Blade Runner
It behooves me to create this thread. Plus, I always wanted to use the word 'behooves' in a sentence... :D I'll get round to doing a full in-depth piece on this film one day (maybe the second round of the Hall of Fame, who knows...) but in brief, I truly see this as the grea-*test*-('") film ever. It has action, it has beauty, it has imagination, it has a brilliant story, it has emotion, it has great acting, it has a depth of analysis; it is a film that engages us on every level film should, nay, must engage us. It is a film that simultaneously allows us to escape our own world, taking us to a dazzlingly dirty future; and also draws us to criticise our own world by drawing parallels with it. It straddles that great 'art vs popcorn' debate masterfully by being a film that you can enjoy on the surface (and what a surface) but also that you can analyse, debate, discuss, argue, and ponder over. There aren't many other films that can do that. There is criticism that it is over-rated, as there is with pretty much any film that gets a great deal of attention. I don't think there's a classic out there that someone, somewhere, doesn't think is over-rated. So, let's hear the love for Blade Runner!

Let me be the first in line to give you a round of applause Homer. Thank you! This has been discussed in the DVD section of the forum, but only in relation to the recent release. I agree, Bladerunner is an amazing film. It's a fantastic story, even if it's as far removed from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep as it could possibly be! Personally, I'm a massive fan of the whole dystopia thing. Just about every film that I class as being one of my favourites has some form of the future where we are entirely fucked up. Bladerunner will always for me be the absolute definition of what sci-fi should be.

Some of my favourite quotes: Nothing is worse than having an itch you can never scratch! Wake up! Time to die! It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.

"Are you -*test*-('")ing whether I'm a replicant or a lesbian, Mr Deckard?" :D And about Dick's novel, I read that this year for the first time, and I (say it quietly) didn't really like it! I've become so used to the film that the little differences seemed odd. Like calling them 'andy's. Replicants is a far cooler term! One thing it did do tho, was increase my awareness of the association of replicants and animals in the film. Rachel - owl/spider (at her home/in her memories) Batty - dove (released at the end) Leon - turtle (in the Voight-Kampff -*test*-('")) Zhora - snake (in her act) Pris - raccoon (her make up) Deckard - unicorn? That last is interesting as the questionable replicant (which the final cut seems to clarify) is the only one associated with a fictional creature of fantasy.

Yeah, I still kinda fall into the "he wasn't a replicant" camp. Although I'm increasingly finding it harder to argue why.

Apparently the Final Cut clears that up with a key bit of dialogue changed.

But I usually argue it from the book point of view, that's what's getting harder. I read it again recently and started questioning myself this time.

I remember when and where I saw Bladerunner for the first time. It was 1992 and it was a special showing the the Dukes Cinema in Lancaster. The screen was huge, about the size of a small theatre stage (since that's exactly what it was)and it looked amazing. It was one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of my life.

Sounds fantastic Dragon! I just wish that they'd shown the Final Cut nearer South Wales. Incidentally, for us in South Wales, I e-mailed the Chapter Arts Centre and had an e-mail back saying they'd ask their programming manager if they could get a print. Maybe if everyone from South Wales e-mailed Chapter, they'd get the (accurate) impression that it'd be a popular showing! Come on peeps, let's do an 'Andy Dufresne'!!

Guess who might be getting the 5-Disc DVD for Christmas?? ;)

I must rent this and watch it.

No wags. You mustn't. You must BUY BUY BUY it... ;) I take it you've never seen it then? Ah, if only you could see what I have seen through my eyes. The film, that is. :D (That was a paraphrased quote that you'll get when you do BUY BUY BUY it...)

Too late Homer. I rented it last night (Director's Cut) is that the best version? Im watching it tonight. Woooooooooo!!!

Well, it's the best version I've seen, but I haven't seen the Final Cut yet, which is meant to knock the socks off the DC, with some small, but significant improvements.