Laserdisc: Blade Runner

[vhelp]

Ok. Because there were some interests with this movie, and to help keep the original topic consistant with its subject title, (HERE) I thought it best to move parts of the discussion over to a new topic, here.

This topic consists of everyting about the movie, Blade Runner, whether on VHS; Laserdisc; DVD; BluRay, etc.

Following on from yoda313's posts of July 26, 2008 09:01am and onward, are snips here and there.
The topic basically takes starts where I left off from the other thread with cuts/snips of my posts pasted into new posts here. I know, a bit crude but effective.

Enjoy,
-vhelp 4778

[vhelp]

With the ads prevailing, I'm slowling loosing my desire to capture *some* contents.. tv shows or movies, etc., for instance. And in addition to the above, the last wave of indy that hit tv screen recently seem to have some problems. Anyways.

But, I am considering just doing a Laserdisc capture project instead. After all, my laserdisc player (couple that with my Winfast capture card) outputs a rather nice and clean looking image.

I snipped these from one of my respones in another topic discussing laserdisc capturing, etc.

Yeah, I know that yoda313 might appreciate these since he was considering getting it or watching it or something other, whereever I read he was interested in this movie. Anyway, here are the pics that I was demoing from my laserdisc player, and the link to that discussion, below it..


** FRAME: 1152, 704x480 winfast capture via composite connections


** FRAME: 3314, 704x480 winfast capture via composite connections


** FRAME: 3438, 704x480 winfast capture via composite connections

--> Black Level setup -- Dr_layne; Apr 22, 2008

-vhelp 4779

[vhelp]

@VHELP - what movie is that? Blade Runner? I have it on dvd I just still haven't watched it yet.......

Yeah, I have it on DVD too, when they made good DVD's then, 5 plus years ago.. and also on widescreen vhs and laserdisc

(I saw a small demo on BluRay, where someone was comparing the quality vs. SD dvd. TBO, I didn't quite like the way it looked on bluray, (color levels were different) though that was a crude example at the time. I don't have any kind of bluray player nor wisdescreen tv nor hd type tv. I'm still in the dark ages, 13" and 20" tube tv from 20+ years ago)

Yes, that was "Blade Runner".. a great movie. If you have't seen it by now, then your experience won't be the same level of intensity as it was when first released in the early 80's when nothing was better within that group of movies.. a different ERA, though now replaced by todays new movie standards of Special Effects and Realism, which in my opinion, we push too far. The one without the voice naration is IMHO boring. You gotta get the one with the voice nararator. Thats the one to get! .. and is my favorite.

But, when I watch blade runner, I can stil identify with that ERA, if you know what I mean..

-vhelp 4780

[vhelp]

another poster asked the question..

Which version of Blade Runner should I get? I considered buying the most recent DVD last week, the extended director's cut or whatever it was. Is the Laserdisc better in some way? (As is the case with a number of pre-DVD movies.)

The one you want is the voice naration -- that's the version where you hear Harison Ford narrarating the events as they unfold, and this is the version I mostly remember maturing with over time. The non-narration is sort of boring because it doesn't really give you that extra dimension of suspense and what-not, whatever the term for this is.

I think the version you want to look for (and, correct me if i'm wrong) is the one stamped with "Criterion" or "Criterion Laserdisc" and might only be on the laserdisc version. There are many other edited versions, such as the "Alternate version" or "Final Cut" versions, and so on. I'm just not sure exactly which one to get with the voice narration, otherwise it might be a unique version only released (years ago) over broadcast. But surely, someone must have a pictorial of the cover for the voice naration version so we can easily spot it while shopping for it, anyone ??

The laserdisc pics I posted above are from the "Director's Cut" version. But here's a pic of the cover version that I have.. the non-narrative version, though still very good to watch..




Also, I did some add'l searches and came up with the following..
--> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/alternateversions

Below, is an exert from the above link.. this one gave me chills when I read it, because it brought back some fo the memories I felt of that time in that scene, and it still touches me to this day..

BLURB: Different, farther-away shots of Roy as Deckard watches him die. Alternate narration was placed here (the only narration in this version), which consisted of this: "I watched him die all night. It was a long, slow thing and he fought it all the way. He never whimpered and he never quit. He took all the time he had as though he loved life very much. Every second of it...even the pain. Then, he was dead."

and more.. but read from the link posted above.

And here's a comparison of the 2006 remastered version vs previous releases:
--> http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/blade-runner-the-directors-cut-remastered.html

And lots more resources via google searches.

-vhelp 4781

[lordsmurf]

This was an Amazon.com review:

Due for re-release in December, this motion picture is one of the finest science fiction films of the 20th century. Part of this is because it projects a future that could be - the earth as a place with a ruined environment populated by people that couldn't or wouldn't make the jump to one of the more habitable off-world colonies. The other part is because the film questions what it means to be human, and explores the possibly unsatisfactory answers you might get if you could, like the replicants, hunt down your maker and ask him Why am I here? Why must my life end? I'll pretty much let Warner's press release do the talking from this point forward. Basically you have your choice of three different sets - 2-disc, 4-disc, and 5-disc. The discs are described as follows:

Disc 1 - Ridley Scott's All-New "Final Cut" Version of the film - Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also included is commentary by Ridley Scott and a host of others that worked behind the camera.

Disc 2 - Documentary - Dangerous Days: Making of Blade Runner - A feature-length documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its legacy.

Disc 3 - 1982 Theatrical Version - The original that contains Deckard's narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.

1982 International Version - Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 Director's Cut - Omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famous "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc 4 - BONUS Disc "Enhancement Archive" - Eight featurettes, image galleries, radio interview with the author, and screen tests for the part of Rachel.

Disc 5 - Workprint Version - This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Rutger Hauer and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also included is commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner and a featurette - "All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut".

2 Disc Edition : Discs 1-2
4 Disc Edition : Discs 1-4
5 Disc Edition : Discs 1-5

The downside of this 2-disc version is that you are only getting the Final Cut version of the film and the documentary disc. You won't get the bonus disc of featurettes, the disc of past releases, and the workprint version of the film. The upside is that the 5-disc version of the film has some expensive packaging and promotional material included that seems to really raise the price of the entire package.

It sounds like I want to watch DVD3.
I've never seen the film, but want to. The narration version sounds more to my preference.

[samijubal]

I had the Director's cut DVD version, I watched it once and got rid of it. The original theatrical version is a great movie. The Director's cut version sucks.

[vhelp]

Good find, lordsmurf !!

I cuncur with the both of you.. get Disk 3. Now, where to get it. It's not in stores that I've ever run across while skimming for such types of movies. I hate the idea that you have to shop online. But that is prob the only resource available. Maybe theres a few copies of disk 3 (on laserdisc) floating around ebay. It's the laserdisc's that I really want. At least we know now, that its the "theatrical" version we are after!

However, the director's cut isn't so bad, but you really gotta have the Deckards narration. I can't explain it words. I don't know why they took it out in all those other version, but I guess it was to try and change the "perception" of the movie, if thats the right term.

The music is another apsect of connection. I don't know what the musical instrument used is in those "connection" scenes where you sort of -connect- with whats going on. But, this movie imho was well put together.

By the way, is there a *cover* of disk 3 (or theatrical version) floating around ??

( I gotta start dinner.. its spaghetti, as usual )

-vhelp 4782

[Midzuki]

Gaff had been there, and let her live. Four years, he figured. He was wrong.
Tyrell had told me Rachael was special: no termination date.
I didn't know how long we had together. Who does?

[Bodyslide]

Not the Laser Disc......

Amazon has the 4 Disc DVD here:
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Runner-Four-Disc-Collectors-Harrison/dp/B000UBMSB8/ref=pd_...7155312&sr=8-3

5 Disc Set:
http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Runner-Five-Disc-Ultimate-Collectors/dp/B000K15VSA/ref=cm_..._txt_3_rdssss0

5 Disc Blu Ray:
http://www.amazon.com/Runner-Five-Disc-Complete-Collectors-Blu-ray/dp/B000UBMWG4/ref=s...7155495&sr=1-1

[guns1inger]

The narration was recorded after Ridley had finished his edit final studio edit of Blade Runner, and was added against his wishes and better judgment. Harrison Ford also did not like the narration, which was written by a different writer to the rest of the script, pretty much on the fly. I never liked it, even before the so-called Director's Cut was released. It is obvious, patronising, and makes Deckard sound as bored and dis-interested as Ford obviously was when he recorded it.

The Director's Cut also isn't really Ridley's cut, but it is tighter than the original. His involvement was minimal, and it was basically a money spinning exercise after the work print was leaked.

The Final Cut takes from all versions, including the work print, and cleans up the worst of the effects problems. It isn't a big digital replacement job a'la Lucas, but a rig removal type clean up. The biggest fix is to replace the stunt double in the Zora chase with newly filmed footage of Joanna Cassidy. It is definitely my preferred version.

[Cole]

I don't collect films but of the few I do have the DVD release of Blade Runner: the Director's Cut is one of them. I used to have the VHS of the Cinema release but that fell by the wayside years ago so I haven't watched that one for a while. I have seen the tape in Charity Shops from time to time and have been tempted to buy it.

I also saw both versions in their Cinema releases.

I don't mind the either version; although I lean towards the Director's Cut more because...

**********Spoiler**********

...the Director's cut, for me, has the better ending. From memory, in the original version Decker and Rachel flying off into (I vaguely recall) the countryside jarred with the bleakness of the rest of the film. I somehow couldn't imagine a countryside being able to exist in a bleak future as this.

This scene is missing from the Director's cut and made a tighter ending.

**************************

[guns1inger]

The flight into the country side actually uses out take helicopter footage form the opening of Kubrick's The Shining. The studio wanted a happy ending, but wasn't going to pay for it.