Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary [3 CD] Reviews

• I Dreamt Music...

  
  By A2XMBWQL0LGNJD on 2007-12-18
  When it was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2007 that a new "extended" 3-disc soundtrack of Vangelis' Blade Runner score would be released by the end of the year to coincide with the release of Ridley Scott's "Final Cut" Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition), fans rejoiced with the assumption that the complete film score was finally getting an "official" release after numerous releases and bootlegs of varying lengths and sub-standard quality. Unfortunately if you are looking for the complete film score, this is not the CD you're looking for.
  
  Disc 1 is a re-mastering of the 1994 Vangelis album (although it sounds identical to my original CD) which featured music from the film edited together with numerous dialog samples from the film as well as newly composed music by Vangelis that did not appear anywhere in the film. As an album, it was interesting thematically in its own right with some beautifully composed themes like "Rachel's Song" and "Damask Rose" but it was still not the original film soundtrack and was considered to be a disappointment.
  
  Disc 2 features officially unreleased cues, some of which are not even heard anywhere in the film. Some are outtakes from the workprint but most of the memorable cues from the film are completely omitted such as the opening "Prologue" with the somber haunting Asian motif that establishes the dark tone and atmosphere of the film as well as the Egyptian Taffey Lewis club ambiance and the cues from when Deckard enters the Bradbury are not included.
  
  Disc 3 is a collection of letters and "spoken word" commentaries from various authors, actors and film makers who share their memories and experiences of the celebrated cult classic along with newly composed music by Vangelis, again "inspired by" the film but not the original, unabridged movie soundtrack.
  
  What SHOULD have been a 3-disc officially released motion picture soundtrack that would have nullified the numerous bootlegs that have proliferated the market is not to be had. Let's examine the different versions available and what's missing from this release:
  
  1982 New American Orchestra Blade Runner: Orchestral Adaptation Of Music Composed For The Motion Picture By Vangelis - an orchestral arrangement and jazz rendition of Vangelis' electronic compositions from the film. Generally regarded as an inferior album and not the original motion picture soundtrack containing barely over a half an hour of material with a scant running time of 33:16 containing the following tracks:
  
  1. Love Theme (4:12)
  2. Main Title (5:01)
  3. One More Kiss, Dear (4:00)
  4. Memories Of Green (4:50)
  5. End Title (4:17)
  6. Blade Runner Blues (4:38)
  7. Farewell (3:10)
  8. End Title Reprise (3:08)
  
  1994 Atlantic Vangelis Blade Runner - the first "official" Vangelis release containing nearly an hour of music with a running time of 57:53, most of which contained newly composed themes and dialog samples from the film mixed into selections of the film's soundtrack cues comprised of the following 12 tracks:
  
  1. Main Titles (3:42)
  2. Blush Response (5:47)
  3. Wait for Me (5:27)
  4. Rachel's Song (4:46)
  5. Love Theme (4:56)
  6. One More Kiss, Dear (3:58)
  7. Blade Runner Blues (8:53)
  8. Memories of Green (5:05)
  9. Tales of the Future (4:46)
  10. Damask Rose (2:32)
  11. Blade Runner (End Titles) (4:40)
  12. Tears in Rain (3:00)
  
  The 1993 Off-World Edition bootleg featuring nearly all of the film's original soundtrack including the John William's composed Ladd Company logo from the film and source music for the "Bicycle Riders"(aka "Harps of the Ancient Temples") by Gail Laughton and "If I didn't Care" by Jack Lawrence, but with less than acceptable CD quality sound but features over 72:42 worth of original un-edited music from the film:
  
  1. Ladd Company Logo (0:24) John Williams
  2. Main Titles and Prologue (4:03)
  3. Los Angeles, November 2019 (1:46)
  4. Deckard Meets Rachel (1:29)
  5. Bicycle Riders (2:05) Gail Laughton
  6. Memories of Green (5:39)
  7. Blade Runner Blues (10:19)
  8. Deckard's Dream (1:12)
  9. On the Trail of Nexus 6 (5:30)
  10. If I Didn't Care (3:03) Jack Lawrence
  11. Love Theme (4:57)
  12. The Prodigal Son Brings Death (3:35)
  13. Dangerous Days (1:02)
  14. Wounded Animals (10:58)
  15. Tears in Rain (2:41)
  16. End Titles (7:24)
  17. One More Kiss Dear (4:00) Skellern & Vangelis
  18. Trailer and Alternate Main Titles (1:39) Robert Randles
  
  The 1995 Gongo Edition - an import distributed in Romania was a slightly better quality version of the Off-World edition without the trailer music. This release omits the 1939 recording of "If I Didn't Care" which originally appeared in an early workprint of Blade Runner, but was replaced by the Don Percival song "One More Kiss, Dear" in the final version. Also includes "Blimpverts" the Japanese female blimp vocals.
  
  The 2003 2-Disc Esper Edition - features ambient film soundtrack including music and effects engineered from the ambient Dolby surround sound channels with occasional rear-channel effects mixed in but retains all of the previously unreleased and unavailable score for almost the full 2 running hours of the film.
  
  Esper Edition Disc-1
  1. Prologue And Main Titles (3:54)
  2. Leon's Voight Kampff Test (1:09)
  3. Sushi Bar - Damask Rose (2:46)
  4. Spinner Ascent (1:21)
  5. Blush Response (5:43)
  6. Wait For Me (5:12)
  7. Deckard Meets Rachel (1:36)
  8. Rachael's Song (4:20)
  9. Tales Of The Future (4:53)
  10. Bicycle Riders (2:10)
  11. Chew's Eye Lab (1:15)
  12. Memories Of Green (5:35)
  13. Blade Runner Blues (10:01)
  14. Pris Meets J.F. Sebastian (1:47)
  15. One More Kiss, Dear (4:04)
  
  Esper Edition Disc-2
  1. Deckard's Dream (1:10)
  2. Thinking Of Rachel (1:18)
  3. Esper Analysis (2:34)
  4. Animoid Row (2:34)
  5. Taffey Lewis Night Club (2:02)
  6. Salome's Dance (1:23)
  7. Zhora's Retirement (1:42)
  8. I Am The Business (2:29)
  9. Love Theme (4:58)
  10. I Dreamt Music (4:32)
  11. Morning At The Bradbury (3:46)
  12. The Prodigal Son Brings Death (4:07)
  13. Deckard Enters The Bradbury (3:37)
  14. Dangerous Days (:57)
  15. Wounded Animals (10:53)
  16. Tears In Rain (2:51)
  17. Rachel Sleeps (2:08)
  18. End Titles (4:06)
  
  Los Angeles, November 2019 Edition - also released in 2003 was mostly ambient sound and atmosphere again extrapolated from the Dolby rear-channel mix and padded with additional music taken from the Westwood Blade Runner (PC) videogame.
  
  In conclusion, what could have been the "definitive" official soundtrack is sadly not to be. The complete original soundtrack has become almost as legendary and elusive amongst fans as the various versions and cuts of the film itself. Perhaps for the 30th, 40th or even 50th anniversary release might be the soundtrack's "Final Cut" but this 3-disc release is anything but.
  
  

• Suffering from the usual syndrome...

  
  By AJZ62CXJHYKYU on 2007-12-18
  ...of Vangelis NOT releasing more often than not what is actually the soundtrack of the movie it's supposed to be.
  Let's see here: we find, on CD 1, the exact same record we had in 1994 - but that was expected and announced, so why not. On CD 2, labelled "unreleased and bonus material from BR", there is, actually, very little music heard in the film itself, except from two cues that are well-know, namely "D & R duel", and "Tyrell's Death". That ends here. "Tyrell's Owl", for instance, is anything but the actual music as heard in the film at that moment. As for CD 3, it's nothing more than a hackneyed collection of muzak, with fashionable world music overtones and indistinct speech put in the mix, and absolutely doesn't justify the purchase of the set alone. I doubt I'll listen to it twice.
  
  All in all, I'm super tired of Vangelis NOT releasing, and never will now as it appears, the TRUE, ORIGINAL motion picture soundtrack of Blade Runner. Whatever artistic endeavour there was behind this project, it still is NOT, far from it, the ultimate ressource for BR music, I'm sorry to say. It's different music for the most part, perhaps to some pleasant or good music, but not the BR soundtrack by a long margin.
  
  One word of advice: Keep your Deck Arts bootlegs preciously... They are the most comprehensive collection of BR music that were ever made.
  
  This record set isn't.
  
  
  

• Meh

  
  By A1BDJK501QH72G on 2007-12-23
  Here I was hoping we'd finally get the song that plays at Taffey Lewis' bar, but nope. Just a few minutes worth of extra bleeps and bloops added on to what I already had. If don't already own the 1994 version then I guess this might be worth picking up, otherwise save your money.
  
  

• A Vangelis Fan's Perspective on Disk 3

  
  By A3CYIPH534ZD09 on 2007-12-27
  Like some out there, I'm a fan of Vangelis and Blade Runner. Simply put, the Vangelis fan inside me won out with this release.
  
  Let's face it. It's been a while since there was a new Vangelis CD out.
  
  Disk 3 of the Blade Runner Trilogy set, for me, was worth the money alone. To have Disk 2 is great as well. And to listen to the entire compilation together is just a wonderful experience for me. In fact, the reason why I decided to write something is because I believe Disk 3 deserves more description then it has been getting.
  
  First off, this disk has pretty much new material. The material, though, is very original. At the same time it seems to carry on with the Blade Runner concept very well.
  
  There are some surprising pieces here.
  
  "BR Downtown," followed by "Demetri's Bar," is shockingly fresh. It is very hard to categorize the first especially. Almost like an ambient reggae-techno. You have to hear it for yourself.
  
  "Perfume Exotico" is a very seductive alteration of "Rachel's Song". I was not prepared to hear Vangelis put something like this together, but it works.
  
  Included are some very good pieces as well.
  
  The piece "Piano In An Empty Room," which is solely piano, is full of romantic vibrancies. Anyone who has empathy for his music will come back to this piece many times over.
  
  "Sweet Solitude" reminds me of the days when Vangelis was in his prime in the early 80's. Starts out with a simple keyboard tune, carries on with some percussion, and then becomes complete with a wonderful sax (reminiscent of "Love Theme").
  
  Keep in mind, there are some rather hard-pounding sounds here. "No Expectation Boulevard" is the prime example. But that is to be expected, considering the overall theme being presented.
  
  I think my personal favorite here is "Up and Running." It is just bizarre. It not only carries an unorthodox re-mixing of "One More Kiss, Dear," it has sounds similar of "Nerve Centre" (from his 1990 release "The City") along with the familiar strings from "Main Titles". It then ends with an uplifting piano piece. What an amalgamation!
  
  And that's how I would define Disk 3. An amalgamation of sounds associated with culture, urban lifestyle, subconscious narrative (which aren't distracting and occur mainly during the transitions), and reflective meditation.
  
  It is fairly safe to say Vangelis fans will overall enjoy this release, regardless of your fondness for the Blade Runner franchise. I'm glad I purchased it.
  
  

• Inspiring!

  
  By A32S1ROFZED7T9 on 2007-12-20
  Who dared to dream of this....
  
  Two new disks of Blade Runner related music, in one go! Sold together with the 1994 release, to have it all in one buy.
  
  Disk 1 is the album as we knew it. Blade Runner's most famous themes in perfect sound quality, together with some unused recordings, made into one big "story". There's a reason this is one of the best loved movie scores ever.
  
  Disk 2 provides some of the movie's themes and moods that didn't make it into the first album, as well as some wonderful pieces that weren't finally used in the movie. Of the three disks, this is the dark one; the desolate place Blade Runner's overcrowded world has turned into. This entire album is comprised of music made in 1982 for the movie, although some of it was not used in the movie, and other tracks were used but are presented here in longer, more developed versions. All the lush and major themes were on disk one, leaving this the brooding, dark, melancholic atmosphere, with a few delightfully bright breaks. An intriguing album for anyone who has complained the first release wasn't dark enough, omitting the intense and rainy music scapes. You can't listen to this CD without finding yourself in the world we saw and lived in while watching Blade Runner.
  
  With disk 3, Vangelis expands the world of Blade Runner, with new music he created to celebrate the movie's 25th Anniversary. Vangelis seems to explore different parts of this world, and does manage to find, among all the rain and darkness, a few brighter spots as well. Undeniably Blade Runner, yet also completely new and modern. A thoroughly inspiring album of music, that needs attention to be listened to and this time will ask you to imagine your own scenes. As inspiring as it is on first listen, like all the better albums, for full appreciation it needs some getting used to, but grows with every listen. An intriguing addition to the release and a great album in its own right.
  
  What a pity that the purists are always making themselves the loudest. Sure, this is not the full 100% exactly what a few of the purist completist fans of the movie were dreaming about. Sure, a few desirable cues are indeed still missing. But this comes with so much more, which altogether easily makes up for the omissions. But the purists are so busy complaining about what's not on there, they don't find the time to explore what actually *is* on there.
  
  To think, while one person may complain the bootlegs' extended End Titles version is not included, another is unhappy because many of the tracks on this release extend beyond what we heard of them in the movie. You can't please everyone, it simply defies logic. One is bound to be disappointed when listening to this CD only to compare it with preconceived expectations, rather than to enjoy the music.
  
  Did anyone ever notice how boring these bootlegs (that the purists keep referring to) actually were, to listen to? These two new official CDs instead present the music as *music*, as much as *atmosphere*, a work of art that can live on its own. Not a set of cues used in the background of a movie, but instead an actual album of music derived from its inspiring source.
  
  Well, I guess anything linked to Blade Runner cannot be released without its share of some controversy. So, do be sure to check out this marvellous release, and remember not to be discouraged by its critics, just like all of us never let the movie critics take our "Blade Runner" away. Instead, close your curtains, turn off the lights, put on the headphones and listen to almost 3 hours of Vangelis' "Blade Runner" genius!
  
  
  
• If you like Vangelis' works, you will love this!!!
  By A2L3OAJY4H0K2U on 2007-12-20
  A new Blade Runner soundtrack release with two new Vangelis discs!!!! The release comes in a deluxe 3 CD digipack. The artwork looks contemporary, and the print quality of the artwork is attractive, sharp, and of high quality. The stills from the movie are carefully restored. Overall this packaging looks and feels impressive.
  
  Disc 1:
  I proceeded to play disc one. This is Vangelis' officially released "Blade Runner" album from 1994 that contained several memorable themes from the movie. Themes such as "Memories of Green", "Love Theme", "Blade Runner Blues", and "End Titles" are all included here, but the album also contained new material composed in 1994. Listening to disc one made me aware how I have adopted the 1994 compositions as part of Blade Runner's music saga, Rachel's Song could have been plucked straight from the movie. The music on this disc flows and pours from one theme to the next, and listening to it you lose sense of time, slowly re-emerging in another time another place into the movie's characters and storyline. This disc is engaging, the themes are seamlessly connected in an uninterrupted movie of its own, and it is done so to maximum effect. Very few so-called "soundtracks" have achieved this level of immersion, and this music is as timeless and enjoyable as ever.
  
  Disc 2
  The next disc contains music from the Blade Runner score that until now has remained unreleased. The music of the disc two conveys a different feel. If disc one could be described as a collection of memorable music from the movie, then disc two captures the ambiance of the film on a more personal level. The music unravels as a Sci-Fi opera and puts you right into the center of Blade Runner's bleak and grand atmosphere, it makes you feel enchanted by the lush landscapes and grandeur of the surroundings, while at the same time you feel uneasy and tense by the somber and the discomforting underpinnings. With shape-shifting sequencers, curious sound effects, underlined by razor-blade synth sounds that drones the soundscape around you, by which sometimes gets ripped by thundering blasts, this music is simply magnificent. Again, the music here is presented in a seamless fashion, and you get uninterrupted music for the whole duration of the album. (Note: I completely disagree with a certain viewer's here who claims this disc "features officially unreleased cues, some of which are not even heard anywhere in the film", the "some" he is referring to are two bonus tracks only, the rest of the CD are all from the movie. Even one of the two bonus tracks was actually present in some form in the workprint version of the film, and for me that's good enough to regard that as part of the score). Anyways, the experience of this album is incredibly reflective, levitating, intimate, and magical. I think disc 2 will be recognized as a Vangelis masterpiece (notice I said "Vangelis"). If you would ignore for a moment its links to the Blade Runner world and listen to it as an album, it is a brilliant piece of work. It shows a side of Vangelis' we have not heard in any previous work. His use of machines to build an aural sound-scape while injecting emotions at the same time is breathtaking and refreshing. I can't recall being exposed to music like this before, well except maybe a bit on the long track (B-side) of Chariots of Fire. It is somewhat sad this great work has been dormant for 25 years, but I am glad to be here and enjoying it. The way this album is compiled is to be complemented for, the tracks segues into each other and I think it plays a big part of the magic. In retrospect, this album fits nicely the gap of Vangelis releases between Chariots of Fire (1981) and Soil Festivities (1983).
  
  
  Disc 3:
  The third disc contains new music composed for the 25-th anniversary of Blade Runner. The music does not pretend to go 25 years back to the past and do more music on period instruments, instead it sounds modern giving no doubt a certain amount of time difference between the two periods, not only in musical style but also to changes that might occurred to the world. Its story is in the Blade Runner world, though not about the characters Dick, Roy, or Rachel, it could about someone you know or your own story for that matter. The music is more edgy, more ethnic, and sometimes more chaotic, but it can also be very sweet as well. And just as on the first disc, there are dialogs or spoken words here too, some incidental and some part of the musical plot, though never getting in the way of the music, and actually sometimes enhancing the experience. The variety of music throughout this disc is colorful, the album is different from anything Vangelis has done in recent times. I must say the results are pleasantly refreshing and intriguing at times. This music has lots of surprises, the prevailing feeling here is how Vangelis is doing things a little out of ordinary or the unconventional. For example, I can't recall Vangelis ever creating a piece of music entirely on a grand piano, without the use of any added sounds, you just can't help imagining how intimate and special this piece is. Or for example on Up and Running, his use of samples from his first Blade Runner album and present them in a hypnotically-driven track, it brought back memories of the experimental side of him in Alpha Beta. One track I feel so attracted to is Spotkanie Z Matka, I can't be sure why. The music does not allure you with a grand Vangelis theme that he is so famous for, instead the music might be described as simple. Yet it attracts you in a subtle way, there is a sense of reserved optimism and unobtrusive gentleness here, and one that Vangelis manages to pull so brilliantly and almost effortlessly. Listening to Spotkanie Z Matka I felt I was listening to a new Direct album for a moment . It also made me realize how much I miss Vangelis' tinkering with electronics and digital productions lately (since Oceanic really). The other track that is likely to be a favorite for any is of course Sweet Solitude, the moment this piece starts with the opening notes and you know this is going to be a great Vangelis(ian) piece, and marvelous and great it is.... It also shows another example of Vangelis that is not conventional, the use of other musicians in an explicit way to give the impression he is improvising or performing with a band, rather than using musicians to fulfill a role for his symphonic music. We could listen to a whole album like this. There are other favourite tracks of mine, such as Perfume Exotico and Mail form India, all in all, this album is surprise, a pleasant surprise!
  
  Conclusion:
  All in all, this 3 CD set is looking like an excellent collection for Vangelis and music fans alike. Initially when news break out of this 3-CD release, I had certain preconceived thoughts what discs two and three could be like, but both ended sounding quite different than what I anticipated. The surprise is they are far much better than what I could have imagined them to be, especially disc 2, it really came to me as a shockingly great Blade Runner music, true, it misses some music, but I am one who says disc 2 holds together better this way. This is a great way to re-visit Blade Runner, and one that would not disappoint the fan of the music or the film.
  
  
  
• very interesting cd box!
  By A1YMF3BFZ8T24X on 2007-12-23
  Wow, after 25 years we have the best we can get!
  3 cd's with wonderful music!
  Disc one we know already. But disc 2 and 3 are a big surprise. Disc 2 with bonus tracks! Every part is great. At last we have most of the film soundtrack!
  Disc 3 is also very interesting. Every song is inspired by Blade Runner. Listen to "Mail from India", "Sweet Solitude" or "Spotkanie Z Matka" and you want to hear it again and again. Every time you listen to disc 3, you hear new interesting details!
  Most recommended CD-Box!! Bravo Vangelis!!
  
  
• This is not a review but a message for all Non - Bladerunner fans
  By AQN52WAWG1YFT on 2007-12-26
  This message is intended for the Bladerunner fans who gave the album
  a thumbs down.
  
  
  These die hard Bladerunner fans need to cool it down.
  
  What did they expect?????
  
  Of course Vangelis was not going to release a complete Bladerunner score.
  It didn't surprise me at all. I mean....look at Vangelis's other stuff...
  
  He has done soundtracks to other movies...and the complete score is never released.
  Vangelis will never release a complete score to any movie. That's the way Vangelis is.
  I can live with that. Can you?? I have the bootlegs and i'm happy with those.
  .
  The chances of releasing THE COMPLETE Bladerunner is slim to none.
  Maybe when Vangelis leaves this world, that's when the complete score may be released.
  
  But I understand how the Bladerunner fans feel.
  EVERYBODY wants to hear the complete score.
  
  But Fans don't understand what kind of person they are dealing with.
  Vangelis is a recluse just like the great Stanley Kubrick and Howard Hughes.
  They can be difficult to deal with and they will not always listen to the fans wishes or requests.
  These artists will only appease themselves.
  
  What I'm trying to say is that.....the Bladerunner fans have to respect him for who he is.
  Vangelis may be a great composer but he can be difficult. People have to accept that as well.
  I do.
  
  People have to understand that there are some things in life (and that goes with people too)
  that can't change. If Vangelis doesn't want to release the complete score to Bladerunner, then so be it.
  That's life. Life goes on. Its not the end of the world.
  
  Vangelis is one of my all time favorites. I love his music.
  But I also disagree with how he handles his material.
  Some of it should be released....but Vangelis has other ideas...and i learned to respect that.
  I can't argue with him....I just have to learn to accept his ideas.
  
  The true die hard fans will learn to drop the criticism and learn to accept the Trilogy as it is.
  I heard some of the stuff already from the internet, and I was very pleased with what i heard.
  I'm greatful to have had the opportunity to listen to more good Bladerunner stuff.
  Sure, it would be great to have more good Bladerunner new stuff added to the trilogy,
  but maybe Vangelis is saving that for later...he continues to tease.
  The Bladerunner mystique lives on...thanks to Vangelis.
  
  The die hard fans should also listen to Vangelis's other works.
  Some people will say Vangelis's Bladerunner is the best album he has ever done.
  AND I SAY THEY ARE WRONG.
  
  Vangelis has done so many great scores like Cosmos, Antartica, El Greco, Alexander, The City,
  Direct, Oceanic, the Olympics, and other stuff that he has done in the 70's, 80's, and 90's...
  all of them are equally impressive. Each album takes you to another time, dimension or atmosphere.
  Its staggering and mind blowing.
  
  I'm just greatful that i had the opportunity to listen to the bootleg stuff from everything that I downloaded.....
  i'm just at awe with the great master Vangelis. :)
  
  Those Bladerunner fans just need to find another hobby instead of trashing the trilogy.
  Put away Bladerunner for awhile and do something else...maybe they should trash Star Trek..hahaaahha
  
  I look forward to listening to the new soundtrack to El Greco when it comes out.
  Whether or not El Greco will be a bootleg or not...thats fine with me....its just going to be another
  great listening experience. :)
  
  As for the trilogy, i just recently received it...and
  i'm just totally amazed at disk 2 and 3.
  Its an incredible experience and i just want to lay down and dream about the Bladerunner
  soundtrack.
  
  I don't have time to give my impressions on the album. hahahha
  
  Just go buy it
  
  
  
• What is the "Complete" Blade Runner Soundtrack?
  By A1XK5SZKQJVDTI on 2007-12-27
  It's hilarious, these Blade Runner uber-fans getting so uppity about Vangelis and what is and is not the COMPLETE BR soundtrack. Back in 1993 I assembled my own COMPLETE soundtrack of the film using the best sound elements available at the time, the LaserDisc of Ridley Scott's Director's Cut. What I ended up with was absolutely the definitive, complete soundtrack to the film. Every note, bleep and hum. I loved it. I still love it, still have it, burned for eternity on CD. Now with the 5-disc DVD collection, any serious Blade Runner fan could easily create a superior audio version to mine. Instead they complain.
  
  This 3-disc collection is a welcome alternative to the soundtrack I created. Expanded, like experiencing the whole thing from a new, different point of view.
  
  You BR purists need to relax. Stop talking, stop typing, and start listening. What Vangelis has created here is BEAUTIFUL and HAUNTING, something NEW for all Blade Runner fans. Let yourself be open to its possibilities and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
  
  
  
  
• Marketing A Lie
  By A2Z2Z7608VKKDK on 2008-01-15
  This is not actually a review of the product itself but rather a review of Amazon's product description.
  
  Amazon's product description clearly states that the 3 CD collection is "providing the complete music from the film and a lot more besides." The description also states that, "The second CD contains all the remaining music from the film that did not appear on the original 1994 soundtrack."
  
  These are false statements. They are flat out lies. The fact that Vangalis wants to release new music and keep certain tracks unreleased is his prerogative. That's not the issue. The fact that this new release is being marketed as having "the complete music from the film" is out right fraud and Amazon should be held accountable.
  
  
  
  
  
• BR & Van Pap
  By A1YC9XEDFKXPLK on 2008-01-03
  Finally, something to really sink my teeth or ears into as well as mind! I've only previously owned the 1982 faux soundtrack.It is the BR orchestrated and jazzed up version which could stand on it's own merit as a pretty good album for background evening-dinner music. Yet,it falls way short in length and in capturing the futuristic electronic sounds that Vangelis originally created.If it captured any semblance to the film, it did it in a very,very different way that us fans were luke warm about but accepted because it was the only release at the time.Seven years later,some of us Blade Runner Original Soundtrack seekers were even mercilessly teased with three tracks that officially appeared for the first time on Vangelis' 1989 Themes compilation(actually, the song Memories Of Green came from his 1980 album "See You Later")!Then,I purchased the 1994 version when it was first released (twelve years after the film's initial release).I was blown away with it.Loved it---still do.Sure, I realized that there were some "vital" musical passages or score cues missing and what so many,such as myself, wanted from the movie and bootlegs to be included ,on that release, were not.However, I was satisfied with what Vangelis did release and even welcomed and highly enjoyed the tracks not in the film such as Wait For Me, Rachel's Song, Blush Response and Damask Rose. Over the years, I've listened to a multitude of sci-fi film soundtracks that have tried to imitate Blade Runner, such as The Fifth Element(and I am a fan of French music composer Eric Serra). Numerous other soundtracks as well have tried to duplicate that Vangelis magic.Yet, I always come back to the soundtrack of Blade Runner. Vangelis is unique and a one of a kind musical artist;There is no other like him!
  
  I can say that Disc 2 I have listened to with the lights low,and with my eyes closed most of the time in a quiet room;The mental imagery,the nostalgic feeling, the overall mood that Vangelis created with this second disc is pure genius.In sum, it is amazing material.One word, and it may be a bit overused and a bit cliched, but is the one that fits is melancholy.Tracks like One Alone, Desolation Path, Empty Streets,and the "re-mixing" or insertion of wind effects for Fading Away really seal this disc's somber and rich ambient mood,yet,also maintains a very desolate and introspective feel(the music makes one think and conjure mental visuals--either of the film itself or whatever comes to the mind of the listener---it's cerebral music).The other tracks on disc 2 have a sort of menacing tension(At Mr. Chew's,Deckard and Roy's Duel,Leon's Room).Either way,the second disc makes one think!Some have complained about the bleeps and bloops and "gimmicky" sound effects added;They are anything but gimmicky and do serve purpose in enhancing the music without coming across as stereotypical sci-fi tacky sound effects shlock.
  
  Disc 3 "BR25" was just an excuse for Vangelis Papathanassiou(say that five times real fast) to release a wonderful new album without selling or offering two different packages at the same time to buyers.Disc 3 is the "hopeful" and "slightly uplifting" part of the Blade Runner realm that somewhat contrasts with the dark and brooding,moody,stark and somber feel of the rest of the film's soundtrack(there's a bit of useage of the sax).Anyone who has ever heard or owns Vangelis' 1990 release The City or 1988's Direct will see where he is coming from by infusing spoken word and a sort of jazzy swaggering feel to some tracks on BR25. This disc really has a noirish nature or vibe with a slight/faint/hint of pop-techno lilt or twist(but not enough to shove this disc into mediocrity or sell out status)! Some may find the spoken words to be distracting.For me, they only add or enhance.Overall,with Disc 3, whether one is tranpsorted into the future of BR or any future or anywhere else, one thing is for sure;You will be transported to an imaginative and visual destination. I agree with another reviewer who said that Disc 3 takes the listener to what may be another part of the Blade Runner Los Angeles area that we did not get to see on film;Another part of the 'hood---away from Deckard,Rachel,Roy,Pris and Dr. Tyrell.It's the "meanwhile -in -another- location- of- Los Angeles 2019" extension to the BR world;It could even be another city entirely such as San Francisco(as in the actual novel by Phillip K. Dick),who knows.It could even be events that happened after the film ends and another Blade Runner detective has his own adventures.I digress.
  
  NO tantrums thrown here towards Vangelis for not releasing what so many, myself included, thought was going to be the absolute and definitive holy grail of the Blade Runner soundtrack(the one that would have finally put all those bootlegs to shame---however, I really don't want to hear the John Williams film company logo/movie trademark tune at the very beginning that some of the bootlegs have---jeesh).As I write this, another thought came across my mind---a sort of semi-comical one, though to the die hard fans, it is anything but;What if Vangelis said to himself,"Alright, so there are bootlegs that have been circulating all these years---I'll really show them. Now I'm NEVER gonna release the entire score! That'll teach 'em!"Basically, makes me wonder if Vangelis thought or said, "Eh,s---w 'em!..."-------I'm counting the blessings (other unreleased material,bonus tracks,new album) and not the omissions with this 25th Anniversary Edition of Blade Runner.
  
  I can only reiterate what other reviewers have mentioned or noted;If you are a Vangelis fan or music collector of his works,ESPECIALLY his soundtrack releases, then you know how he releases,edits, and even re-mixes his material(I have a couple of his soundtracks where the same song has been altered or remixed for the album release from the film version). He's never been one to succumb to the masses or what the public wants.Is that a selfish artist or artistic genius? You decide. This sheer musical artistry comes from a man that neither reads nor writes music!There are a number of soundtracks over the years that he has not released "officially" ;The Bounty, Missing, and Bitter Moon come to mind.
  
  By the way,do I wish that Vangelis had given us "Deckard Meets Rachel", the stark and minimalist haunting drum and keyboard intro at the begininng of the opening credits cues or the uber extended versions of Blade Runner Blues,End Titles,Wounded Animals,Dangerous Days? You bet. Am I steamed or feel cheated. No way. I have heard on YouTube the missing cues(Deckard Meets Rachel,Opening Credits, etc.) and original extended versions ( Blade Runner Blues , End Titles,Wounded Animals/Dangerous Days) that are not on the official release and do understand how remarkable those tracks are.However, now owning this 25th Anniversary Blade Runner Edition,I am glad I did not pass this up based on certain score cues missing or two minutes missing from this track or five from that track!
  
  Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary is absolutely worthy of the five golden stars (I only wonder how long the digipack cd case will hold up since this release will receive a lot of listening sessions from me)...
  
  
• Blade Runner Trilogy
  By A18CZYS7Y6RV8Q on 2007-12-24
  Not even close to what an original soundtrack should be. An indulgent and shameful mess from a spent composer who must have thought this THING was clever. The score for Blade Runner remains Vangelis' masterpiece... a great pity he doesn't know this and instead continues to muck it all up. Save your money and find a technically inferior bootleg... it'll will bring you more pleasure than this head ache. Better yet, buy my copy. What a waste.
  
  
• A dissapointment compared to the cheaper Soundtrack CD
  By A2OFQ8ZNGWAYPV on 2008-01-11
  Do not waste your money on this 25th anniversary "soundtrack" as the additions you pay the extra money for aren't the soundtrack. I have both the previously release CD Soundtrack and this, the 25th Anniversary Edition and was extremely disappointed at the two extra CDs in the 25th Anniversary you get for the extra money.
  
  The 1st CD is the same as the previous soundtrack CD release (which is only $10).
  
  The 2nd CD is supposed to contain unreleased music from the movie, but obviously Vangelis didn't have access to the movie sound samples (like he did with the original soundtrack CD) or its score apparantly, so he inserted what sound like MIDI reproductions of things like sirens and other sounds from the movie. The annoying part is you're not only constantly thinking that's not the sound, your thinking its horrible! It sounds like things a 14 yr old would make on his computer to sound like a siren etc. - which is way annoying. The music isn't the same either, making you think he didn't have the old score and just recorded what he remembered from all those years ago - some of its closer to the movie some of it is very far away from what was in the movie. It makes the 2nd CD so bad, it'd be better if it wasn't there. I've litterally deleted the files off my computer because I know I'll never want to listen to them again.
  
  The 3rd CD doesn't have much to do with Blade Runner at all and seems to be a vehicle to get out some latest song creations which, really aren't that great (by Vangelis standards). It's not as bad as the 2nd CD but has no relevance.
  
  Get the soundtrack CD (for $10) and not this 25th Anniversary product where you pay an extra $15 for 2 extra CD's of not what you are wanting. Its too bad it could have been such a great CD set, but alas its not.
  
  
• A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!!
  By A3W3578PH44GNF on 2008-01-26
  I wish I had read the reviews of this awful product BEFORE i puchased it. The other reviewers are correct that this DOES NOT have ALL the Vangelis music from Blade Runner. A specific example is when Deckard is going up to J.F. Sebastian's apartment and has the confrontation with Pris. At about 1:28:56 into the movie (The Director's Cut) and ends at about 1:31:40. Ever since I had bought the original "soundtrack", I had been annoyed that this was left off. I was excited when I saw this was coming out, because I wrongly assumed that with THREE CDs, all the music had to be on it. It isn't. DON'T BUY THIS!!!
  
  
• Get it for Disc 2 - forget the rest!
  By A1A8D33BN0VH27 on 2007-12-22
  Bottom line: Disc 2, having many cues from the original score and NO voiceover, is a gem. Disc 3, in my own opinion, is a waste. If I wanted to hear new Vangelis music, and I don't, I'd rather buy it separately. And as we all know by now, Disc 1 is a re-release of the original '94 soundtrack, ruined with voiceover. Guys, if I wanted dialog in my music, I'd be watching the movie for cryin' out loud. Why not take advantage of the opportunity now to remove the voiceover and remaster it as music only? There are only a few cues on here that are both from the film and have no v/o, and since I already bought this in '94, I don't need it again. What is even more of a let down is that "Tears in Rain" is presented at the end of Disc 2 under a different title. No Rutger Hauer voiceover this time, yet it has been ruined AGAIN with the addition of heavy wind sounds over the music. A very disappointing and confused representation of this beautiful score. Whomever is/are behind the concept of this 3 disc set should be ashamed.
  
  
• Old haunts
  By AITAQ69IE7JSZ on 2008-01-03
  I am sorry for the Blade Runner fans who were expecting a complete score. I myself was hopeful when the press release announced the "complete music from the film" would finally be available. Still, this is Vangelis we're talking about, and as others have said, he never releases a complete score. So I wasn't surprised in the end.
  
  This is a fantastic box set and I'll tell you why--it is the only legal, high-quality box set of any Vangelis music ever to be released. I am a Vangelis fan first and BR fan second, which I think is what divides the critical and positive reviews here. It does seem redundant to include CD 1 in this set since all of us who care already have it, but the other two CDs are wonderful. CD 2 includes the full cues to music which were only heard in small bits during the film. This music takes fans back to an earlier era of Vangelis music, an era in which many of us first discovered him. CD 3, though new, is also nostalgic in one sense, but fresh in others. There's something in his blending of synthesized and acoustic sounds that has never been replicated elsewhere. Most composers are limited to the instruments of an orchestra to create sound for their themes and images. Vangelis can find a sound in anything and for anything. Anyone can find something to like in his music, though some of it I'll admit requires an acquired taste.
  
  This set along with any Vangelis album is worth purchasing. Fans of music in general will be pleased to discover a new kind of music. This isn't New Age; it's hard to categorize. It's familiar in some ways without holding to convention, and exotic in other ways.
  
  Also highly recommended: 1492: Conquest of Paradise, Antarctica, and Chariots of Fire.
  
  
  
• A must have
  By A11SPSEM08VIXX on 2008-01-01
  I don't care about all the whys and wherefores. All I know is that if your are missing even a single track of any of this great music then this 3 disc set is a must own. give your old copy away to a buddy, niece, nephew, or even some stranger on the street. This set is a must have.
  
  There is Blade Runner music in this set that is unavailable legally anywhere else.
  
  
• Blade Runner Revisited
  By A39O9NAFJ1PY49 on 2008-01-02
  This is another fine album from Vangelis. True this may not be as complete as many fans hoped for but the fact that we are getting a whole new disc (Disc 2) of mostly unreleased material composed back in 1982 is a cause for celebration alone. As previous reviewerers noted earlier, those fans disappointed with this release probably have the rest of the music in bootleg form anyway! The fact that we are getting any new Blade Runner music at all should be welcome. The third disc of brand new material is a great addition to the BR universe. Thanks Vangelis for returning to Los Angeles 2019.
  
  
• Disappointing.
  By AJ2UOWGB4ZJQI on 2007-12-30
  As some of the others have stated, this is NOT the Blade Runner soundtrack. It may be new Vangelis music, it may even be 'inspired' by Blade Runner but some of the great music from the film just isn't there. Where is Ogi No Mato (the blimp music) and the music from Tyrell's place where Deckard first meets Rachel? Where is the music from Taffy Lewis' place? The titles are there but the music isn't even close. I'm not saying the new music is bad, it's just not Blade Runner. Fans looking for the proper soundtrack best stick with the bootleg versions...sadly.
  
  
• Why release what you already have?
  By A1AYLPPIHA68A1 on 2008-01-01
  Okay first of all, yes, advertising this release as being the complete soundtrack is bad form.
  
  This is speculation, but I think the release of this 3 disc album broke down something like this:
  
  Vangelis's people would have made him aware of the various bootlegs that have sprung up over the past 15 years. (I think it's safe to say that there have probably been more bootleg variation of the Blade Runner soundtrack than any other movie, some 3 dozen of them in fact: go check out such sites as vangelis-rarities for a list of some of the examples.) So what I think happened was this: Vangelis took a look at all this stuff and thought, "Well, if die-hard fans already have all this stuff, or even some of it, then what's the point of me giving them it all over again?!"
  
  (The point, of course, is that it would have been 'official' and would have been in digitially remastered sound, but of no moment...)
  
  So instead of repackaging all the cues from the bootlegs into an 'official' release Vangelis decided to give the fans almost entirely new music.
  
  It's interesting to note that almost all the fans over on the International Vangelis Forum are delighted with this release. Why? Precisely because it's 'all new music'! The ones who are whining are the film's fans who simply want the actual soundtrack as it appears in the movie. (In which case virtually all of these fans already have it, in the form of the widely available bootlegs, such as the Esper Edition and the Deck Definitive release.)
  
  Now, mind you, I'm a huge fan of the movie (like most people here I have the 5 disc boxset) and I can understand people's wish to simply have the soundtrack's cues sans sound effects and dialogue, and to that end I would have preferred if Vangelis had removed the dialogue from the first disc of this 3CD release, as opposed to simply including the '94 edition unaltered.
  
  It helps, however, to remember this: Vangelis has NEVER revisited the soundtrack to any of the movies he's worked on. Blade Runner is the exception. It's interesting to note that nowhere - unlike ALL of his other official soundtrack releases, including the recent Alexander and El Greco - does the legend 'Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' appear on the '94 release, or for that matter this '07 release, other than that red sticker. This is a 3CD 'album' in celebration of the movie, NOT a soundtrack.
  
  Vangelis has NEVER been interested in taking the exact edits of his cues from a movie and packaging them onto a CD. THIS is what Blade Runner's film fans want. Vangelis will never do this (and precisely BECAUSE there are so many bootlegs that do exactly that he no doubt feels, "What's the point, you have all this material already?") Instead Vangelis prefers to have his soundtrack releases stand on their own as legitimate albums, and not merely a collection of cues, to the point where he will often rearrange certain tracks for their official album release. This is clearly evident on 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Alexander, where the tracks are not only shorter - or in some cases even longer - than how they appear in the movie, but in addition they have been subtly rearranged. Both of these movies boast 2CD Complete Score bootlegs. Both of these bootleg releases are inferior to the far shorter official single disc releases. Why? Because they're bland, flat - THEY'RE TOO LONG! They don't stand on their own as albums. Most film cues are only a minute or two long, especially in the case of Blade Runner, and whereas these work terrifically within the context of the actual movie, they rarely stand on their own, or even if they do they simply don't flow properly if ran together with the film's other cues when placed onto an album.
  
  Vangelis has always been more concerned with his soundtrack releases maintaining their own sense of cohesion than simply taking the easy route of lazily throwing a whole bunch of cues onto a disc. Sure, this would have delighted the film's fans, but the film and the separate release of the music on CD are two different things, two different mediums.
  
  The majority of Vangelis fans are happy with this 3CD release because it gives us two CDs of brand new music which COMPLIMENT the bootlegs which almost all of us already have.
  
  And, for those few who don't owned the bootlegs, please don't buy them from eBay. Members of such sites as the yahoo group bladerunner_soundtrack will happily provide them free of charge.
  
  Blade Runner's film fans are simply going to have to learn to listen to this release as they would an ordinary album; it's clear that this release was meant for Vangelis fans and not Blade Runner's film fans per se.
  
  
• Still not the definitive Soundtrack
  By A1FWXLVZU8E9HN on 2008-01-26
  An interesting collection of new and old material. It's great to finally have some of these tracks available at last, but this is still not the definitive soundtrack we've all been waiting for. Won't someone just give us the soundtrack of "Bladerunner" from beginning to end without the revisited songs and reinterpretations? Is that, after 25 years of waiting, asking too much?
  
  
• MORE OF A RIPOFF THAN THE BOOTLEGS!
  By A2WI4S35H2N9YC on 2008-01-17
  We'll try this a third time (since they seem to have lost it the first two times)
  
  I've deleted most of my review, since others have covered the same ground in a more suitable-for-family-reading fashion (Bless you, Zaroff, for nailing this bird we've been flipped to the Wall of Shame.)
  
  So, it's the "complete music from the film" eh? Fhtagn! David Cordes, in his very generous 3 star review, details the other releases that have more right to call themselves complete.
  
  My copy of this waste of ones and zeros has been making the rounds with the gang, and the printable response has so far been, "Thanks for saving me the money."
  
  >sarcasm mode--ON<
  Thank you sooo much, to the label and Vangelis, for making us have to shell out tons more cash to the bootleggers for what we want.
  >sarcasm mode--OFF<
  
  I wish I hadn't pre-ordered this turkey.
  
  PS--Amazon exclusive my arse!
  
  
  
• Not much new ground, but good nonethless
  By A36LLLM7PDGNP7 on 2008-01-29
  People are not going to be clamoring to get out in to the street, jumping for joy and proclaiming that the god-of-synthesizers is back at his game. Those days for Vangelis, since the mid-70's, have sadly passed. Vangelis seems to be past the period of experimentation and is oddly enough rehashing former glories. Which is strange coming from an artist who has said in numerous (and I mean numerous) interviews that he hates repeating himself. And this is not to mention the numerous (and I mean numerous) sports themes and Olympic related events he has coordinated after that little running movie he won an Oscar for. And the beaucoup "remastered" compilation CD's he has authorized. For someone who doesn't repeat himself, Vangelis sure repeats himself.
  
  But fear not, not all of this is bad. It's a pleasure to have new Vangelis music and this release, particularly the third "new" CD, certainly delivers. In fact, if I didn't know any better, it would appear that Vangelis is using the "Bladerunner" platform to release some entirely new music that (despite a few recurring melodic motiffs) essentially has nothing to do with "Bladerunner". So, the controversy continues (are you reading the other reviews?)!
  
  The second CD is surprisingly ambient and appears to be a lot of backing tracks segued together. Which, again, is not a bad thing. It's nice to hear Vangelis spreading his musical palette, without all that bombastic melody getting in the way. Remember, that this man used to do such strange works as "See You Later" and "Beaubourg".
  
  So, sadly no new ground sprung here, but certainly some pleasant music sure to please Vangelis fans.
  
  
• A fine addition to your Vangelis library..
  By AE6XAIX1UA2SG on 2008-01-08
  I've been listening to disc 2 & 3 quite a bit and they are in a word, outstanding. Running relatively short for CD format (disc 2 @ 44:00 and disc 3 @ 48:18) they are nontheless exquisite examples of Vangelis' best work. These two discs, unlike the original OST on disc 1, are more ambient than melodic. The original release of disc 1 was exciting at the time (1994?), most notably for the gorgeous "Bladerunner Blues" and "Rachel's Song", but as a whole the OST was kind of all over the place: some voice-overs; some hard almost techno sounds; the anachronistic "One More Kiss, Dear". Listened to as one CD disc 2 & 3 feel much more representive of the original score than disc 1. Some themes are repeated as with track 12 of disc 2 which is "Tears in the Rain" without the Batty voice-over. There is also much exquisite new music on discs 2 & 3. Most notable are "Desolation Path" on disc 2 and "Piano in an Empty Room" on disc 3. This 3 disc set is not very economically priced as I'm sure most Bladerunner or Vangelis fans have had the OST CD for over 10 years, but I still recommend this set very highly. And if Bryant calls, "Tell him I'm eating."
  
  
• Great companion piece to the movie
  By AVCF8NBF6DVID on 2008-01-13
  This is an excellent Cd release, it may not have every track from the Blade Runner movie but it has all the main and important themes as well as other unreleased/unused cues. Also the 3rd cd is a real treat since Vangelis composes all new music that takes place within the Blade Runner universe, which to me shows the mark of a great musician. So i say to everyone who enjoyed the movie, you won't be disappointed
  
  
• Fantastic new music from Vangelis for BR
  By AAE27P93OEAHI on 2008-01-19
  Every Blade Runner fan should have this - disc one has the original soundtrack from 1994, disc two has music from the movie not included in the '94 release, and some really great tracks, but it's disc three that is the real treat: All new music composed by Vangelis for the 25th anniversary of BR, and there are some gems here, a lot of it reminiscent of Vangelis' work from the '80's through the mid '90's (re: Direct, The City, Opera Sauvage, etc.)... As a long time Vangelis fan I am very pleased with this three-disc set and very happy to have it in my collection. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Temas de un clasico
  By AK81NVBT61LCA on 2008-02-18
  Esta colección de tres discos, editada para conmemorar el 25 aniversario del Estreno de la Pelicula de Blade Runner, es un trabajo muy bien logrado por Vangelis, que se manifiesta en una obras que refleja de manera excelente la atmosfera futurista y obscura de la cinta. Y sobre todo, a partir de el crea variaciones que toman senderos originales, para explorar el mundo que es insinuado por las imagenes de la pelicula. Es decir Vangelis retrata musicalmente a la creación del director Ridley Scot, pero no se contenta con ello, profundiza para hacer sus aportaciones y enriquecer la obra de arte, de manera que estos CD cobran vida propia tomando caminos paralelos a donde se inspirarón.
  
  
• great 3 disc set
  By A38U6WSO5RPDIE on 2008-01-08
  one of the best buys and certainly the best CD set of 2007, the third disc with all new material was amazing especially songs one and two and seven...wow. I remember at the time the blade runner soundtrack was far far ahead of its time, thats why it still stand up today, but the new music for the 25th ann takes it to a new level...and 25 years from now it will hold up, sort of techo rap with classical themes going thru..amazing, I just cannot recommend this any higher...a must buy and 3 cds with some of the greatest film music EVER...get it NOW
  
  
• A worthwhile celebration
  By A2A5ASCCQ478KU on 2008-01-12
  I will start by saying that you need to listen to these 3 cds on headphones(GOOD ones) to really appreciate what has been achieved with the release of these 3 fine cds. DO NOT believe what you read in some of the reviews - the music is timeless , stunning and something that Vangelis can be proud of. It gets my full 5 star rating from beginning to end - the new tracks on cd 3 are outstanding and follow the mood of the original soundtrack release as on the remastered cd 1. Worth every dollar indeed.
  
  
• Amazing
  By A1VJQS9VWJZP1K on 2008-02-23
  This is just a great edition for the Vangelis fan, i was very pleased with the new third cd, it's relaxing and brings you in the right mood, a must for every Vangelis fan!
  
  

• Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
• 2001 - A Space Odyssey (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (The Complete Recordings)
• Battlestar Galactica - Season Three