Blade Runner [Director's Cut]

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Summary: Blade Runner
Review: Of concern is that as of yet is not forseen an edition of Scott's Blade Runner in DvD with audio features such as 5.1 or better DTS. Are the technical problems really so unsourmantable? Every problem has a solution, perhaps further research, work, thinking and planning are required. Really hope so. Thank You for allowing this "ideas" space Sincerely Yours E.A.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, lousy transfer
Review: I definitely like the Director's Cut better than the released version; however, the transfer quality on this DVD is really inexcuseable. The image wobbles throughout the film, the clarity and sharpness are really not up to par, and there's no 5.1 audio. Apparently, a new "Collector's Edition" is in the works; I'd wait for that to come out before buying this movie.

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Summary: An Intelligent and Beautiful Poetic Film
Review: I really like the way this film blurs the distinction between human and machine, and seems to beg the question, "So if a human is no different then a machine, then what makes a human human?" The film subtly responds, "It is the complex interaction and relationship between these machines that make them more". You could probably pull the thread of a number of underlying themes.

The Vangelis soundtrack is also my all time favorite. The music swells and glistens and is rich with texture and subtle sound effects. It actually adds to the environmental atmosphere of the film and is very effective even without the visuals.

Personally I think the film is strong enough that both the original release and the Director's Cut are just as good. I do like the slightly darker feel and ending in the Director's Cut. I find the narrative a bit unnecessary and distracting. However, as one other reviewer mentioned the original release has more of a vintage 40's noir feel due to the narrative. Either way this film is brilliant. Watch it a few times to fully appreciate it.

It is too bad the DVD release doesn't take the opportunity to include extras. To make up for it pick up a copy of the book "Film Noir: The Making of Blade Runner" by Paul M. Sammon".

Rating:
Summary: Definitely NOT the best version!
Review: Hey, guess what. The director doesn't always know what's best for the film and this picture is a shining example of this. Ridley Scott is a great visualist, but he's in the Paul VerHooven category of sloppy storytellers. A commercial director with a big budget. The Director's Cut is inferior to the version that was released by the studio. There wasn't anything wrong with the narration that was added. In fact, it did give it a throwback feel that enhanced the comparrison with 40's detective films. The original narration wasn't really explanatory, at least I never saw it was such. I would have understood the story if the thing were silent. The narration was more of a style judgement, I felt. It set a mood. I never saw the original ending as happy, so the change here is no real improvement. Still, the visuals are grand and this is one of the premiere films to buy if you have a DVD player... if it weren't of such poor quality, that is. There are many things to be said for the Director's Cut, but the first version, while flawed, was superior. Frankly, this is a poor DVD. The quality leaves a lot to be desired (being a visual film this should have been state of the art, but it isn't). The special features are lacking... as in there ain't any. This DVD should include BOTH versions of the film, BOTH in widescreen, a trailer, a "making of" disc and so on (oh yeah, and a booklet). Blade Runner should have been one of the flagship releases, but it isn't. Protest this poor release that forces you to watch a poorly transferred inferior version by NOT BUYING IT.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent fare
Review: To tell you the truth , i had never heard of this movie till i saw it for the first time a couple of days back(18 years after its release! ). I was gripped by the movie as soon as it started and was completely satisfied at the time it ended. This could be one of the best sci-fi movies I have ever seen .

After seeing the movie, I have done some reading about it and i gather that the director's cut has excluded the explanatory narrative and the happy ending of the original and added the unicorn scene into it . Each of these alterations seem to have been done for the good . I did not think any explanation was required although the story is not immideately obvious but then thats what intellegent viewing is all about . The director leaves clues along the movie which the viewer needs to pick up .

The unicorn scene is the highlight of the movie. Only for a few seconds, the scene holds the key to the identity of the the hero.

I strongly recommend this film to all lovers of the futuristic noir genre .

Rating:
Summary: great movie, but this dvd leaves something to be desired
Review: This is one of my favorite movies, but I expected more from this dvd. There is almost nothing as far as special features go, and I prefer the original version. The directors cut lacks harrison ford's narration, which really helped to set the mood in the original. Still, few movies are as unique and visually satisfying.

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Summary: Way better than the Matrix!
Review: I don't know what was so great about The Matrix in a couple of years it would be forgotten but Blade Runner will still be among the best I wonder how the special effects used on the movie haven't been used again I think that someone from the future came with a time machine and brought this movie which he made in a little room and travelled back in time to the year 1982. This is probably the best sci-fi movie ever great story, great acting, great effects, so that gives us that this movie is simply great I think of it better than Star Wars they should make the sequel and they should re-release it in theatres I'm sure it would make a couple of millions maybe people will finally understand it and maybe it could gross more than Titanic and Star Wars together because wow this movie is THE MOVIE!

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Summary: Stunning
Review: This movie stunned me-- I had to watch it several times, not only to absorb it all, but because it is so disturbing. I don't usually like futuristic themes that are dark and violent, but in this case, the violence has something to say-- it's not gratuitous, but part of an unfolding mystery that shocks you at the end (in the same way that the film "Sixth Sense" does). The acting is fantastic, with some great performances by the main characters, including tough Harrison Ford, beautiful Sean Young, and the charismatic Rutger Hauer (who delivers a strange "hammy" performance which is both entertaining and believable). William Sanderson is also great.

Many film critics have already gone into depth about the meaning of the over-the-top symbolism: I've read only a few of those intellecual reviews. Much of that symbolism enters the right brain, not the left, and you just feel something without knowing why. I would call that manipulative, but interestingly, the lasting impressions aren't dependent on the imagery, as spectacular as the visuals are. Even with all the great camera angles and special effects, the experience is more an emotional exercise than a visual one.

To me, this film is about consciousness, and what defines it. Is it our emotions, our mentality, or some undefined spiritual quality? And most important, does it have to be organically based? If consciousness is self-awareness, the ability to understand time, the ability to feel, to learn, the ability to love-- then what if an android, who is more machine than human, has all those qualities... what then? Is it still murder to kill one? Is it still okay to use them as slaves? And what about animals?

The first time I watched the film, at the end, I wanted Harrison Ford's character to go over the edge of the building. When I watched it the second time, I understood why he did not, and I was shocked. Believe or not, I did not get it-- the twist-- until the second viewing. That scene, with Rutger Hauer in the rain, is so profound and sad. Really listen to what his character says... because in the end, when we die, isn't it the sum total of our experiences-- our memories, our feelings-- that makes us who we are? Isn't it the uniqueness of those experiences that makes individual consciousness precious, that makes us define human life as something worth preserving in a moral sense? Another thought provoking question: is consiousness lost when we die-- for humans, non-humans, and animals? The film offers so many subtle clues, but you don't have to pick up on any of them to be moved.

This film is incredibly thought provoking, a unique mix of haunting music (Vangelis), dark, smokey visuals, and intricate details. Focus on what the film says, how it makes you feel. The majority of movies are forgetable-- this one is not.

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Summary: Blade Runner...1982? looks like 1999
Review: This movie is a marvel of Ridley Scott's genius in translating his visions to video. The directors cut is amazing, although I admit that I have never seen the original version. Yet I had no problem what so ever understanding the movie minus the "voice over narration." The truth is after 5 minutes I found myself fully emersed in the futuristic inuendo, and automatically linked with Deckard's character.

Now the Unicorn sequence i did not understand untill the end when I realized, it was not symbolic so dont waiste the energy trying to decode it. The truth is as long as you pay attention to the oragami found at the end the Unicorn dream will all come together and everything will make sense so you can get a better overall picture of who Deckard is(replicant wise).

I was to young to see this when it was originally released(actually I wasn't born yet)but I know I would have gone to seen it and I would have loved it. Its almost impossible to believe it was released in 1982, the special effects are supurb and I must give it up for mr.Scott for the visuals. In conclussion this movie is a briliant sci-fi master piece and a must-see, but thats just my opinion.

Ted O'Hanlan

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this dvd
Review: Don't buy this dvd cause Warner may release this title in a near future again with special features,trailers,notes and etc.Just like they did with Twister,Interwiew with the Vampire...and more to come....