CCI: "300" AND "BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT&a

CCI: "300" AND "BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT" -- A DVD EXTRAVAGANZA!


Comic Book Resources.com



July 28, 2007



BY George A. Tramountanas




For the Friday afternoon panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Warner Bros. presented two films that are receiving very special DVD treatments. They kicked things off with a DVD comic book fans are bound to love: "300."

On hand for this presentation were director Zack Snyder, "300" writer Frank Miller, and actor Gerard Butler made a very special appearance via video. The film will be released on DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray DVD, with all the special features fans are used to on these special editions. There are deleted scenes, production notes, documentary-style videos, and a picture-in-picture feature which lets you watch the green-screen version of the movie while the actual film is playing. All three "300" representatives were naturally very excited about this DVD.

The floor was then opened to questions from the fans. The first one up asked Miller what the status was on "Sin City" 2 & 3 and "The Spirit" movie. Miller said that "Sin City" was held up at the moment with the Weinsteins; however, "The Spirit" is moving along. He said he's storyboarding his "butt off," and that he would be going to Albuquerque to film "soon."

A question arose from a fan who asked if there was any political meaning in "300" in light of current affairs. Miller responded, "You can politicize it all you want, but why make it boring?"

Another audience member asked how the actors got into such great shape. Snyder laughed. He said that the two questions he was asked by reporters most were: 1) "Is it difficult to work with green-screen?" and 2) "How did the actors get so built?"

The answer was simply that they followed a good work-out regimen.

The "300" members cleared the stage to make way for the "Blade Runner" crew. Director Ridley Scott has gone back to the film one last time to make some small "tweaks," the film and its effects have been cleaned, and the sound has been tidied up to give fans "Blade Runner: The Final Cut."

This movie will be released in theaters, and will then be followed by a DVD release. DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika shared some of the highlights. He said the DVD set would contain five versions of the movie, a three-and-a-half hour documentary called "Dangerous Days," and over 47 minutes of unseen footage. This will be one of the most comprehensive DVD sets ever.

On the stage with Ridley Scott and de Lauzirika were several cast and crew members of the original "Blade Runner." By name, the individuals present were: production designer Lawrence G. Paull, futurist Sid Mead, and chief model maker Mark Stetson, along with actors James Hong, Joe Turkell, Joanna Cassidy, and Sean Young.

When asked by a fan, Scott confirmed that the noteworthy "work print" version of the film would be included in the set. Each person seated next to Scott then went on to comment about the impression working on "Blade Runner" left on them.

"Blade Runner: The Final Cut" will be here in December of 2007 -- any Replicants better hide"





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