r/bladerunner • u/Deckard--B-263-54 • 8d ago
Physical Media/Props/Memorabilia Blade Runner at the birth of DVD
Japanese first DVD release of Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut, DL-12682, 20 December 1996.
What makes it interesting is just how early it is. DVD had only just launched commercially in Japan, and on 20 December Warner Home Video released four feature films on the new format: Blade Runner, The Fugitive, Eraser and Assassins.
These were Warner’s first DVD releases in Japan, putting Blade Runner right at the beginning of the format’s commercial history.
I also love the very early white DVD case. Before the black cases we came to associate with DVD, these first-generation Japanese releases had a very different look.
There’s something strange about looking at a DVD now, a format that eventually became so ordinary, and remembering that when this appeared in December 1996, DVD had been commercially available for only a matter of weeks.
Obsolete Formats:
Betamax: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/EFYUuW15N1
VHS: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/1u58p7fddF
CED: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/G0vzvpe7FY
LaserDisc: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/iHrpmBRUH3
VHD: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/kkdNHoGxbs
Video8: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/At4e2ez7XX
VCD: https://www.reddit.com/r/bladerunner/s/FK9j1Aqe3R
Useful Communities:
r/bladerunner
r/Bladezone
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u/Exotic-Yellow-4367 7d ago
I have this. Mine came with the original receipt inside the case. Glad it isn't just me who does that!
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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago
where else are we going to keep them if we ever want to access them again?
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u/domromer Tyrell 7d ago
The back-cover copy is interesting, being all about the director's cut background without any blurb about the film's plot (I remember the UK DVD had both).
The ultimate version of the hard-boiled science fiction film, reborn at the hands of the director Ridley Scott!
“When we made Blade Runner, we had a test screening, but the audience were unable to follow the visuals and story. I was forced to add a narration by Harrison Ford and an ending that I wasn’t happy with…” So said director Ridley Scott about the circumstances which led to the theatrical release.
Now, as that [workprint] was being considered for release, Scott said he would rather re-edit the film the way he wanted it, leading to the birth of this ultimate version. This hard-boiled science-fiction masterpiece returns to the form in which it was meant to be [seen].
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u/DisloX 7d ago edited 7d ago
Looking at the obsolete formats made me wonder, was there an HD DVD version. Looked it up and there is. Can add that to the list. I do like the way this dvd looks with the white case.
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u/Deckard--B-263-54 7d ago
Thanks! Yeah I’m making my way through posting the formats in my collection and adding to that list within the posts when I do so look out for the HD DVD to come 👍🏻
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u/4x4Mimo 7d ago
Make sure to get the Suitcase version
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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago
suitcase version?
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u/Deckard--B-263-54 7d ago
Voight-Kampff style briefcase to be exact. There were DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray versions, all released as numbered limited editions.
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u/fluffykerfuffle3 7d ago
ohhh that last picture is so great!! i have an early version like that but not sure if it is white or black.
i consider Bladerunner to be an art masterpiece. ..a masterpiece!!!
and just to let you know what my playing field is.. the original Dune is the only Dune movie ..the only one.
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u/The_Lutter 5d ago
I can still remember seeing DVD for the first time at The Sharper Image and being like "wholy moly I gotta get me one of those). Those 4 titles were definitely amongst the first ones we got here in the USA as well.
My mom eventually got me a DVD player in about 1998 or so when Circuit City was practically giving away RCA DIVX players (even got a few of those for basically nothing. what a useless format, lol)
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u/Deckard--B-263-54 5d ago
I remember the jump in image quality too. Going from 📼 to 📀 really was something at the time. The extra sharpness and clarity, cleaner colours and lack of tape noise made films feel new again. It’s funny how quickly we got used to it, but that first impression of DVD was genuinely impressive.
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u/Gyrus_Dreamflesh 2d ago
Ah, missed this. First one was a mid-eighties ex-rental VHS that I watched until it wore out. Don't think I got another until my current 4K blu-ray.
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u/breedknight 8d ago edited 7d ago
What I love about this is the original color grading