To Review Or Not To Review
Like so many things in life, the internet can annoy, irritate and frustrate you. But there are also times when it delights and gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside (and I don’t mean when you’re surfing for porn you filthy degenerates).
At the end of last week I had a few e-mails from people I hadn’t connected with through the blog before talking about my reviews. As much as I try to make them read like I knocked them up in ten minutes while waiting for dinner to cook, they actually take a long time to write. Not just the act of watching the film (or playing the game) and all of its extras, but trying to give an opinion that is both entertaining and informative can be really difficult sometimes.
It isn’t always like that, some of my earlier reviews I could sit down at the keyboard, bash away for twenty minutes and before I knew it the review was done. But over the course of the last few months as my hits have risen considerably I’ve tried to put even more effort into what I write, and it’s difficult to know sometimes if I’m doing the right thing or not (the Spider-Man trilogy review was probably the hardest thing I have had to write, and all told it took five hours and three total re-writes).
Of course I have my regular commenters who always pitch in, and I get a fair few e-mails from folks as well talking about the reviews or asking further questions. But I’m sure many bloggers are in a similar situation that they see their comments, then looks at the numbers and there is gaping chasm between the number of people who participate, and those who speculate. So getting feedback can sometimes be difficult, but it is always welcome (provided it’s constructive of course).
What people were asking was “Are you going to review the new cut of Blade Runner?”. The answer to that question is a resounding YES, but it won’t be just yet.
Ridley Scott’s final ultimate version of the film has been released here in the UK today, you can buy the five disc DVD version, or the HD one on both HD DVD and Blu-ray. But (and it’s a fat but), there is no word on a release of the 5 disc ultimate edition coming to the HD formats over here. In the US it is a different story, and there is the special “Dekkard Briefcase” collectors (read: sad people like me who want the OTT stuff) edition, and a regular 5 disc HD release.
The US version is not released until December 18th, and with the Christmas postage it is highly unlikely that I will see it before Christmas. Hopefully, it will be worth the wait.
But regardless of how great the remaster looks, or how the newly filmed scenes cut in with the original material, anyone with even the slightest interest in science fiction should buy this movie. Blade Runner remains as fresh and compelling today as it did 25 years ago, and in my mind it is one of the greatest movies ever made. Pretentious claptrap, or a genuine classic? That’s up to you to decide, but I’ll be reporting back at the beginning of 2008 with my definitive review. Oh, and it will be the HD DVD version.
Unless Warner Brothers want to send me a copy of the UK retail Blu-ray or HD DVD of course 
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About the Author (Author Profile)
By day I work in IT as an infrastructure manager, specialising in Microsoft technologies, primarily Windows and Exchange Server. On here I write about my passions, movies, videogames, technology and particularly the world of high definition.Subscribe
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I’ve only seen this movie once and I liked it. It’ll be interesting to see your full review of all the special extras on all 5 of the discs. Hope you’ve cleared an entire weekend for that !
Keep up the good work by the way.
I’ve been talking to Paul C about this, I think the 5 disc HD release is the one to wait for.
It’s not like you’re going to buy the 2 disc version AND THEN get the 5 disc is it?
Going to have to get myself a HD player at some point…..
Daft thing is there is no word on a UK release for the 5 disc HD version.
Hurrah for importing, yet again.
Thanks DX btw
Excellent post man! You’ve put in to words exactly what I’ve been thinking. Between editing and making sure I’m using decent grammar, my posts take usually at least an hour to make. And thanks to the plug-in you pointed me to, I’m seeing a lot of traffic and very little response. Crazy. Glad to see I’m not alone in the odd balance. Although mine pales in comparison to yours… Your traffic must be through the roof.
Blade Runner was a great movie and I may pick that one up.