BuddyRevell

I take credit for this. You can all thank me for purchasing the international version a week ago. But still this is my most anticipated title and I cannot wait for this to come out. I'll be buying both versions for sure.

Wannabe

So they will release a remastered version of the 1992 Director's Cut in September, theatrically release the "Final Cut" in early 2007, and then finally release 4 versions of the film in one box set? Do I have that right?

Here comes the complaining: I don't really want another version of the 1992 Director's Cut. And truth be told, I don't really want FOUR versions of same film. Realistically, I just don't have the time or desire to watch all four versions. It would be nice if they released the "Final Cut" as a single release as well.

Terrell

Good news indeed! Hopefully they go to enormous lengths to make the best transfer they possibly can. The current DVD is absolutely hideous.

Feathers McGraw

Didn't the theatrical version have censored violence? I hate watching the current one, it just sickens me.

Just like Star Wars, the only version I'm interested in is the theatrical, with the "cheesy voiceover".

*That's* Blade Runner, to me.

darkside

The international version has the violence uncut. I have the Criterion laserdisc of this.

Josh Z

In 1982, the American theatrical cut was trimmed of a few violent scenes in order to keep an R rating. The European theatrical cut had the extra violence intact (such as Batty gouging out Tyrell's eyes).

The original VHS releases of the film were the European cut and were heavily promoted that they contained more violent footage than seen in theaters.

The 1992 Director's Cut, however, used the American version as its base and is missing those pieces of footage.

The voiceover I can take or leave (I'd rather do without it), but the Stupid Happy Ending is unforgivable. I can't watch either '82 theatrical cut without stopping playback when the elevator doors close.

naitram

Holy crap, that's just icing on the cake! I was lamenting just a few days ago about not having a better quality Black Rain DVD.

This is a great day indeed. I'll get to see Blade Runner for the third time in a theater, and can finally toss my inferior bootleg versions.

jonjj7

I'm wondering if there is an extra zero on that number....wowsers

ColdBlue

Yeah, what are the exact releases?

Egon's Ghost

Awesome news, of course. As Josh wrote, I didn't think this would actually see the light of day. I still won't believe it until I see it.

Is the 1992 DC re-release going to be a new transfer? I can do without that shaky 1997 disc.

Class316

I have a DVD copy of that. It looks pretty good

Julie Walker

They could easily use seemless branching for the U.S and International versions. Since the only difference between the two is the added violence.

So that would be one less extra dvd they would need to contain 4 versions of the film.

It could be like this...

1- FC
2-TC/IC
3-"DC"
4-bonus features.

Goldblum

He can't answer. He's watching it now.

jmj713

The original article could've used some proofreading.

Apparently, the release schedule is this: A remastered Director's Cut DVD (same as the 1997 DVD) to be out in September 2006. Then in 2007 (I'm assuming winter), Ridley Scott's brand-new 2007 Final Cut will hit select theaters, after which a multidisc 25th Anniversary release will be released, collecting the 2007 Final Cut, the 1992 Director's Cut, and two versions of the Theatrical Cut (US and International).

bunkaroo

Once a week for 13.5 years......what's wrong with that?

dom56

If I understand correctly, that it's well contain the international cut that was on the Criterion LD. Does that mean that Warner was able to reach a settlement with Perenchio who owned the right on that version?

Egon's Ghost

I've been wondering the same thing, as that's what's been holding this whole thing up the last bazillion years, and what stopped work dead in its tracks back in 2002 or so, when Scott was working on a 3-disc fuckin' yahooza release. Last I read, it seemed pretty hopeless. Right now, I think I'm just dreaming or hallucinating or something.

ThatGuamGuy

The opening sentence of the artcle ("Warner homevid has disentangled "Blade Runner's" famously thorny rights") would certainly seem to indicate so. I don't imagine they would be releasing something they didn't have the rights to, and I can't imagine they would clear the rights for three of the cuts (I'd also assume they had to settle the rights to various television versions, since all the promotion of the DVD release will likely result in channels like Sci-Fi showing it a lot around then) and not the fourth. I'm sure that they made the deal to cover *all* cuts, rather than just individual ones as they apparently had done with the previous director's cut.

ThatGuamGuy

Can anybody cite me some DVDs which use seamless branching where it's actually seamless? I only know of two discs in my collection which have "seamless" branching, and neither one is anywhere near seamless, and I was curious if it's ever worked. I've noticed companies rarely do it, possibly because it so rarely works on the customer end (I've seen plenty of other complaints like mine).

Or is it just a player issue? Would a top-of-the-line player have branching which was less seamful?

Seashellz

To be TRULY 'Ultimate', the set would have to contain:

Disc 1. The 1982 THEATRICAL CUT/International Cut-what-30 seconds
difference? -Seamless Branching.
Disc 2. The 1992 'DC'
Disc 3. The fabled WORKPRINT
Disc 4. Scotts new DIRECTORS DREAM CUT;
Disc 5. A Bonus disc so bogged down with extras, that youll need a forklift to get it off the ground.

A deluxe 5-disc box, for sure; The question is: can I hold out for the Deluxe Box?

Kant

VoreLord

I think I just wet myself....

purplechoe

The original dvd was one of the first I bought. After hearing rumors a few years ago about a new release I traded it in the exchange forum. Finally last year I broke down and bought the DC again. So I'll probably hold off untill the definitive edition is released, plus I realy want the original theatrical cut the most! I miss the narration...

zyzzle

This is just wonderful news! I'm very excited, but don't want to double dip, so I'll be passing on the Sept 06 "lite" version, and getting the 2007 release. I've waited 6 - 7 yrs for the "definitive" DVD release, what's one more?

Now, *please* master the DVDs correctly, using the highest bitrate possible, and seamless branching for the alternate versions. Why waste 3x the bitrate when you don't need to?

The film is definitely in my top 5. Knowing Ridley Scott is behind this means in all probability these discs will be mastered correctly, utilizing the technology to the greatest extent possible. If anyone else was behind it ("George Lucas", anyone?) I would have my doubts that these discs would be mastered correctly.

So, bring 'em on... Best DVD news in a long time!

PopcornTreeCt

2007 is a long ways away. I just watched this on HD and that was good enough for awhile.