Blade Runner Question (No, Not That Question...)
 

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The Criterion laserdisc was of the European theatrical cut (with voiceover and Stupid Happy Ending), not the Director's Cut. The transfer was done in the late 80s and is non-anamorphic letterbox like almost all laserdiscs. It's rather grainy in some scenes but holds up pretty well in comparison to the badly-compressed DVD.

There were two editions released, one in CLV (one hour per side) and one in CAV (30 minutes per side). The CAV had some minor supplements including production art and trivia notes. One of the the side breaks on the CAV copy is pretty disruptive, occuring in the middle of a scene.

The Director's Cut was released on laserdisc by Warner Bros. The only available copy in the US was in CAV format and has a horrible side break right where Decard is shooting at Zhora. This is widely considered the worst side break in laserdisc history. The disc transfer is slightly sharper than the Criterion but has a different color balance and suffers from DNR artifacts. The DVD looks better.

I will have to look at my DVD again because I don't remember it being such a bad picture. It was one of the first DVDs I purchased back in 1998.

I watched mine this past weekend and the film shows its age in spots.

It is easy to look past the quality of the picture when you are into the film.

The latest news is 16th March 2004? -confused-

The picture quality I still think is fantastic. Granted I have only seen the opening scene in the past year, but it is just so fabulous to see that futuristic skyline with the fire explosions and rich reds and oranges. I think that opening scene just looks really good despite all this non-anamorphic/anamorphic bru ha ha. I don't know exactly what all it mean, I mean I know what looks good and doesn't and maybe I don't really care with "Blade Runner" but regardless it still looks mighty fine.

You'd care if you had a better TV. Blade Runner was one of the very first commercially-released DVDs, and its digital compression quality is poor by current standards. It is also mastered with a significant gate-weave problem, as you can see when the opening and closing credits wobble all over the screen.

On the topic of crap quality Blade Runner AV.....

from digitalbits
not the BEST of news but news nonetheless

I think after 5 years I can tolerate an upgrade. :)

I'd like to get a set with the original version of the movie along with the newer "director's cut." Why not have both versions in the set?

Because there are legal troubles preventing any version from being released that's not the DC, I believe.

wonder what the "legal" arguments could be? the creators and studio seem to be behind releasing the theatrical version. caught that version on TV the other week...saw it for the first time, actually. very different feel to the movie, i kinda like it for the additional insight, but it changes the mood of some of the scenes.

The latest news is 16th March 2004? -confused-

Anyone else getting that deja vu feeling??? ;)

Hey... is Deckard a replicant?

Just kidding.

Sorry for the dupe post, I was researching this myself just the other day.

I am not sure if the digital bits info is any good or not but I am not holding out much hope.

ummm... The original movie (theatrical version) has been recently given the Star Wars Original Trilogy treatment on DVD - unofficially, of course - and is now floating on BT sites... I guess somebody else was tired of waiting...

I emailed you but just curious...what's the name of the file? All I find are Directors Cuts.

no no no no no no no no NO

Damnit, I want both versions.

digitalfreaknyc,

e-mail me again at (my username) @marple.zzn.com... :)

The latest news is 16th March 2004? :confused: