Blade Runner [Director's Cut]

Rating:
Summary: Well worth its hype
Review: Having only seen the director's cut of Blade Runner, I cannot confer whether the original cut proves more cinematically effective. However, I enjoyed the director's cut for its thorough sensuality, which is very hard to attain in science fiction. Harrison Ford is "one cool cat", besides being tossed around a lot. I loved how Rutger Hauer played a rutheless yet convincing villain. Daryl Hannah was a knock-out, as well as Sean Young (both who played struggling humanoids). But leaning off the acting point of view, Blade Runner is more visual than it is action. The film conveys futuristic corruption with a shade of beauty rather than disgust, which narration tends to eliminate (as seen in the original cut). Blade Runner is a lot like Stanley Kubrick's 2001, except focuses more on human emotion than human development. The cinematography delivers pure artistic excellence; with stunning visual effects and steady cammera movement. The action is moderate and the acting may appear slightly bland, but more than appropriate. I loved the director's cut of Blade Runner because of its steady intrigue, that which cheap hollywood endings and sappy dialogue could never come close to delivering. It's not a very complex movie, but it does require deep, moral contemplation. The sound is ok, as well as the dialogue. I suggest that anyone yerning for visual as well as humanistic emmotion buy Blade Runner. Just sit down, turn on the VCR, and explore the possibilities. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Director's Cut is a masterpiece.
Review: I'm constantly amazed by the number of people who claim the 'original' cut of Blade Runner is far superior to the director's cut. This is uncomprehensible to me. Some basic facts -
1. H. Ford was so opposed to the beginning narration that the studio (NOT R. Scott) demanded that he intentionally flubbed it in monotone. The studio used it anyway.
2. The addition of the flashback scene in the director's cut (the unicorn) is absolutely crucial to understanding the film. I can't go into any more detail without giving spoilers, but lets just say that scene is so important I can't believe the studio cut it out of the original.
3. I could go on... but as I've said, the director's cut removes a bad narration and adds crucial scenes that have immense impact on the overall meaning of the film. The original is a good flick. The Director's Cut is a masterpiece.

I haven't yet seen this film on dvd, so I can't comment on the quality. I can, however, comment on the movie - it's long... it can be hard to watch if you're not in the right mood... but if you are, it ranks as one of the best films ever made.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Altough upon first viewing of this film, I had been more than frustrated. I had been furious at the film's complete lack of direction and motivation for narrative. After viewing it another four times, trying to break into the story as much as possible, I realized that trying to do so was futile. It is not the kind of movie you need to totally understand to appreciate. Ridley Scott has created some of the most ground-breaking and all out arresting images in the history of film. It is so very dark, gloomy, and colorful. Mixing the rainy weather with the bright flourescent lights give it a unique, nightmarish touch. It has a slower, more restrained tone in its approach, but when the movie is over, it was very effective. The movie was advertised all wrong. The director's cut is a movie for the eyes and for the experience. It is not an all out adventure. I don't think that there is a bit of action until the very end, with a view jolts here or there that are scattered throughout the movie. I think that is why I was initially dissapointed. I was hoping to see an action movie with thrills at every corner. This is definitly not that movie. This movie is hard for me to reccomend, because I know alot of people out there will not appreciate it. This movie is for sci-fi or art house fans. It is a movie that requires extreme patience and concentration. To alot of people, it will be one giant mystery. To others, it will be pure magic.

Rating:
Summary: The Original was way better!
Review: I just bought the Director's cut version on DVD and am extremely disappointed in it! The ending, which was one of my favorite scenes was eliminated, along with other pieces which changed the flavor for the worse.

Rating:
Summary: My All-Time Favorite Movie!
Review: If I were in charge of that AFI's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time list, I would definetly place Blade Runner at Number One. This is the greatest movie of any genre ever made, period! No other film can compare with the impact Blade Runner has had on my conciousness. Of course, I am referring to the Director's Cut, which I have on video. I have seen the original version on the Sci-Fi Channel a while back, but I kinda giggled at the voice-over narration in the beginning (not a good sign), and I found the original ending (made of outtakes from the opening of The Shining) really lame. This only makes me appreciate the Director's Cut even more. I have seen the Director's Cut four times (the third on New Year's Day to celebrate the Y2K-less year 2000; the fourth a week after seeing the original) and I still feel amazed every time. The look of the film is truly a sight to behold; the most beautiful depiction of a future city ever made! And without that dumb narration, the story about Deckard and his assignment to retire replicants Roy Batty, Leon, Zhora and Pris draws you in easier. And the new ending has greater impact as the last words stick with you as the credits role. Love that Vangelis music score, which enhances the feel! No serious science fiction fan can afford to ignore Blade Runner! Whatever version you find, see it!

Rating:
Summary: The Search Continues.
Review: The Video Quality of this release is definatly and improvment over the VHS Copy. However I would have liked to have seen the alternate version of this movie, with Harrison Ford doing the voice naration and the different ending as well. This could have been included as a Bonus Feature. Your better off purchasing the Regular DVD, the extra cards and poster are not impressive at all.

I guess any version of this Movie on DVD is better than nothing.

Rating:
Summary: The movie is INDEED a classic. As for the DVD.....
Review: I think I'm becoming something of a DVD scrooge. I love this movie for everything it is... A cop story with a film noir atmosphere. A science fiction epic. An action movie. A love story. Call it whatever you want, but regardless of whatever people say about it (many love to gripe about its gradual pace), I still hold it high as a classic piece of cinema. So why then was Blade Runner, called a classic by many a critic and confirmed as such by even more audiences, given such a ... poor effort at a DVD version? Yes yes I know that a NEW DVD with all the hoopla about a single 35mm frame of the film and a poster is coming out, but honestly, isn't the DVD that holds the film why you buy the bloody thing in the first place? Now, if this New Version of the Blade Runner DVD is anything like the original, it's a disappointment to the last. The picture is pretty badly transferred perhaps through age, but that's no excuse), the sound is okay-ish, and for a film like Blade Runner, this is the DVD equivalent of taking the dog that just saved your daughter from a raging river and sending it to a city pound. It's just not what it deserves. Blade Runner story driven, but Ridley Scott managed to fill it with the most memorable and utterly beautiful images ever put on film. The sweeping future landscapes, the metallic blimp floating overhead booming promotional ads for offworld colonies. These are the kinds of things that DESERVE great sound and perfect picture. Sadly, they just ain't here. I still love this movie, and I still watch the DVD, but when I bought it I was expecting something much, much more.

Rating:
Summary: What? A box that big with no Extras?
Review: I won't go into that whole Original Vs. Director's cut debate. My feelings side with the director on this one.

What I can't believe is Warner Bros. treatment of this film. Why re-release "Blade Runner" if you're not going to add anything to the disc? The frame of film, lobby cards and posters are nice, but as a film enthusiast - and a fan of this one in particular - I'd much rather have director's commentary, or at least some trailers or featurettes. Surely a documentary isn't too much to ask for, considering everything that people seem to NEED to say about the movie. (There were nearly 300 reviews here alone when I wrote this.) I can't believe one of the best and most influential science fiction features of all time is getting the Paramount DVD treatment! (Star Trek DVDs have virtually no features either.)

I suggest you save your money and look through Amazon's book area for a book called "Future Noir", as it appears to be the closest thing we're ever going to get to a documentary or director commentary.

Great film, disappointing package. "Blade Runner" could be so much more on video.

Rating:
Summary: i was SO disappointed
Review: imagine american beauty without the narration. this is what this director's cut of bladerunner was like. i was sorely disappointed with this "director's cut". gone was harrison ford's voiceover. gone was the somewhat uplifting ending. included is a cryptic "unicorn vision" that supposedly makes the viewer wonder if the main character himself is an android. (whatEVER.) without the voiceover, much important characterization and detail is lost.

i bought this video because of the version i saw aired on the sci-fi network. it is NOT the same. though the prints on this video are BEAUTIFUL (digitally remastered?) i am still left very disappointed. i would request my money back from amazon, but i'm not going to bother asking them, because i of course opened the video to view it.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most overrated films of all time.....
Review: At the risk of receiving hundreds of threatening e-mails, I will go on record stating that Ridley Scott's dystopian vision stands as one of the most unjustifiably praised films since the invention of sound. While technically marvelous and full of visual invention (it does use noir influences effectively), the story drags on endlessly and the characters, especially Ford's, remain aloof, uninteresting, and frustrating. As an exercise in style, it has undoubted appeal, but it must be heavily criticized at the screenplay level. When a story is in service to the visuals, it reflects a lack of confidence at the narrative level. I have never found Ford to be an appealing actor (he is far too bland to be a commanding leading man), but at no other time has his character been so devoid of passion or insight.