Runner Finally About To Reach Finish Line

I am in the midst of putting together my review of X-MEN:The Last Stand, to be posted very soon, as promised yesterday...

Meanwhile, when I came home from the movie theater last night, I came across this nifty little item on Sci-Fi Wire, (which is lifted from an article in Variety by Diane Garrett) about one of my favorite flicks of the science fiction genre:

image: Warner Bros.

Warner Home Video will issue a new remastered director's cut of the classic SF movie Blade Runner in September now that it has cleared up rights issues, followed by a theatrical release of a version promised to be truly director Ridley Scott's final cut, Variety reported. Warner's rights to Blade Runner lapsed a year ago, but the studio has since negotiated a long-term license.

The movie has a troubled history. When Scott ran over budget, completion bond guarantors took control of it and made substantial changes before its 1982 theatrical release, adding a voice-over and a happy ending. That version was replaced by the much better-received director's cut in 1992, but Scott has long been unhappy with it, complaining that he was rushed and unable to give it proper attention.

Scott started working on the final cut version in 2000, but that project was shelved by Warner soon after, apparently because the studio couldn't come to terms with Jerry Perenchio over rights issues.

The restored "director's cut" will debut on home video in September and will remain on sale for only four months, after which time it will be placed on moratorium. Blade Runner: Final Cut will arrive in 2007 for a limited 25th-anniversary theatrical run, followed by a special-edition DVD with the three previous versions offered as alternate viewing. Besides the original theatrical version and director's cut, the expanded international theatrical cut will be included. The set will also contain additional bonus materials.

This is awesome news! The first time I saw the film, I couldn't take my eyes off of it, and that was in its original form in 1982. After hearing about all of the behind the scenes turmoil and legal wrangling over the years, I have only become more intrigued by the prospect of what a "final version" might look like. I'm glad Ridley Scott will finally be able to finish the movie as he originally intended almost a quarter century ago. This is so cool!

...Gosh It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since the movie's first release...At that sudden realization--I feel very, very old. Hopefully, the final cut will make me feel young again...