Blade Runner - TTLG Forums

Strangeblue on 8/8/2001 at 08:12

Ok, ok, the jeering and pointing may now commence.

I finally saw Blade Runner all the way through.

Jesus, that's a brilliant film. And it still looks so good. Of course that's partially because it's mostly matte paintings, not the cheesy-quality CGI they were developing at the time.

The friend I saw it with had never seen it either, though we'd both read the Philip K. Dick story. Afterward he looked at me and said "that is so much less violent than I had believed it was."

Considering that one of the most famous shots from the film is decidedly violent, it is a very low-splatter film. It has a gritty feel without being unrelentingly ugly, yet it preserved a great deal of the point of Dick's story without the soul-immolating feel of hopelessnes and horror which usually drive me far from anything by Dick or his imitators. (Hey, my doctor said to avoid that sort of thing, ya know; makes me kinda.... psychotic...*twitch... twitch*)

Anyhow, I felt I had to remind you guys of this little landmark in our collective frame of reference. If you haven't seen it recently, do. It still stands up well.

Much better than, say.... Star Wars, I'm afraid.

bujin77 on 8/8/2001 at 08:36

Which version did you see? The original or the Directors Cut? I liked the voiceover of the original, but I preferred the ending to the Directors Cut. BladeRunner is one of my all time favourite films.

Fringe on 8/8/2001 at 08:40

Quote:

Much better than, say.... Star Wars, I'm afraid.

Them's is fightin' words around these parts.

I mean, these people are having flamewars about the Episode II title. Crikkes.

Too bad Blade Runner isn't on the Sci-Fi channel any time soon, or I'd check it out.

[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Fringe ]

scarecrow on 8/8/2001 at 08:48

Yes, I love all of Ridley Scott's films, (except perhaps G.I Jane)
Alien's probably my favourite but Blade Runner's bloody good too.
Yes, much better than Star Wars.

and <BLOCKQUOTE>Spoiler:<DIV STYLE="background-color:#000080"> Deckard was a replicant wasn't he. The unicorn origami sorta said that </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>

PigLick on 8/8/2001 at 09:07

yes better, but in what way?

Siftland on 8/8/2001 at 09:41

I don't like Bladerunner.....not a fan. I love Dick's "Do Andriods," but Bladerunner just took the idea and completely dumbed it down, made it a simple "kill the andriods" plot. No arguing that it looks cool...but good visuals are never enough for me.

I had a curse for a long time of not being able to see it. I'd always fall asleep, run out of time, or something. For some inexplicable reason, it is very hard for me to pay attention to.

I'm not as good at putting into words why I don't like the film. There are two films that I don't like and can't preciely illustrate why: Bladerunner and Willow. It's an odd phenomenon.

Edit: And it's no longer taboo to make fun/criticize Star Wars. Now that Episode Crap completely ruined the series...Just thought you should know.

[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Siftland ]

Gray on 8/8/2001 at 10:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Siftland:
I love Dick's "Do Andriods," but Bladerunner just took the idea and completely dumbed it down, made it a simple "kill the andriods" plot.

I've read the book and I sort of got that feeling when watching the "regular" version of the movie, but as such I'd still say it's a good movie. The director's cut is by far more interesting, at least to me. But I still say it's quite far from the book.

kostoffj on 8/8/2001 at 12:55

I think it would be extremely difficult to really capture the essence of a PKD story on film. Blade Runner wasn't a faithful translation of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, but it was an excellent story in and of itself, inspired by DADES. Actually, I'm not sure it was meant to be a faithful translation in the first place. Since film and literature are such different media, it would be better if film makers take inspiration from stories rather than try to reproduce them on film. I think the various attempts to bring Frank Herbert's Dune to screen are a good indication (my humble opinion: the Lynch movie was bad, the miniseries much better. The miniseries realized that it would be impossible to effectively show on film all of the things going on inside the characters' heads (where so much of the action in Dune takes place) so they adjusted their narrative to the strengths of film. Lynch had audible thoughts, which did not work at all.).

I wonder if Blade Runner won any Oscars that year for its cinematography and set design? Syd Mead's visions of the future LA alone are worth the price of admission. Or of the DVD.

Unfortunately, other film efforts inspired by PKD have not worked out well, like Total Recall (gag). I am anxious about the Minority Report, which Spielberg is filming now (near where I live, in Gloucester, Va! w00t), but after AI, I think Spielberg can do a good job.

(Felonious Punk is a serious PKD fanboy)

scarecrow on 8/8/2001 at 12:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Felonious Punk:
I wonder if Blade Runner won any Oscars that year for its cinematography and set design?

nup, it was nominated for art direction and visual effects but didn't manage to get any

Lioness Rampant on 8/8/2001 at 13:33

I've never seen it