Ridley Scott's BLADE RUNNER
Ok everyone, my last post on Big Movie Box sets got comments about the all-time classic film BLADERUNNER, so here is my own review:
I recently screened Blade Runner again, as I do about once a year, because it is one of my personal favorites. I have no problem saying that, even though the film has many fans and is on many best-of lists, because I have loved the movie since I saw it on its original theatrical run back in 1982.
The film was not a big hit and not many people liked it who did see it back then. Many people said it was too dark, too violent and too depressing. When I saw it back in '82, I, too, thought it was dark, but I also liked the visuals and the theme of what it meant to be human.
It helped that I saw the U.S. theatrical cut, first, because it had the much maligned narration. Having that narration helped my teenaged brain understand the film, because Blade Runner was not what audiences were used to seeing at that time.
As I caught the movie again on later screenings via the new home video market and cable, my admiration of the film grew. I began telling anyone who would listen that it was one of the greatest movies ever made. I also screened a bad bootleg copy of the movie with anyone who would sit down with me for the two hour screening time.
To my surprise, as the years rolled by, Blade Runner's stature as a great film grew. I found my love of it was not misplaced, and even got a little annoyed as others began to say it was one of their favorite films. I began to wish that it stayed more under the radar, so I could feel that when I mentioned it as an awesome movie, I could stay 'hip' and 'cool'.
But alas, it was not to be, and, well, who am I to keep the glories of Blade Runner away from its audience? It joins other films that took much time to be appreciated and find its audience (that I also loved early on) such as 'Brazil', 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', 'Harold and Maude', 'One From the Heart', and Ridley Scott's 'Legend'.
When the so called 'Director's Cut' of Blade Runner got released in the mid 1990s, I was astounded to be screening it in a large theater packed full of people! That was an awesome way to see this multi-layered film, and I highly recommend that you rent or buy the blu-ray ASAP, because it is a gorgeous movie and looks even better on a Hi-def system than it does projected (or at least as it did in 1982!)
The special edition 5 disc set of Blade Runner is highly recommended. My personal favorite of the 5 versions of the movie that you can see this way, is the 'Director's Cut'. It contains the extra footage of the Euro-cut, is without the voice-over narration, and retains one of the best lines in the film: when Replicant Roy Batty finally confronts the person who was most responsible for creating him, Tyrell, and tells him that he 'Wants more life, fucker.' The beautiful 'Final Cut', also included in this set, changed the line back to its original 'I want more life, Father." - which, although is more fitting to the story, is missing the visceral shock and danger that the other line gives Roy.
I must say, however, that you cannot go wrong with any version of this ground-breaking film. Even the original cut with the narration has its own charms... I even don't mind the tacked-on happy ending of the U.S. cut with Deckard's beautiful final line..... OK, OK, I admit, I'm just a Blade Runner nut. Which is why I have seen this move so many times, and why I recommend it so highly to you! I look forward to comments, fellow film fans!
P.S. And if you haven't seen the preview for director Ridley Scott's new film PROMETHEUS, go watch it NOW! As a long time fan of ALIEN it has me quivering with excitement for Mr. Scott's return to the genre he changed with ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER and LEGEND!! - Review by XIM
I recently screened Blade Runner again, as I do about once a year, because it is one of my personal favorites. I have no problem saying that, even though the film has many fans and is on many best-of lists, because I have loved the movie since I saw it on its original theatrical run back in 1982.
The film was not a big hit and not many people liked it who did see it back then. Many people said it was too dark, too violent and too depressing. When I saw it back in '82, I, too, thought it was dark, but I also liked the visuals and the theme of what it meant to be human.
It helped that I saw the U.S. theatrical cut, first, because it had the much maligned narration. Having that narration helped my teenaged brain understand the film, because Blade Runner was not what audiences were used to seeing at that time.
As I caught the movie again on later screenings via the new home video market and cable, my admiration of the film grew. I began telling anyone who would listen that it was one of the greatest movies ever made. I also screened a bad bootleg copy of the movie with anyone who would sit down with me for the two hour screening time.
To my surprise, as the years rolled by, Blade Runner's stature as a great film grew. I found my love of it was not misplaced, and even got a little annoyed as others began to say it was one of their favorite films. I began to wish that it stayed more under the radar, so I could feel that when I mentioned it as an awesome movie, I could stay 'hip' and 'cool'.
But alas, it was not to be, and, well, who am I to keep the glories of Blade Runner away from its audience? It joins other films that took much time to be appreciated and find its audience (that I also loved early on) such as 'Brazil', 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', 'Harold and Maude', 'One From the Heart', and Ridley Scott's 'Legend'.
When the so called 'Director's Cut' of Blade Runner got released in the mid 1990s, I was astounded to be screening it in a large theater packed full of people! That was an awesome way to see this multi-layered film, and I highly recommend that you rent or buy the blu-ray ASAP, because it is a gorgeous movie and looks even better on a Hi-def system than it does projected (or at least as it did in 1982!)
The special edition 5 disc set of Blade Runner is highly recommended. My personal favorite of the 5 versions of the movie that you can see this way, is the 'Director's Cut'. It contains the extra footage of the Euro-cut, is without the voice-over narration, and retains one of the best lines in the film: when Replicant Roy Batty finally confronts the person who was most responsible for creating him, Tyrell, and tells him that he 'Wants more life, fucker.' The beautiful 'Final Cut', also included in this set, changed the line back to its original 'I want more life, Father." - which, although is more fitting to the story, is missing the visceral shock and danger that the other line gives Roy.
I must say, however, that you cannot go wrong with any version of this ground-breaking film. Even the original cut with the narration has its own charms... I even don't mind the tacked-on happy ending of the U.S. cut with Deckard's beautiful final line..... OK, OK, I admit, I'm just a Blade Runner nut. Which is why I have seen this move so many times, and why I recommend it so highly to you! I look forward to comments, fellow film fans!
P.S. And if you haven't seen the preview for director Ridley Scott's new film PROMETHEUS, go watch it NOW! As a long time fan of ALIEN it has me quivering with excitement for Mr. Scott's return to the genre he changed with ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER and LEGEND!! - Review by XIM