Blade Runner ROX *Possible spoilers*

[Tallgeese]

Impetus for this thread of course being the "Bladerunner sux" thread here in OT.
Feel free to discuss the EXCELLENCE of this film!
BE WARNED: If you haven't seen this film yet (or both versions, for that matter), this thread may spoil important aspects of the film that are best discovered on one's own.
This thread may also contain spoilers for other films as well.

Here's a question for the aficionados:
Which characters were replicants?

 

[Yossarian]

(didn't see the other thread, nm)

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

I think Harrison Ford's character was a replicant. The company, to see if they could make a model that could fool anyone, made him as a prototype or something. What better way to prove your company's technological superiority than to fool the officials into thinking that the very person that they're sending out to test and destroy the replicants was a replicant himself yet went virtually undetected the whole time throughout tests and all?

nik

 

[Tallgeese]

I'm of the mind it's more extensive than THAT, even.

Remember, all the animals are extinct.
What's to say that humans aren't actually extinct as well?

Brings a whole new dimension to the idea of "haves" and "have-nots," doesn't it?

BTW: Much of P.K. Dick's work is deeply concerned with the idea of identity, especially as it affects socio-political constructs. As is a lot of other sci-fi authors' works (especially Asimov ).

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: TallGeese
I'm of the mind it's more extensive than THAT, even.

Remember, all the animals are extinct.
What's to say that humans aren't actually extinct as well?

Brings a whole new dimension to the idea of "haves" and "have-nots," doesn't it?

BTW: Much of P.K. Dick's work is deeply concerned with the idea of identity, especially as it affects socio-political constructs. As is a lot of other sci-fi authors' works (especially Asimov ).

It's a great film. I have the Director's Cut myself, along with the Director's Cut of Escape From New York.

The book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was very loosely adapted for the movie. The book was much different and way weirder than the movie.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I saw it originally in the theater (yep, a geezer) and even with the narration it's a truly excelent movie. And a subtle one, which explains why some people find it boring. Those people should also stay away from Gatacca and anything by Kieslowski or Kurosawa.

There hasn't been much intelligent film SF, even AI was more a "sci fi" pinocchio (though very well done).

For those that "get" Blade Runner, what other subtle, intelligent SF films can you think of? In anime Wings of Honnemaise -and- A Wind Named Amnesia come to mind.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: TallGeese
I'm of the mind it's more extensive than THAT, even.

Remember, all the animals are extinct.
What's to say that humans aren't actually extinct as well?

Brings a whole new dimension to the idea of "haves" and "have-nots," doesn't it?

BTW: Much of P.K. Dick's work is deeply concerned with the idea of identity, especially as it affects socio-political constructs. As is a lot of other sci-fi authors' works (especially Asimov ).

Stan Kubrick fan??

nik

 

[UNCjigga]

One case where the director's cut was worse than the theatrical release, IMHO

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

The book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was very loosely adapted for the movie. The book was much different and way weirder than the movie.

Other way around, the short story came first, just like PK Dick's "I can remember it for you wholesale" became -after many changes- Total Recall.

Edit: duhh! my stupid brain read "adapted for the movie" as "adapted from the movie" bad brain!

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For those that "get" Blade Runner, what other subtle, intelligent SF films can you think of? In anime Wings of Honnemaise -and- A Wind Named Amnesia come to mind.

Metropolis
Godard's Alphaville
2001
And I would say that Robocop (while not exactly "subtle") is still a VERY intelligent satire, wrapped in an old-fashioned package of kick-@ss!

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Stan Kubrick fan??

Oh man...you know it brother!
Would have majored in film studies in undergrad, except I couldn't pack in enough class credits and still meet min requirements to graduate.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: TallGeese

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For those that "get" Blade Runner, what other subtle, intelligent SF films can you think of? In anime Wings of Honnemaise -and- A Wind Named Amnesia come to mind.

Metropolis
Godard's Alphaville
2001
And I would say that Robocop (while not exactly "subtle") is still a VERY intelligent satire, wrapped in an old-fashined package of kick-@ss!

I'd buy that for a dollar His Starship Troopers was also a great satire in the guise of pro-war propaganda.

I haven't seen Alphaville, but Metropolis and 2001 definitely.

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I haven't seen Alphaville, but Metropolis and 2001 definitely.

The Criterion Collection is your friend, my man!

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

The book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was very loosely adapted for the movie. The book was much different and way weirder than the movie.

Other way around, the short story came first, just like PK Dick's "I can remember it for you wholesale" became -after many changes- Total Recall.

Edit: duhh! my stupid brain read "adapted for the movie" as "adapted from the movie" bad brain!

Tis ok. I figured someone would read it like that. I believe the book came out in the late 60's.

The book: Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison was the basis for Soylent Green. The big difference was that there was only the slightest hint that it was made out of people. It was more about how society had changed in an overpopulated and polluted future.

 

[0roo0roo]

i wish they would rerelease the dvd. it needs special features and stuff

 

[Tallgeese]

I'd also add Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" to my list of favorite intelligent sci-fi movies.
BTW: Criterion's release of Brazil is both exhaustive and exquisite!

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i wish they would rerelease the dvd. it needs special features and stuff

VERY doubtful...As Harrison Ford allegedly refuses to have anything more to do with BR or even acknowledge the film at all.
Evidently he hates it nearly as much as some folks in the "Bladerunner sux" thread here in ATOT.

Kinda ironic, since his performance in Blade Runner arguably opened the door for dramatic roles he most likely would not landed (such as the lead role in "Witness").

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

The book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was very loosely adapted for the movie. The book was much different and way weirder than the movie.

Other way around, the short story came first, just like PK Dick's "I can remember it for you wholesale" became -after many changes- Total Recall.

Edit: duhh! my stupid brain read "adapted for the movie" as "adapted from the movie" bad brain!

Tis ok. I figured someone would read it like that. I believe the book came out in the late 60's.

The book: Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison was the basis for Soylent Green. The big difference was that there was only the slightest hint that it was made out of people. It was more about how society had changed in an overpopulated and polluted future.

I haven't read that one of his, though the Deathworld books and first couple of "Stainless Steel Rat" books were well done.

If you've seen Heston in Omega Man (dated but good for its time) you might want to hunt down a copy of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" which inspired it.

Books: source of almost all good SF movies

 

[Nemesis77]

This might be of interest. It seems that Gaff was also a replicant :Q! Never really thought about that, but it makes sense!

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: TallGeese
I'd also add Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" to my list of favorite intelligent sci-fi movies.
BTW: Criterion's release of Brazil is both exhaustive and exquisite!

I second that.

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: TallGeese

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i wish they would rerelease the dvd. it needs special features and stuff

VERY doubtful...As Harrison Ford allegedly refuses to have anything more to do with BR or even acknowledge the film at all.
Evidently he hates it nearly as much as some folks in the "Bladerunner sux" thread here in ATOT.

Kinda ironic, since his performance in Blade Runner arguably opened the door for dramatic roles he most likely would not landed (such as the lead role in "Witness").

But the one thing most people don't know is that Harrison Ford says he would be just as happy if not more if he had been nothing more than a carpenter.

 

[Tallgeese]

Some more faves, all anime:

VERY moving scene: The death (sacrifice?) of Treize Khushrenada in "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing"
Ghost In The Shell 0WNZ Teh Matrix
Also, certain episodes of Cowboy Bebop are absolutely sublime, particularly:

* Ballad for Fallen Angels
* Waltz for Venus
* Jupiter Jazz (1 & 2)
* Speak Like A Child
* Hard Luck Women
* The Real Folks Blues (1 & 2)

(If you didn't already figure out that I was a CB fan, check out my .sig)

 

[RayH]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For those that "get" Blade Runner, what other subtle, intelligent SF films can you think of? In anime Wings of Honnemaise -and- A Wind Named Amnesia come to mind.

On the anime side I'd have to put Serial Experiments: Lain at the top of the list.

The only movie recent that comes to mind is Avalon, a live action movie by the same director of Ghost in the Shell.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Blade Runner was good, but after reading the book I have not picked the movie back up (it doesnt help I only have it on vhs and I dont think I have a working vcr ). That book is one of the many reasons Philip K. Dick is one of my favorite authors of all time.

It was released in 1968 according to my Science Fiction Illistrated Encyclopedia (I couldnt find the actual book ). I also recommend Ubik, Man in the High Castle, and Minority Report (among all of the others, these are the ones that stick out right now).

I wish there was a movie based on classic sci-fi that actually did good by the book or story it was based on. The only one I know of that would have come close would have been "I Robot." Having read the screen play (by Harlan Elison ) I think it would have made a damn good movie. Last I heard Harlan was stilll collecting option checks on it, but studios would not cave to creative genius.

And before any of you think Im an old man because I have read all of this old stuff, this is what my dad had lying around while I was growing up. Its his fault Im twisted and cynical.