Blade Runner [Director's Cut]

Rating:
Summary: good, but liked theactrical version better
Review: I found the narative of the theactrical cut to help the film along better than without it. I still enjoyed the movie though. I wish I could find a theactrical version, but it seems they all just disappeared. Someone tell me if they know where I can get that version. Blade Runner is one of the finest science fiction films that I have seen.

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: A classic.
The original cut was also good. Somware betwen the two would be perfect.

Rating:
Summary:

"Have a Better One"

Review:
The novel on which this movie was based is so superior, I have to wonder who had such an ego to basically dump the original story and produce this couldabeen classic. The only similarities are the names of a few of the characters and the (unexplained) replacement of animals with replicants.

That said, I have to admit that I've watched both released versions of this movie a total of at least fifty times. It has a darkness about it that I find compelling, but there are so many rough edges, plot mistakes, and so much general hokeyness, that I generally watch this at bed time, and fall asleep by the end.

Unlike a lot of folks, I much prefer the original release version (which I have on VHS, and plan to have converted to DVD one of these days) with the narration. The script is such a POS compared with the P.K. Dick novel that a narration to put a guide for the story is a must. This thing will never be much of a movie, and the WB executives were entirely correct in their assessment of the need for it. At the very least, a DVD (with its soundtrack capability) should offer the option of watching it either way.

Those who don't like "happy endings" would I suppose agree that the original ending of Charles Dickens' _Great Expectations_ was better. I'd disagree that the original ending of _Blade Runner_ was particularly happy, since the two lead characters were going into a life on the run.

This movie excels in one way, and that's the visuals -- this view of a dying future, with humans struggling against replicants for no reason they can remember, is enough to hold the interest. And it's pretty cheap. Just buy it, and bemoan the lack of the narration as I do.



Rating:
Summary: I WANT BOTH VERSIONS PLEASE!
Review: While I respectfully agree with most viewers and the director that the director's cut is more artistically complete, I have to say it is shocking not to be able to see the "Hollywood" theatrical release, preferably on a second disc in a new Platinum release of this groundbreaking movie.

Are you listening, marketers? The VHS version is fast losing its magnetic particles for those of us who like to see the voiceover version and compare it to what Ridley Scott decided to release on DVD. Hey, they did 3 or 4 versions of Brazil on DVD and I own them all. Why not this one?

Rating:
Summary: Man Has Made His Match... Now It's His Problem
Review: I love this movie. It's such great example of what a science fiction movie should be...that said, I know people have problems with this particular version, the directors cut. One obvious change was the omission of the narration by Deckard (Harrison Ford). People have said that it takes away from the noir aspect, and maybe it does. Others will say that the narration doesn't need to be there, as the studio didn't give people enough credit to figure out what was going on themselves. I read somewhere that the studio, prior to a full blown release, ran test screenings and made changes based on audience reaction. I actually own the other version on laserdisc, and I just recently picked up this director's cut, and I like both. I am not sure why both versions couldn't be released on one disc so people could just watch the one they want, but there you go. Maybe this will happen in the future. Back to the movie. In case you haven't seen it, it's set in the future, a future where man has created replicants to do the hazardous work for humans. Only problem is they made the replicants too good, in that the newest versions have developed a sense of self awareness, and some have gone renegade. Rick Deckard, a Blade Runner, played by Harrison Ford, is responsible for hunting and terminating these renegade replicants. A small group of replicants has escaped some offworld colony, and made their way back to earth to try and save themselves from shutting down as replicants only live for so long. I don't want to give too much away, maybe I already have, but this review cannot do the movie justice. The attention to detail, the amazing backdrop of a hellish Los Angeles of the future, just the right mix of story and action, the grittiness, it's all so amazing well done. And Rutger Hauer gives what I think is his best performance ever as Roy Batty, leader of the group of renegade replicants, specifically during his scenes with Deckard. He creates within his character a sense of danger, forboding, but also a sense of sympathy. There are a number of layers at work in the movie, so it's prime for repeated viewing. I would suggest seeing both versions, and then making up you own mind which you like better. Regardless, this is the epitome of a great science fiction movie.

Rating:
Summary: From a true cult follower....
Review: I, like many other few thousands, worship this movie... with its flaws included... And I must say something that between the purists may sound sacrilege: I don't like the Director's Cut as much as the voiced over one.

You can see a BR many times and see a new movie in each review, but, c'mon! This is FILM NOIR, and without the voice over (even with the down-toned edition of Ford), it is not!!

Buy it if you want it, you will enjoy it, even without the "happy ending" but don't let pass the opportunity to watch the original if some re-run is screened...

Rating:
Summary: Terrible Director's Cut
Review: The original version was a great "film noir." Like so many "Director's Cut" versions, this was a pointless waste of time and money.

Rating:
Summary: not the same
Review: The director's cut just isn't the same as what we all liked when we originally saw the film in the theater. I would like to buy the original film and can't seem to buy it. All I can buy is the director's cut which doesn't give you the same 1940's feeling that the original film had. If anyone knows where to get the original, you should post it.

Rating:
Summary: The ORIGINAL is indeed better
Review: There has been much discussion over which version of Blade Runner is the best. I have to say that, although I like the director's cut, it is the original version that really captured my heart and imagination. First of all, the narration made Blade Runner into a futuristic version of the old black and white private eye films. This gave the movie a GREAT retro feeling and in my opinion revealed more about Deckard's character than the director's cut was able to. Secondly, the director's cut really seems to go out of its way to drive home the point that Deckard is a replicant as well. I don't think that made the movie any stronger or better, it just made it "different". Rather than a human who finds love in a replicant and learns that you don't have to be a real person to be human in the original, you have a replicant who doesn't know he's one killing replicants and the numerous issues that go along with that. Anyway, if the franchise wants to really make some money, they should release an ULTIMATE EDITION BLADE RUNNER DISC SET with BOTH versions on DVD. They would satisfy everyone, and give people a chance to see both versions and judge for themselves which is best.

Rating:
Summary: Why Director's Cut Only?
Review: There's necessary information in the voice-over that's missing from the Director's Cut. Likewise the style and extra character development in the director's cut are better. What we need is either a completely new cut with better (more limited?) voice-over, or at least we need a DVD that allows you to play both.

I think everyone agrees that this movie could have been great. What we have is just seriously interesting. Since I saw the original release, I can't objectively judge how well the director's cut stands on its own. I suspect that most of the people who say it's great have a similar problem that they aren't admitting to.