Also this soundtrack man..
Blade Runner Blues is to me also one of those tracks that has been stuck to me since forever i saw this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXXo1YDA9tE
Blade Runner's high praise...where does it come from?
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
- Status
Also this soundtrack man..
Blade Runner Blues is to me also one of those tracks that has been stuck to me since forever i saw this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXXo1YDA9tE
CadetMahoney
Member
nostalgia
The music is amazing. I have the original, Esper edition and 30th anniversary soundtracks.
John Rabbit
Banned
there's also that great scene with the fake precinct and his stagnant marriage.
the movie is a fantastic tone-piece with some of the best (now retro-)futurism design work by Syd Mead. beyond that it's pretty okay.
Battersea Power Station
Member
It's a common problem of highly influential stuff. I had a similar reaction to reading The Watchmen. In the time after it was released, comic books learned to be smart, satirical, subversive, self-reflective, etc. so now it doesn't seem like a big deal. But at the time I am assuming it was revolutionary.
But I wasn't even alive when Blade Runner came out
God yes. Blade Runner Blues is one of the best pieces of music I've ever heard in a film.
Also this soundtrack man..
Blade Runner Blues is to me also one of those tracks that has been stuck to me since forever i saw this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXXo1YDA9tE
DOBERMAN INC
Member
My favourite film of all time but having shown it to multiple people and most of them saying its boring I guess it just clicks or it doesn't.
I personally think its a beautiful film and unlike anything else. The cinematography is great, the atmosphere and the music are phenomenal.
Being in the vain of noir films helps too as you can pre assign a role to Decker and some of the other characters.
It doesn't flood you with exposition allowing you to ponder the ideas and possibilities of the world and characters. Maybe it's style over substance but for me the blend is perfect.
I personally think its a beautiful film and unlike anything else. The cinematography is great, the atmosphere and the music are phenomenal.
Being in the vain of noir films helps too as you can pre assign a role to Decker and some of the other characters.
It doesn't flood you with exposition allowing you to ponder the ideas and possibilities of the world and characters. Maybe it's style over substance but for me the blend is perfect.
Marty-esque
Member
I love cerebral science fiction but I just never thought Blade Runner was anything special. I understand it's influence but I just don't get all the praise.
I do like the novel it's based on.
I do like the novel it's based on.
manzoman96
Member
I watched it for the first time over the summer. I got the blu ray set with all of the different cuts. I thought the final cut was fantastic. Still have to check out the other ones to compare.
I think, as some other people have pointed out, it is something to do with the mood and atmosphere of the film. I must admit it is a not a film I can sit through all the time though. I have to be in the right frame of mind. It's kind of like sitting by the window and watching the rain. It creates a mood that sort of invokes contemplation and introspection.
This seems to be a common reaction to seeing Blade Runner for the first time, it was mine too. Then I returned to it a year or so later and it all fell into place, it's now one of my favourite films of all time.
There's no guarantee you'll suddenly like it of course and that's fine, but I recommend giving it some time and rewatching it. I feel like the majority of negative feelings towards it on initial viewings stems from expectations based on its genre and legacy. I find it's a film that I appreciate more and more every time I watch it.
It's got issues but it really does do a lot right. I also recommend the Dangerous Days documentary, I even rewatch that after every viewing.
There's no guarantee you'll suddenly like it of course and that's fine, but I recommend giving it some time and rewatching it. I feel like the majority of negative feelings towards it on initial viewings stems from expectations based on its genre and legacy. I find it's a film that I appreciate more and more every time I watch it.
It's got issues but it really does do a lot right. I also recommend the Dangerous Days documentary, I even rewatch that after every viewing.
I'm not the biggest Blade Runner fan but I did hear an interesting theory the other day:
Everyone is a replicant.
Humanity's been replaced over time and the replicants have erased their memories to make themselves think they're human. They subconsciously have the desire to hunt down 'rogue' replicants in order to prove to themselves that they're 'human'.
Everyone is a replicant.
Humanity's been replaced over time and the replicants have erased their memories to make themselves think they're human. They subconsciously have the desire to hunt down 'rogue' replicants in order to prove to themselves that they're 'human'.
Hauer has this weird way of acting where he kind of shrugs the words if that makes any sense, you can see that in every of his movies, but in BR that way of acting takes on a whole new level because it fits the character so much. He is creepy but friendly at the same time, it's glorious. The Fordman is just along for the ride, I think he is an avatar of the viewer or something of that sort, the main character is Roy Batty and his fight.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
Amazing visuals and score - so completely ahead of its time it cannot possibly be stated. Themes were also very cutting-edge.
Corpsepyre
Banned
-Resonant plot, with a lot of philosophical undertones related to the age-old question 'what makes one human?'
-Excellent, game-changing set design that is worshipped even to this day, and emulated, yet never equaled.
-Rutger Hauer's bone-chilling performance as Roy Batty, and him being a 'villain' in relative terms only.
-Vangelis's breath-taking score.
What's not to get here, mate?
Also, check out the documentary titled 'Dangerous Days'. It's a 3 hour+ making off of the film, and explores just about every nook and cranny related to the production, the failures, and the eventual resurgence of the movie.
I had a similar reaction the first time I saw the movie in 2006. It now stands as one of my favourites of all time.
-Excellent, game-changing set design that is worshipped even to this day, and emulated, yet never equaled.
-Rutger Hauer's bone-chilling performance as Roy Batty, and him being a 'villain' in relative terms only.
-Vangelis's breath-taking score.
What's not to get here, mate?
Also, check out the documentary titled 'Dangerous Days'. It's a 3 hour+ making off of the film, and explores just about every nook and cranny related to the production, the failures, and the eventual resurgence of the movie.
I had a similar reaction the first time I saw the movie in 2006. It now stands as one of my favourites of all time.
No stand out scenes?! Are you shitting me? Rachel's intro, the hover car ride through and over dystopian Cali's skyline, the on foot detail rich scenes on the streets, tears in the mother fucking rain!
None of that beckoned your attention and awe? None of that gripped and haunted your sub conscience?
None of that beckoned your attention and awe? None of that gripped and haunted your sub conscience?
ViewtifulJC
Banned
did you watch the movie?
Did you experience the movie?
Did you experience the movie?
Almost every scene has a stand out shot for me. Even scenes that don't seem consequential are just so absorbing.
Like when Decker steps out onto his balcony for a drink and Blade Runner Blues is playing in the background
That picture doesn't do it justice compared to how it looks in motion, but this scene gives me chills every time I watch it. You really feel like LA is this massive, cyberpunk city and that Deckard is just a tiny part of it. It's incredible.\
edit: the street shots in front of the Bradbury are similarly breath taking. Really cool use of matte paintings
Like when Decker steps out onto his balcony for a drink and Blade Runner Blues is playing in the background
That picture doesn't do it justice compared to how it looks in motion, but this scene gives me chills every time I watch it. You really feel like LA is this massive, cyberpunk city and that Deckard is just a tiny part of it. It's incredible.\
edit: the street shots in front of the Bradbury are similarly breath taking. Really cool use of matte paintings
Jits don't understand context. This is 1982 we're talking about. As other's have posted, you've seen so much shit influenced by Blade Runner.
This is like picking out a classic NES game and wondering where the high praise comes from since there's no regenerating health, save system, or cover.
This is like picking out a classic NES game and wondering where the high praise comes from since there's no regenerating health, save system, or cover.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
Well watching SOME movies back then, they have this very exaggerated emotional acting, like they're acting from some fairy tale moment all the time.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Shortsided thinking b/c you can say that about a lot of movies made today, or any time after the 80s too.
That aren't intentional comedies.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
It was.
But do yourself a favor and read it again closely, end materials and all. Watchmen has an amazing structure that almost no other comics bothered with.
The whole thing is thematically symmetrical.
Chapter 5 is symmetrical by panel.
Ozymandias is in the dead center.
That's how I figured out he was behind it all.
There's a ton of stuff like that throughout.
I also think it raises philosophical questions than even smart modern comics don't generally.
Liquidsnake
Banned
1. Please consider the fact that it was released in 1982. It was about 30 years ahead of its time.
2. Please consider that it inspired more films then you and I will ever understand, and that its effects are still being felt to this day.
2. Please consider that it inspired more films then you and I will ever understand, and that its effects are still being felt to this day.
.la1n
Member
I can't imagine what it must be like to watch blade runner for the first time, I envy you. Give it another watch or two as suggested and let it seep in. You also need to be in the right mindset for the movie, if you aren't really in the mood then don't push yourself to watch it just to say you have.
thezerofire
Banned
Is there a definitive list of the differences between the different cuts?
UltimaPooh
Member
D
Deleted member 102362
Unconfirmed Member
Seeing a 4K print of the Final Cut in a huge theater with my dad is one of my favorite memories.
There are some websites that cover the differences, like iMDB and Wikipedia.
Final Cut. Scott had full control over that one, and the time to make it the way he wanted to in the first place.
I see we both enjoy close-ups of sequins, shots of Deckard's meal, and audio of Gaff's cityspeak in the spinner.
There are some websites that cover the differences, like iMDB and Wikipedia.
D
Deleted member 102362
Unconfirmed Member
Whoops, DP.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Yeah, Wikipedia's got it covered.
Blade Runner needed repeated viewings from me as well. first time I was young and dumb and kept feeling underwhelmed by the action, which I thought was gonna be the main point of the movie. Then as I absorbed more knowledge about cinema in general movie unfolded itself like a goddamned giant onion. Infinite layers of splendour. What an achievement
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
I mean, specifically, the framing, the costumes, the lighting, the set design, and the way all of those things come together.
The problem comes when you get trite stuff like "tears in the rain" followed by birds flying away. There's trite, and then there's trite.
I was the same, multiple watches though and I started to see what fans were talking about.
Don't you goddamn dare!
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
I'm going to go with the above post of Duckroll on this one. It's a great movie visually, but storywise subpar. It even has a protagonist problem (who?) that contributed to it becoming a cult movie rather than an great success.
It does become better when you've read the novel and can compare how they differ though.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
That line is very cliche. And Scott cuts to birds flying away afterward. Not particularly defensible, I must say.
There are people in the world who dislike Blade Runner?
But really, I'd *highly* recommend watching the two very long documentaries about the production of the film that are on (at least) the Final Cut that was released a few years back and seen a billion different iterations released since.
The world-building, character/set designs, subtext, etc...so much thought went into everything you wouldn't expect (the script, the cinematography, the acting). I mean, there's a discussion on how they decided what companies might survive that long and what their brands might look like, and you barely even see most of them (they're on buildings and the like in the background). It's just perfection. Every time I watch it I am stunned. My favorite film, without question.
*goes back to slowly reading through this thread*
But really, I'd *highly* recommend watching the two very long documentaries about the production of the film that are on (at least) the Final Cut that was released a few years back and seen a billion different iterations released since.
The world-building, character/set designs, subtext, etc...so much thought went into everything you wouldn't expect (the script, the cinematography, the acting). I mean, there's a discussion on how they decided what companies might survive that long and what their brands might look like, and you barely even see most of them (they're on buildings and the like in the background). It's just perfection. Every time I watch it I am stunned. My favorite film, without question.
*goes back to slowly reading through this thread*
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
I understand these things just fine, it is basically a "you had to be there" or "for its time" type of thing. When watching the movie today though, it holds up really well in the area that is typically the hardest to do after decades which is the visuals (especially for the environments that it is portraying). But aside from that it just doesn't stand out. The way the movie plays out, the progression etc is just not very interesting. And while there may not have been things similar to it at the time, and lots of things that I've seen over the years may have been influenced by it, that doesn't mean it couldn't be done well enough to hold up today. There are plenty of movies released around that time that still hold up well for me.
Well he didn't just happen to catch some random birds flying by right as the scene was ending. The single bird flies away because Roy had been holding it before he died.
John Kowalski
Banned
I really wish i would've had the opportunity to watch this on an actual cinema.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg5lG90kzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg5lG90kzw
This is the same excuse people use for Alien. One can acknowledge the impact a movie had at the time of release but also how poorly the movie has aged or how it stands when currently critiqued.
And the melodramatic valediction is a bit of a staple of the Detective Noir genre too.
It visual design is amazingly influential, no doubt about it, but I don't really see how it was ahead of its time. Late 70s - mid 80s was the golden age of gritty, blue collar sci fi.
This is not a criticism of the movie by the way, some of the best films of all time were "of their time".
There are great prints circling around, you can still catch it in a cinema from time to time.
MasterOfPastures
Banned
Because it is the seminal grandfather of an entire genre of visual direction. It is the trunk of a tree that has branches everywhere.
More recently, I greatly enjoyed the Final Cut re-release in theaters that they did for BFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9rhPDLHWk
More recently, I greatly enjoyed the Final Cut re-release in theaters that they did for BFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9rhPDLHWk
Scrupulous
Banned
I pretty much love everything about this film. There are better detective story's but how many Sci fi detective story's are even made? This is pretty unique at the time and then the mood atmosphere cinematography and score all add to it. Its just a really well done film. Probably why I love ghost in the Shell so much since it borrows so heavily from this and im starved of this type of film.
Perfect Blue
Banned
Yes. He was shown some test footage but died before the finished product released.
- Status