Blade Runner

Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah Directed by: Ridley Scott Runtime: 114 min. Rated: R DVD Release date: December 18, 2007 - More Info
READER RATINGS:
8.3 OVERALL	Smart . . . . . . . . 9.3 Sexy . . . . . . . . . 8.7 Funny . . . . . . . . 6

The Nerve Review

Perhaps no great film belongs in a multi-disc format more than Blade Runner, Ridley Scott's exhaustively detailed sci-fi noir. When it was first released in theaters, what everyone noticed was its visionary production design. At last, this long-delayed box set (which supplants bare-bones versions on VHS, laserdisc and DVD) allows fans to dig into Blade Runner's world at length. Just watch the design featurette on disc four to gape at the level of consideration that went into this film, from the futuristic magazines barely glanced in the street scenes to the neon sign — based on the Japanese character for origin — that appears in the first shot of Harrison Ford's origin-disputed protagonist.

But to focus only on the visual density of the film would shortchange its thematic density. Criticized on its release for a perceived coldness, Blade Runner gets more moving and resonant with every viewing. (For a small percentage of my obsessive ruminations on that subject, see here.) Here, DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika (also behind the equally generous Alien Quadrilogy set) has assembled almost everyone involved with the film, including the reticent Ford, to reflect on its myriad meanings and suggestions. Lauzirika's obsessive completism suits the film; besides the entire surviving cast, he's even found people who auditioned. His three-and-a-half hour making-of documentary — which really deserves a making-of documentary of its own — is packed with fascinating revelations. (My favorite is that Ridley Scott's brother died just before Scott signed on to direct the film, which helps explain its unrelentingly bleak, grief-stricken tone.)

Scott provides one of the three commentary tracks on disc one, which contains this year's "Final Cut" of the film. Four other cuts appear in the set; about all that's missing is the ability to cut your own version, but give it a few years. At the very least, here's your excuse to watch this masterpiece five more times. Like you needed one. — Peter Smith