Blade Runner: 1997 release vs 2006 release

[captainjoe]

Okay so I did a little research into some of the colour-timing by looking at a recently aquired 1987 VHS of the international version. Capture # 8 is correctly colour-timed on the new release compared to this tape and so is capture #10. Cap 7 had zero blue in it even compared to the director's cut. It's safe to say that while some shots are probably more in-line with what was shown in 1982 and on home video, there is still some manipulation going on. But then again I am taking this from a VHS from the 80s but I would think there would be very little difference in colour scheme on a VHS from the 80s, as far as I know they did very little changes. Ridley has said in interviews that he is happy with the new digital remastering and from what we've seen on the internet the Final Cut clips look very similar to what the Director's Cut looks like here. I might try and get some VHS screen caps up but that may be a while.

[EvaUnit02]

Thanks for your research efforts Joe.

[captainjoe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETGfeSim1K4

[dvdvision]

Hi guys, regarding the color timing of remasters, It think the thing is, they (they meaning concerned techs that care about their works) usually adjust for the current TV screens ie the old version was color timed to look good on early 90's sets, these new one are made to look good on plasma and lcd TVs, the changes are mostly on the fly, according to the tone of the scenes, it's not like they are pulling a Lucas on everyone, they just do it as they think will look good, shot after shot.

of course, sometimes, the old intent is perverted. But movies always changed depending on the format they would be cut on. Witness the many versions of Hard Boiled, with only the french HK disc reflecting the true movie (and that was based on the japanese pioneer LD, which was the support onto which the movie looked best).

[FinnurE]

Am I the only one who sees that AWFUL brightness boosting of the new edition (Capture 3, the explosion shows this well) as well as being grain filtered. As brightness boosting is and grain filtering are among my most hated artefacts, I'd rather watch the older version, even though it is windowboxed.

[captainjoe]

Am I the only one who sees that AWFUL brightness boosting of the new edition (Capture 3, the explosion shows this well) as well as being grain filtered. As brightness boosting is and grain filtering are among my most hated artefacts, I'd rather watch the older version, even though it is windowboxed.

Yeah that contrast boosting is huge. The caps don't show it very well, but there is still a lot of grain present when shown on a TV. I can't wait to see the HD version and see how much more detailed the images are.

[dvdvision]

Brightness is one of the regular problems on HD transferts of old films. As I said, techs tend to color time just like new movies, they feel that keeping details in the dark is wrong. It's most shocking on BW movies.