Blade Runner, The Final Cut 258
Bowman9991 writes "A new promotional website is up and trailers for Blade Runner: The Final Cut have been released. I've been waiting ages for this one. SFFMedia has some details about the Blade Runner Ultimate Collector's Edition on HD-DVD and Blu-ray with new footage. It's slated for a December 18th release. Apparently it's also being released in the cinemas again in the US."
Best movie news this year (Score:3, Interesting)
I know I am probably in the minority (Score:5, Interesting)
If not something I can select then please include that version. For some reason I like the version of the film I saw first, the voice over to me put me in the mood. Very 50s like and that is what I best remember. I actually never liked subsequent releases simply because of that feature being missing. Yes I know the arguments against but we are irrational beings and well...
like tears in rain. (Score:1, Interesting)
"All these, memories will be lost; like tears in rain."
"Time to die."
Final? (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, does anyone else share the feeling that the extra commentaries and features on DVDs are pretty much completely worthless? I remember thinking that it was very nifty when I first got a DVD player, but after watching a few, I haven't watched any in years. The only ones of any value I have seen are sometimes animated shorts that go with animated films. If anything, special features generally detract from the enjoyment of a good movie as you struggle to reconcile how a group of such insipid and insincere people could have pulled it off.
Where the fuck is Deckards goat? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I know I am probably in the minority (Score:3, Interesting)
The story is that Blade Runner was repossessed by its creditors prior to release and changed, against the wills of various people who were involved in its making, in substantial ways for its theatrical release. Hence the Theatrical Version, which didn't do very well from a commercial standpoint -- possibly because its artistic vision was compromised.
Then there's the Director's Cut, which Scott has claimed does not really amount to such as he didn't have sufficient time to work on it.
Hence the interest in the Final Cut, which is claimed to be a real director's cut finally.
I'll withhold judgment until I see the Final Cut, but at this point it could be pretty good. If not, then the Director's Cut still exists and I'll try to forget that I ever saw the Final Cut. But there is the risk of the Final Cut ruining the movie in such a concrete way that I'll never watch the film again (see the director's cut of Donnie Darko).
Being against revisionism in cinematic works is one thing, but being against the restoration of a previously mangled work is another. Having said that, it's common for people to have an attachment with whatever version of a work they are originally introduced to. People tend to prefer the film version of a novel if they saw it first; they may prefer a remake over the original; etc. This is the peril of being introduced to derivative or inferior works before their superior counterparts, you have to actively discard what you saw first and it can be difficult.
For instance, if you saw Psycho (1998) before Psycho (1960) you may very well have ruined one of the best films ever made for yourself.
Re:Final? (Score:4, Interesting)
I highly recommend the commentary on Robocop, with the director, writer and producer. It's hilarious.
I also really appreciated Whedon's commentary on the last episode of Firefly (objects in space), but some of the commentary on the other eps were, well, pointless.
I was glad to see the "making of" of A Scanner Darkly, I was sure they had some kind of automated process doing most of their rotoscopy by algorithm, turns out they did it by hand, the maniacs.
Re:How many final cuts are there? (Score:5, Interesting)
I finally buckled last year and bought the Gongo Records version of the soundtrack on Ebay and it was glorious to hear the original soundtrack although I do hope that Vangelis can one day release an "official" pristine remastered version from the master.
In the meantime there are a few versions to choose from here [vangelis-rarities.com].
Re:Flash video has its uses (Score:3, Interesting)
There's nothing wrong with Flash Video. The upcoming flash release will have H.264 support for HD Video. It's just not out yet.
The best quality to bitrate ratio you're going to see right now is either DIVX or Quicktime H.264.
Re:How many final cuts are there? (Score:3, Interesting)
Since these replicants can plunge their hands into liquid nitrogen without harm, and apparently have an assortment of other enhanced physical capabilities, there must be some much easier tests than emotional response.
Re:am i the only one? (Score:4, Interesting)
If you get the idea that I am perhaps insinuating that you're stupid, that's because I am.
Re:am i the only one? (Score:3, Interesting)
You should also read "Dispatches" by Michael Herr if you want to understand Apocalypse Now. The movie is a blend of the two books.
Re:Damn the critics... (Score:2, Interesting)
You bring up a very interesting notion. One of the things that is very similar between artists and children is that they can walk away from something; It is done, or 'finished', whereas most of us keep refining, 'adding to', the older we get. My mother painted late in her life, also. I don't recall that she kept adding to her oils. But I did have a few lady friends who would occasionally show me their paintings that were nearly 3D what with the thickness of the layers of oil in places. It was rather astonishing. Or peculiar. Or maybe just a graphic example of 'A woman's work is never done.' Who knows?
Alan Nourse title (Score:3, Interesting)
No, I'm not joking. The story was called Blade Runner because the lead character actually smuggled blades, the way a gun runner "runs" guns or a rum runner "runs" rum.