Blade Runner:  The Director's Cut

Details

Cast

DVD Review

An example of a fairly early DVD release, Blade Runner: The Director's Cut is an example of a great movie that doesn't really utilize the advantages of the DVD format.  Image quality is good overall -- certainly better than from tape.  But, do in part to early 1980s technology, the image is not stellar.  Due to the dark nature of the film, colors are nothing to brag about either, but again, this is due to the filming and not the DVD.  Only one audio language track is included and it has not been remastered in Dolby Digital, so it is only surround.  This is the director's cut, which primarily means that Harrision Fords narration, which took place in the theatrical release, has been omitted.  While there are certainly merits to this director's release, I would have like to have seen the advantage of the DVD format by including both the original audio track plus the theatrical narration track, so that viewers could have experienced both.  Or, better yet, include the theatre version on one side and the director's cut on the other (do I see a Criterion release in the future?). 

Two additional subtitles are included as is a basic cast list and filmography.   But other than a scene access menu (which allows you to access every other track), there are no additional features -- a shame for such a legendary film.   Despite a relatively low DVD score, this is a great movie to own, based on its movie elements.

Movie Review

It's the future -- 2019, to be exact.  Though, if made today, the date would probably be moved ahead to around 2100 or so.  The future looks quite bleak, setting the standard for many science fiction films to come.  It's dirty, heavily industrialized and depressing.  It's also very dark and, apparently, constantly raining. 

This is the setting in which our hero, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), must track down four (or is it five? -- listen carefully) criminal replicants -- engineered humanoids -- and "retire" them.  In the mean time he becomes romantically involved with Rachael (Sean Young), another replicant. Without giving too much away, Rick's job proves to be quite challenging -- and thought provoking.

A great story combined with great cast, great direction and good background effects makes this a film to watch.  Short on dialogue and long on story, this film raised the bar for science fiction movies that followed.

One note about the "Director's Cut":  The prime difference in this version versus the theatrical release is the removal of the narration by Harrison Ford.  While many have said that this narration was cheesy and hurt the film, I felt that it helped first-time viewers (and those that have not read the book) to grasp some of the more subtle points of the film.  I wish that both versions of the film had been included, but the director's cut does have some subtle enhancements including a brief dream sequence by Deckard and a little more development of his relationship with Rachael.