For many people Blade Runner surely is one of the most outstanding Science-Fiction movies ever; and the Ultimate Edition is probably a nice thing to have in every DVD-collection.
The main item of the Ultimate Edition is the Final Cut. Ridley Scott's first opportunity to release his version of the movie. The Theatrical version from the 80ies and the re-release as so called Director’s Cut in the early 90ies, which was based on the workprint, were all made without Ridley Scott's blessing. One of the main issues of the Final Cut was to make the images and the sound as good as possible – and especially on the HD media the movie really looks fantastic. (A comparison can be found here) Besides that it was tried to eliminate smaller mistakes of the film. Spectacular new CGI was avoided, fortunately. Some scenes, the cast referred to as lovable mistakes, remained untouched. Serious changes to the so called Director’s Cut will not be found – even though those were expected by many people. The content did not change, even though 45 minutes of Deleted Scenes would have been tempting for other, not that established directors. Only the additional violence-scenes from the old European Theatrical version were reintegrated. Blade Runner is a classic, that is often close to perfection and after 25 years Ridley Scott finally was given the opportunity to make a true Director’s Cut and get even closer to perfection. Those who want find out more about its spectacular history of origins, will get all the information on the several bonus features of the Ultimate Edition. This is a comparison between the Director’s Cut and the Final Cut It is possible that some smaller changes of the Final Cut have been overlooked or not been named intentionally. The cuts, in the true meaning of the word, have been named correctly. In the streets
Additional scene DC Deckard is waiting for his food longer, reading the newspaper. 9 seconds
Additional scene DC He is looking at the flying billboard for longer. 10 seconds
Additional scene DC Reading the newspaper. 5,5 seconds Correction of the sound track Bryant now mentions correctly that 2 and not only 1 replicant died on the escape. no time difference Additional scene DC The approach of Tyrell's building is a moment longer. 0,5 seconds
Alternative background Roy in the phone booth has another background. no time difference
The unicorn Alternative scene In the DC we see Deckard longer with his finger on the piano. Then the unicorn a little earlier. In the FC there is a close up of Deckard opening his eyes. Then we see a totally different shot of the unicorn. FC 8 seconds longer.
Alternative scene In the DC we fade away from the unicorn earlier and then we see Deckard looking at some pictures on the piano. In the FC we see the unicorn a moment longer, then back to Deckard with his eyes open. DC 11 seconds longer.
Searching clues Alternative scene Actually it cannot really be noticed in the film and especially not here on the images. But the tattoo on Zhora's cheek is different and in the FC the actress Joanna Cassidy can be identified more easily. no time difference
Alternative scene Same here. In the film's zoom now better noticeable. no time difference
Later, on the Polaroid of the close up, both versions show an identical image. The one from the FC post production When the Chinese woman analyzes the snake's reptile scale with a microscope and names the serial number, in the FC it now matches the image, we see. In DC the serial number being shown was wrong. no time difference
After the scene with the Chinese woman Deckard is walking through the streets longer. 16 seconds
We see the street in front of the bar, in which Deckard is looking for the "snake woman". 16 seconds
post production While the injured Zhora is falling through the glass panes the stunt-woman's face was replaced by the actress Joanna Cassidy, who is playing Zhora. no time difference
post production Several times wires, which were holding the spinners for example, have been retouched away. Here is one example. The second set of images is only a blown up image detail no time difference
post production Shortly before Deckard meets Leon he has a small wound on his cheek in the DC, which he did not have before. In the FC it was digitally removed. no time difference
Tyrell's death Alternative scene In the DC we only see parts of Roy pressing the eyes in. The FC, however, shows a later part of the take, including blood. FC 2,5 seconds longer.
The FC has a shot of Sebastian, which the DC does not show before the end of the scene. Alternative scene In the DC we see the owl and then Roy earlier in one shot. In the FC, however, we see the fingers in the eyes, again. DC 4,5 seconds longer.
At the end the FC has another shot of the eyes. 2 seconds
Instead, the DC now shows the shot of Sebastian Alternative scene The transition from Roy to the tunnel, Deckard is driving in, is equally long but at another time. In the FC we see Roy longer, in the DC we see the tunnel longer. no time difference
Pris Alternative scene In the DC Pris hits Deckard on the ears once more. In the FC, however, she pulls his nose. FC 6 seconds longer
Pris is fidgeting, Deckard shoots again. 4 seconds
Roy We see the nail, that Roy is pressing through his hand, coming out of the back of his hand. He is screaming in pain. 4,5 seconds
The FC now shows Roy standing on the window, laughing. The DC does not show this before the end of the next shot. Alternative shot The following shot is longer in the DC than in the FC. But the FC shows Roy in the window. The window is empty in the DC. DC 3 seconds longer
Additional scene DC After the laughing Roy, the DC shows Deckard's hands, again. 1,5 seconds
Additional scene DC Deckard is wandering about aimlessly on the roof for longer. 6,5 seconds
Alternative shot The pigeon, which is flying away after Roy's death, has another background. The one in the DC does not match the rest of the scene. no time difference
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