Blade Runner

[ethanwa]

I can't believe I never saw this movie until tonight and never even heard of it until last year. I have had the 5-disc Blu-Ray set sitting on my shelf for three months now and FINALLY got around to watching it tonight (mind you I have a one year old and a three year old). I feel as much as I love movies, it's a disgrace that I never got around to watching it until today. I'm a 29 year old male by the way.

Anyway, I must say that this movie is AMAZING. Not on the scale of Oscar amazing (although the music and scenes of the city is on that level), but I am still blown away at how much I continue to think about this movie after I've seen it. I watched the Final Cut first, and it's hands-down better than the US Theatrical Version, which I watched second, with the dumb Harrison voice-overs and sappy ending. The Final Cut really is a masterpiece of late-20th century American art.

It's really too bad that for most people they've seen a crappier version of the movie before the Final Cut. I'm fortunate enough to view the Final Cut as my first ever viewing of the film.

Just had to get that out of my system. I know this is a love it/hate it movie, but count me as someone who now loves it. Classic for sure.

Ethan

[easyrider]

You have good taste, my friend

[FendersRule]

Originally Posted by ethanwa

I can't believe I never saw this movie until tonight and never even heard of it until last year. I have had the 5-disc Blu-Ray set sitting on my shelf for three months now and FINALLY got around to watching it tonight (mind you I have a one year old and a three year old). I feel as much as I love movies, it's a disgrace that I never got around to watching it until today. I'm a 29 year old male by the way.

Anyway, I must say that this movie is AMAZING. Not on the scale of Oscar amazing (although the music and scenes of the city is on that level), but I am still blown away at how much I continue to think about this movie after I've seen it. I watched the Final Cut first, and it's hands-down better than the US Theatrical Version, which I watched second, with the dumb Harrison voice-overs and sappy ending. The Final Cut really is a masterpiece of late-20th century American art.

It's really too bad that for most people they've seen a crappier version of the movie before the Final Cut. I'm fortunate enough to view the Final Cut as my first ever viewing of the film.

Just had to get that out of my system. I know this is a love it/hate it movie, but count me as someone who now loves it. Classic for sure.

Ethan

I agree with everything you said except for saying some elements are not of "Oscar Material". It's not a BS "Hollywoodized" movie, and thats what makes it a damn good movie. This movie is beyond Oscar material.

The Final Cut is the best cut for sure. The Director's Cut is the next best, then followed by the International Cut, then lastly, the Theatrical Cut. There's really no large differences between the Final Cut and the Director's Cut (besides the remastering of-coarse). Very subtle and minor stuff, which will not affect the viewing experience of first time watchers. However, both are much more recommended than the International and Theatrical Cut.

The Theatrical/International cut is good for the fans who want to squeeze out as much Blade Runner Material as possible.

With that being said, I hated it the first time I saw it. I kept watching it, and now I've seen it roughly 30 times. I know every line in the movie. I can even play some Vangelis songs on the piano.

[Midnightsailor]

Great movie. It looks amazing on Blu-ray, too!

[Barbie-Shrimp]

Is the Final Cut really that much better? I have seen the theater version a handful of times and have always thought it was just ok. I've always felt it was good, but not worth owning. Will the final cut change my mind?

[InstantKarma]

Originally Posted by Barbie-Shrimp

I've always felt it was good, but not worth owning. Will the final cut change my mind?

Most likely not. Apart from the removal of the narration (which took quite some time for me to get used to), the changes are pretty subtle.

However some of us LOVE the movie. When I get around to ordering the BD version, it'll be the fifth time I've bought it. (LD, VHS, DVD Director's Cut and Final Cut)

The only movie I've ever seen where the Director's Cut was a significant improvement was Dark City. The DC of Donnie Darko weakened it a bit, IMO.

[Barbie-Shrimp]

Originally Posted by InstantKarma

The only movie I've ever seen where the Director's Cut was a significant improvement was Dark City. The DC of Donnie Darko weakened it a bit, IMO.

That was significant. I used to think that was just an average movie too, but now it's one of my favorites. Rented it about a month ago, bought the next day, and have watched it six times since. Truly amazing.

[InstantKarma]

Originally Posted by Barbie-Shrimp

That was significant. I used to think that was just an average movie too, but now it's one of my favorites. Rented it about a month ago, bought the next day, and have watched it six times since. Truly amazing.

Oh, I liked it from the start. I was just amazed at how much better the DC was.

[naturephoto1]

This is a a great film that looks and sounds absolutely wonderful in Blu-ray form. It is Reference quality.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'm going to have to revisit this film again based on all the positive responses I see posted here. I have the 5-disc edition as well, but don't know which one I actually watched. Should I be looking for the FINAL one?

The first time I saw it I wasn't impressed at all. The PQ/AQ were fine, but the story didn't grab me. I thought it was slow and perhaps too dark (in terms of story) for my liking. It's been sitting on my shelf ever since.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

I'm going to have to revisit this film again based on all the positive responses I see posted here. I have the 5-disc edition as well, but don't know which one I actually watched. Should I be looking for the FINAL one?

The first time I saw it I wasn't impressed at all. The PQ/AQ were fine, but the story didn't grab me. I thought it was slow and perhaps too dark (in terms of story) for my liking. It's been sitting on my shelf ever since.

Hi John,

Yes look at the first disk in the 5 disk set. This is the Final Cut version. Yes the film is somewhat slow to start with. But, this is to set up what is to come; it is most definitely a "darK" film and adventure. But, if your playback system and video reproduction is up to it, again I would say that it is Reference Quality. It is one of Ridley Scott's best films. It is a bit disturbing though in parts. It has a great cast and they perform extremely well.

Rich

[FendersRule]

See, regular hollywood movies tell you everything that is going on during the film.

Blade Runner makes it so that you have to have to constantly think about what is going on. There's hardly any information that is out front to you.

Hell, this is just a great movie to have on for some ambient noise in the place.

[drobswim13]

Originally Posted by FendersRule

See, regular hollywood movies tell you everything that is going on during the film.

Blade Runner makes it so that you have to have to constantly think about what is going on. There's hardly any information that is out front to you.

Hell, this is just a great movie to have on for some ambient noise in the place.

one of my all time favorites!!!

[rev.and.ride]

Can someone explain to me the appeal of the movie in a nutshell? I want to like this movie. I've tried twice to watch it recently, but can't seem to make it past more than about the first hour. It just seems too slow and it's hard for me to get past the dated special effects, music and costumes.

I know loads of people love this movie, and I consider myself to have pretty good taste in film, but for some reason I just can't "get" this one.

[LifeOfAPirate13]

My first time seeing it was on Blu-ray as well and I absolutely loved the movie also. I too can not believe I had never seen it prior to Blu-ray.

[upswiseass]

The first time I watched it I didn't know what to expect from it, and I didn't like it at all. Once it was released on BD, a friend bought the 5 disc set and convinced me to give it another try. Second viewing was phenomenal and it is now one of my favorite films. I am glad you liked it OP.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by FendersRule

I agree with everything you said except for saying some elements are not of "Oscar Material". It's not a BS "Hollywoodized" movie, and thats what makes it a damn good movie. This movie is beyond Oscar material.
The Final Cut is the best cut for sure. The Director's Cut is the next best, then followed by the International Cut, then lastly, the Theatrical Cut. There's really no large differences between the Final Cut and the Director's Cut (besides the remastering of-coarse). Very subtle and minor stuff, which will not affect the viewing experience of first time watchers. However, both are much more recommended than the International and Theatrical Cut.

The Theatrical/International cut is good for the fans who want to squeeze out as much Blade Runner Material as possible.

With that being said, I hated it the first time I saw it. I kept watching it, and now I've seen it roughly 30 times. I know every line in the movie. I can even play some Vangelis songs on the piano.

You are right that it is beyond Oscar material, but many people just have an issue with sci-fi and cerebral sci-fi just never clicks for them.

The people who dislike this movie fail to realize that it isn't about the action per se, but the fact that the nature of the AI replicants allows us to get a much deeper insight into what it really means to be human. Rutger Hauer's speech to Deckert at the end is brilliant. It's definitive. It goes to the heart of free will and "soul".

But ignorant folks just see "robot" beep-boop-beep.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by FendersRule

See, regular hollywood movies tell you everything that is going on during the film.

Blade Runner makes it so that you have to have to constantly think about what is going on. There's hardly any information that is out front to you.

Hell, this is just a great movie to have on for some ambient noise in the place.

I totally agree. People just didn't get that Deckard is a Replicant in the theatrical release.....

[Midnightsailor]

Originally Posted by wsciv123

I totally agree. People just didn't get that Deckard is a Replicant in the theatrical release.....

The writers don't think so, but Ridley Scott does.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by wsciv123

I totally agree. People just didn't get that Deckard is a Replicant in the theatrical release.....

The answer itself is irrelevant. Only the fact that we question it matters. It goes directly to the heart of understanding what humanity itself means.