I haven't watch this movie since it first came out in theatres, and being a film with a big cult following, this is probably THE "must-have" movie to own on DVD for anyone even slightly interested in science fiction.

I know that the DC version differs from the original theatrical version in that the narration has been deleted off the beginning of the movie, and I believe there was a change to the ending of the movie. Well, yesterday I finally decided to watch this one, and for some strange reason, the movie just didn't seem as thrilling as I last remembered. And the very ending of the movie just left me rather puzzled. If anyone can refresh me with what the original ending of the movie was as compared with this one, I can perhaps accept that this was the "better ending" the director, Ridley Scott, wanted to go with.

True, the dark backdrop and deep philosophical subjects present in this movie provides that "something" few sci-fi films can match. However, I just didn't feel the characters were developed enough. Sure we know that the Harrison Ford character is a Blade Runner who's great at killing replicants, and the 4 replicants have returned to Earth because it's almost the end for them because they can only live 4 years, and they're hoping that someone can fix it so they can live longer. However, you never get to see enough or know enough about them to care. Only the relationship between Deckard and the replicant, Rachel, was built up enough. And when it reached the final confrontation between Deckard and the replicant leader, I just thought it came about just too quick. Not to say that the final scene between the two was not dramatic, because it definitely was. I just feel that more could have been done to build it up so that the ending would have meant more.

As for Harrison Ford's recent comments about him not liking the film, regardless of whether its the original or the director cut's version, I tend to see his point. I'm as big a sci-fi fan as anyone, and I must admit that I might have been looking at this film through "rose-colored" glasses after not seeing it for so long. However, just watching it again on DVD, the movie just didn't do it for me.

As for the very last ending scene, I just didn't get it.

The original ending was pretty much a tacked-on afterthought with Decker narration over helicopter shots of mountains - telling how he and Rachael were getting away, thus reassuring the audience with a happier ending.The movie, aside from being a classic like 2001, is still a favorite that I can watch once a year and still be enthralled. I like the movie either way, I don't think either one is "invalid" as a work of art, and the only version I own is the older one, the Criterion laserdisc, not the "director's cut" which I held onto mainly for the Syd Mead supplemental artwork. I should also mention the DC has that few seconds of a unicorn running when Decker is dreaming.

*** SPOILER WARNING ***

I'm not sure exactly which last scene you're talking about, but the movie tries to show you in a subtle way that Deckard was an android. He finds the little paper-made unicorn in his house. He dreamed of a unicorn earlier in the movie -- so Gaff (edward james olmos's character) knew about his dream - which suggests that Deckard is an android.

ok. now i'm confused.


*edited for spelling errors

[This message has been edited by DodgingCars (edited 10-29-1999).]

*** Spoiler Alert ***
Thanks, DodgingCars, that makes it a lot clearer. I only understood that the James Olmos character was the one that left the paper unicorn, but didn't understand the significance of it. I only thought that Olmos knew that the two of them were going to try to get away and with Olmos' voice playing in the background, simply implies that Rachel was going to die anyway as though saying you can run but to no avail. That was all I got out of it.

Well, that's very deep about the paper unicorn and makes for a good ending. I would still like to see the film with the original ending also. Perhaps they will put out a Collectors edition with both versions soon.

Overall, a good film especially for sci-fi buffs.

i'm just amazed that people still talk about this film so much. i rented it years ago & remembered not liking it much. i thought that b/c i was younger, maybe i just did not get it. now being a dvd fan, i thought i should check it out again to see if it needs to be a part of my collection. once again, boring as hell! this movie is good if you have insomnia.

Blade Runner Director's Cut is my favorite science fiction film ever. It's a damn great flick.

I decided to watch the movie again, this time with my wife instead of alone. My wife isn't a sci-fi fan, so I would explain things along the way. In rewatching it, scenes that I didn't pay attention to much the first time were incredibly important to understanding this movie and I enjoyed it so much more. My wife didn't catch the meaning of the ending in the director's cut neither, and she's usually very good at catching these things. I guess it was just too subtle for its own good.

I guess "Blade Runner" is one of those movies you appreciate more if you watch it more than once. The first time, it was boring for me and the story and characters didn't seem to pan out all that great. The second time around, I got so much more out of it and would rank it as one of the best sci-fi films made.