If it aint broke...

Rating: Null/10 (31 January 2003)

I'm not going to give a review of the film because others have already done so and there aren't really that many people who have not seen the film.
I missed this film when it was first released, but subsequently bought it when it came out on video. Then laserdiscs came along and I was lucky enough to buy a copy of the film by Criterion (which is the uncut European theatrical version). This version forms part of my treasured collection.
Then, the "director's cut" was released and I did make a point of going to see that at the cinema. I have to say that I was really disappointed with this version on three counts:
1. The deletion of the 'violent' bits. The film was not that violent in the first place, so why bother?;
2. The insertion of the 'dream sequence' involving a unicorn. This looked so much like the editor had accidentaly slipped in a scene from 'Legend' that most of the audience burst out laughing. This was supposed to suggest that Deckard IS a replicant, linking (as it does) with Gaff's origami model that he finds at the end of the film. But there are already other subtle clues within the film (like the glow in Deckard's eyes), so why put in this gauche signpost?; and
3. The loss of the voice-over. I, personally, don't mind the Marlowe-esque voice-over. Not only does it explain certain parts of the storyline, but it adds to the 'replicantness' of Deckard's character. Without the voice-over, the film becomes confusing (to the uninitiated) and the pace slows.
Needless to say, I didn't bother to buy the "director's cut" when it was released on DVD. I'm still waiting for the original European version to be released on DVD, but this seems increasingly unlikely (Criterion have since lost their licence for this film). I now read that Ridley Scott is going to revisit his (flawed) sci-fi masterpiece and produce a proper "director's cut". I hope he decides that the original version was okay and simply signs that off for release.