Today Warner Brothers Studios officially announced the release of the film Blade Runner: Final Cut directed by Sir Ridley Scott. This is a new definitive version of the classic science fiction film Blade Runner. This film will be released to DVD in 3 editions: a 2-disc edition, a 4-disc edition and a 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s edition.

The 2-disc set features a restored and remastered version of the Blade Runner film with added and extended scenes, a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track, new and improved special effects, added lines, commentaries, and a documentary.

The 4-disc set has all the features of the 2-disc set and adds many others with the most significant being that this includes 3 additional versions of the film (the theatrical version, the international version and the 1992 director’s cut).

The 5-disc set, which comes in a special briefcase, has all the features of the 4-disc set and many additional features with the most notable being a rare workprint of the original film. The workprint is considered to be radically different then all other versions of the film.

The 2-disc, 4-disc, and 5-disc sets are priced at $20.97, $34.99, and $78.92 respectively. The sets will be available for purchase on December 18, 2007. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD versions of the 5-disc set will also be released simultaneously, prices for these versions will be announced later.

[source:The Digital Bits]

I’m not sure who is going to win the high definition DVD format war but Blu-Ray is the superior format. The Blu-Ray disc holds 25GB on a single sided disc and 50GB on a dual layered disc. In comparison the HD-DVD holds 15GB on a single sided disc and 30GB on a dual layered disc. More storage space means more data more software, mp3s, standard definition video, and documents. As well in terms of high definition video theoretically more storage space means better picture quality. …Continue reading … »

I thought that the first film of the series was a C+ film. The second one of the series was a C- film. It seems with these films are been empty special effects showcases. While the special effects have been incredible I have found that these films have been very disappointing for the fact that the creators of these movies have the best that hollywood has to offer at their disposal and results are so forgettable. The main culprit is the writing. However I will say that watching these first two films I see glimpses of greatness. Are they finally realized in the third film or is it more of the same?