The “Final Cut” version is the closest to the director’s original intention.
Oh cool, alright thanks. Is that your favorite version though?
The final cut is a cleaned up version of the Director’s Cut. The original version has an annoying voiceover that affects the power of the ending monologue. Stick with the final cut for a first viewing and then watch the others for curiosity.
I’d watch both the Final cut and the US theatrical version just to get a better sense of the film.
Alright, cool. Isn’t the final cut the one that came out a couple years ago?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner
This will explain.
Yeah, I’d go with the Final Cut first as well, even though I am used to the Director’s Cut. However, after watching the Final Cut a number of times, it seems that is the one I am beginning to prefer. The other ones such as the theatrical ones with the voiceover narration can change how one views the film with the optimisic ending, but I’d go with Vertigo and see all of the versions, including the workprint. By looking at all of them, you might like the film even more compared to sticking to one version, because you can see how it can be differently perceived such as the question of Deckard’s identity. I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t seen the film, so I’ll leave it at that. Just Google Blade Runner and you will see a lot of websites analyzing the film and other things relating to the film which could enhance your viewing of the film even more.
The Final Cut will certainly give you the most astounding visual level of future urban-scape ambiance. (And it matches well with the earlier Director’s Cut which, up till now, had proved the most tantalizing of the versions for me. Nice to see an exquisitely presented revision of that.)
Benefit of that 4-disc set is having the theatrical and workprint versions at your fingertips as well.
WORKPRINT!!!!! First half. FINAL CUT: second half.
And if you have a Blu-ray player, the Blade Runner release comes with all those multiple discs. You can typically find it for $16 (US) or less these days.
You have to get the 5 disc box set in order to get the workprint. At least, that’s the way it goes for regular DVD. I have my own copy of the Blade Runner box set, so I know that mine has the workprint on the fifth disc. I clicked on Sunday’s link and it says there on DVD Beaver that you have to purchase the 5 disc box set in order to receive the workprint.
You have to get the 5 disc box set in order to get the workprint. At least, that’s the way it goes for regular DVD. I have my own copy of the Blade Runner box set, so I know that mine has the workprint on the fifth disc. I clicked on Sunday’s link and it says there on DVD Beaver that you have to purchase the 5 disc box set in order to receive the workprint.
the final cut has some really nice shots that were not included in the other versions…
the voice over original theatrical release must be some sort of a collectors item now due 2 it not being distributed as the official version
the film is good enough 2 have 3 versions!
it is funny that the first version will be like a new film 2 me if i watch it next :O)
-Is that your favorite version though?-
I think it’s the best version of the film, though I do have a lot of affection for the reviled theatrical cut—I saw it during the original theatrical release as an 11-year-old and it made a huge impression on me.
I think the Workprint only came on standard def DVD in the 5 disc suitcase set. But that 5-disc set without all the frills it available on blu-ray on it’s own. Just a slim booklet and the 5 discs.
Their all cool. Watch them all. Maybe the Director’s Cut first…I think it’s color design comes through better than the newly color corrected Final Cut.
I know that both Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott don’t like Harrison’s voice-over in the theatrical version, but I did like it and I thought the final cut version seemed incomplete without it. The theatrical release version is my favorite.
James Reynov
So I’ve really wanted to watch Blade Runner for awhile, but the problem is that I want to watch it the best way, and since there are alot of different versions/cuts of the film, I was wondering what’s the best version/cut of Blade Runner to watch?