MBoyd, you're in Austin, right? Did you see it at the Paramount? How was the presentation?I'm kicking myself for missing out on it, but at least it's being shown again the first week in January.

The Final Cut has the same violence as the International Theatrical Cut.

To offer up a counter-view to the other responses, I'll say that Blade Runner is impressive from a visual/design perspective and clearly influential in that regard, but as a movie, it isn't especially good or terribly interesting.

I live in the Plano/Richardson area but get down to Austin a lot since my mom lives there. During Thanksgiving week I had grandiose plans about seeing a movie down there everyday including BR and it just didnt work out. I did however see it at the Inwood 2 weeks ago here in Dallas. It looked spectacular. Very crisp. It was on 35mm same as the Paramount I believe. That made it the fourth time I have seen it in the theater.

Definitely go in Jan if you can. Paramount is such a great theater; i love the summer movie series. Unfortunately I missed them all this year.

I just found the HD-DVD version at a local store. I was tempted to buy but with christmas coming people in my family would be pissed. but it looked really nice!

I'll definitely be there - family can wait one evening. And the Paramount summer series is the best. I make my religious pilgimmage every summer to see Lawrence of Arabia in 70MM.

Is there any interactivity advantages with going with the HD DVD over the BD version?

There's no interactive features on any of the versions, so no.

Okay, then. Thanks. I think I'll still go red for the suitcase edition, then, just because the red casing looks better with the Blade Runner coverart and red lettering.

Is there a difference between the 5-disc complete collection and the 5-disc briefcase ultimate collection besides the briefcase?

The briefcase comes with a few more physical extras, but no extra content on the discs.

Are you currently reviewing and if so, when is that review going up?

I just got my copy in today. My goal is to have it up prior to the release date, which is Tuesday. That's a lot of marathon nights. I'd be watching it right now if I didn't have this pesky day job (or, in this case, I suppose you'd say it's a night job).

I actually got the non-suitcase 5 disc edition, but we're getting sent the suitcase (just the case, not the discs) separately. Don't ask me why.

How/why did they change the title of my post? It did ask "only final cut in HD?", now the title says "all 5 cuts in HD". So they can edit your posts/titles as they wish?

They changed you title to "answer" the question and to cut down on confusion.

Correct.

By the way, I'm watching The Final Cut now, and my god is it ever beautiful. WB did a brilliant restoration. I haven't even dug in to this set and I'm already in love.

I just happened to get a copy myself earlier this evening (thanks Hastings for not knowing to hold it until Tuesday) and so far the Final Cut is nothing short of jaw dropping. The opening scene showing the Tyrell building should persude just about anybody just how incredible this cut is. Like Suprmallet, I got the 5 disc release without the briefcase.

I am such a Blade Runner fan that I have pre-ordered the Blu-ray briefcase edition to complement my HD DVD set. I listened to all the commentaries on the Final Cut and am now watching Dangerous Days.

YMMV, but I just picked up the 5-disc digipack at my Best Buy this morning.

Probably because the disc manufacturing plant where the 5-disc set is made, is at a different location than the suitcases.

I haven't purchased this yet, but if I go by yours and others observations, I will be pleased. I'll probably get it this week. I'm still debating the suitcase but I'm not as excited about it as I was.

Damnit. I can't decide between whether or not I want to pay $40 more for the briefcase.

I decided to get the briefcase, but mainly because Plus, I look at such an extravagant purchase as a reward for WB to finally greenlight the Final Cut and go through the process to provide fans with all the other cuts of the film. Now, I can't really offer a reason not to go for the briefcase edition, especially if it means you'll have to eat ramen noodles for few days up to a week. Suck it up for the cause, man. Replicants needs love, too.

I'm watching the theatrical and director's cut. They're not quite as sharp as the transfer for The Final Cut, and the sound seems more shallow. But they're not awful.

Now watching the workprint. The sound and picture is much more rough than the other versions, which is to be expected. Ridley Scott warns in the introduction that it's not clean and a work in progress, but is the most different of all the cuts. Really fascinating stuff.

So for someone that has never seen this movie before...which version should I watch? I won't watch the other cuts) for at least a few weeks...