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H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Warner Home Video
Review by Gary W. Tooze

Disc:

Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:57:36.841

Disc Size: 23,317,377,296 bytes

Feature Size: 23,156,164,608 bytes

Video Bitrate: 16.87 Mbps

Chapters: 36

Release date: December 18th, 2007

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.4:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: VC-1 Video

 

Audio:

Dolby TrueHD Audio English 3766 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3766 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB)
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB


Subtitles (FINAL CUT)
English SDH, French, 3 Asian (Korean, Chinese, Japanese), Portuguese, Spanish, none

English SDH, French and Spanish on disc 3 and 5.

 

Supplements: Disc One (in HIGH DEFINITION!)
RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM
Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

Commentary by Ridley Scott
Commentary by executive producer/co-screenwriter Hampton Fancher and co-screenwriter David Peoples; producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
Commentary by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer


Disc Two
DOCUMENTARY DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER
A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film -- from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.

Disc Three (in HIGH DEFINITION!)
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford's character narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.
1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.
1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT
The Director's Cut omits Deckard's voiceover narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famously-controversial "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC - "Enhancement Archive": 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film's amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

Featurette "The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick"
Featurette "Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film"
Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (audio)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (images)
The Art of Blade Runner (image galleries)
Featurette "Signs of the Times: Graphic Design"
Featurette "Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling"
Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
Featurette "The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth"
Unit photography gallery
Deleted and alternate scenes
1982 promotional featurettes
Trailers and TV spots
Featurette "Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art"
Marketing and merchandise gallery (images)
Featurette "Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard"
Featurette "--Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers"
 

Disc Five (in HIGH DEFINITION!)
WORKPRINT VERSION
This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more. It has a SCott intro and a full commentary.


5-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (now OOP) Case - Custom: Replica of Deckard's own briefcase, individually numbered and in limited supply (now out-of-print). Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature (in lucite), miniature origami unicorn figurine, a miniature replica spinner car, and eight collector's photographs. The DVDs are housed in standard double thick HD-DVD/Blu-ray cases - the same used for the Complete package.

 

The Film:

 

 

One of the most visually influential science fiction films ever made, Blade Runner has a history as labyrinthine as any of its futuristic film noir sets. A fascinatingly contemplative detective story about a world-weary android-killer and his renegade prey, it has attracted a sizeable cult audience and retains a unique place in cinema.


Los Angeles, year 2019. Cynical ex-cop Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a retired assassin of rogue androids (called "replicants"). His former boss, Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh), presses him into service: he is to kill a group of physically superior replicants that are on the loose after escaping from an "off-world" colony. Deckard visits the Tyrell Corporation, where he encounters mogul Eldon Tyrell (Joseph Turkel) and his assistant, Rachael (Sean Young). Tyrell informs Deckard that Rachael is a new breed of replicant--implanted with memories, she believes herself to be human. Bent on speaking to Tyrell in order to find out what their "termination dates" are, two of the replicants--Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) and Pris (Daryl Hannah)--insinuate themselves into the home of geneticist J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson), who created the replicant design for Tyrell. In the meantime, two more of the replicants have been disposed of and Deckard has become romantically obsessed with Rachael.


A critical and commercial flop in its initial, 116-minute domestic release, Blade Runner has been shown in numerous versions in the years since. Most notable are the original theatrical cut, an "unrated version" (featuring additional violent footage) prepared for home-video release, and director Ridley Scott's official "director's cut," which offered some key variations on the original theatrical version of the film. Whatever the version, and for all its stylistic achievements and excesses, this "future noir" contains performances as stunning as its look: Ford's pained, taciturn Deckard; Hauer's doomed, dangerous, tragic Batty; Sanderson's naive yet knowing Sebastian; and Young's icily cool yet terrified Rachael. The moody musical score evokes classic noir without sinking into caricature, and the pre-computer-animation special effects seem more lifelike than their sometimes sterile-looking counterparts in films made a decade later.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

 

 

 

Video:    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

THE FINAL CUT is an, occasionally, impressive upgrade over DVD (directly compared HERE). While the 4K resolution is, at times, initially awesome with all the futuristic cityscapes - the transfer itself could have been improved upon as it is limited by being single-layered with a very modest bitrate. The expansively lit city atmospheres are, no doubt, very pleasing. Colors are more vivid. It still exports the bluish/green hue we noted in both the 4-disc (COMPARED HERE) version of the FINAL CUT. The 'cooler' look is not as prevalent in my opinion. As previously noted with hi-def - colors are bright and darker scenes can be pitch with subtle highlights accentuating the contrast. There is some minimal noise but the visuals are overwhelming enough that you don't notice much.

 

Disc 2 - 3.5 hour Documentary is in SD and is exactly the same as in both the 2-disc (COMPARED HERE) and 4-disc (REVIEWED HERE).

 

Disc 3 - three versions on one high-definition disc (1080 - VC-1 encode). Like on the SD they were seamlessly branched and therefore all shared the same color scheme and transfer qualities. The image quality does appear stronger than SD (takes up over 23 Gig each on the single-layered disc) and it's great to have these versions available in high resolution. They offer 5.1 and 2.0 English tracks and a French DUB as well as optional English (CC), French or Spanish subtitles.

 

Disc 4 - "Enhancement Archive" is in SD and is the exact same disc from the 4-disc Collector's Edition (REVIEWED HERE).

 

Disc 5 - is the "Workprint"  IN HD (1080 - VC-1 encode) is a kind of initial test-run treatise. It has a 45 second intro by Scott and a full commentary by Paul M. Sammon (author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner").

It represents a rare version of the film considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more. It looks weak and as reported by Scott's intro is the lesser of the 4 versions available in this package, although it has had some 'restoration'.

NOTE: It has only 34 chapters (instead of 36) and is about 2.25:1 aspect ratio (where the others are 2.4).

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures FINAL CUT in high-definition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio:

Sporting Dolby TrueHD mix, the lossless surround is a big improvement over the SD 5.1. The film's track with Vangelis score and subtle background interferences are where separations sound more defined. This is the exact type of film that benefits most from an enhanced audio track. It seems flawless - solid range and depth. Dialogue on the FINAL CUT is supported by English SDH, French, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish subtitles. On the 'Archival' and 'Workprint' we have English SDH, French or Spanish options. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

 

Extras:

See Full list above. The FINAL CUT on disc one has three optional commentaries (for those that can't get enough!). I've finished all three (Scott's, executive producer/co-screenwriter Hampton Fancher and co-screenwriter David Peoples; producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber and finally one by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryerand). I found them enjoyable but would also have preferred an academic-type look at the film (perhaps Paul Sammon alone). The closest that it came to was the writer's input (Fancher and Peoples) on commentary 2. The third was unique in that it had multiple inputs - which is always refreshing to hear different viewpoints and anecdotal episodes. I think these 'discussions' will be good for those very keen on the film and even those with just a passing interest after they have seen the FINAL CUT.

 

Disc 3 (Archival versions) each have a short Scott intro (about 40 seconds).

 

Disc 5 ('Workprint') has another 45 second Scott intro and an enjoyable commentary by Paul M. Sammon (author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner"). He impresses with his extensive knowledge and reports some fantastically minute details. I wish he had done one on the archival(s) or the FINAL CUT. He appears relegated to this but his dialogue is excellent.   

 

Menus (FINAL CUT)

 

BOTTOM LINE: I wasn't a fan of the Ultimate with the lucite case (incidentally with the 'Made in China' sticker). In the Complete Collector's Edition (exact same transfer but without the unnecessary accoutrements) - fans don't have much to think about. It is the best available for the film(s) and I doubt another transfer is coming anytime soon. This is still an experience that extensively benefits from the high-definition video transfer and lossless audio bump. I still think this could be improved upon but we still recommend...

 

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