Time to Die... Again & In Newly Found Glory

Sometimes it's not about sharing what's new, but sharing what's best. In the case of Blade Runner, it's both 25 years old and in many respects very new; and it's unquestionably among the best.

In what must be one of the most anticipated releases of the DVD age, Blade Runner: Final Cut is being prepared for release, less than a week before Christmas Day, 2007.

This major campaign will introduce several versions:

• Blade Runner - 2 Disc Special Edition:
  
  Disc One:
  Ridley Scott's all new "Final Cut'.
  
  Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:
  - Commentary by Ridley Scott
  - Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
  
  - Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer
  
  Disc Two
  Documentary - "Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner"
  
  A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film - from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.
  
  
• Blade Runner - 4 Disc Collector's Edition
  
  Containing the 2 discs of the Special Edition, the Collector's edition also boasts 2 further discs, containing 3 alternative versions of the film, as well as an "Enhancement Archive" bonus disc of enhanced content that includes 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film's history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.
  
  Disc Three
  1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
  
  This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford's character narration and has Deckard and Rachel's (Sean Young) "happy ending" escape scene.
  
  1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
  
  Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.
  
  1992 DIRECTOR'S CUT
  
  The Director's Cut omits Deckard's voice over narration and removes the "happy ending" finale. It adds the famously-controversial "unicorn" sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.
  
  Disc Four
  BONUS DISC - "Enhancement Archive"
  
  - Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
  - Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
  - Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
  - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
  - The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
  - Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
  - Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
  - Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
  - Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
  - Unit Photography Gallery
  - Deleted & Alternate Scenes
  - 1982 Promotional Featurettes
  - Trailers & TV Spots
  - Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
  - Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
  - Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
  - Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers
  
  

• Blade Runner - 5 disc Ultimate Collectors Edition
  
  Containing the 4 discs of the Collector's Edition, The Ulitmate edition also includes a 5th disc, containing the ultra-rare, near-legendary WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. It will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Deckard's own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector's photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.
  
  Disc Five
  WORKPRINT VERSION
  
  This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no "unicorn" sequence, no Deckard/Rachel "happy ending," altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.
  
  Also includes:
  
  - Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
  - Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut
  
  This version will be available in standard DVD format, as well as HD-DVD and BluRay High Definition variants.

It's hard to imagine a more comprehensively thought-out and packaged re-release of a 25 year old movie - such is the significance of the original release, and I for one will be first in line.

The only significant thing that appears to be missing is the excellent Mark Kermode-presented Channel 4 documentary, 'On The Edge Of Blade Runner' (2000), which was originally rumoured for inclusion on disc 5. It was on YouTube until Warners objected; hopefully it might appear in this Warner package, and has simply been left off the content detail.

Source for package contents: The Digital Bits