Site created 12/15/97.	page added: 12/8/07 updated: 12/12/07 Blade Runner: The Final Cut - All Versions 1982/1992/2007 (2007) - The Blade Runner Partnership (Warner Bros.) Disc reviews by Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits Back to Discs Four & Five Available Versions & Packaging Blade Runner: The Final Cut is available on December 18th in three versions on DVD, along with two versions on Blu-ray Disc and two more on HD-DVD. The details of each are as follows... Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Two-Disc Special Edition (DVD) Includes Disc One - The Final Cut and Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, both in standard-definition video. SRP is $20.97. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Four-Disc Collector's Edition (DVD) Includes Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive, all in standard-definition video. SRP is $34.99. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (DVD - Briefcase) Includes Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive, along with Disc Five - Workprint, all in standard-definition video. All the discs come in collectable "briefcase" packaging, with additional swag items (see details below). SRP is $78.92. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray Disc - standard blue plastic BD case) Includes all five discs. Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Five - Workprint are all presented in 1080p high-definition video on Blu-ray Disc format. Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive are both included in standard-definition on DVD. SRP is $39.99. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (HD-DVD - standard red plastic HD case) Includes all five discs. Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Five - Workprint are all presented in 1080p high-definition video on HD-DVD format. Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive are both included in standard-definition on DVD. SRP is $39.99. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray Disc - Briefcase) Includes all five discs. Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Five - Workprint are all presented in 1080p high-definition video on Blu-ray Disc format. Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive are both included in standard-definition on DVD. All the discs come in collectable "briefcase" packaging, with additional swag items (see details below). SRP is $99.98. Blade Runner: The Final Cut - Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (HD-DVD - Briefcase) Includes all five discs. Disc One - The Final Cut, Disc Three - Archival Versions and Disc Five - Workprint are all presented in 1080p high-definition video on HD-DVD format. Disc Two - Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner and Disc Four - Enhancement Archive are both included in standard-definition on DVD. All the discs come in collectable "briefcase" packaging, with additional swag items (see details below). SRP is $99.98. The packaging for the Two-Disc Special Edition and Four-Disc Collector's Edition DVDs are Digipacks with a cardboard slipcase. The Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD Five-Disc Complete Collector's Editions are just multi-disc versions of the usual blue and red plastic cases used for those formats. The high-def versions include a booklet, but the DVDs do not. The packaging for all the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition versions is very cool. The plastic case is a replica of Deckard's Voight-Kampf machine briefcase from the film. When you trip the latches and open it, you'll find that the lid holds a black file folder containing eight large cards with production artwork from the film (Syd Mead pre-production sketches, storyboard artwork, etc). Also in the lid, in its own plastic pouch, are two pieces of clear Lucite (attached magnetically) containing a lenticular-motion image from the film - a shot of Deckard raising his gun outside his apartment at the end of the film. You can view the clip either inside the Lucite or removed, but the Lucite stands, allowing you to display the image nicely on your desktop or shelf. The bottom half of the case is covered with a clear plastic sheet, on which is printed a signed letter from Ridley Scott (explaining how and why The Final Cut was created) as well as one of his own 'Ridleygram' drawings (of Deckard in his apartment). Lifting the sheet up, you'll find a padded foam enclosure underneath, containing the Digipack for the actual movie discs (complete with an insert booklet listing all the features on the discs). Also included here are a pair of cool swag items. The first is a silvery plastic replica of Gaff's unicorn origami from the end of the film - it stands about 2 ½ inches tall. The other is a 4-inch long plastic replica of the Police Spinner vehicle, complete with accurate markings and doors that swing open vertically. Here's a look at the complete contents of the case... And here's a closer look at the replica unicorn origami and Spinner... Each briefcase is individually numbered via a sticker on the bottom of the case. All in all, it's an incredibly cool presentation. Warner really went the extra mile for fans of the film, and it's certainly appreciated. By the way, if you're the kind of fan who loves Blade Runner enough to have actually read all the way through this review, I'd like to take a moment to recommend a couple of other things that might interest you. The first is Paul M. Sammon's excellent book Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner, which is available now. There's also a new 3-disc Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary CD soundtrack release coming the same day the DVD streets, featuring the complete remastered Vangelis score as well as new music he's created that was inspired by the film. It's worth a look. Conclusion The Final Cut is a breathtaking experience - truly the ultimate version of a classic. It offers one of the most fully-realized fictional worlds you'll ever seen on screen, and its vision is even more relevant today than it was back in 1982. As for these discs, well... this special edition was an awfully long time coming, but I'm happy to say it's been worth the wait. I haven't had this much fun in my home theater since the Alien Quadrilogy or The Lord of the Rings: Extended Editions. Simply put, Blade Runner: The Final Cut is the must-have DVD and high-def release of the year. It delivers everything we love about the thoughtful, hand-crafted approach to creating special editions - the kind made for enthusiasts by enthusiasts - and brings that level of quality and comprehensiveness to the high-definition arena for the first time. Best of all, it does this without resorting to gimmicky pop-ups, picture-in-picture and other interactive trickery. There's a lesson to be learned there. Everyone involved in this effort should be extremely proud. It's the kind of release we live for. It deserves, and receives, our highest recommendation. Bill Hunt billhunt@thedigitalbits.com
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