Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner (2007) (V)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Charles de Lauzirika

Release Date:

18 December 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

The definitive three-and-a-half hour documentary about the troubled creation and enduring legacy of the science fiction classic "Blade Runner," culled from 80 interviews and hours of never-before-seen outtakes and lost footage. |

Plot Keywords:

Making Of | Film Making | Behind The Scenes

Cast

Nina Axelrod	...	Herself - Audition
Joanna Cassidy	...	Herself
Gary Combs	...	Himself
Jeff Cronenweth	...	Himself
Stephen Dane	...	Himself
Frank Darabont	...	Himself
Michael Deeley	...	Himself
Charles de Lauzirika	...	Himself
Isa Dick Hackett	...	Herself
David Dryer	...	Himself
Kevin Eastman	...	Himself
Hampton Fancher	...	Himself
Mike Fenton	...	Himself
Harrison Ford	...	Himself
Michael Genne	...	Himself (as Mike Genne)
Bill George	...	Himself
Rocco Gioffre	...	Himself
Ron Gress	...	Himself
Cary Griffith	...	Himself
Katherine Haber	...	Herself
Daryl Hannah	...	Herself
Richard Hart	...	Himself (as Dick Hart)
Rutger Hauer	...	Himself
Ernest Holzman	...	Himself
James Hong	...	Himself
Joseph Kahn	...	Himself
Alan Ladd Jr.	...	Himself
Syd Mead	...	Himself
Virgil Mirano	...	Himself
Michele Moen	...	Herself
Ronald D. Moore	...	Himself
Dennis Muren	...	Himself
Stacey Nelkin	...	Herself
Edward James Olmos	...	Himself
Lawrence G. Paull	...	Himself
Morgan Paull	...	Himself
David Webb Peoples	...	Himself (as David Peoples)
Jerry Perenchio	...	Himself
Steven Poster	...	Himself (as Steven B. Poster)
Ivor Powell	...	Himself
Tim Powers	...	Himself
Ana Maria Quintana	...	Herself
Terry Rawlings	...	Himself
Mark Romanek	...	Himself
Paul Sammon	...	Himself (as Paul M. Sammon)
Jake Scott	...	Himself
Jordan Scott	...	Herself
Luke Scott	...	Himself
Ridley Scott	...	Himself
Tony Scott	...	Himself
David L. Snyder	...	Himself
Tom Southwell	...	Himself
Mark Stetson	...	Himself
Guillermo del Toro	...	Himself
Douglas Trumbull	...	Himself
Kenneth Turan	...	Himself
Joe Turkel	...	Himself
Jeffrey Walker	...	Himself (as Jeff Walker)
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Himself
Marvin G. Westmore	...	Himself
Bud Yorkin	...	Himself
Sean Young	...	Herself
Richard Yuricich	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Dangerous Days (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

USA:214 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Blade Runner Partnership

Trivia:

This feature-length documentary is featured on the Two-Disc Special Edition, Four-Disc Collector's Edition, and Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (DVD, HD DVD & Blu-Ray) of Blade Runner (1982), all released in December 2007.

Quotes:

Hampton Fancher: [about the unicorn dream sequence] And my interpretation had nothing to with 'oh, that shows that Deckard's a replicant'. I don't think anything should show that Deckard's a replicant. If you think that, you're already wrong.

Movie Connections:

References Cat People (1982)

a superior 'making of' documentary

(reviewed as part of the Blu-Ray 2-disk set with Blade Runner - The Final Cut)

The tortured tale of finding the most 'authentic' version of this '80s classic seems almost like a mirror of the story itself. Clones upon clones. Even the 'Director's Cut', it seems, was not the last word. Thankfully, Blade Runner – The Final Cut, has more than just resounding conviction. The director's imprimatur does appear in both in his introduction and the three-and-a-half hour documentary made by a third party. But, more importantly, it is a cogently convincing balancing act which encapsulates the best nuances of its themes – state control, the meaning of identity, and the essence of humanity itself.

Digitally restored and re-mastered, the set incorporates new footage and special effects, re-mastered sound, an introduction by Ridley Scott (who says he's finally happy with this version – phew!), three filmmaker commentaries including Scott's, and the 'definitive' documentary that includes outtakes, deleted scenes, new interviews, screen-tests and an intelligent examination of the movie's creation and controversial legacy.

DVD 'commentaries' have cynically been described as entertainingly endless rambling. This set is no exception, and the trivia they include often duplicates the professionally produced study in the accompanying documentary. Choice of style, if you like.

The documentary is well above standard offerings of its kind. In analysing the film from many angles (including pre-production, art department, casting and scripting, controversies over the story and versions, and its chequered history) it lets you realise the enormity of the task in creating an iconic futuristic urban film-noir world in the days before CGI. Another interesting irony for a movie that champions reality over the human/replicant abyss. Years later of course, the interest in the 'real' is being revived, from Tarantino's 'reality stunts' in Deathproof, to Carlos Reygadas' preference for authenticity over CGI in Silent Light.

Major disagreements on set are not skimmed over – even one where the crew take to wearing rebellious t-shirts in defiance of Ridley Scott's bossiness, and the measures he takes to handle the situation. Profound gulfs separating approaches of various scriptwriters are discussed in a mature and enlightening fashion. Perhaps enough time has passed to put passions into perspective. David Peoples and Hampton Fancher explain their writing methods and we can appreciate how the practicality of the former, balanced the zealous vision of the latter. The documentary allows a viewer not involved with the industry to appreciate the complexity of talents in various roles.

Purists may say that a film such as Blade Runner should only be appreciated on the big screen. I am firmly in that camp with most films made for cinematic release. But several things argue for the purchase of this set.

Firstly, if you can watch it on Blu-Ray and on a suitably large wide screen, the amount of visual and aural detail will blow you away. If you are new to Blu-Ray, you could do much worse than make this your virgin purchase. Secondly, Blu-Ray can handle a vast amount of data – even more than HD. You get enough quality viewing on this set to hold your attention for several evenings. Thirdly, you can assuage your cinephile conscience by noting that the film's cult following and place in history was largely assured through small screen viewing. Tip: switch the English subtitles on as you listen to the commentaries. And even the subtitles are well done, intelligently placed, moving to the top of the screen when they might otherwise obscure an important detail.

But if your curiosity needs to review the now 'retired' versions, there's also a 5-disk (collectors')Final Cut. Just don't make any illegal copies or we'll have to come after you . . .