Blade Runner Theatrical Release vs Blade Runner Director's Cut

Rating: 9/10 (9 April 2005)

This masterful film is, of course, a morality play: Does a human have all the innate rights of a human whether (it) is born or genetically engineered? The film does not answer this directly, but it urges the viewer to draw his/her own conclusions of right and wrong. Blade Runner is almost a perfect film: perfect casting, terrific score by Vangelis, beautiful,futuristic sets that do not appear contrived, incredible cinematography, convincing acting. However, there is one thing that bothers me about the "Director's Cut" in any film. How can the director release the film for the general public, let it float around as a created entity for a few years, and then change it? A film, like a book, is a unique creation. The plot, the fate of the characters, the elements of the film, are unique to that film, so once the film is released, "the die is cast", so to speak. In my mind, something doesn't "ring true" about changing a film that has been in circulation for a period of time. It seems profane, somehow, to re-release it in a changed form once the viewing public has accepted it for what it is. How many books have you read where the author comes back a few years later and changes the elements of the book? If personally feel that once a film is released, that's it. The film is what it is and should not be changed. I have looked for the original version of Blade Runner, with Dekker's narration, which is smug, blunt, sarcastic, sometimes funny: it fleshes out his character. The original version more clearly illustrates exactly what kind of guy Dekker is, partly due to his narration. Unfortunately, the original version of the film is no longer available. It's obvious that the "Director's Cut" is a ploy to re-market the film. However, don't misunderstand me. Blade Runner is a brilliant film, the definitive science fiction film, and both versions are excellent. I just feel the original narrated version is the best one, the ORIGINAL one.