Blade Runner has to be one of the most inspiring films of all time. In fact, it was listed by the Visual Effects Society as the third most influential film of all time in terms of special effects, only behind 2001 and Star Wars. But its importance doesn’t seem to be reflected in terms of a DVD release, despite being one of the first out when DVDs first started booming.

So it’s about time that it got a Special Edition treatment on DVD, and Australian website EzyDVD recently announced the Ultimate Collection. But there’s no point checking the site now, as the announcement has been recently removed. Instead, check out this Blog which happened to save all the information available.

So it looks like the wait has been worth it, with this astounding 5-disc edition. It includes a ridiculous 5 versions of the film. The most interesting is Ridley Scott’s most recent cut, the cut he always wanted and only half-achieved with the acclaimed 1992 Director’s Cut. Although I’m not all convinced that it will be “more” definitive (The director’s cut of Alien was interesting, but I wouldn’t call it an improvement), it will certainly be fascinating. This new cut is supposedly getting a cinema release, but there are no details as of yet. The Blade Runner DVD set also includes the original version of the movie (with Harrison Ford’s awful Voice-Over), a slightly different European cut, the 1992 Director’s Cut, and a very rough Work Print that was screened a few times in 1982. There are many differences in this cut (as listed here), but personally I find them to be relately irrelevent, and the most superfluous element of the set.

Extras include the excellent Channel 4 documentary (possibly), some featurettes, director’s commentary, and a meaty documentary created specifically for the set (my fingers are crossed for Harrison Ford contributing, although he’s apparently not a fan of the film). All in all this makes for one of the most exciting DVD releases of a sci-fi movie since Criterion’s 3-disc edition of Brazil. The limited edition fancy box-set listed cost about $170, or 120 Euro, so imagine the regular box to cost about half that.  No sign of a release date but I’m hoping for a Christmas release.