Having been a fan of Ridley Scott's dystopian masterpiece BLADE RUNNER since it first impacted theater screens in 1982, and following it through THE DIRECTOR'S CUT revision a decade later, I most certainly looked forward to seeing this new FINAL CUT at a Warner Brothers screening this week.  Yet I was not prepared for the stunning results of this restored version — scratch that, this rebirth of a cinematic marvel.  No matter if you've seen this film one time or one hundred, you haven't seen the real BLADE RUNNER yet. 

Opening in a limited New York/Los Angeles theatrical run on Friday, this FINAL CUT, supervised by Mr. Scott and produced by Charles de Lauzirika, demonstrates with digital clarity what a powerful film BLADE RUNNER remains, and just how much this dark journey through future noir was and is today far ahead of its time.

De Lauzirika scoured the vast and obscure depths of film archives to resurrect boxes upon boxes of presumably lost negatives, including scenes shot during original production but never included or edited out of its first release.  This allowed he and director Scott to finally reassemble the preferred, ultimate edit of BLADE RUNNER as close to how Scott first intended it to be seen.

Having compiled this extended edit, digital restoration of the film's images and audio track could begin so its technical presentation could match its unique and lasting vision which has never faded or shown its age.  Now with subtly enhanced special effects and a rich, dynamic 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, BLADE RUNNER - THE FINAL CUT must be seen in its theatrical presentation to be believed and fully appreciated.

As the opening credits cut into the blackness, this restoration's new audio mix takes full advantage of the sparse yet thunderous score by Vangelis.  I will assume the two bi-coastal releases will screen BLADE RUNNER in theaters optimized to deliver the full range of this stellar 5.1 mix, and so hold on to your socks.  The FINAL CUT is an immersive experience courtesy of the soundtrack alone, and these enhanced audio effects and additional music cues offer spectacular resonance to the film's experience.

Then the darkness ebbs to reveal the Hades landscape of 2019 Los Angeles, and when the first spinner speeds into the scene, it's literally breathtaking even for longtime fans like myself.  The inferno blasts of refineries.  The monstrous glowing Tyrell Corporation pyramid.  Zooming in on the office window where Holden will give Leon his Voight-Kampff test.  Every minute detail first created during production has been captured and occasionally enhanced through a painstaking, frame-by-frame computer scanning of original negatives at high-resolution.  Overwhelmed senses will relish this wow-factor from the opening frames, and the audio-visual delights continue for two hours.

Part of the fun for devotees of BLADE RUNNER will be trying to spot the myriad of visual plusses subtly and spectacularly woven through the film, so I will refrain from scrolling a spoiler list of them here. Most pleasantly, these additions and tweaks are committed first with the upmost respect for the original work in all its timeless glory, then conscientiously applied where needed to fix minor flaws and process drawbacks which, while few in number even 25 years ago, nonetheless can be corrected and clarified for our digital era.  Perhaps more instances of these pseudo-flaws result solely from the actual production technology of its time, the inherent limitations of film stocks and lenses to record details on emulsion which today have been far surpassed.  So as with any classic film from the last century, be it BLADE RUNNER or LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, such masterpieces deserve their loving restorations so they may last for generations to come.

The passage of time also affects how audiences react to the story, themes and performances of this dark, cyberpunk tale of a search for humanity within inhumanity.  In 1982, audiences largely rejected Harrison Ford's portrayal of such a disconnected character like Deckard — it was too far from the comfortable mold of Han Solo's roguish charm to accept. Having watched his body of work and his maturation since, Ford's performance holds up remarkably well and hits all the right notes for the character and story as-written.  Critics and fans embraced the emotional freedom and unpredictability of Rutger Hauer as replicant Roy Batty, and his efforts stand out even brighter a quarter-century later.

While Los Angeles is far from the acid rain-soaked megatropolis depicted in its 2019 guise, the production design (sets, costumes, vehicles and props) remain solid, groundbreaking visions of this nihilistic netherworld — and despite inspiring a generation of weak copies and ripoffs, BLADE RUNNER's originality remains as potent and viable as ever.  It has been an historical imperative in fiction, especially in filmed entertainment, that nothing ages more harshly or becomes more fleetingly obsolescent than visions of the future.  Often the most extreme and awesome Tomorrowland hastens to devolve into a hackneyed and comical Yesteryear after a mere decade of clock tickings.  Not so for BLADE RUNNER, and one viewing of it in theaters starting will convince you without doubt.

While the three DVD box set collections of BLADE RUNNER, and the mind-boggling treasure trove of extras celebrating its wonder and staying power, will be available in mid-December of this year, do not miss this rarest of opportunities to see the film as intended by Ridley Scott and restoration partner Charles de Lauzirika starting this Friday.  Not the most expensive of home theater systems nor the highest of high-definition TV screens can match the experience of seeing this rebirth of BLADE RUNNER projected in a movie theater.  Only a screen forty feet tall surrounded by thousands of watts of crystal clear digital sound can ever present the towering audacity of Scott's vision and Philip K. Dick's original source story.

BLADE RUNNER - THE FINAL CUT was far ahead of its time in 1982, and it remains ahead of our time today as a stunning example of the unfettered power and imagination to be invested and enjoyed in the art of filmmaking.  Support that cause by getting out and buying a ticket to see it during its limited New York and Los Angeles engagements starting October 5th.  If you don't live near a theater screening it, get there and the reward for your efforts will be self-explanatory from the first frame.  Who knows, if enough fans make BLADE RUNNER a hit in these two cities, Warners might expand its release so other fans around the country can enjoy this masterpiece in theaters once again.  Pre-order the DVD if you're so inclined, but witnessing this cinematic marvel larger-than-life is a rare opportunity that must not be missed.