Born to Run

Few films have been altered, released, re-altered, re-released, re-re-altered and re-re-released more than Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. The 1982 future noir cult classic is now on its seventh edition. Aside from the original domestic release and broadcast television versions of the film, Blade Runner has a more violent international cut, two workprint cuts that were screened at conventions and film festivals, a 1991 "Director's Cut" that was, in fact, not approved by Ridley Scott and a 1992 "Director's Cut" that Scott actually approved. And now there's the "25th Anniversary Edition" Blade Runner: The Final Cut. Far from a George Luacs-style rehash that simply cleans up the original film and drops in some extra special effects, this is Scott's definitive vision, with numerous additions (more violence, a unicorn dream sequence, and some more violence) and a few omissions (Harrison Ford's painfully annoying voice-over narration and the lame, studio ordered happy ending that included shots lifted from The Shining) to the original theatrical release, as well as a pristine digital print created from the film's original negatives and remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Blade Runner: The Final Cut screens at midnight Friday and Saturday at the Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. Call 214-765-9106 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
Fri., Nov. 30; Sat., Dec. 1, 2007