Blade Runner original vs. final cut plus DVR fun

[mego73]

Well,

My DVR started to screw up a few weeks ago. One thing led to another and I ended up replacing my DVR expander drive first (under warrenty, thank goodness) thinking that was the problem. Well, the unit worked better without it so I thought the Expander drive was the cuprit. When my new drive came in, I plugged it in to the DVR and as it rebooted I heard this ominous clicking noise and it turned out, the hard drive on the DVR itself crashed so it probably was the DVR afterall. Anyway, exchanged the DVR at the cable company and hooked the expander drive into it and all seems well now. And all I had to do is lose a number of recordings that are not likely to come around again soon (I always knew those stored DVR recordings would eventually bite the dust when there was a problem with the DVR or the drive but still they are missed. Stuff like Fantastic Voyage, Airport, Thief saved in HD)

Now I am starting from square one in building up some recordings (I know I will eventually lose someday as well) and they are having Blade Runner in both the original theatrical and final cuts showing on one of the channels. I have to admit, I wasn't too turned on by Blade Runner back in the day but I want to check it out again if for nothing else to see some cutting edge 1982 Dougless Trumbell effects. I am recording both versions and maybe I will even get to watch them someday. What do you all think of Blade Runner.

At the time when I saw it, I found it kind of muddled and dreary with some great visuals.

[spacecaps]

I wish there was a cut that spliced both versions together. The Directors Cut is darker and the ending is way better but there are aspects of the original version that I did like as well. I thought the noiresque voiceover that Ford supposedly slept-walked through, was a welcome addition to the movie and I found I missed it when I saw the D.C. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, the film is a bit overrated but don't get me wrong, I like it but it's just got this annoying hype around it similar to A Clockwork Orange where I think a lot of people just think it's cool to wear the t-shirt or hang the poster without actually watching the film. The five different released versions of the movie is a bit pompous too but at it's core, it's a smart intellectual Sci-Fi f film. There's not to many of those around. 2001 comes to mind but those types of movies are few and far between. If you haven't read the book yet, I'd suggest you do. The movie really deviates from the plot and underlying stories (owning pets as status-symbols like people own cars today is kind of fascinating for example) and it's fun to compare the similarities and differences of the two. I know there have been a few novels and a video game sequel but with the characters this film has to offer, I'm really surprised this hasn't been remade or rebooted because they can really expand on the vast world that Dick laid the groundwork for and Scott brought to life on the screen. On a side note, a few years ago I tried to watch this movie with a girlfriend of mine that had never seen it and she made me turn it off because she found it to be "the most boring science fiction movie ever." Not a date movie for sure!

[Brazoo]

I know I've mentioned this before, but I think Blade Runner is one of the most incredible looking movies of all time - but I don't like much else about it. I've made efforts to get into it over the years, but it's always an empty experience for me.

I actually prefer versions of the movie with the voice over only because it gives context and meaning to what's going on.

[Brazoo]

I know there have been a few novels and a video game sequel but with the characters this film has to offer, I'm really surprised this hasn't been remade or rebooted because they can really expand on the vast world that Dick laid the groundwork for and Scott brought to life on the screen.

Ridley Scott's follow up to "Prometheus" is suppose to be a prequel or at least a movie that takes place in the Blade Runner universe.

[mego73]

Part of the interest in the movie is reading the special effects coverage about it in old Cinemafantastique magazine. there is so much FX artistry in this movie from the intricate models filmed on smoke filled stages to the Matte paintings done by (I think) Matt Yurrich. They took great pains to describe how only Matt he had this talent to paint to an low contrast interpositive frame rather than a print frame. The adavantage was that it kept the film one generation less and preserved much more quality. However, an interpositive represents color differently from the print and his painting had to match the color scale of the interpositive and then print properly to the final print.

[Apositive]

Blade Runner is a great movie. I prefer the Director's Cut but I think any version basically has the same story. Scott was a lot more tasteful with his new versions than say, Lucas.

[The Bat]

Blade Runner is one of, if not THE most favorite Si-Fi movies of mine. I absolutely HATE the Directors cut! I love the narration by Harrison Ford...it gives it the 1940's film noir style(Sam Spade, Phillip Marlow), combined with Si-Fi. Two of my favorite things...how do you beat that?

[Brazoo]

Part of the interest in the movie is reading the special effects coverage about it in old Cinemafantastique magazine. there is so much FX artistry in this movie from the intricate models filmed on smoke filled stages to the Matte paintings done by (I think) Matt Yurrich. They took great pains to describe how only Matt he had this talent to paint to an low contrast interpositive frame rather than a print frame. The adavantage was that it kept the film one generation less and preserved much more quality. However, an interpositive represents color differently from the print and his painting had to match the color scale of the interpositive and then print properly to the final print.

Incredible stuff. A few years ago my roommate had the big DVD box set, with all the different versions and out-takes. I watched all of it - all the commentary and special features - all of it. It was a brilliantly put together set with loads of fascinating details.

[Brazoo]

I could be wrong - because I'm going by memory - and as I've said, I'm more a fan of the production than the movie itself;

I think Scott considers the '90s theatrically released "Director's Cut" to be more about the marketing angle than a true version of his movie, because he just provided notes and didn't really supervise and signed off on the new edit. I believe the new DVD called something like "The Final Cut" is the one he's said he's happiest with.

[ctc]

>I think Scott considers the '90s theatrically released "Director's Cut" to be more about the marketing angle than a true version of his movie

I seem to recall the "Director's Cut" was a semi-edited version found in storage and shipped out to art houses in the 90's, and not a real director's cut.

Donh C.

[Brazoo]

Okay - here's an overview of the different versions, with a lot of the differences mapped out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner

[Brazoo]

>I think Scott considers the '90s theatrically released "Director's Cut" to be more about the marketing angle than a true version of his movie

I seem to recall the "Director's Cut" was a semi-edited version found in storage and shipped out to art houses in the 90's, and not a real director's cut.

Donh C.

Wikipedia mentions the unauthorized "work-print" version and says that's what prompted them to make the "Directors Cut" version.

"Ridley did provide extensive notes and consultation to Warner Bros. through film preservationist Michael Arick who was put in charge of creating the Director's Cut."

Here's the link again: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner

[Brazoo]

The Wikipedia entry also says about the "Final Cut":

"This is the only version over which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control as the Director's Cut was rushed and he was not directly in charge."

I recall disliking the "Directors Cut" more than the normal version, and I think some of the stuff with Edward James Olmos made more sense to me in the "Final Cut", but I don't remember being nuts about that one either.

I know the narration was just mashed in to try and explain the plot, but some of the lines explaining how society works makes the movie more interesting. I honestly suspect that people watching the newer versions are remembering those details from the narration - and carrying that knowledge over to the newer versions - because without those details I don't think there's much to think about. Especially through the whole first act of the movie where things build rather slowly.

[MIB41]

Blade Runner is one of, if not THE most favorite Si-Fi movies of mine. I absolutely HATE the Directors cut! I love the narration by Harrison Ford...it gives it the 1940's film noir style(Sam Spade, Phillip Marlow), combined with Si-Fi. Two of my favorite things...how do you beat that?

I agree. Ford's monotone narrative caters to the mood of the film and ads that personal touch of reflection that makes the whole film satisfying. I prefer the original.

[The Bat]

I agree. Ford's monotone narrative caters to the mood of the film and ads that personal touch of reflection that makes the whole film satisfying. I prefer the original.

Right on Brother!!