the Euro cut, which is a few seconds longer than the US theatrical cut; the shot of the nail going through Roy's hand (an astounding effect) is the most noticeable difference, though there are a number of small extensions and extra shots throughout the final fight.

The easy way to tell the two Criterions apart if you're buying on eBay is that the CAV version, the one with all the extras, is two discs and in a gatefold jacket. The CLV is a single disc with no extras in a regular sleeve. The CLV is worth owning, though -- the transfer is the same, it has the same uncompressed PCM soundtrack, and it has fewer side breaks. You have to flip once instead of three times.

I do not own the CAV, though I have seen it before. I remember being underwhelmed by the extras. Really, there wasn't a lot of space for them, since each CAV side is about 30 minutes and the film is 118 minutes spread over four sides.

The Criterion CLV of Blade Runner was the second LaserDisc I purchased, back in 1991. Well, it was my second LaserDisc, but really it was the first one I purchased, since Presumed Innocent had come with the player.
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post #288 of 2829
7/22/04 at 8:02am
The Euro cut has these changes:

* The most obvious change is the eye gouging scene, which doesn't cut away to the owl but instead shows blood positively gushing from Tyrel's eyes.

* The nail through the back of the hand

* The fight with Pris is a little longer, with a few extra shots of violence, and Deckard shoots her an extra time.

The CAV extras were purely of the still-frame gallery variety, and included a (useless) Bladerunner trivia game, and some (very cool) concept art, as well as some alternative city-scape background plates never used.

-Lyle J.P.
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post #289 of 2829
7/22/04 at 8:07am
Well, from what I have heard, they are actually incoporating M. Emmet Walsh's scenes from Raising Arizona, in the machine shop, into the new BR cut.

"NO ! NOT THAT MOTHER-SCRATCHER !!!"
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post #290 of 2829
7/22/04 at 9:30am
I like the cut to the owl.

I'm sure I've said it before in this thread, but while the current disc sports that "early DVD look," it's not really that bad.

When I play the disc -- as I have about three times in just the past few months alone -- the transfer is at least good enough to transport me into the film, and with Dolby PLII kicking in, I can sort of appreciate the film's atmospherics.

But, of course, an all-new transfer from a high-def master is called for. This film deserves at least that much.
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post #291 of 2829
7/22/04 at 9:50am
This is good news, I'll gladly get the 'holdover' SE and wait for the uber-set...
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post #292 of 2829
7/22/04 at 11:06am
I'll definitely be getting the new 2-disc version as I was holding off on the movie only disc. I am also going to keep my Criterion LD (that I bought a thrift store for $1.00!)
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post #293 of 2829
7/22/04 at 12:39pm
The Criterion CAV of Blade Runner is very cool for me, I like the production design stuff extras. And as I am an industrial designer, I am a big fan of Syd Mead, the "Futurist" for the film. He's responsible for the look and design of the vehicles, the City and most of the props and set design of Blade Runner. And he's also had a hand in Tron, Star Trek-The Motion Picture's V"ger design, 2010-The Year We Make Contact and Aliens. He has made a huge contribution to the design world and movie world. It was worth the $80.00 I paid new for it.

Anyway, looking forward to a new DVD of Blade Runner.

Nelson
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post #294 of 2829
7/22/04 at 1:38pm
IMO the main focus of this release should be to conduct any last interviews/commentaries with the existing cast and crew if any of them should, God forbid, die between now and the next release. Especially considering that they do not require the rights to the film or footage shot during the production.
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post #295 of 2829
7/22/04 at 5:56pm
Having never seen this movie (I was holding off for the the UE set to see all the different versions of the vision), I'll gladly take this. Warner doesn't deserve criticism here, they're doing the best they can, but their hands are tied behind their back. It was this or nothing, and I'll take another one of their 2-Disc SEs any day over nothing.
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post #296 of 2829
7/22/04 at 6:29pm
It would be nice if they could somehow sneak in the extra violence bits from the European version, since Scott originally wanted those added to the "director's cut" back in 1992, but for reasons beyond his control (or the guy doing the actual work putting together the DC), it didn't happen. Some years ago, I actually cut together an S-VHS tape combining the Criterion and DC laserdisc versions of BLADE RUNNER, so essentially it was the 1992 "director's cut" but with those violence bits added :-)

Another small thing that always annoyed me in the DC- the wobbling end credits. I wonder if there's any way they can fix that and take the wobble out.

Vincent
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post #297 of 2829
7/22/04 at 10:52pm
Those few scenes that Lyle listed above (nail through the hand etc) ARE included in the 92 DC are they not. I got rid of my DVD so I can't check. That's what I meant by there being very little difference in the multiple versions. The voice over never bothered me as there is so little of it.



"memories! .. you're talking about memories"
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post #298 of 2829
7/22/04 at 11:01pm
The added violence is NOT in the director's cut.
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post #299 of 2829
7/22/04 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Those few scenes that Lyle listed above (nail through the hand etc) ARE included in the 92 DC are they not. I got rid of my DVD so I can't check. That's what I meant by there being very little difference in the multiple versions. The voice over never bothered me as there is so little of it.


Jeannette - you cannot be remembering the original version clearly because the voice-over contains far more dialogue than just a "little of it" and the lack of it on the DC makes a substantial difference to the tone of the film.
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post #300 of 2829
7/23/04 at 12:01am
"Lack of"? If I remember correctly, the DC had no voice-over/narration and that was something that both Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford ended up not liking, or at least Ford resented. I also think it makes Ford's performance much more effective. Anyway, it's great to see some development's happening at WB.
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