Blade Runner DVD Breakdown...

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Yesterday Warner Home Video finally issued the press release for their upcoming and long-awaited Blade Runner DVD sets, which will be released 18 December 2007:

At last! The Definitive Version of Sir Ridley Scott's Sci-Fi Classic starring Harrison Ford

The Film That Started It All

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT

Debuts on DVD December 18 with Exclusive New York/LA Theatrical Launch October 5

Three Spectacular Editions of Director's Long-Awaited New Version, Restored and Remastered with 5.1 Audio, New and Deleted Scenes, Special Effects and More

All 4 Previous Cuts, Including the Ultra-Rare 'Workprint' Version, Available Along with Hours of Extra Content Including Over 45 Minutes of Deleted Scenes & "Dangerous Days," the Comprehensive New Feature-Length Doc

Ultimate Collector's Edition, in Unique Limited 'Deckard Briefcase,'
also Available in HD DVD & Blu-ray Disc

San Diego, July 26, 2007 - The one that started it all. Sir Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, is one of the most important science-fiction movies of the 20th Century -- the film with immeasurable influence on society for its futuristic depiction of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, a film perhaps more powerful and relevant today than when it was made. The film, in fact, has appeared on more 'Top Five' sci-fi lists than any other film.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, director Ridley Scott (Alien, Hannibal and a three-time Oscar® nominee, Best Director, for Gladiator, Thelma & Louise and Black Hawk Down) has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version, which Warner Home Video will unveil on DVD December 18th in the U.S. Blade Runner: The Final Cut, spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and scanned at 4K resolution, will contain never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby® Digital audio track and more.

A showcase theatrical run is also being planned for New York and Los Angeles October 5.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be included in three stunning DVD editions: a Two-Disc Special Edition (at $20.97 SRP), a Four-Disc Collector's Edition ($34.99 SRP) and the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition ($78.92 SRP) in Collectible "Deckard Briefcase" packaging.

Simultaneous HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions (each $TBD) of the "Deckard Briefcase" will also be released in numbered, limited quantities. HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc 5-Disc Digi Packs with collectible slipcase (each $TBD) will include all of the UCE content. Order due date for all editions is November 13.

Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Joanna Cassidy, Sean Young and Daryl Hannah are among some 80 stars, filmmakers and others who participate in the extensive bonus features. Among the bonus material highlights is Dangerous Days - a brand new, three-and-a-half-hour documentary by award-winning DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika, with an extensive look into every aspect of the film: its literary genesis, its challenging production and its controversial legacy. The definitive documentary to accompany the definitive film version.

Additionally, two of the collections (4- & 5-Disc) will include an entire disc with hours of enhanced content containing featurettes and galleries devoted to over 45 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes recently discovered in deep storage and approved by Ridley Scott, visual effects as well as background on author Philip K. Dick, script development, abandoned sequences, conceptual design, overall impact of the film and how it lead to the birth of cyberpunk. Trailers, TV spots and promotional featurettes will also be included.

Among some of the fascinating factoids talked about in the special features:

- Notable actual locations were used to reflect 2019 Los Angeles, such as Union Station, 2nd Street tunnel and the Bradbury building.

- The top of Police Headquarters is actually part of the Mothership from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

- In the last scene, Rutger Hauer made the jump between buildings himself.

- In the fight scene between Daryl Hannah and Harrison Ford, Hannah pulled Ford's nose so hard that his nose actually bled afterwards.

- Holding a dove, and letting it fly away, in the last scene was never in the script, but rather Rutger Hauer's idea when filming the scene.

- Dangerous Days was originally the name of the script.

Said Sir Ridley Scott: "The Final Cut is the product of a process that began in early 2000 and continued off and on through seven years of intense research and meticulous restoration, technical challenges, amazing discoveries and new possibilities. I can now wholeheartedly say that Blade Runner: The Final Cut is my definitive director's cut of the film."

Jeff Baker, Warner Home Video Senior VP and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog and Domestic Sales, says: "25 years ago the critics said Blade Runner was ahead of its time and today it's still ahead of its time. This is clearly Ridley's signature film and we're delighted to offer these great editions to the Blade Runner fans who've been so patient, despite besieging us with thousands of annual requests in recent years for new DVDs. A number of people have told me that at the start of DVD, Blade Runner was absolutely the first title they wanted -- so much so that they purchased it even before their first DVD player! We think they'll agree that the new cut and the new editions are worth waiting for."

DETAILS OF BLADE RUNNER EDITIONS


BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)



Disc One
RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM

Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

- Commentary by Ridley Scott

- Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber

- Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two
DOCUMENTARY - DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER

A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film -- from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.


BLADE RUNNER: COLLECTOR'S EDITION (4-DISC)


The Four-Disc Collector's Edition includes everything from the 2-Disc Special Edition plus three additional versions of the film, as well as an "Enhancement Archive" bonus disc of enhanced content that includes 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film's amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

Disc Three
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION

This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford's character narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION

Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT

The Director's Cut omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famously-controversial "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC - "Enhancement Archive"

- Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
- Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
- Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
- The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
- Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
- Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
- Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
- Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
- Unit Photography Gallery
- Deleted & Alternate Scenes
- 1982 Promotional Featurettes
- Trailers & TV Spots
- Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
- Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
- Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
- Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers


BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION (5-DISC)



The 5-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition includes everything from the previously described 4-Disc Edition, plus the ultra-rare, near-legendary WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. The Ultimate Collector's Edition will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard's own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector's photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.

Disc Five
WORKPRINT VERSION

This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also includes:

- Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
- Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut


About Blade Runner

Blade Runner made its first appearance in U.S. theaters on June 25, 1982, dazzling audiences with its stylish, brooding look into the future. From its intelligent, provocative story line to its stunning camera work and state-of-the art special effects, the film opened the door to a new view of tomorrow in addition to prefiguring important concerns of the 21st century, such as globalization, urban decay, global warming, over-population and genetic engineering.

Set in a multi-ethnic, overcrowded, high-tech city of the future, Blade Runner was also a benchmark in costume and production design and helped spawn a new genre/lifestyle -- neo-noir cyberpunk which has flourished in today's mainstream society and is reflected in all facets of entertainment, design and fashion trends. Most recognizable is the current trend of the Harajuku district in Japan, recently popularized by Gwen Stefani.

In Blade Runner, genetically manufactured beings called "replicants" are built to do dangerous and degrading work on Earth's "Off-World colonies." Physically identical to adult humans, yet much more powerful, a group of replicants hides in Los Angeles after a bloody mutiny.

Heading the all-star cast, many in career-expanding roles, is Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a special police "blade runner" assigned to hunt down and kill the escapees. Also starring are Sean Young as Rachel, Deckard's replicant lover; Edward James Olmos as Gaff, a mysterious fellow policeman; Daryl Hannah as Pris and Joanna Cassidy as Zhora, two beautiful yet murderous replicants; and Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty, the replicant leader who challenges Deckard's ideas of what it is to be human.

Blade Runner was adapted from the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by acclaimed science-fiction author Philip K. Dick. Hollywood has since discovered this eclectic author in full force, and some of the films adapted from Dick's works include Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, Next, and Total Recall, among others, grossing millions of dollars worldwide. But it was Blade Runner that started it all. The film was nominated for 2 Academy Awards® -- for Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. Oscar®- winning composer Vangelis created the musical score.

The multiple "Top Ten" lists Blade Runner has consistently placed high on are: #1 on Wired Magazine's list, and the English Scientists/Guardian Science List made it the #1 sci-fi film of all time based on surveys with 60 scientists. It is #3 on Entertainment Weekly's "best sci-fi movies and TV shows of the past 25 years," and is also #3 on SFX Magazine's list. Blade Runner makes the top ten on the Internet Movie Database's (IMDB) list, beating out such films as Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Frankenstein, King Kong, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.


Marketing Campaign

Blade Runner: The Final Cut Special Editions will be supported by a large-scale national media campaign that will cross over TV, print, online and viral platforms. Promotional tie-ins include a partnership with Random House and a special book version of the film with DVD mentions and artwork; and a promotion with Xbox 360 LIVE available for owners of the HD DVD version of Blade Runner, plus other promotions and partners to be announce soon.


BLADE RUNNER 25th ANNIVERSARY
Street Date: December 18, 2007
Order Due Date: November 13, 2007
Rated "R" - Widescreen 16x9, Color

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)
$20.97 SRP
Catalog # 114482
Packaging: Double Amaray
Feature Run Time: 157:30

BLADE RUNNER: COLLECTOR'S EDITION (4-DISC)
$34.99 SRP
Catalog # 114483
Packaging: 4-Disc Digi-Pak w/ Custom Slipcase
Feature Run Time: 157:30

BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION (5-DISC)
Limited Numbered Edition in "Deckard Briefcase" w/Collectible Memorabilia
$78.92 SRP
Catalog # 114484
Feature Run Time: 157:30

BLADE RUNNER: COMPLETE COLLECTOR'S EDITION HD (5-DISC)
$TBD
HD Catalog #118573
Packaging: Digi-Pak with Collectible Slipcase

BLADE RUNNER: COMPLETE COLLECTOR'S EDITION BD (5-DISC)
$TBD
BD Catalog #118574
Packaging: Digi-Pak with Collectible Slipcase

BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION HD-DVD (5-DISC)
Limited Numbered Edition in "Deckard Briefcase" w/Collectible Memorabilia
$TBD
HD Catalog #118571

BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION BLU-RAY DISC (5-DISC)
Limited Numbered Edition in "Deckard Briefcase" w/Collectible Memorabilia
$TBD
BD Catalog #118572


Note: All enhanced content, DVD pricing, and marketing plans listed above are subject to change

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Jerry Perenchio and Bud Yorkin present A Michael Deeley - Ridley Scott Production: Harrison Ford in "Blade Runner," starring Rutger Hauer, Sean Young and Edward James Olmos. The screenplay is by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples and the executive producers are Brian Kelly and Hampton Fancher. Visual effects are by Doug Trumbull; the director of photography is Jordan Cronenweth; and the associate producer is Ivor Powell. The original music is composed by Vangelis. "Blade Runner" is produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Ridley Scott. The film is a Ladd Company release in association with Sir Run Run Shaw. Distributed by Warner Bros. A Time Warner Entertainment Company.

[Vympel]

Jeezus, it took em long enough!

[General Zod]

I may have to plunk down some cash for the Ultimate Edition. When can we expect pre-orders?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Amazon started taking preorders (30% off!) for the Ultimate Collector's Edition this morning: I made sure to reserve mine before posting this.

[Dahak]

I wonder how many decades will go past until this is published in Europe... I would soooo buy this.

[General Zod]

Amazon started taking preorders (30% off!) for the Ultimate Collector's Edition this morning: I made sure to reserve mine before posting this.

Very excellent. I'm going to have to preorder on payday.

I wonder how many decades will go past until this is published in Europe... I would soooo buy this.

Don't they have places to import stuff like this where you live?

[andrewgpaul]

Gah! I don't give a shit about all the 'ultra-rare' film versions (although, if it's in the DVD set, it's not ultra-rare anymore, is it?) or the stupid box and the fiddly crap in the 'ultra-super-duper nerds delight' edition, but I want one of those spinners. Is it just an already-existing toy? If so, where do I get one?

[andrewgpaul]

(although, if it's in the DVD set, it's not ultra-rare anymore, is it?)

Unless, of course, it's in a limited edition box set. Oops.

(am I the only oone who gets annoyed by this 'limited edition' crap? what's the point? I mean, it might boost the ebay price of the thing, but that doesn't help Warner Bros any. It just seems like they lose money and annoy people for no good reason).

[YT300000]

That Ultimate Collection is pretty impressive, it looks like it could fill my entire shelf. Props to them for bothering to make a 2-disc version for people that already own the 1992 cut, though.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Sweeeeeeet.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

(although, if it's in the DVD set, it's not ultra-rare anymore, is it?)

Unless, of course, it's in a limited edition box set. Oops.

(am I the only oone who gets annoyed by this 'limited edition' crap? what's the point? I mean, it might boost the ebay price of the thing, but that doesn't help Warner Bros any. It just seems like they lose money and annoy people for no good reason).

I personally love it, because for the most part, a lot of "limited editions" aren't so extremely limited (this is of course ignoring titles branded as "limited editions" simply as a marketing device): I have some numbered sets that range in production runs from 10,000 to 150,000, so we're not talking about something super-rare with a production run of only 500 or so. Typically large enough production runs are made to satisfy the amount of consumers who desire such packages.

Packages like the BR Ultimate Edition are produced knowing that everyone who wants one is going to buy it, so I don't see how it would result in them losing money on the venture.

[andrewgpaul]

True, I suppose. I was getting a bit sidetracked, and grumbling about limited edition things in general, rather than just this DVD. Sorry.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Some additional information of the set and the work done for The Final Cut from The Digital Bits, as part of their rundown of what happened at Comic Con over the weekend:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocent ... tml#panrep

But by far the biggest response was to what came next: Charlie broke the official news on the long awaited Blade Runner: The Final Cut from Warner. He talked about the FIVE different versions of the film that will be on the release, the different versions of the release itself (2-disc, 4-disc and 5-disc DVDs, along with 5-disc Blu-ray and HD-DVD versions - extras on both high-def versions will be exactly the same - and the elaborate collector's case versions). You can find all the official details and artwork here. He then revealed that over 80 people were interviewed for the set, from Ridley Scott to virtually everyone associated with the production including Harrison Ford and all the major cast members. In terms of footage, he started by showing the Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner trailer (which you can all see for yourselves on Disc Two of Warner's 300 DVD - it streets tomorrow).

Next, Charlie revealed that the set will also include a whopping 47 minutes worth of deleted scenes, not seen in any previous version of the film. He then proceeded to debut an exclusive clip of some of this deleted footage. Now... Todd and I had the chance to preview all 47 minutes of this deleted material on Wednesday night, before our panel, and I can tell you first-hand that you have absolutely NO IDEA just how cool this material is. It's not just 47 minutes worth of deleted material - it's like getting a 5½ th or a 6th version of the film itself. The material is all edited together chronologically, to create an encapsulated version of the story. It starts with a completely new opening credits scene and new special effects shots of the 2019 L.A. cityscape. Then you get scenes you've seen before... but it's all put together using alternate takes, different camera angles and other completely unused footage. There are also a number of true deleted scenes, including a few that no one outside the production even knew existed before. All of this is set to music from the film and newly-looped sound effects... as well as Harrison Ford's voiceover narration. But get this: This narration is a completely different take than what was in the original theatrical version of the film, and it's just totally different. Different lines, different dialogue. We think it's actually BETTER than what was ultimately used in the film!

Let me give you just a couple examples of some of the things you're going to see: Turns out Deckard had a wife, who now lives in one of the off-world colonies - you see a picture of her and Deckard together (except that, if my memory doesn't fail me, the picture is set on the same porch as Rachel's photograph of herself with her mother - consider the implications of that). There's also a brief scene, after Batty has killed Tyrell, where he gets back into the elevator and he's shaking - he's clearly disturbed at what he's just done. The elevator announces the floor in a computerized female voice, and Batty looks up at the speaker and says "Mother?" in this sort of child-like daze. Rutger Hauer's performance is just perfect. There's even two alternate endings, in which Deckard and Rachel have dialogue while driving off in Deckard's car. And this is all just scratching the surface. I'm telling you, this stuff is absolutely amazing. If you think you know everything there is to know about Blade Runner, you are in for a REAL shock. Todd and I were just stunned after we finished watching this stuff. And keep in mind, every bit of this footage was shot by Ridley Scott in his prime... so it's just gorgeous. My head is still spinning over it all.

The final bit of footage that Charlie previewed exclusively for the crowd, was a behind-the-scenes look at the infamous reshoot from earlier this year featuring Joanna Cassidy's character Zhora. Now, when news of this reshoot leaked on the Net, it sparked an outcry from fans who feared that Scott was pulling a George Lucas and drastically altering the film with all new effects or something. Turns out, nothing could be further from the truth. The Final Cut of the film itself has been edited a tiny bit, with a couple of new scenes added and a little bit of footage excised. But the new effects tweaks are very minor. For example, in many shots involving the practical, on-set Spinner, you can see the suspension cables holding it in the air. These have been removed. In a couple instances members of the camera crew were accidentally captured on the edges of the frame, so they've been removed. And there's an instance where Harrison Ford's dialogue doesn't match his lip movements on screen (a shot through the glass as he's talking to the snake dealer), so Harrison Ford's son, Ben Ford, was brought in. He was dressed in the costume and was given the same scar on his chin as his father via make-up. His face was then shot (at the correct angle, under matching lighting) reading the same lines, and his mouth and chin were inserted over his father's so the lip-synch now matches. It's absolutely seamless.

But the Zhora reshoot was what triggered the most controversy, so here's what it was about: Back in 1982, actress Joanna Cassidy wasn't allowed to do the stunt where Zhora crashes through the window panes. But if you watch the film closely, especially now in high-definition, it's painfully obvious that it's a stuntwoman in those shots. I mean, it's not even close. The woman has a bad afro-like wig on and it's bouncing around so much in those shots that it looks like Ronald McDonald going through the glass. So Cassidy was brought back in, dressed in her original costume and was given the same snake tattoo on her face. Then she was shot on a greenscreen stage, going through the same movements as the stunt woman. Her face and body angles were matched to the original stunt woman frame by frame, so they're identical. Then, Cassidy's head was digitally inserted over the stunt woman's and it was blended together, color-corrected and matched seamlessly. So now, when you see Zhora crash through the glass, it's actually Zhora all the way through. Charlie showed the behind-the-scenes at our panel, and then at the official Warner panel the next day, he showed the final shot. And again, it's amazing. The first time I saw this finished sequence a few months ago, I was actively looking for the effect... and I completely missed it. That's how good a job the CG team has done on this. It was only after going back and looking at the original shots on DVD that I realized what a big difference there was, and I was just floored.

On the whole, our DVD Sneak Panel was a huge success. We had a few tiny problems with the DVD player that was on hand to show the clips, but fortunately, the Comic-Con people were able to swap a malfunctioning unit out with a good replacement, so we were able to show virtually everything we'd planned to. And the crowd reaction was really terrific. I know that Charlie and his assistant producer, Paul Prischman, were both really pleased with the crowd reaction to the Blade Runner footage they'd brought. They've been working on this release for years now - the project actually first started back in 2000 - and this was the first time they'd gotten to see a public reaction to any of it. And as long as I've known Charlie, Blade Runner has been the one title he's most wanted to tackle as a special edition. I think you guys are going to agree that Charlie, Paul and the rest of their DVD team have really knocked it out of the park. It was really a special hour for all of us. Our thanks again to Robert, Javier, Michael, Charlie, Paul and everyone at Warner, CBS/Paramount and Comic-Con who made the event possible.

[Tsyroc]

Fuck, I don't know if I want that many different versions of Blade Runner but with all that other stuff and the discounted price on Amazon I pre-ordered it anyway.

[FSTargetDrone]

I wonder how many decades will go past until this is published in Europe... I would soooo buy this.

You mean to say you don't have a region-free player? I got one just so get all the funky international versions of stuff I don't want to wait for to arrive here.

Anyway, Jeesuz, I remember the discussion of this, what, a year or so ago? It's about time.

Fuck, I don't know if I want that many different versions of Blade Runner but with all that other stuff and the discounted price on Amazon I pre-ordered it anyway.

Oh, ditto. For $55? That's damn well worth it. Especially for the toy spinner.

So many commentaries... I do love multiple commentaries...