BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT
d.
Ridley Scott
c. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer
release date: December 18, 2008

Last week was a smorgasbord of upcoming DVD goodness with so many announcements of classic movie special editions that it will keep many people broke until Christmas. We let up a little this week on the quantity of releases, but the money is still gonna cost you if you want all the goodness. Much of that is a result of the announced release of Blade Runner: The Final Cut. While there have been questions about whether the “fixes” to the original movie would hurt the nostalgia effect, Chud’s own Jeremy Smith watched the re-cut scenes and said that the upgrade is so seamlessly integrated that there is no risk of it taking you out of the movie. Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be released in three DVD editions: a Two-Disc Special Edition (at $20.97 SRP), a Four-disc Collector’s Edition ($34.99 SRP) and the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition ($78.92 SRP) in Collectible “Deckard Briefcase” packaging. Simultaneous HD DVD and Blu-Ray versions of the “Deckard Briefcase” will also be released in numbered, limited quantities. HD DVD and Blu-Ray 5-Disc Digi Packs with collectible slipcase will include all of the Ultimate content. What is the content? Well, lets take a look at it:

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)

Blade Runner: 2 Disc

  • RIDLEY SCOTT’S ALL-NEW "FINAL CUT" VERSION OF THE FILM Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio.
  • 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
  • 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: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (4-DISC)

Blade Runner: 4 Disc

  • The Four-Disc Collector’s Edition includes everything from the 2-Disc Special Edition plus
  • 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 voiceover 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.
  • 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: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (5-DISC)

Blade Runner: 5 Disc

  • The 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes everything from the previously described 4-Disc Edition, plus
  • 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.
  • Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
  • Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut

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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND: 30TH ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE EDITION
d.
Steven Spielberg
c. Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut
release date: November 13, 2007

When Steven Spielberg finished Jaws, he began work on a dream project he held. One of Spielberg’s early memories as a child was when his father woke him in the middle of the night, and with no explanation, rushed him out to the desert where they met up with dozens of other people and watched a light show in the sky the young Spielberg would never forget. From that memory came the basis for his third theatrical feature, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Spielberg was looking at the movie becoming a summer release but because of the studio’s financial troubles, they were counting on the new wunderkind to get this movie out by Christmas to save their jobs. Thanks to the rush, much of what Spielberg wanted to add to the film was not realized and they released it on time to world-wide acclaim. When the movie proved to be a huge success, Spielberg went back and told them he would like to shoot the scenes he was not allowed to shoot because of the time restraints and re-release it as a special edition. The studio agreed, but demanded one scene that they wanted – to see inside the space ship at the end of the movie. Spielberg agreed and shot extra scenes, including the discovery of a ship in the desert, some work on lighting and shadows and the scene with the inside of the ship. The movie was re-released in theaters as a Special Edition and made even more money. Spielberg, however, was not happy with the shot inside of the space ship, as he felt it should never be shown to keep the mysteries of the future. When Spielberg got a chance, he released an anniversary edition on DVD with the Special Edition, but without the inside of the space craft, digitally enhanced for DVD. This edition is the first one that includes all three editions in one set, and the first ever release of the original cut release of the film. It will also include a new interview with Steven Spielberg and a “Making of Close Encounters of the Third Kind” Retrospective Documentary. It is a nice package, but don’t let go of your other collector’s edition, as this looks to be missing a lot of the special features of that release. The Blu-Ray release will include those features plus all-new storyboard to screen comparisons, the original 1977 “Watch the Skies” featurette and the original trailer.

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draculaBRAM STOKER’S DRACULA: COLLECTOR’S EDITION
d.
Francis Ford Coppola
c. Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman, Wynona Ryder
release date: October 02, 2007

It seems as if Francis Ford Coppola, while not making many movies over the last few years, has been working on special editions of his older movies. Rainmaker was released a few weeks ago and now in October a movie I have been waiting on is finally getting special edition treatment. Widely criticized, I feel that Bram Stoker’s Dracula is very underappreciated and deserves more credit than it has ever received. No, it is not one of Coppola’s best movies. The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now makes that impossible. No, it is not the best Dracula movie out there. Both Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee makes that impossible. However, Gary Oldman made a very good Dracula and even with the wooden acting of Keanu Reeves and Wynona Ryder, this movie was not as bad as people would have you believe. It looked great and both Oldman and Anthony Hopkins were solid. The supporting cast was really good and the sets were just beautiful. Yes, it did get a bit sappy and melodramatic, but the vampire story is drenched in melodrama anyway. This is a movie I will be picking up the day it is released. It will include an introduction by Francis Ford Coppola, a Commentary by Coppola, The Blood is the Life – The Making of Dracula, The Costumes Are the Sets – The Design of Eiko Ishioka, In-Camera – The Naïve Visual Effects of Dracula, Method and Madness – Visualizing Dracula, Deleted Scenes and the Trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s new theatrical film Youth Without Youth.

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HOSTEL
d. Eli Roth
release date: October 23, 2007

October 23 will be the date that both Hostel II and the director’s cut of the original Hostel will be released. The Director’s Cut of Hostel will be unrated and include the original ending that was considered “too shocking for theatrical audiences.” The original movie follows two American backpackers as they wonder into the hostel that would turn into a nightmarish hell. The Director’s Cut will include Director and Executive Producers’ Commentary with Roth, Tarantino, Boaz Yakin and Scott Spiegel, Director and Guests’ Commentary with Roth, actors Barbara Nedeljakova and Eythor Gudjonsson, editor George Folsey, Jr. and journalist Harry Knowles, Director and Producers’ Commentary with Roth, producer Chris Biggs and documentarian Gabriel Roth, Director’s Commentary with Roth, Five new featurettes: Music and Sound – Composer Nathan Barr takes us inside his studio and shows viewers his different instruments and how they were used for the film, Set Design – A tour of conceptual drawings and sets used to create the film’s unsettling backdrop, KNB Effects – The KNB EFX Group discusses the films horrific visual effects, An Icelandic Meal with Actor Eythor Gudjonsson – Gudjonsson (Hostel) shares a bit of the Icelandic culture while enjoying one of the nation’s peculiar delicacies, Takashi Miike Interview – An interview with noted film director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) who makes an appearance in the film, “Hostel Dismembered” – International TV special, “The Treatment” – KCRW radio interview with Roth by Elvis Mitchell, “Kill The Car” multi-angle featurette, “Hostel Dissected” – A three part behind-the-scenes featurette, Ten deleted scenes, Four photo galleries hand-picked by Roth and the Option to choose between the theatrical or Director’s Cut endings. The sequel will also be released the same day will be unrated and include 4 Featurettes: “Hostel Part II: The Next Level” Behind the Scenes, “The Art of KNB Effects”, Set Design, International Television Special, Blood and Guts Montage, Deleted Scenes, Director’s Commentary with Eli Roth, Director and Producers’ Commentary with Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino, Cast and Crew Commentary with Eli Roth, Lauren German, Richard Burgi and Vera Jordanova, Elvis Mitchell of “The Treatment” Interview with Eli Roth as well as the exclusive Blu-Ray featurette Factory Torture Cams.