Definitive Bladerunner heads for DVD

Those of you who feel the world might benefit from yet another version of Ridley Scott's Bladerunner will be delighted to learn that Warner Home Video is planning to release a 25th anniversary "definitive new version" - billed as the "final cut" of the 1982 sci-fi classic.

In September, Warner will release a "restored and remastered" version of the film, including the 1992 "director's cut". After four months, this limited release will be deleted and replaced by an all-singing, all-dancing definitive DVD onto which will be packed the aforementioned "final cut", plus the "director's cut", plus "the original theatrical cut, the expanded international theatrical cut", according to Reuters.

The re-release of the "director's cut" is apparently what Bladerunner aficionados have been waiting for, since it "first came out on DVD before optimal formatting standards had been established", according to Doug Pratt, editor of the DVD-LaserDisc Newsletter.

Pratt further explained: "Shortly afterwards, it went into moratorium. The early adopters who bought the title have long since wished to see it upgraded, while other fans, who came into DVDs later on, have been unable to find it at all. It is the only 'big' sci-fi spectacle currently unavailable on DVD."

That, then seems like an end to the matter, although we suspect Warner will continue to milk this replicant cash cow with further releases including the "Linux programmers' cut" (lots and lots of extra Daryl Hanna and Sean Young), and the "What is it with Ridley Scott and bloody unicorns? cut" (no bloody unicorns). ®