 |
| Dangerous Days. Still as potent a sci-fi drama as ever: the iconic BLADE RUNNER. Post art by the great John Alvin. |
Another classic blog, originally on the main AFICIONADO site, from 2007.
To
me, one of the seminal movies of science fiction, as well as one of the seminal
movies of all-time is Ridley Scott's futuristic film noir masterpiece BLADE
RUNNER. Featuring one of Harrison Ford's best performances, as intergalactic
gumshoe detective/ruthless killer Rick Deckard, this film, like STAR WARS would
set the standards for future science fiction films. Seeing it in 1982, I loved
it enormously but didn't really appreciate it as much as I do now, as the
plethora of blockbuster movies are generally so disappointing now, in one way
or another, when compared to masterpieces like the first two STAR WARS films,
ALIEN and BLADE RUNNER. So when I heard that WARNER BROTHERS, ever determined
to make money out of the film that had once been considered a flop, were
finally releasing, in liaison with Ridley Scott, what was being touted as “THE
FINAL CUT” of this classic movie I couldn’t wait to receive it. My happiness
was turned to great joy when it was revealed that the film would be available
as part of a mammoth box set containing not only THE FINAL CUT but every other
available version of the film in existence since 1982, including the legendary
“work print” that a test audience first saw in 1982. With the release of the
box set (available in the UK for a cheap, cheap price of £17.99 from HMV.COM),
words cannot express how impressed I have been with all of it’s contents-not
only have all the films been scanned to the best picture quality possible (even
the raw work print looks the best it can be), but the extras are just
incredible-amongst the most detailed, and labour of love crafted, that I have
seen since the release of the earlier Ridley Scott influenced ALIEN LEGACY box
set of a few years back- the highlight of the special features, as well as
seeing the actual “work print”, which contains fascinating outtake footage
being used, stock music and subtle differences to the theatrical version, and
the original 1982 version (yes, I like the voice-over-I’m one of those like
Guillermo Del Toro!!), the three hour documentary, titled DANGEROUS DAYS, is
one of the best documentaries I have ever seen, not only about a film, but also
as a general documentary full stop. Like the detailed release of all the films,
this documentary has been just as lovingly compiled, with the most detailed
interviews (including the once reticent Harrison Ford) and all the information
on the making of the movie that you'd ever want to know. And as for the equally
legendary deleted scenes, they are all excellent and fascinating, showing intriguing
new aspects to the film, it's story and characters-this is one movie where so
many scenes and characters motivations can be analyzed and re-analyzed. Basically,
the whole box set is absolutely amazing and if you haven't seen this film, you'll absolutely
enjoy seeing it in all its incarnations. This new product now re-sets
the benchmark for quality presentations of films on DVD and additionally
sets a new challenge to LUCASFILM as well. Their four-disc STAR WARS TRILOGY
box set from 2004 was very good, and the EMPIRE OF DREAMS documentary was an
enjoyable, but rather tame, viewing experience, with goodies that were
partially, rather than fully, revealed (i.e. where were the cut scenes?). But
with the release of this box set, fans will be disappointed if future
LUCASFILM/STAR WARS releases (like the long awaited eventual release of a six
film box set when it eventually arrives after the Blu-ray/hd- battle is
over,) don’t give us the kind of mouth watering extras that Ridley Scott and
the team behind DANGEROUS DAYS have unleashed. For STAR WARS, the fans deserve
a box set that will be either an equal or superior to this and the ALIEN LEGACY
sets- and when it comes there must be no chickening out -we all want, in
particular, to see to see the cut scenes, from all six films, and we want to
see more wide ranging documentaries- I think it would be fair to say that we
want to see individual documentaries at least an hour or so in length one each
and every one of the films in the saga. And if Ridley Scott can release the
workprint of his seminal film, why can’t we see the workprints for all of the
STAR WARS films, especially the John Jympson edit of the original film
witnessed years ago by Dr. David West Reynolds.
Okay,
Ridley’s team and BLADE RUNNER have set the mark with the new release, now it's
time for George and STAR WARS to overwhelmingly top it!! C'mon LUCASFILM, we
know you can do it!!!
