Blade Runner Blu-ray

Blade Runner

 (1982)

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller



Visually spectacular, action-packed and enduringly provocative since its original 1982 release, the stylish noir thriller Blade Runner stars Harrison Ford in the enigmatic role of 21st-century detective Rick Deckard. As he hunts for vengeful, fugitive replicants in a high-tech future soured by urban and social decay, he is drawn to a mysterious woman whose secrets may undermine his own soul.

This spectacular 5-disc set includes all five version of the legendary Sci-Fi film from Director Ridley Scott - the definitive Final Cut with all new 5.1 audio, three additional versions of the film, and the rare Work Print version - in addition to the in-depth feature length documentary "Dangerous Days", and one complete disc of bonus content including over 80-minutes of never-before-seen deleted scenes.

For more details about Blade Runner on Blu-ray, see the Blade Runner Blu-ray Review

Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh
Director: Ridley Scott

Blade Runner Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Blade Runner has found its way to the Blu-ray format in pristine 1080P transferred from a newly minted 4K master. It’s clear that a huge effort was made in cleaning up the film as the source looks as though it was created recently as opposed to twenty-five years ago. The complex optical composites of the film have also been given a major scrubbing and none of the matte lines and optical cut outs that were so prevalent in previous versions are present here. It is worth noting that the new “Final” cut of the film is easily the best in terms of picture quality with each successively older version looking slightly more aged and worse for wear. Ridley Scott’s “Workprint” of the film on disc 5 is easily the worst in terms of picture quality, but it stands to reason that there were limited sources to produce this transfer, so we are probably seeing it in the best quality physically possible. I’ll focus on the “Final” version for the duration of this section. Colors are spot on with vibrant neon hues leaping from the screen. The many aerial shots that take place over a crudded up Los Angeles are spectacular in their dirty, grimy design. Even some of the older optical shots of models look surprisingly more realistic on this new transfer. Black levels and shadow detail are, thankfully, rock solid and intricate. For a film as dark as Blade Runner, anything less would have been a crime. Ultimately, Blade Runner on Blu-ray looks amazing and is, most likely, the best the film is ever going to look. Like their stunning new Blu-ray version of 2001, Warner has really delivered top notch quality with their release of Blade Runner.

Blade Runner Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


In keeping with the high video standards employed on this Blu-ray release, Warner has opted to include a full 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track on this release of Blade Runner. Quite frankly, I’ve never heard Blade Runner sound quite this remarkable. The film has always been well ahead of its time in sound design, but the Blu-ray production team has really gone above and beyond. Directional effects are scattered throughout the film and there is a wonderful sense of realism and ambience to the many crowded street scenes. Dialogue is crisp and always intelligible and never recedes into breaking up, even in the most quietly whispered scenes. Vangelis’ amazing score is crystal clear as well and this TrueHD presentation reveals even more layers of synthesized bass and atmosphere in this revolutionary soundtrack. Like the video, each successive step backwards in the film’s version will reveal a little less in the soundtrack department. After the “Final” cut in TrueHD, the remaining versions are presented in standard Dolby Digital with the “Workprint” being in Dolby 2.0 stereo. Clearly the “Final” version is the standout of the set and is sure to give your home theater a nice workout.

Blade Runner Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Deal Alert: Blade Runner Blu-ray $13.99 - February 19, 2010


• Blade Runner Blu-ray in Gold Box - July 17, 2009


• The Remastering of Blade Runner - December 6, 2007

Blade Runner Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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