Review of Blade Runner: Director`s Cut

Introduction

Ask me what my favourite film is and ninety-nine times out of a hundred my reply will be Blade Runner. The way I experience movies has changed and so has this film. 15 years ago, I first bought the original movie on VHS pan and scan. Later it was the widescreen Director`s cut and most recently the DVD. In fact, it`s been almost a year since I first invested in a DVD player and Blade Runner was the second film I saw. Lacking a frame of reference and in awe of the power of DVD, I naturally assumed it was perfect and just the way it should be seen. A year and several other discs later, I revisited the film with a better sense of perspective and a more critical eye.

For me Blade Runner remains the best movie ever. I doubt that will change. All the elements come together to create a masterpiece of design and storytelling. Blade Runner concerns the story of Rick Deckard, a retired policeman/bounty killer who is hired to hunt down four escaped replicants. Replicants are genetically created artificial life forms, which are used by humans to do the jobs that are too dangerous. They are tremendously strong and resilient but only have a four-year lifespan. On the surface indistinguishable from humans, the only way to accurately tell who they are is to administer a Voigt-Kampf test, which detects abnormal emotional reactions to a series of questions. What follows is, on the surface a simple thriller. A policeman chasing down four criminals. But Blade Runner works on so many different levels. I discover something new each time I watch it. There is the obvious allegory with slavery, but as is more relevant nowadays, there are concerns about genetic engineering and cloning and the relevant ethics. There are questions about the definition of life and intelligence, a voyage of self-discovery for many of the films characters.

Video

I wish the DVD lived up to the perfection of the film. Having seen a multitude of titles, I am in a far better position to evaluate the disc. Visually, the transfer is the expected anamorphic widescreen. But unfortunately that is it, the picture is grainy and colours are not well defined. There seems to be a preponderance of grey, which shouldn`t be apparent in such a deep and rich film. The transfer just doesn`t live up to Ridley Scott`s vision of a cyberpunk future that is almost a menagerie, a curious blending of the old and the new. The opening scene where the spinner is flying towards the Tyrell Corporation is spectacular as is the Tyrell building. The design of the film is just as lush and intricate, with the dark rain drenched streets contrasting with the bright neon lights advertising in all directions. The film also shows its age with scratches and blips apparent on the print.

Audio

The soundtrack is a Dolby 2.0 Surround presentation, which just doesn`t do the film justice. I really wanted to be immersed in the streets, feel the spinners flying overhead, yet the sound seemed confined to the vicinity of my television set. The Vangelis soundtrack is my favourite movie soundtrack and rarely strays far from my CD player. If you think that`s cheesy, just pick up an Ibiza chillout compilation and you`ll be surprised to see that they also agree.

Features

No extras! This film is just begging for extras. Such a rich and interesting subject must have had a lot said and filmed about it. But there is nothing on the DVD, not even the trailer. I know for a fact that a documentary was recently made that examined the film in detail. It had deleted scenes and behind the scenes footage, discussed the films design and soundtrack. It was very popular when it was screened on Channel 4. Such a thing would be welcome on DVD. This film also begs for a director`s commentary. Ridley Scott was fascinating on Alien; he would be just as riveting here.

Conclusion

Like many Sci-fi films, Blade Runner has dated, but not as badly as you would expect. What I most particularly notice are the proliferation of green-screen computer terminals and adverts for Pan-Am and Atari. Other than that, Blade Runner is a consistent and wholly compelling future world. I think this film is as relevant today as it will be fifty years from now. The plot is intricate and well thought out. The story easily surpasses the novel on which it is based. The cast is spectacular. Harrison Ford is excellent as the Blade Runner Rick Deckard; Sean Young plays Rachel the replicant from Tyrell Corporation who isn`t aware of her nature until confronted by the V-K test. I must mention Rutger Hauer and Daryl Hannah, who play two of the rogue replicants. They are wonderful in the ability to appear child-like and menacing. I must admit that my favourite scene (among many) is when Roy Batty confronts Eldon Tyrell seeking the meaning of his existence. There is a religious significance to that scene which particularly resonates, Man confronts God and asks Why? Rutger Hauer is able to carry this off with aplomb. Edward James Olmos plays Gaff, another Blade Runner, who`s contribution whilst minimal, is critical to the plot.

Whole essays have been written analysing this film and I am nowhere near qualified to similarly comment save to say that this film is a worthwhile use of two hours of your life.

O.K Warner Brothers, here`s my wish. 2002 is the 20th anniversary of the film. I would like a 2-disc release. On a dual layered disc I want the film, cleaned up and restored with a Dolby 5.1 Soundtrack and Director`s commentary. Make use of all of the space, no bytes left over. On another disc, I want documentaries and trailers and deleted scenes galore. I`ll be happy with around 3 hours of riveting material.

Despite the shortcomings of the disc, this is the Greatest Movie EVER. It still is the best way to see Blade Runner at the moment but a lot more could have been done. If there is any justice it will be done. There are still questions. Who is the fifth replicant? And of course, is Deckard a replicant? Here`s a hint, you can tell a replicant by the eyes…