Blade Runner - beautifully restored

2007 "Final Cut" HD DVD

1992 "Directors Cut" standard DVD

2007 "Final Cut" HD DVD

1992 "Directors Cut" standard DVD

2007 "Final Cut" HD DVD

1992 "Directors Cut" standard DVD

It's true that most movies today are simply commodities. You watch, are entertained for a bit (or not), but then after a while you forget the movie. Blade Runner is one of those movies that whether you love it or hate it, you don't really ever forget it.

The film never had quite the following of say .. Star Wars. Maybe it was too dystopic for its time. I remember the first time I saw Blade Runner many years ago and thought to myself how slow moving the film was. I really didn't understand what the film was about. However, it made more sense the 2nd & 3rd time around. In fact, the film is very rewarding with repeat viewings and holds up well even after 25 years and is now revered as a sci-fi classic (and currently
#97 in AFI Top 100 films of all time)! Like most fans of this film it has to do with the dazzling visuals, the astonishing attention to detail, Vangelis' memorable electronic score, and for me personally the pay off is with Roy Batty's "Tears in rain" monologue - there is an irony and poignancy that culminates in that sequence that many films try to accomplish but rarely achieve. It still gets me every time.

From the pictures, you can see that Blade Runner has been painstakingly restored with the prints scanned in 4K resolution. The HD presentation simply smokes the original SD DVD release. The picture quality is unbelievable in hi def. If you click on the pictures, you'll know what I mean. It's almost looks like a recent film release! Sound & Vision had a great article on the restoration process. The soundtrack has been restored as well. While Blade Runner is not as rich in sound effects as other sci-fi movies, I felt Vangelis' score to be the biggest benficiary of the restoration process. Terrific soundtrack presentation.