SFFMedia.com analyses the changes made in the revised “Final Cut” of BLADE RUNNER, which is getting some limited theatrical play prior to its DVD release later this month. Basically, it sounds as if the new version includes pretty much all the extra footage that was in the European version (released on VHS in the 1980s) and in the 70mm workprint that showed up at special screenings in Los Angeles in 1991 (which led to a revised “Director’s Cut” being released the following year). Other changes include a longer unicorn dream sequence; new footage of Joanna Cassidy performing Zhora’s death (instead of the obvious stunt double from the original); dubbing to fix some lip-synch problems in Deckard’s dialogue with the snake merchant; and some editing to trim sequences that ran too long once the old voice-over narration had been removed.
Harrison Ford and Joanna Cassidy
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I, for one, albeit I’m sure one of very few, am looking forward to the new BR set because I WANT the narrated theatrical version that is included. I think narration works WELL in the case of Blade Runner — it brings some real humanity to the film.
I don’t think the old narration is as bad as some people made it out to be, but I do think the film works better without it. It forces you to pay attention and come to your own conclusions, instead of having it explained to you.