Blade Runner: The Penultimate Cut


Updated: 4th May 2024

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Faneditor: TM2YC  
Fanedit Type: Special Projects
Fanedit Release Date: 1st November 2020
Fanedit Runtime: 1h:58m:0s
Time Cut: h:0m:0s
Time Added: 0h:1m:0s
Franchise: Blade Runner
Genre: ActionCyberpunkDramaDetectiveMystery
Original Title: Blade Runner (1982)   
Original Release Date: 1st January 1982
Original Runtime: 1h:57m:0s
Original Links:

Certificate: 18
Format: Digital
Resolution:
Sound Mix:
Language:
Subtitles:
 

Synopsis:

The Penultimate Cut' is named because it's supposed to be one step back from 'The Final Cut'. Ridley Scott's final/ultimate version of 'Blade Runner' but how it used to look and feel.


Intentions:

I appreciated Ridley Scott's 'Final Cut' effort to "perfect" Blade Runner but I really hated the processed, smoothed and heavily teal-tinted new look. I wasn't satisfied watching the old version in Laserdisc quality and I wasn't satisfied watching the new version in HD with the changed look. So 'The Penultimate Cut' takes the better looking 'Director's Cut' transfer and regrades it to look like 'Blade Runner' looked on the last 1999 video release before it was "remastered". Most but not all of 'The Final Cut' fixes are retained (including all wire removals), plus all of the editorial decisions. It's basically what I always wanted 'The Final Cut' to be. It only took me 5-years to complete!


Change List:

00.03.28 - Fixed the blown out blu-ray fireball and mixed in some of the 1999 DVD fireball. 00.07.19 - Fixed over brightened muzzle flash. 00.07.23 - Fixed over brightened muzzle flash. 00.07.23 - Fixed over brightened muzzle flash. 00.07.51 - Fixed aggressive green tint to the neon lights on the noodle bar. 00.08.12 - Recut/rearranged the noodle bar/blimp intro to match the shorter FC version. 00.09.34 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.09.38 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.09.54 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.11.04 - Graded dissolve separately from the beginning and end of the station shot, to match the original dissolve colours better. 00.13.04 - Fixed all the blown out whites in the "blue room" scene. Dialled the projector light brightness way back, then added back in the bright highlights on Deckard's silhouette. 00.16.06 - Fixed the grey/blue tint on this flying shot to match the warm golden look it used to have. 00.16.16 - Fixed the dark/dull tint on this shot of the Tyrell building to match the warm golden look it used to have. 00.16.21 - Fixed the altered blue sky and general dark tinting on this shot of the Tyrell building to match the warm golden look and orange sky it used to have. 00.16.29 - Removed the applied vignette to the sky and darker grade on this shot of the Tyrell building. 00.16.40 - Replaced the CG animated/altered shot of Deckard landing, with the original FX shot. Also lessened the vignette present on the sky in the blu-ray transfer. Recut to match FC timing. 00.16.59 - Fixed the lighting in the shot of Deckard waiting for Rachel. So the left and right of the shot are now brighter and the sun is once again much brighter than everything else. 00.17.16 - Fixed closeup of Deckard, so it's warmer, darker and only the highlights on his hair are bright and golden. 00.17.22 - Fixed closeup of Deckard, so it's warmer, darker and only the highlights on his hair are bright and golden. 00.17.27 - Fixed blurry/bright sun in shot of Rachel walking past Deckard. Added back in the sharp unaltered sun from the 1999 DVD (which originally matched all the other shots). 00.18.08 - Fixed the lighting in the shot of Tyrell walking. So the the center of th shot is much less bright but the sun is once again much brighter than everything else. 00.18.13 - Fixed closeup of Deckard, so it's warmer, darker and only the highlights on his hair are bright and golden. 00.18.15 - Fixed colours in shot of Tyrell, so his jacket is bluer and his shirt is whiter. 00.18.18 - Fixed closeup of Deckard, so it's warmer, darker and only the highlights on his hair are bright and golden. 00.18.46 - Fixed the lighting in the shot of Deckard taking his jacket off. So the left and right of the shot are now brighter and the sun is once again much brighter than everything else. 00.20.29 - Blended in the FC fix to removal Deckard's head from this repurposed closeup of Tyrell. 00.21.31 - Fixed the lighting in the shot of Rachel walking away. So the left and right of the shot are now brighter. 00.22.37 - Re-brightened the sky on this FX shot of the Tyrell building. 00.24.08 - Fixed/replaced the head of the silhouetted stand-in with Harrison Ford's head. The other shots looked like Harrison, this one clearly did not. 00.24.24 - Fixed the blown out whites on the shot of the matchstick man. 00.25.12 - Blended in the FC fix to the shot of Roy's hand but heavily regraded to match 1999 DVD colours and used as much of the DC blu-ry as possible. 00.25.17 - Blended in the FC fix to the shot of Roy's face but heavily regraded to match 1999 DVD colours and used as much of the DC blu-ry as possible. 00.26.28 - Removed strong blue tint applied to all shots inside Chew's, they're still blueish. 00.34.33 - Fixed the blown out whites on shot of Rachel standing by the window. 00.34.40 - Fixed the blown out whites on shot of Rachel standing by the window. Blended in some of the 1999 DVD. 00.35.50 - Fixed the blown out whites on the frames whenever Deckard holds his photos up to the light. 00.37.14 - Blended in Million Dollar sign fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.40.37 - Fixed the blown out whites on the frames whenever Pris' head moves into the light. Blended in some of the 1999 DVD. 00.41.54 - Added closeup of Deckard's face at the piano from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 00.42.02 - Added green FC edits of the unicorn dream but graded to the sepia look on the 1999 DVD. 00.42.07 - Added closeup of Deckard's face at the piano from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 00.42.12 - Added green FC edits of the unicorn dream but graded to the sepia look on the 1999 DVD. 00.42.21 - Added closeup of Deckard's face at the piano from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 00.42.35 - Fixed coloured lights on Deckard's desk. 00.42.53 - Fixed brightness and colouring on all Esper screens. 00.43.25 - Restored blown out highlights on light as it passes over Deckard. 00.43.30 - Restored blown out highlights on light as it passes over Deckard. 00.43.46 - Fixed the blown out whites on Roy's fist. 00.45.05 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.45.12 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC and fixed white zoom lines. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.45.26 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.46.37 - Replaced monitor coming on with 1999 DVD, as all the highlights were obliterated on the blu-ray. 00.46.42 - Replaced monitor coming on with 1999 DVD, as all the highlights were obliterated on the blu-ray. 00.46.51 - Blended in fix to serial number from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.47.01 - Blended in fix to serial number from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.47.14 - Blended in FC crossfade transition in Animoid Row. Graded to match rest of DC material as best I could but it's still from the noticeably lower quality workprint. 00.48.16 - Blended in fix to Deckard's lip sync from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.48.41 - Added 3 shots from the FC and graded them to match rest of DC material as best I could but they're still from the noticeably lower quality workprint. 00.50.35 - Fixed brightness and colouring of all screens and buttons during the Vid-Phon call. 00.53.22 - Fixed all blown out highlights on shots of Zhora before she steps into shower. 00.53.36 - Fixed blown out highlights, colours and tile reflections as Zhora steps into the shower. 00.53.52 - Added blue vignette back to shower screen behind Zhora which was blown out to white. 00.54.14 - Fixed all blown out highlights on shots of Zhora as she's putting her boots on. 00.54.34 - Fixed blown out highlights and colours as Zhora exits the shower. 00.56.50 - Removed strong blue tint applied to all shots of Zhora hiding in the stairwell, it's still blueish. 00.57.42 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.57.48 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.58.02 - Blended in fix to Zhora's face from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.58.50 - Replaced obliterated and blown out reflections on broken glass with 1999 DVD. 00.58.54 - Adjusted strength of red tint each time the red light passes across Leon. 00.59.04 - Replaced obliterated and blown out reflections on broken glass with 1999 DVD. 00.59.14 - Fixed blown out whites on glass fragments. 00.59.26 - Restored blown out whites to shot of Leon. 00.59.35 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC and restored blown out spotlights. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 00.59.41 - Removed strong blue tint applied to all shots of Deckard buying alcohol, it's still blueish. 01.03.22 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.03.57 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.04.21 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.04.27 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.12.46 - Removed heavy red tint to shot of Pris spraying her eyes black. 01.12.57 - Fixed massively over brightened shot of clock. 01.13.00 - Removed heavy red tint to shot of Pris spraying her eyes black. 01.25.58 - Added shot of Tyrell's eyes being gouged from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 01.26.10 - Added close up shot of Tyrell's eyes being gouged from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 01.26.14 - Added close up shot of Tyrell's eyes being gouged from FC. Graded to match other DC shots. 01.26.41 - Removed strong blue tint from shot of Roy in the lift. 01.27.18 - Desaturated lights on flying police car which is accidentally in shot. 01.27.36 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.27.40 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.27.53 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.28.01 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.29.08 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.29.19 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.30.45 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.31.40 - Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.31.54 - Fixed extreme pink tint on all Pris/mannequin hiding shots. Fixed blown out highlights by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.32.24 - Replaced irretrievably pink shot of laughing toy with better coloured one from the FC blu ray. 01.32.26 - Replaced miscoloured green neon sign in window, with correct one from 1999 DVD. 01.32.39 - Replaced miscoloured green neon sign in window, with correct one from 1999 DVD. 01.32.41 - Replaced miscoloured green neon sign in window, with correct one from 1999 DVD. 01.32.44 - Fixed all frames with blown out highlights on Pris' hair as she attacks Deckard, when a light moves across her head, by mixing in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.32.49 - Fixed blown out highlights on Pris' hand by blended in the 1999 DVD. 01.32.59 - Added 6 more shots of Pris attacking Deckard from the IC, graded to match other shots. 01.33.17 - Fixed blown out highlights behind Deckard by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.33.18 - Fixed blown out highlights behind Deckard by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.33.20 - Fixed blown out highlights of frames with muzzle flash by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.33.21 - Fixed blown out highlights of Deckard's coat by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.33.26 - Fixed blown out details on Deckard's face by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.37.51 - Separately graded the frames where Deckard is in darkness and when he's in light, to accurately represent the colours of the original strobe effect. 01.38.21 - Blended in FC fix to remove shadow of crew members on wall. 01.40.08 - Added shot of Roy's pierced hand from IC, graded to match other shots. Also slightly zoomed and grain added to hide poor makeup FX. 01.40.12 - Added shot of Roy's pierced hand from IC, graded to match other shots. Also slightly zoomed and grain added to hide poor makeup FX. 01.41.14 - Horizontally flipped city shot to match FC and applied FX fix to window. 01.41.30 - Applied TDK sign fix from FC but not unnecessary changes to matte painted pylons. 01.42.12 - Re-arranged all shots of Deckard climbing and Roy watching to match FC pattern of cuts and applied Roy in window fix from FC. 01.42.13 - Added some random strobe lighting FX to Deckard climbing to match all other live action shots in the sequence. 01.42.17 - Fixed blown out lights behind Deckard by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.44.17 - Coloured big round light blue to match other shots in sequence. 01.44.31 - Coloured big round light blue to match other shots in sequence. 01.45.05 - Replaced missing detail on Roy's face by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.45.12 - Replaced missing detail on Roy's face by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.45.34 - Replaced missing detail on Roy's face by blending in some of the 1999 DVD. 01.46.05 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.47.22 - Heavily regraded every element of the new CGI dove shot from the FC to try and make it match the look of the rest of the 1982 film. Added grain and a couple of layers of very subtle drifting fog to further hide the digital feel. 01.48.19 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.48.26 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.48.32 - Blended in wire-removal fix from the FC. Graded to match rest of DC shot. 01.52.13 - Blacked out distracting little area on left hand of screen in final frame, like in the FC. So it's a smoother wipe. 01.56.18 - Added R-rating card from TC and fixed over brightness. 01.56.26 - Added fanedit titlecards, credits and thanks. 01.57.25 - Added fanedit.org logo, courtesy of DigModiFicaTion.


Additional Notes:

First I regraded 'The Director's Cut' blu-ray transfer to match the varied, rich, warmer colour palette of the 1999 DVD transfer of the DC, before the DC was first "remastered" and altered in 2006. Then I recut this new HD DC "master" to match 'The Final Cut' sequence of events, added in shots from other sources like 'The International Cut' and 'Workprint', blended in some small elements from the 1999 DVD that had been changed in 2006 and finally I put the subtle FC fixes back in, such as wire removals and continuity fixes. I didn't add back all of the changes, as I deemed some unnecessary and distracting. Then I moved on to editing the audio tracks. The FC mixes of course still synced right up but the other 24 tracks have been cut and extended to match. I've tried to preserve the uniqueness of these alternate mixes where possible and I wanted to present pre-2006 mixes as an option where possible (not possible in the case of the 'Workprint'). A new isolated score track was also created, as close as I could get. Fan commentary tracks are also included, edited to sync up an mixed with movie audio. - All wire removals added from the FC. - Haven't detailed each time I broke shots down into multiple layers to fix different parts of the frame and adjust colours separately, as that's the majority of shots in the movie. The cutlist below only details the more notable changes. - One of the FC fixes I haven't applied was the removal of the blood on Deckard's face before his fight with Leon (a continuity fix because it originally occurred after). Harrison's performance in the scenes shows him dabbing blood from his nose, so removing one spot on his face was pointless. I think everybody previously just excepted that he received the facial injuries when Zhora assaulted him anyway. - Also a couple of minor changes to the background in the final fight and a shot of the spinner approaching the Tyrell building didn't need fixed.


Other Sources:

2007 US Collector's Edition 'Director's Cut' Blu-Ray . . . the primary source 2007 US Collector's Edition 'Final Cut' Blu-Ray . . . for 2007 continuity fixes & primary audio track 2007 US Collector's Edition 'International Cut' Blu-Ray . . . for FC footage not in the DC 2007 US Collector's Edition 'Theatrical Cut' Blu-Ray . . . for ending credits 2007 US Collector's Edition 'Workprint' Blu-Ray . . . additional audio mix 2012 UK 30th Anniversary 'Final Cut' Blu-Ray . . . additional audio mixes 1983 US 'Theatrical Cut' Laserdisc . . . additional audio mix 1986 US CBS "Edited for TV" Broadcast . . . additional audio mix 1999 UK 'Director's Cut' DVD . . . for colour reference & to replace some changes from the 2006 remastering 1999 US 'Director's Cut' "flipper" pan & scan DVD . . . for extra colour reference 2006 UK 'Director's Cut' Remastered DVD . . . additional audio mix


Special Thanks:

Thanks to everybody who gave feedback in the forum over the last 5 years: addiesin, asterixsmeagol, balliol, beezo, Blaksvn, Blipps, Canon Editor, ChainsawAsh, Crimson713, darthrush, Flounder, Flubly, Gaith, Gatos, gazza, ImperialFighter, jrWHAG42, jswert123456, Junglist Paja, Kal-El, KevBot24, KillThad, lapis molari, Last Impressions, LastSurvivor, macmilln, Moe_Syzlak, Neosmith, no452, nova2727, Plissken1138, Problem Eliminator, reave, Siliconmaster, skyled, SmellySkunk, theryaney, theswillman, The Scribbling Man, TheUltimate, ThrowgnCpr, Trez75 and wilhelm scream.


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