Blade Runner – The Final Cut and the 4K Ultra HD Steelbook

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has made the Final Cut version of Ridley Scott's masterpiece available in Italy in a special steelbook edition. The cover features Harrison Ford wielding the Tomenosuke Blaster, with the film's title in relief.

The so-called “definitive version” presents the work that redefined science fiction in 1982 and shaped the cyberpunk imagination in the form the director claims to be the original. Beyond the refinements in editing and modifications over time, the most striking difference compared to the theatrical version of the time is precisely related to the character of Deckard, who is a replicant and no longer human. A monumental film that, in addition to its timeless visual appeal, addresses profound philosophical themes: identity and memories, the boundary between man and machine, the relationship with creation, and the meaning of life itself.

Collectible for completists, superlative tech video rendition

The package includes the dual-layer BD-50 2K disc and the dual-layer BD-66 4K disc, the same ones previously offered, where only the metal casing makes a difference here. Image format 2.40:1 (3840 x 2160 – 1920 x 1080/23.97p), HEVC and AVC/MPEG-4 encoding. The UHD is effectively the definitive visual version: the restoration, from a 35mm 4K negative and 65mm 8K effects, offers hyper-realistic detail, revealing every particular of Scott's work.

Even if only HDR-10, the color gamut and lower dynamic compression of highlights favor the cinematography of master Jordan Cronenweth, with a slight grain preserving its analog soul. A benchmark for Home Video and pure enjoyment for native 10-bit screens with infinite black levels. The 2K Blu-ray disc remains the same as in the past, with no upgrade. Here is our special dedicated to the film's most recent return to theaters.

For audio, we find the usual Italian Dolby Digital 5.1 channel (640 kbps) track with limited dynamic range. Scott's editing changes necessitated some dialogue adjustments: Captain Bryant's dialogue in chapter 6 underwent an update, requiring a mirrored adjustment to the Italian dubbing, so the new lines related to the character of Leon/Brion James are spoken by Franco Zucca, a voice similar but not identical to that of Sergio Fiorentini. Sandro Iovino/Roy Batty was also recalled to adjust a line. A high-level re-proposal for English, with Dolby TrueHD 7.1 channels (24 bit) and ATMOS objects for a sound spectacle worthy of this immense film, with amazing immersion if listened to via a true HT system.

On the UHD disc, you'll find the 4K trailer for the Final Cut, the director's introduction (the same as the first Final Cut edition, subtitled), and 3 different commentary tracks for the film (the indication “Commentary by 3 filmmakers on the film” on the back cover is confusing). The first by Ridley Scott, the second by Hampton Fancher, David Peoples, Michael Deeley, and Katherine Haber with insights into screenwriting and production; the third by Syd Mead, Lawrence G. Paull, David Snyder, Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, and David Dryer for visual art and special effects. None of these commentaries include subtitles. The 2K disc contains the same content.