Blade Runner: Where to begin?

Risu

Risu

Master Member
OK, so I've read the descriptions for the several different versions of Blade Runner that have been released, but I can't figure out which one I'm actually supposed to watch. I figure you guys are the best people to ask. Should I go with the theatrical cut, director's cut, or one of those other ones? (workprint, etc.) Does one of them make the movie make more sense, or on the other end of the spectrum does one of them ruin the mystery of the ending? Everybody always talks about Deckard being a replicant or not and I've seen mention of the last line in the movie playing a big part in that question, but I've also read that the end of the movie is different depending on which version you watch, so instead of doing the equivalent of watching the Star Wars movies for the first time in numerical order, I'm asking here. Help me RPF, you're my only hope.

Also, yes I am aware that I should be shot for not having already seen the movie. I've sort of seen the director's cut, but didn't get all the way through it.
 
OK cool, we've got the ball rolling.... :lol Would you recommend a specific version of the film, and if so why?
 
Director's cut is the definitive. The theatrical has a stupid happy ending bolted on against Scott's wishes, together with an entirely superfluous voice-over narration to explain everything. The numbskull studio ordered the narration because they couldn't understand the film without one, and arrogantly presumed no one else in the world would be able to either.
 
Watch the original screen release from 82 first.
Then you can look at the various other cuts.

That's where it started. I think it's important to experience what the audience did back then even if some feel today that there are better cuts.

Watch it undisturbed, at night, darkened room.

I think it's a film that requires that to get drawn into it, let it set it's pace.
I was fifteen and it blew me away back then. So the theatrical cut got the job done
just fine for me. It was years later until all the directors cut, this cut, that cut, final cut happened.
We didn't know a lot of that stuff for a long time.
 
if you watch the theatrical version first, things only get better from there. If you watch the directors cut first, things only get worse.

i'd watch the theatrical version first, just like the rest of us. Then when you want more, there is always more...

going the other way around is just a let down. my 2 cents...
 
lol jinx cessna, we posted at the same time with basically the same response... yours is more eloquent though..
 
And the Deckard as replicant thing?

In the spirit of capturing the experience of 82...

Forget about it as you watch. Again, that was never even breached back then by anyone. It was that first director's cut in 91 or whenever it was that brought that up.
 
neosporing said:
lol jinx cessna, we posted at the same time with basically the same response... yours is more eloquent though..
Click to expand...


I gave three cuts to a guy at work who had never sat down and watched, Told him to watch the theatrical. He started on the theatrical and got screwed up in the middle and ended on the 91 directors cut to finish.

Next day he was trying to quote Roy Batty's big speech. LOL

So it may not matter much, the difference to us can be huge, but to first timers, probably not a big deal.
 
Like its been stated, watch the theatrical release first. Ive seen people lost in the directors cut because they start asking questions from "why is he still here" to "wtf was that" and even turn it off. Youll notice only people who already know the film say the none voice over version is superior but they ALREADY KNOW THE MOVIE.

I actually know someone that was in Blade Runner and I didnt know it for years. When you see the three "kids" going down the alley and end up on Deckards vehicle, look at the smallest one, its Tony Cox. You can even hear his voice clear as day when you realize its him. He was originally the one falling off the cars roof but he was injured in doing so.

Screw everyone else, Deckards a replicant.
 
I'll get no love for saying this, but I'm one of the people who turned it off. The first time I tried anyway. The second time I fell asleep and the third time I'm pretty sure I watched the whole movie, but I remember VERY little after Deckard meets Rachel. I don't know what it is about the movie, but I just haven't been able to watch it. I love the production design, the gun and coat rank in my top 3 favorite movie guns and coats, and visually its really appealing, and yet here I am. But maybe that's because of the director's cut? I don't know. The theatrical cut is on Netflix instant watch, so I'll check it out this weekend.
 
I couldnt stand the film when first trying to watch it back in the 80's. In fact, if seeing it in the theater for the first time upon the original release, I would have walked out. Back in the day I was expecting a sci fi shoot em up movie and not, well, a proper thought out film.

When watching it again a couple years later, it blew me away because I "got it". Coke vs Pepsie, Chevy vs Ford, PS3 vs Xbox, Deckard is vs isnt a replicant, die hards on both sides. Im just baffled why anyone would think he isnt a replicant in any version of the film. Forget the Electric Sheep book, were talking Blade Runner the movie and not a "based on" book/short story.
 
I tired again the other night to watch this as it was on one of the movie channels. It was the Final Cut. Still couldn't sit through it. Sooooo boring...
 
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