Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageBlade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)
Director: Ridley Scott
Movie review
From Time Out London
Granted a brief theatrical showing prior to its all-singing-all-dancing DVD release (the perfect Christmas gift!), ‘The Final Cut’ isn’t, content wise, radically dissimilar to 1992’s ‘Director’s Cut’ (ie no narration, no happy ending, hello unicorn), but the overall effect is astounding. A critical and commercial failure back in 1982 but hugely influential on two generations of filmmakers, video directors, and ad men, Scott’s masterpiece has, thanks to exemplary restoration work, never looked or sounded this good. Backgrounds are denser, colours richer, effects have been digitally cleaned and corrected, with newly shot footage of Joanna Cassidy replacing the stuntman in a wig who crashes through the shop window after Deckard (Harrison Ford) shoots Zhora in the back, and the blue sky that Batty (Rutger Hauer) previously released the dove into at the end now overcast and rainy. Dialogue has been tweaked too, fixing at least one major narrative inconsistency, while Sean Young’s voice sounds less metallic, more human than before. Ignore Scott’s perplexing insistence that Deckard’s a replicant in this version, and give yourself up to the film’s visual splendour. Bold, bleak and still brilliant.Author: Mark Salisbury
Time Out London Issue 1944: November 20-26 2007
User reviews of this film
-
- benjamin ross said...
- Posted on Oct 06 2008 19:51 i love bladerunner.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Magmabulle said...
- Posted on Jun 08 2008 19:32 The best science fiction ever made in my opinion; Ridley Scott has created a great atmosphere in the dark and constantly raining Los Angeles.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Dariush said...
- Posted on Jan 30 2008 15:19 How wonderful to be given an opportunity to see this on the big screen again. Moving, gripping and beautiful, watch it if it's playing anywhere near you.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- G Melody said...
- Posted on Dec 09 2007 20:00 Because ambiguity's where it's at.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- D Muller said...
- Posted on Nov 27 2007 17:24 Why is Scott's insistence that Deckard's a replicant perplexing?
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Michael Deeley
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Brion James, James Hong, Joanna Cassidy full cast
Duration: 117 mins
UK Release: Nov 23 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now