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Blade Runner Finally Gets It's Due

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Look what I found, Fans rejoice. Looks like were getting a 2 disc blade runner this fall and the Ultimate Blade Runner DVD next fall.

Heres: http://digitalbits.com/#mytwocents





hacker233







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" Imagine that... anamorphic widescreen AND real value in a DVD release! Hey... are we being punked?"


Hmmm...I wonder what that comment is in reference to....

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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I've been waiting for this Special Edition since the birth of DVD. I bought the pretty decent barebones release when it came out and althought that kept me going, I've really been drooling over the prospect of a multi version DVD edition featuring the theatrical, director's and final cut. Plus ofcourse loads and loads of bonus material. Can't bloody wait to pick this up when it comes out. It's might not be christmas in Star Wars land, but in Blade Runner land it most surely is.
peace,

Rebelscum
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I wonder how much I'll have to pay for the uber-edition which I'll be buying just to have the real movie... you know, the one I saw in the theater and got hooked on. The one that I don't need 4 revisions to tell me that I fell for a piece of unfinished crap or a work-in-progress.

*sigh* Ridley Scott... George Lucas V2.0
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Originally posted by: greencapt
*sigh* Ridley Scott... George Lucas V2.0


What? He's preserving his films. Not only do we get the original theatrical incarnation, but every version in between, plus his preferred version, all restored. He is what Lucas should aspire to be. Don't compare the two.

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Originally posted by: ChainsawAsh
Originally posted by: greencapt
*sigh* Ridley Scott... George Lucas V2.0


What? He's preserving his films. Not only do we get the original theatrical incarnation, but every version in between, plus his preferred version, all restored. He is what Lucas should aspire to be. Don't compare the two.
Exactly. The Star Wars Trilogy should get this treatment, all in a nice shiny (and stylish) tin box, with a big fat book and shitloads of extras.

DVDs George Lucas should look at: Terminator 2, LOTR Trilogy, BTTF Trilogy.

War does not make one great.

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I am all for extras but don't want to buy 3 or 4 versions of a film to get one that I actually want to view. That's why I've never bought (nor seen actually) the current 'director's cut but not really directors cut' or whatever else the hell they did. At least with LOTR it was all laid out clearly up front and you could choose your version if you didn't want both. THIS sound more like the original Spielberg intention of making you buy the fancy E.T. set to get the theatrical cut... before he changed his mind under pressure.
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Originally posted by: greencapt
I am all for extras but don't want to buy 3 or 4 versions of a film to get one that I actually want to view.


I equate this 4-versions-in-1 BR release to the Dawn of the Dead Ultimate Edition set. I bought that not because I wanted the European cut, or the extended cut, or the theatrical cut. I'll typically watch the theatrical cut anyway. I bought it so I could have the choice. Which is exactly why I'll buy this BR set. I understand your point of view, but don't equate this to Lucas - he's still giving you a choice. Granted, you do have to get all the other versions at the same time to get the one you want, but isn't that better than not getting it at all?
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I was going to post this yesterday, but when I used the search function, I found out that HWSNBN actually broke the story back in February. I wasn't going to re-hash his old material.

But good news indeed.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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"THIS sound more like the original Spielberg intention of making you buy the fancy E.T. set to get the theatrical cut... before he changed his mind under pressure."

I was under the impression the studios made the initial decision to put the theatrical cut in the $70 box. Maybe I'm mistaken.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi

I was under the impression the studios made the initial decision to put the theatrical cut in the $70 box. Maybe I'm mistaken.


Well for some reason they excluded me from the proceedings so I can't say I was *there* therefore I can't be certain.

And honestly these days I don't care much. I've come more and more to respect the smaller scale directors/studios/etc who have to fight to even make a freaking movie and would probably make 6 or 7 quality (aka enjoyable) films with the budget it takes to prep and release even one of these damn 'director's' cuts. I probably shouldn't be posting here these days at all as it seems that the influx of new blood doesn't have a sense of humor, a sense of perspective and in some cases just any sense. I'm not addressing anyone in this particular thread... I'm just venting.

What does bug me are studios/directors/actors or any number of people to whom I/we give vast quantities of entertainment dollars to making me have to second guess my goddamn purchases. I had enough of that crap collecting other stuff- variant comic book covers and printings, variant sports and non-sports trading cards, variant action figures, etc, etc etc.

I buy videos (in any format) to basically do two things- 1) Relive my theatrical experience and enjoyment of seeing the actual work and 2) Learn more about the filmmaking process via value added extras. Companies and individuals in Hollywood seem to be hellbent on making this as difficult as possible in many cases and regretfully many of those cases are films that I care about... or once cared about but can no longer due to outside interference. I really dig 'Blade Runner' but can honestly say its been probably 10 years since I've seen it. I would have bought it if it had already come out on DVD. It being the theatrical film- the one that, by actions over words, both the studio and the director must feel is crap. They're not as blatant as Lucas but their actions say the same thing. Oh yeah, but it IS coming out eventually. After several other releases. And if I choose to buy it I'll have to buy the other releases. No, that sounds *nothing* like what LFL is doing with the September 2006 'bonus material'.
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It's not Ridley's fault that this has taken so long. Scott has reportedly wanted to do something like this since 2002 and even had assembled many of the elements, I've heard. This film had run into legal hell. This set will be an example of the proper treatment of a classic film. Another dvd Lucas should look at is Legend (R1 ultimate edition), Ridley Scott's next film after Blade Runner. It has the director's cut and the completely studio butchered US theatrical release. Jerry Goldsmith's music score was even replaced by Tangerine dream for the US. There's plenty of bonus features and even though Ridley today probably can't bear to watch the US version, it's included in full anamorphic widescreen.

Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77

http://www.youtube.com/user/Knightmessenger

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Originally posted by: greencapt
I probably shouldn't be posting here these days at all as it seems that the influx of new blood doesn't have a sense of humor, a sense of perspective and in some cases just any sense.
but we still love ya. And agree with ya.

War does not make one great.

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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
but we still love ya. And agree with ya.


Awwwww.... I feel so warm and fluffy now!

kidding!

And knightmessenger, you're right- the Legend release was done extremely well (aside from the DVD case itself which seemed kinda flimsy. It had 1) both cuts 2) extras 3) reasonable price point. I bought, I watched the 'director's cut' once, and now when I rewatch I can choose. Easy peasy!
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I love how Ridley has been doing this with virtually all of his films. Alien, Legend, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, now BR ... I expect they will do it with Hannibal before too long, and I'll be all over that like flies on Jamie Gumm's basement.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
I love how Ridley has been doing this with virtually all of his films. Alien, Legend, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, now BR ... I expect they will do it with Hannibal before too long, and I'll be all over that like flies on Jamie Gumm's basement.


IT PUTS THE LOTION ON ITS EDITING MACHINE!!!!
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greencapt, you've never seen the director's cut? I have seen both, there really isn't much of a difference other than the voiceovers and the end. I like the new end better, and I don't mind loosing the voiceovers, but there are a few scenes, especially towards the end during the big show down that feel like they are shortened, I didn't like that.

Anyway, I feel your pain. I am always big on theatrical releases, I want what I saw the first time. It really is annoying to have to buy such a large set just to get the version you want. But I do understand why they are doing it this way, it would cost too much to release it seperatly and few would want it over the others. I am just happy they are all being released. Not to mention they are all anamorphic.

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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I think this is great news, but I'll believe it when I have each and every version in my hand, and not until then.
40,000 million notches away
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Exactly. The Star Wars Trilogy should get this treatment, all in a nice shiny (and stylish) tin box, with a big fat book and shitloads of extras.


I totally agree. However, if George released all these goodies, he would have nothing left. He needs to save stuff and leave room for improvements for future money, err, I mean releases.

BTW, I cannot wait for this release!!!
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Originally posted by: greencapt
I wonder how much I'll have to pay for the uber-edition which I'll be buying just to have the real movie... you know, the one I saw in the theater and got hooked on. The one that I don't need 4 revisions to tell me that I fell for a piece of unfinished crap or a work-in-progress.

*sigh* Ridley Scott... George Lucas V2.0

Totally different scenarios. George Lucas basically had control of his movie for the entire production, whereas Ridley Scott lost the control to the studio executives, who then modified it away from the script, the director's vision and lead actor's preference. So you'll have a hard time convincing most fans that the theatrical release is the 'real movie'.

George Lucas filmed new elements and changed the story from the original script. Ridley Scott deleted new elements and restored the story to the original script. What did he delete? Well one thing was the studio's happy ending. The one that they didn't even film. The one they cut together with stock footage from The Shining. Hard to call it the 'real movie' when the ending is offcuts from a totally unrelated film!

If George Lucas should be compared to anyone it should be the studio execs. If Ridley Scott should be compared to anyone it should Richard Donner. You know, the guy who never got to finish the film his way until the fans demanded the studio release his cut. I don't remember Star Wars fans demanding George Lucas change his story. OK, well, not until he had already changed it!

By the way, I've only ever seen Blade Runner once, years ago, and all I remember is I wasn't too impressed with it at the time, I'm not even sure what cut I saw (I presume it was the 1992 'Director's' Cut). I'd probably prefer the theatrical cut like you, but I'd never think that it was the 'real movie'. But then, I like most of the Star Wars Special Editions!

[edit]Hehe, just another thought, you should really like this new release because you'll actually be getting four theatrical releases! The Final Cut will be the only theatrical experience of Blade Runner I'll have, so I'm glad they are letting me buy it the way I first enjoyed it at the cinema (hopefully)!

We all know George Lucas will continue to tinker with his films (for example, next year's 3D release), whereas we could probably sue the BR producers if another version came out, since this next cut, the first cut Ridley Scott has got to work on himself, is being labeled the FINAL Cut. George on the other hand releases 'Editions'.

On a more serious note, I wouldn't get too worried about this release 'til we get more details. At the moment I'm more inclined to believe that most of the discs' content will be made up of bonus features and the four cuts will mostly be seamlessly branched (at least the two 1982 releases should be only one disc, as I gather there is very little different between them); so hopefully your Blade Runner DVD experience will be like your Legend experience.[/edit]

[edit2 (OK, not really the second edit, I'm as bad as George!)]
Originally posted by: greencapt
At least with LOTR it was all laid out clearly up front and you could choose your version if you didn't want both.

They are telling us now that they are releasing one version in September, but if you wait several more months you'll be able to get a bigger version with many more extra features.
[/edit2]

http://www.kineticpast.com/starwars/thecheatlaserdisc.gif
Ooh, a laserdisc. The Cheat's playin' something on a laserdisc.
Everything is better on a laserdisc. Whatever happened to the laserdisc? Laserdisc!