A Few Questions About "Blade Runner"

[Valkyr47]

wow thanks for all the replies everyone!

for my first post on this forum all the help is much appreciated, its great to know i have somewhere to go for good movie advice

ill be picking up the movie this weekend, cant wait to see it!

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

wow thanks for all the replies everyone!

for my first post on this forum all the help is much appreciated, its great to know i have somewhere to go for good movie advice

ill be picking up the movie this weekend, cant wait to see it!

be sure to report back on what you thought

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

thats ok, im actually not a huge action fan and like more serious fare that requires you to think/question certain things such as moral issues, etc etc

but, it does have some action right?

i guess the real reason im interested is because i can really appreciate good cinematography and i heard this movie has a lot of breathtaking scenes

Not only would you probably like this movie, but, you would probably enjoy reading Philip K. Dick's novels.

They were mostly written in the 60's (and it shows). His books are rarely filmed as written because they contain sideplots and plot devices that are probably hard to convert to cinema. "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" is a much more complex story than the movie and would be a good novel to read if you have a chance.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by wallendo

Not only would you probably like this movie, but, you would probably enjoy reading Philip K. Dick's novels.

They were mostly written in the 60's (and it shows). His books are rarely filmed as written because they contain sideplots and plot devices that are probably hard to convert to cinema. "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" is a much more complex story than the movie and would be a good novel to read if you have a chance.

I don't know if i'de say the book is necessarilly more colplex, just different. It's deffenatly easier to understand the basic themes of the book then it is in the movie (or maybe that was just me). The movie is a classic, but is not for everyone, I only know a handfull of people who have watched it on not been bored (the action scenes aren't exciting and aren't meant to be either, they however are emotionally engaging).

Try and collect the 5 disc addition as in America it is incredibly cheap ($20-25), and contains four versions of the film. In Australia where stuck paying around $90 for that version (so I think I may be importing it).

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by Stoudman

I haven't even seen anything but the director's cut, which I hear from huge fans of the movie is NOT the cut of the movie to see. However, I loved the film just from that. You really have to pay attention to the film and what's going on, the symbolism throughout is sparse and hard to catch, but adds meaning to the film tenfold. I can't wait to get the movie on blu myself, and since it's averaging around $25-30 for an edition that I believe has 3 or 4 different versions of the film as well as a huge extras disc, that's simply incredible.

I've seen Blade Runner several times since it was first released and personally I prefer the Directors Cut as the narration at the beginning always seemed out of place to me.

And to the OP, from reading your first 2 post it sounds like you enjoy Blade Runner a great deal. The Fifth Element it is not.

[brandonandtiff]

In my opinion, you should watch "The Final Cut" when you buy Blade Runner. It's Ridley Scott's definitive cut. It corrects several visual mistakes, and best of all it removes the narration from a very annoyed Harrison Ford

[s2mikey]

Like others have said, Blade Runner is a love it or hate it film. Most love it. I hate it.... and Im a big Sci-Fi fan. I dont feel the film has anything much going on even though fans claim it is deep and thought provoking. Maybe the whole android theme of feelings and all that stuff just artent interesting anymore. Ive seen the whole robots/feelings paradigm played out in several films now so this older title just doesnt hold up, IMO.

By all means give it a shot. I would suggest a rental first since there is a chance that you'll end up like me and be bored and agitated after watching this. I kept watching, waiting ror that big "Ohhhh" moment...but it never came.

Try it and let us know what you think!

[RiseDarthVader]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Like others have said, Blade Runner is a love it or hate it film. Most love it. I hate it.... and Im a big Sci-Fi fan. I dont feel the film has anything much going on even though fans claim it is deep and thought provoking. Maybe the whole android theme of feelings and all that stuff just artent interesting anymore. Ive seen the whole robots/feelings paradigm played out in several films now so this older title just doesnt hold up, IMO.

By all means give it a shot. I would suggest a rental first since there is a chance that you'll end up like me and be bored and agitated after watching this. I kept watching, waiting ror that big "Ohhhh" moment...but it never came.

Try it and let us know what you think!

The big "ohhhh" moment was

[Show spoiler] at the end when Deckard picks up the origami unicorn and releases he himself has implanted memories. Meaning he is also an android.

I'll let you figure out the depth from there. Helps to rewatch it.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

The big "ohhhh" moment was

[Show spoiler] at the end when Deckard picks up the origami unicorn and releases he himself has implanted memories. Meaning he is also an android.

I'll let you figure out the depth from there. Helps to rewatch it.

The bigg ohhhh moment for me was from the first shot of the city (the start of the film) till the end of the credits (the music sounds unbelievably good on blu).

[TheZoof]

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

The big "ohhhh" moment was

[Show spoiler] at the end when Deckard picks up the origami unicorn and releases he himself has implanted memories. Meaning he is also an android.

I'll let you figure out the depth from there. Helps to rewatch it.

Unfortunately, whether a user see it that way or not depends on the cut of the film. The Final Cut implies that what you say is true, the original cut is less suggestive of that.

(And the novel quite specifically points out that that is not the case ). Of course like most PKD adaptations, the movie does not parallel the book closely.)

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by wallendo

Unfortunately, whether a user see it that way or not depends on the cut of the film. The Final Cut implies that what you say is true, the original cut is less suggestive of that.

(And the novel quite specifically points out that that is not the case ). Of course like most PKD adaptations, the movie does not parallel the book closely.)

Yeah, the book and movie should not be considered the same. The movie really isn'ty based on the book, it's more inspired by the book.

[Valkyr47]

Just thought i'd give an update...

Went to Best Buy and purchased the collectors edition blu-ray of Blade Runner

got it home and imagine my dissapointment when i opened the case and... the entire middle spine that holds the multiple discs falls right in my lap... must have broken during transport because the hinges and center peice are completely busted

regardless, im going to watch it tonight ASAP, and if i like it and want to keep it in my collection, ill just take my receipt back and ask to exchange for a different copy thats not broken

ill post my thoughts on the actual movie tomorrow... im crossing my fingers i enjoy it as much as some of you

[TheZoof]

You have to give it a couple of viewings. Trust me... it will get better each time you watch it.

Most people fall asleep the first time they watch it(including myself).

[Valkyr47]

Do you think best buy will let me exchange it for a different copy of the same movie?

ive never had to return a movie before so im not sure how they act about it

will they be understanding, or be like "well as long as the movie plays what the hell is your problem"

some stores are like that

i just cant imagine dropping 30 bucks on a movie and having a busted case

[J6P]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

The bigg ohhhh moment for me was from the first shot of the city (the start of the film) till the end of the credits (the music sounds unbelievably good on blu).

I agree. I've never really gotten too bogged down in the thematic discussions because, for me, Blade Runner is all about mood and superb execution.

Vangelis' amazing score, Syd Mead's phenomenal production design, Ford's performance, the rain, the set dressing... just everything. It all comes together as a whole and forms a movie I never get tired of.

[J6P]

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

Do you think best buy will let me exchange it for a different copy of the same movie?

ive never had to return a movie before so im not sure how they act about it

will they be understanding, or be like "well as long as the movie plays what the hell is your problem"

some stores are like that

i just cant imagine dropping 30 bucks on a movie and having a busted case

Don't sweat it. Best Buy would take it back if you filled the case with egg shells and coffee grounds and wore the disc around your neck like a medallion.

[ethanwa]

My favorite is the "Final Cut". I saw Blade Runner for the first time about two months ago and it was the "Final Cut" on Blu, and I'm 30 years old! I couldn't believe I hadn't seen the movie before.

I have to tell you, when the movie was over I didn't know what to think. Was it good? Did it suck? But I realized that I thought about it for about a week.... and then I realized that if you think about a movie for a WEEK after you watch it, then it was a good movie. The good ones always make you think for a bit afterwards, and the bad ones get forgotten about within the hour.

After I realized it was such a good movie, I have watched it many times since. I have tried watching the Theatrical Cut but I just can't do it. The voice-over just makes the movie worse in my opinion.

Oh, and one more thing, the music is haunting. EXCELLENT musical score, even with it's 80's synthesizers.

I hope you like it. Many people consider it a classic, and that now includes me.

Ethan

[fredbalsodn]

I picked it up for 19.99 the other a few weeks ago

[Valkyr47]

Ok so i not only watched the movie last night, but i also went back to Best Buy and exchanged it for another copy, got one in perfect shape, no broken spindles or disc holders!

As for the film... WOW.. i dont know what to say, i mean i really havent absorbed all of it yet

The things that stand out were obviously the cinematography, everything looked so amazing, and there are tons of details, during all the shots of the city i found my eyes wandering over all the signs and trying to take everything in

im glad it was a serious sci-fi film and not some corny one like the 5th element, it was very dark and gloomy and i liked that

i will admit there were some parts that confused me and im still kinda not sure what happened.. i will plan on a re-watch in a week or two and see if i can catch more stuff i may have overlooked

loved harrison fords character, although in a weird way, i kinda felt bad for some of the replicants, even though they were pretty creepy (And admittedly the bad guys)

im not sure how i feel about the ending... i watched the final cut and it seemed... abrupt? i mean it left the doors wide open for a sequel, but i guess in a good way its open for you to imagine the outcome

was the other ending any better?