Search - Blade Runner (Limited Edition Collector's Set) on DVD

Good, but waiting for better...

E. Oliva | Paradise, CA United States | 08/06/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think that I am still relatively safe in saying that Blade Runner is one of the most prolific and inspired sci-fi movies of all time. But there are still several qualms that many people, myself included, have with the DVD release. First of all, the sound and video transfer flat out suck. There is no 5.1 sound, and as for the video, well, that's just because no archival negative has ever been made, so what you see is what you get. Secondly, the only version of the film that you can get on DVD format is the "Director's Cut", which is just a hurried fix-up from the original. Ridley Scott even said himself that he wasn't totally happy with this version, but it met his basic artistic vision of the film. Lastly, there are not special features except for a crappy cast and crew synopsis.

Okay, so before you start to think that I'm totally blasting the film, hold on. The true version of this film is yet to be seen by anyone. According to Scott and Warner Bros., a three-disk, definitive version of Blade Runner is supposed to be released. Contained will be all the different versions of the film, including a new version which Scott has painstakingly digitally re-edited and reworked. It's not the original, it's not the director's cut, but it's just simply, "Blade Runner". Also included in the "Blade Runner: Special Edition" will be loads of extras, including interviews and documetaries. This is the true version of the movie, the version that should be viewed by the masses. One problem though. Legal struggles between Scott, Warner Bros., and the "Blade Runner Partnership" have made the release of this version all but certain. Scott has already done the work, and Warner Bros. is ready to distribute, but Jerry Perenchio of the "Partnership" seems less than thrilled to let Scott have his way.

So, my advice is to hold out until the "Special Edition" comes out. I know, who knows when that will be, but trust me, if you are a fan of Blade Runner, you will only be doing yourself a favor by waiting."

The ORIGINAL is indeed better

Anubyss | 05/14/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There has been much discussion over which version of Blade Runner is the best. I have to say that, although I like the director's cut, it is the original version that really captured my heart and imagination. First of all, the narration made Blade Runner into a futuristic version of the old black and white private eye films. This gave the movie a GREAT retro feeling and in my opinion revealed more about Deckard's character than the director's cut was able to. Secondly, the director's cut really seems to go out of its way to drive home the point that Deckard is a replicant as well. I don't think that made the movie any stronger or better, it just made it "different". Rather than a human who finds love in a replicant and learns that you don't have to be a real person to be human in the original, you have a replicant who doesn't know he's one killing replicants and the numerous issues that go along with that. Anyway, if the franchise wants to really make some money, they should release an ULTIMATE EDITION BLADE RUNNER DISC SET with BOTH versions on DVD. They would satisfy everyone, and give people a chance to see both versions and judge for themselves which is best."

Blade Runner, but not enough

James Withington | 07/15/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Please don't let my rating fool you. This is an awesome specticle of a movie - and probably my most favorite of all time. The potential of this boxed set is missed by a fair margin though. It does include a lot of hard copy material (folded poster, lobby cards, film cell), but it misses out by simply dropping in the Director's Cut version of the movie and not including the original theatrical release, or the the color storyboard info from Syd Mead's production design (found in the Criterion LD). These additions would make it more the difinitive release for true movie buffs. There's also several minutes of reconstructed footage (Holden's hospital scenes) that could be included - or even still shots that I know are out there, screen tests for the actors and SFX test shots. This should have been better put together. It does inlcude the screenplay - although its missing some pages that were apparantly missing from the original copy (there really isn't a complete copy, but it could've been reconstructed better than this). Some of the missing material still exists in the "Illustrated Blade Runner, '82" sketchbook. Whoever put this package together should have done their homework or called Ridley Scott, or Paul Sammon (Future Noir). I hope Criterion will put out their version on DVD someday ."

"Limted Edition" same as "Director's Cut"

William Faulk | Raleigh, NC | 09/10/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The video transfer for the "Limited Edition Collector's Set" is the same as the video transfer for the "Director's Cut" (the regular DVD), which is to say, lousy. There have been talks for ages about there being a special edition release of Blade Runner, but this is not it. It's just the regular release with some extra stuff in the box. Don't be suckered.

We're not supposed to list URLs in reviews here on Amazon, but more complete information about this can be found (...)"