SF Signal: Blade Runner 25th Anniversary

Blade Runner 25th Anniversary

This week marks the 25th anniversary of Blade Runner's release in theaters. Although it did not do well in its theater run - it was up against Spielberg blockbuster E.T. - it has since gone on to become one of the most popular sci-fi movies of all time.

There's a 25th Anniversary DVD called Blade Runner: Final Cut being released in September. This is, I think, the 5th DVD version. This Final Cut will also be (re)released in theaters. For now, you can watch the trailer.

Although my own impression of the movie was not great (especially when compared to excellent source novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) others are talking about it, like SlashDot and BrainWagon. Also: Popular Mechanics offers Blade Runner at 25: Why the Sci-Fi F/X Are Still Unsurpassed written by MythBuster Adam Savage.

That story about the 25th anniversary version of BR is from May 2006...so wouldn't that have been September 2006? So it should be out already, no?

I'll have to look around for it, I don't recall seeing anything new in the video store.

Posted by Fred Kiesche on Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 10:52 AM

Amazon lists a 09/05/06 release of "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut" and has it listed as OOP and only available used (!).

They also list "Blade Runner: The Essential 25th Anniversary Collection", but not in production yet, one of those "sign up and we'll notify you".

One of the comments in the review of the "Director's Cut" indicates that the DC version is the first of **three** planned new releases (!) that will come since the settlement of legal issues. I think SF Signal's crack(ed) Action Investigative Reporters needs to get on this right away! Which will be the edition best worth buying to settle all those burning questions (how many replicants...and others...) that have been burning the internet (then, Arpanet!) since the movie first came out.

Posted by Fred Kiesche on Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 11:00 AM

We'll get on that right away! We're always interested in...[trails off and falls asleep]

Posted by John on Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 11:06 AM

Reading the article again, it looks like 2007 will be the limited theatrical release and the "ultimate fanboy edition" DVD. But...when?

Haven't seen anything about the film myself. It would have been great for it to be out now, matching the original release time, no?

And wasn't that the summer of another SF film that revitalized a sagging franchise (for a brief moment)?

Posted by Fred Kiesche on Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 2:18 PM