It is one on my favorite films, and ‘The Final Cut’ version gets my vote.
Fake ETA: But, then I am a replicant, so maybe my vote doesn’t count.
Concur, and for the exact same reason.
Another vote here for the big collector’s set.
And Roy shot first.
btw, I vote Original… I think the voice-over is badass. Very “Sam Spade In The Future”.
Get the version where he flies the Millennium Falcon and kisses the Princess.
Lost track of the proof, but he’s obviously a Replicant and Ford’s barely-emotionless overdubs don’t deny it.
Dude may’ve been better off with an electric sheep, but are a few months with Sean Young an improvement?
It’s discombulating, but it’s that the kid really can’t act.
Any Director: Harry, I know it’s an effort, but can you produce ANY facial expression unlike you grunting out an especially hard turd?
Harrison Ford: (grunt, with some lubrication)
Final Cut, no question. Original theatrical release is not the movie Ridley Scott meant to make. No voice over, no happy ending, Deckard is a replicant (according to Scott.) 
Just because he wanted it that way doesn’t mean it’s the best version.
The only two contenders for owning are the 1982 International Version and the Final Cut.
The first one is the best “original” release. I think it’s only available with the 5-disc Collector’s Edition or the Special Edition Laserdisc. That said, it’s only marginally different from the US Theatrical release.
The second is the best “Ridley Scott’s vision” release. As mentioned, the Final Cut is mostly a cleaned-up Director’s Cut, and since both are readily available, go with that if you want the movie after the director has tinkered with it post-release.
I like all of them, my ideal version would probably be yet another cut, but prefer the original (“International”) the most.
You meant to say, “One of the greatest film scores ever conceived.”, right?
Srsly. I have both the Vangelis and the Orchestra versions. I prefer the Vangelis one, personally.
After I posted that last, I went looking and guess what I found?
Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary 3 CD soundtrack by Vangelis.
My copy is already on the way!
There is a rare, comprehensive, bootlegged version out there known as, I believe, the “Esper” version.
It contains many tracks one will find nowhere else and the sound quality is great, very well done.
Good luck finding a physical copy.
here is the track listing:
Disc1:
-
Prologue and Main Titles
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Leon’s Voight Kampff Test
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Sushi Bar - Damask Rose
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Spinner Ascent
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Blush Response
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Wait FOr Me
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Deckard Meets Rachael
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Rachael’s Song
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Tales of the Future
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Bicycle Riders
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Chew’s Eye Lab
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Memories of Green
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Blade Runner Blues
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Pris Meets J.F. Sebastian
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One More Kiss, Dear
Disc2: -
Deckard Dream
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Thinking of Rachael (Love Theme Different Take)
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Esper Analysis
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Animoid Row
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Taffey Lewis Night Club
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Salome’s Dance
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Zhora’s Retirement
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I Am The Business
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Love Theme
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I Dreamt Music
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Morning At The Bradbury
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The Prodigal Son Brings Death
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Deckard Enters the Bradbury
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Dangerous Days15. Wounded Animals
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Tears In Rain
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Rachael Sleeps
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End Titles
The Esper Edition was updated in 2007 with the ‘Retirement’ edition: 5 CDs and 1 DVD (to coincide with the nifty package release on DVD and Blu-ray). There’s some cool stuff on there, and it’s not hard to get both the content and the artwork, but in general I don’t mess with bootlegs unless the artist is onboard with idea. Vangelis is well known for not giving interviews and being fairly private (almost to the point of being reclusive), but I can see where big fans of his work would want them, seeing as how they include a lot of things not on the official releases.
ETA: I forgot to mention, it would take more than just luck to get a real hardcopy of the Esper Edition; the folks who made it only made 10 copies total. They’re actually a little pissed off at the people who bootlegged their bootleg. Scroll down to the last part of this page to read their comments.
Well, it’s clear that you are way ahead of me on this one. Thanks for the additional info, I had no idea there was a ‘Retirement Edition’.
Put me down for the original theatrical cut. Deckard was not a replicant.
I was going to write that an edition including the Theatrical version and the Director’s Cut would be best. Then you can decide for yourself which ending you like better and if you prefer “voice over” or no “voice over”.
In a way, they are two different movies in their own right, both a very good and worth owning. My only beef is the ending where they are driving in the country and unused footage from the opening scenes of *The Shinning *are used. I don’t doubt life outside such a city could be like that, but it was still too jarring compared to the look of the rest of the film.
I don’t think the Director’s/Final cuts changed that. They may have introduced some symbolic fodder for debate with a few shots, but otherwise IMO it makes no sense for Deckard to be a replicant.
I think the noir voiceover of the theatrical release suggests he’s a replicant, only a Sam Spade-otron Model X-47 robot could deliver such an emotionless corny naive cliched narrative.