Voice Over

Know that I like most people grew up a child of the 80's. I was two when BR came out and would get to watch it at my grandmothers house on VHS. It was one of those movies that even as a young child I wanted to like but something always bothered me. Even at a young age the voice over narration just didnt sound right. Fast forward to my junior year of H.S. circa '96 and a pal of mine has a sweet laserdisc collection (note this is about 6 months before DVD was introduced in dallas) He shows me a now forgotten film called Blade Runner. I was blown away all over again!! Only this time somethig was diferent. Couldnt put my finger on it at the time. He ended up telling me that this was the "Directors Cut" released in '92. It didnt have the narration nor the silly happy ending. Needless to say I fell completely in love w/BR sans the v.o. It quickly became my alltime fave film (up their w/2001, Chinatown and Citizen Kane) I became obsessed w/B.R. I purchased the bible a.k.a. Future Noir and found out that my suspiscions as a child were somewhat true. Their was something wrong w/the v.o. Harrison as well as Ridley didnt think it was a good idea. Though previous versions of B.R. script has a v.o. it was ultimately omited. But you guys no all of this. I have recently attempted viewing the u.s. theatrical version and quite honestly guys I just cant do it. I got about an hour into that version of the film the other night and had to turn it off. Its not because the dialauge is that bad (which it is) or even that Harrison sounds so damn droll (which he dose) But because the damn thing kept interupting one of the most beutiful parts about B.R. ....Vangelis's amazing music. Its odd how one or two seeminglysmall elements can alter a film. Now I know that the so called "Directors Cut" isnt in fact Ridley's final cut. But it is completely superior to that original version. Am I the only one that has this sort of reaction to the original? Thanks for reading my rantings, hope to hear from you soon.

I like 'm both. I like everything about Blade Runner, except the unicorn scene (it took away beautiful Vangelis music too ). I like the way Ford did a lousy job with the voice over. It fitted the character he played, a man who has nothing or little to live for.

I too, like them both. But personally, will always prefer the original. (This has been discussed on the boards before, but is always a good question).
I never had a problem w/ the voice-over or even the ending really,for that matter. The narration is one of the main factors that helps to create the noir feel in BR. and is the version I would recommend to a first-timer if only because it's maybe a bit easier to understand at first. Then... multiple viewings of both versions are recommended as well. ( I,myself have no control over this impulse anyhow ) On the other hand... my opinion may be bias-ed since I was introduced to BR with the original version at a time when no other existed, and it holds a special place in my heart.
At the time of release, Vangelis worked perfectly as background music for the narration (as well as creating a wonderful atmosphere, I might add). No matter how many versions of BR are created , I'm sure I'll watch them all. But... the Original should always be made available to the public on future DVD release

I rarely watch the original theatrical but only because I don't want to wear the VHS tape out - it's over ten years old

I don't mind either version, but I do think the 'tacked on' ending of the original does look out of place (well it would do, it is the out-takes from 'The Shining' after all!).

I wouldn't mind a hybrid version of the director's cut with Deckard's voice over - I have got the right software to create my own version, but don't want to spend the time doing one...

...perhaps I will later this year.

I dont buy the fact that BR needed to be dumbed down for the masses. Its a cerebral film after all. Call me crazy but what makes BR great and perhaps the reason we can all these years later still be talking about this film is its ambiguity. It is this that is ruined to a certain extent by the V.O. and is highlighted by its omition.
Oh and I'm aware that this is an old subject...just wanted to throw in my two cents.
I love this board and the fact that something like this exists for us BR fans.

ive finally seen both. i think the DC is better though. the OV might be better if Harrison ford didnt sound so drugged up in the voice over. the ending was kinda wacky, but good. i just think the DC is better for some reason. maybe its because i grew on blade runner watching only this cut.

Blade Runner's cult status started with the theatrical cut. Maybe none of this cult following would've happened with the DC. For me seeing the unicorn dream sequence is also kind of awkward, plus, this scene points a finger at Deckard for giving away that he's a replicant. Anyway, it's been said a thousand times before, but the film that started it all and spread its influence all through the 80s up till now, badly derserves to be released on DVD.

Deckard BR26354:

Such an hybrid version actually exists. A friend and I watched it long ago at the university, and some time later I got in touch with a BR fan from Spain via Web, who knew of its existence too, and luckily got it on VHS from a cable channel (don't remember which one) I was gpoing to send him money for him to make me a copy of it, but somehow I lost his email and never found him again.

The version I saw included Voice Over, Unicorn Scene, and ended with the elevator doors closing. Don't know who created it, or where did it came fromo, I am talking 1997/98 btw.

that hybrid version would be awsome. maybe we can all put together our own sometime if anyone has the hardware to do it.

I dont buy the fact that BR needed to be dumbed down for the masses. Its a cerebral film after all. Call me crazy but what makes BR great and perhaps the reason we can all these years later still be talking about this film is its ambiguity. It is this that is ruined to a certain extent by the V.O. and is highlighted by its omition.
Oh and I'm aware that this is an old subject...just wanted to throw in my two cents.
I love this board and the fact that something like this exists for us BR fans.

Maybe they did try to "dumb it down" for the masses... but IMHO,they failed..BIG time.The original asks the viewer to question the same things and is as ambiguous as the DC,to me. Maybe the DC was dummed-down a bit by suggesting too much
No matter what the reason for Harrison to sound so droll in the narration(e.g. his boredom or Deck's drunkeness), I think it ended-up working perfectly in the end. I like to believe that some things just happen for a reason sometimes,and BR was destined for greatness, as we all know.
The "Shining" ending does stick-out like a sore thumb But it worked for me when I first saw it and still can. I like to think that not everywhere on the planet is like L.A. It's a very large city and would be dirtier than the average place. Science will tell you... There must be some greener places on the planet somewhere as Mother Earth could not survive w/out a sufficiently balanced ecosystem. And, people often get "stuck" living in places they can't get away from whether it's the ghetto or even a tyrranical country. But... the lucky ones eventually realize there's something better out there and go for it.
I Guess this describes the way my warped brain can rationalize these things for a "slightly flawed" but ingenious film
Hey, Centauro - I seem to remember you mentioning the "hybrid" version a long time ago... and no-one believed you.
Deckard BR26354 - I sure hope you can find the time to create yer own hybrid. It would require alot of work but, I bet you could present it to us LONG before we ever get to see the cursed Special Edition