evil bill
Posts: 6560
Joined: 19/7/2006
From: mordor/ uk
|
Forgot to post a review on this excellent thread of Ridley Scott's classic,and like the Dr i know Scott made more than 3 great movies,though i think he has only made 3 Masterpieces of cinema history,this being one.
BLADE RUNNER 1982
In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicants, human clones used to serve in the colonies outside Earth but with fixed lifespans. In Los Angeles, 2019, Deckard(Harrison Ford) is a Blade Runner, a cop who specializes in terminating replicants. Originally in retirement, he is forced to re-enter the force when six replicants escape from an off world colony to Earth.The city that Deckard must search for his prey is a huge, sprawling, bleak vision of the future. This film questions what it is to be human, and why life is so precious.
I have always loved science fiction in films and TV programmes,even shows like shows Star Trek,the original and the Star Wars trilogy,but these pale in comparsion to Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' which is the greatest Sci/Fi of them all I am not hesitant to say that i am not that keen on Spielberg's definition of SF- ET, Close Encounters etc. A L I E N 1979 original now that was a great Sci/Fi horror movie,and i never thought Scott could come close to matching this.Well as a Sci/Fi movie,it is one of the greatest films ever made, up there with 2001: A Space Odyssey,and for me Scotts second greatest movie ever.Though misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott's mysterious, film noir sci/fi has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece. Upon 1st viewing back in 1982,i disliked the vocie over that explained everything,and that happy bullshit ending,but was still blown away. You might expect a futuristic run-of-the-mill 80's shoot-em-up like of Outland,say,but it's so much more. What you get is a film so deep that it is difficult to grasp the 1st viewing. There is so much symbolism, introverts and questions that i was left stunned. The film is hauntingly beautiful, and i doubt that these screen landscapes could be reproduced today as well as they were here. The plot centres around the question of humanity- something we take for granted. It is not an auctioneer, which was probably what audiences expected when they walked into theatres in the 80s, causing the film to fail commercially. Blade Runner is not for the adrenaline junkie, nor for those who like flashy gadgets and bright explosions, with a healthy Hollywood-made dose of convincing storyline spoon-fed for their satisfaction.
From the opening shot of a Los Angeles cityscape at night in the year 2019, it is clear that Scott has conjured up something special. The film is set in the apocalyptic, suggestively post-war future Earth, where there seems to be a lag in technology. Perhaps there was a war which ravaged the world, forcing humans to migrate,and rebuild, explaining the retro technology. If you're planning to take sides in this film, you will be pleasantly if not unnervingly surprised. There are no sides. There is no good and evil. Harrison Ford plays the reluctant, burned out Blade Runner very well. His character is drab and dull, as it was meant to be, look at him in the Spinner on the way to Tyrell corporation- pure boredom.And going by interviews after the movie's release,he admitted to having no interest and a dislike of Scott,and it works in the most crazy way. He hates his job in fantasy and in real life,he hated this movie,it was long hours and draining in every way. Rutger Hauer gives the greatest performance of his career in this film, playing Roy Batty, Replicant 'project manager'. He dominates the later part of the film. He is cold, stiff and evil, but in the end speech, one of the Greatest endings i have ever seen, his performance alone makes this film a Classic.The nail thought the hand and the releasing of the Dove is pure religious symbolism,along with many other scenes.If you like Roy is the son and of course Tyrell the creator.Sean Young is also superb in her role as the ultimate replicant woman who Deckard falls in love with.Not forgeting also Daryl Hannah as the beautiful but deadly Pris,in an outstanding all time best,that is of course till Kill Bill.
The ending is beautiful and now complete with the Final Cut, and the score by Vangelis is perfect.All in all, the film is excellent,brilliantly directed by Ridley Scott, innovative and stunning imagery underlined by Vangelis' superb score, and plenty to think about.The wizardry of Designers Lawrence G. Paull, Douglas Trumbull and Syd Mead,is awesome,and Doug worked with the best on 2001. These days, it's almost impossible to find a gritty science fiction motion picture that doesn't owe at least a small debt to Blade Runner's visual style.This was the best Sci/Fi movie of the 80's and beyond,and the Final Cut is without doubt Scotts vision finally complete.  
_____________________________
"You listen to me now,i will find you and i will kill you!"
|
Printable Version
RE: Blade Runner - 
That's some fraking cool stuff right there.
Mod Candidate 2013
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread