Discover Seattle!

General Category => Discover Seattle! => Topic started by: Sportsdude on Oct 07 06 01:58

Title: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 07 06 01:58
Wow.

Has anybody ever seen it?

Intense film.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Lise on Oct 07 06 02:00
Know it. Loved it. Excellent movie.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 07 06 02:06
Yeah watched the directors cut, so it ends on a cliff hanger.

What does it mean to be human? lol talk about a hard question to answer.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Lise on Oct 07 06 04:08
It's funny though............. the machines/robots in the movie are more humane than most of us. I think that's the gist of the movie. I haven't seen it in ages but I'll always remember both my favorite actors, Harrison Ford and Rutger Haur (spelling) in it.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: weird al on Oct 07 06 08:56
Don't forget the guy who wrote the book that became the movie. If you liked the movie, there's a chance that you might like his books a lot more; and there's a lot of 'em.

[A href="vny!s://www.wsu.edu/~brians/science_fiction/bladerunner.html"]vny!s://www.wsu.edu/~brians/science_fiction/bladerunner.html[/A]
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: kitten on Oct 07 06 09:02
I don't like all of his stuff, but I really liked "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?".  A very good book.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: P.C. on Oct 07 06 09:04
OK....we're going waaayyyy back on this one.  Haven't seen it in years but.... am I nuts, or was Tina Turner in one of those.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: weird al on Oct 07 06 09:06
I seem to remember "A Scanner Darkly" as being good. He did a "mainstream" novel set in the 50's that was awesome; can't remember the title right now. But it was odd: everything about it was quite ordinary, but it seemed suffused with some kind of ominous undertone. Definitely a genius, Dick - and funny as hell to boot.    
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: kitten on Oct 07 06 09:08
I have no idea.  I read the book, but I almost never watch movies.  I think the last one I watched came out sometime in the early '90s.  I've worked in movies as an extra, and I did a commercial for a kids' charity, but I don't really like watching them.  If they are based on a book and they sound interesting, I'd rather read the book.  
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: P.C. on Oct 07 06 09:10
After giving it a little thought, I'm thinking Mad Max.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: weird al on Oct 07 06 09:11
Yeah, the book usually wins, 9 times outa 10.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: P.C. on Oct 07 06 09:13
Silence of the Lambs....scariest book EVER.  Movie.....OK
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: P.C. on Oct 07 06 09:15
I hear they're doing a sequel to that,  in Newfoundland.

  It's called Ewes Be Quiet.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: kitten on Oct 07 06 09:15
Wouldn't dream of watching it.  Like "Chainsaw Massacre".  I don't get into slicing and dicing.  Makes me ill.  *urp*  
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: weird al on Oct 07 06 09:16
There'll never be another ewe.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: P.C. on Oct 07 06 09:18
Awww, shucks [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/tiere/k030.gif" border=0]
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: kitten on Oct 07 06 09:19
Think of all those deprived rams.

 
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 07 06 10:25
lol, I've heard that this movie was one of those movies that best represents the book. At least the directors cut does because I heard the orginal has this happy ending. The directors cut leaves the movie open ended.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Marik on Oct 07 06 11:03
I'm reading the book right now... sounds like the movie is worth watching?  
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: weird al on Oct 07 06 11:13
The movie is great! But it ain't the book. The movie is intense. When I saw it and I was walking out of the theatre, I heard this guy say to his friend..."remind me never to see this movie again.", lol. I could understand his point of view. But it is a great movie, even though it's hard for a movie to do justice to Philip K. Dick's genius. Screamers was from one of his books. There's a couple more out there I think.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Marik on Oct 07 06 11:19
So do they stick needles into people and such? In which case, this movie is going to rock!!!!  
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Lise on Oct 08 06 11:28
Haven't read the book but I think al's probably right, the movie's way better. At least the intepretation of it was good.

  They don't make movies like that any more................... at least in the sci-fi genre.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 08 06 11:35
Isn't Minority Report off of one of his books. I got night mares from seeing that movie. But seeing it at the midnight showing probably didn't help, lol.

  Also saw Clockwork Orange. Now when my dad saw that I rented that film he flipped out. Calling it disgusting. Now I watched it last night and I couldn't for the life in me figure out how this movie was banned in countries. Yes they deal with some heavy stuff. But you never see 'Alex' in the film actually rape any of girls. The only time we actually see a 'rape' is when he's shown those movies. And I guess the three some he has with the girls could have pushed it over the edge but I thought that was funny because the sped through it and used classical music.

  The only thing that creeped me out was the guy who played 'Alex' was so convincing it was scary. Plus sadly and sickly he reminded me of an ex friend that I swore acted exactly like him. This scares me because this 'ex friend' had a criminal element to him that pushed him over the edge. But he was just as controlling as 'Alex' in the film.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Lise on Oct 08 06 11:36
Minority Report woulda been better without Tom Cruise. That's all I gotta say about the film.

  Have not seen Clockwork Orange. Sounds a bit sadistic from way you're desccribing, SD. Not my cup of tea.
Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 08 06 11:39
Yeah Clockwork orange is a bit sadistic.

  Since you won't see it which is probably a good idea. Here's a summary of the film from wikipedia:

   Set in a futuristic England (circa 1995, as imagined in 1965), the film follows the life of a young man named Alex, whose main pleasures in life are [A title="European classical music" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_classical_music"]classical music[/A] (especially [A title="Ludwig van Beethoven" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven"]Beethoven[/A]), [A title=Rape href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape"]rape[/A], and random acts of "[A title=Ultraviolence href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolence"]ultraviolence[/A]". Alex is approximately 15 years of age and the leader of a small gang of thugs, whom he refers to as [A title=Droogs href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droogs"]"droogs"[/A]. Alex provides a voiceover narration through most of the film, relating his story in a fractured teenage vernacular called "[A title=Nadsat href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadsat"]Nadsat[/A]", a combination of [A title=Slav href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slav"]Slav[/A], [A title="English language" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language"]English[/A], and British slang (in particular, Cockney rhyming slang). Alex is irreverent and abusive of others and lies to his parents to skip school. His room is adorned with a bedspread covered with rubber breasts, an expensive stereo and classical-record collection, a terrarium containing a boa named "Basil", and a bedside table containing a drawer filled with expensive watches and other swag. In one scene, he picks up two teenyboppers in a record store, discovering that he does not recognize the names of their favorite popstars; nonetheless, he takes them home and has sex with them both (in fast motion, to the [A title="William Tell Overture" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell_Overture"]William Tell Overture[/A], in a bit of comic relief) on his bobby bedspread.

 Eventually, during an attempted robbery, Alex is caught, having been set up by his droogs (he is hit with a bottle and left unconscious at the scene);after his arrest, he learns that the robbery victim had died, making Alex a murderer: he is sentenced to 14 years in jail. After serving two years, he is offered a chance at parole if he undergoes an experimental [A title="Aversion therapy" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aversion_therapy"]aversion therapy[/A] (called the [A title="Ludovico technique" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_technique"]Ludovico technique[/A]), developed by the government in an effort to solve society's crime problem. The therapy renders him incapable of violence (even in self-defense) and incapable of even touching a bare-breasted woman(he crawls away retching), but in an unintended [A title="Unintended consequence" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequence"]side effect[/A], also makes him unable to enjoy Beethoven's [A title="Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_%28Beethoven%29"]Ninth Symphony[/A]. The doctors whisper to themselves that 'it can't be helped' and that this is 'The punishment element, perhaps?'

 Stripped of the ability to fight back, and having been rejected by his parents at home (they have rented out his room to an older man, discarded his stereo and other treasures, and apparently killed his pet snake), Alex wanders through the city, revisiting scenes of his crimes. He soon encounters two of his former partners-in-crime (who, having both joined the police, beat him up and nearly drown him), and some of his former victims, who turn the tables and victimize him. He then goes to the home of the writer whose wife he had raped and beaten: the writer offers him hospitality, then learns who he is, and drugs him and tries who drive him insane by playing an electronically distorted Beethoven's Ninth (Second Movement) at a painful volume. Alex tries to commit [A title=Suicide href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide"]suicide[/A] (or "snuff it") by jumping out a window, but survives.

 After a long recovery in hospital, Alex seems to be back to his former self. While in the hospital, the [A title="Interior minister" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interior_minister"]Minister of the Interior[/A] (who had personally selected Alex for the Ludovico treatment) visits Alex and apologizes for the treatment program, saying that he was only following the recommendations of his staff. He begins by rolling in a new, costlier stereo, playing the finalé of Beethoven's Ninth (Fourth Movement) loudly but below the threshold of pain. Alex is then promised a position in the government if he agrees to campaign on behalf of the ruling (Conservative) political party, whose public image has been severely damaged in the wake of Alex's suicide attempt. The closing shots of the film feature Alex's voiceover saying "I was cured, all right...", possibly anticipating his return to creating havoc. The film ends with Alex's [A title=Surrealism href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism"]surreal[/A] fantasy of having sex with a woman in the snow, surrounded by applauding [A title="Victorian England" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_England"]Victorian[/A] ladies and gentlemen, with the finalé of Beethoven´s Ninth continuing to play in the background.

Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Mutilated Mind on Oct 09 06 02:57
 Sportsdude wrote:
Here's a summary of the film from wikipedia:

Set in a futuristic England (circa 1995, as imagined in 1965), the film follows the life of a young man named Alex, whose main pleasures in life are classical music (especially Beethoven), rape, and random acts of "ultraviolence". Alex is approximately 15 years of age and the leader of a small gang of thugs, whom he refers to as "droogs". Alex provides a voiceover narration through most of the film, relating his story in a fractured teenage vernacular called "Nadsat", a combination of Slav, English, and British slang (in particular, Cockney rhyming slang). Alex is irreverent and abusive of others and lies to his parents to skip school. His room is adorned with a bedspread covered with rubber breasts, an expensive stereo and classical-record collection, a terrarium containing a boa named "Basil", and a bedside table containing a drawer filled with expensive watches and other swag. In one scene, he picks up two teenyboppers in a record store, discovering that he does not recognize the names of their favorite popstars; nonetheless, he takes them home and has sex with them both (in fast motion, to the William Tell Overture, in a bit of comic relief) on his bobby bedspread.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw that movie at the time. I think a few inaccuracies have crept into this summary.

Firstly, Alex didn't seem to be 15 years old to me and neither did his droogs (from "friend" in Russian). I was an adolescent myself at the time and they were significantly older than my own age, so I felt. If I said they were in their twenties, I think this might be more accurate.

The two "teenyboppers" were certainy not teenyboppers (I wonder whether the person who wrote this entry in Wikipedia knows what a teenybopper is); They were young ladies, obviously from well-to-do families and probably not a bit jaded.

I remember particularly the music for its intensity and dramatic effect. It gave tthe movie without doubt drama and depth which it would perhaps have lacked otherwise, IMHO.

Title: Re: Just watched the movie Blade Runner
Post by: Mutilated MInd on Oct 09 06 03:06
Sportsdude wrote:
Yes they deal with some heavy stuff. But you never see 'Alex' in the film actually rape any of girls. The only time we actually see a 'rape' is when he's shown those movies. And I guess the three some he has with the girls could have pushed it over the edge but I thought that was funny because the sped through it and used classical music.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They didn't actually "speed through it". Why would anyone do such a thing ? :)
These scenes were shown in accelerated motion, which went well together with the music (which they didn't use themselves BTW ; if they had done so you would have heard it in accelerated play as well).