Some articles about Blade Runner

January 29, 2009 10:17 AM

Some articles about Blade Runner
posted by nthdegx (59 comments total)

SQUEEEEEEEE! I love that there's stuff about DADoES as well as the movie. I love them both, but they are VERY different.
posted by piratebowling at 10:23 AM on January 29

Yep, those are some articles about Blade Runner.
posted by rand at 10:24 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

You forgot the 'somearticlesaboutbladerunner' tag
posted by mannequito at 10:25 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]

I like Blade Runner and all but could you spice up the post a bit maybe? The sauce, she is weak.
posted by GuyZero at 10:29 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

Oh shit, man. I give you electric hugs.
posted by cortex at 10:34 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

I love them both, but they are VERY different.

Yes, Blade Runner from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is one of the few adaptations that completely changes the source material and still manages to be as outstanding as the original.

The Buster Friendly versus Mercerism aspect of PKD's novel was by far the most interesting aspect to me, and Blade Runner abandons it completely. On the other hand, Blade Runner's visuals, more nuanced characterization of the replicants, and slower pace help tell a more compelling version of the same basic main plot.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:36 AM on January 29

Yes, this post needs more gratuitous padding to distract me from the articles about Blade Runner.
posted by everichon at 10:37 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]

How many articles were there? I tell ya, there were so many articles, the FPP went to the jon!
posted by katillathehun at 10:46 AM on January 29

Excellent find; solid, terse post.

You've done a man's job, sir!
posted by adipocere at 10:47 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]

wow
posted by cjorgensen at 10:47 AM on January 29

Is Blade Runner a Misogynist Text?

Jeez, you have one scene with a woman trying to kill the hero by crushing his skull between her thighs and people have to make a federal case out of it.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:00 AM on January 29 [2 favorites]

I aspire to write a work that will cause untold dozens of people to study it for its theme and meaning and nuance... and to live long long enough to let those enthralled with dissecting every phrase know that it was just a story, ya know?
posted by deCadmus at 11:01 AM on January 29

More links about Bladerunner. More generic, with more video links.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:02 AM on January 29

THe skull-crushing was not in Androids, iirc.
posted by Mister_A at 11:09 AM on January 29

I never liked this movie.

/scifiheresy
posted by cashman at 11:10 AM on January 29

I was not sure what to expect based on the title of the post, but now I think I get it...
posted by Mister_A at 11:12 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

"I like Blade Runner and all but could you spice up the post a bit maybe? The sauce, she is weak."

Generally not how I do things. And I don't have Blade Runner links falling out of my arse today. Sorry.
posted by nthdegx at 11:13 AM on January 29

And I don't have Blade Runner links falling out of my arse today. Sorry.

Just askin'. Don't get me wrong - fine post, I'm just greedy and all.
posted by GuyZero at 11:18 AM on January 29

I'd write more lauding this post but I have an inability to show empathy.
(Also, no time - 4 year life span)
posted by Smedleyman at 11:18 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

Since there are going to be a bunch of folks in this thread who know a lot about Blade Runner, I've got a question. I have this old Blade Runner t-shirt that also has the Schlitz beer logo on the back. Anyone know what the hell these two things have to do with one another? Was there some sort of sponsorship thing going on?
posted by orme at 11:18 AM on January 29

It's too bad this post won't live.
posted by stinkycheese at 11:18 AM on January 29 [6 favorites]

But then again, who does?
posted by everichon at 11:21 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]

*origami unicorn*
posted by juv3nal at 11:26 AM on January 29 [8 favorites]

A mod had been there, and let it live. Four hours, he figured. He was wrong. This blade runner thread was special: no termination date.
posted by fleetmouse at 11:27 AM on January 29 [7 favorites]

As a Barbara Hershey fan, my all-time favorite bit of movie trivia is that it was her dream of a spider devoured by its hundred offspring, relayed to then-boyfriend Hampton Fancher, who was writing an early draft of the screenplay, that resulted in Rachael's memory implant.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:30 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

Single link post FTW! Ignore all the haters, because they are lame ass lamers.
posted by chunking express at 11:32 AM on January 29

Wait, which Blade Runner? The original one, or the upcoming sequel?
posted by washburn at 11:34 AM on January 29

I change my mind. I'd like the many-worlds hypothesis, please, and then I would like to move to the world without the possibility of a sequel.

So, uh, I've waited long enough. Might as well get this party started. Disregarding authorial and directorial intent and looking at the film standing on its own, do you think Deckard was or was not a replicant, and why? Be sure to state which version of the film you're using as your basis.

Consider this thread ... retired.
posted by adipocere at 11:41 AM on January 29

upcoming sequel

My delight in life just faded a little more.
posted by everichon at 11:43 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]

Wait, which Blade Runner? The original one, or the upcoming sequel?

It's not a sequel until there's a Workprint Director's Theatrical Ultra-Rerelease in IMAX format.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:46 AM on January 29

You know what would be really cool? A Blade Runner prequel!

MIDICHLORIANS BITCHES!!!
posted by Mister_A at 11:51 AM on January 29

I hope Michael Bay directs and then I hope we are invaded by aliens.
posted by Mister_A at 11:52 AM on January 29

I liked the 'Ecocide' article. My problem with some of the people who are into that sort of posthuman fiction is that they don't see anything wrong with living in such a technological singularity, whereas I see it as a nightmare.
posted by dunkadunc at 11:56 AM on January 29

Hey, y'all seem to know Blade Runner... I saw a movie about 20 years ago, I think it was on Channel 11 in NYC (WPIX?), it was a dark negative uptopia type movie. Anyhoo, at the end there were these MASSIVE trucks, like 10-12 foot tall tires with segmented type body parts... I think the protagonist in this mystery movie was trying to run away and trying to avoid the annoying massive trucks that threatened to crush him...
For so long I have been trying to find the movie they were in. I thought first, Brazil, but I watched that and didn't see the trucks. Then I though Blade Runner, but I watched that and didn't see the huge trucks. Where, oh, where, can I find this remembered scene?
posted by joecacti at 11:59 AM on January 29

Decker shot first!
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:04 PM on January 29 [1 favorite]

joecacti, that sounds like the movie Fortress. The dude's just gotten to the surface after the evil guys try to make his baby into a cyborg and just as he thinks he's safe, the robot truck turns on and tries to do him in.
Brasil did have trucks kind of like that, though (I think they were Stammells...) and was a WAY better movie in the first place. Fortress just didn't have the same meaning behind it as Brasil did.
posted by dunkadunc at 12:06 PM on January 29

Some whats about what? Bladewho? Whatrunner? Artiwhy?
posted by blue_beetle at 12:09 PM on January 29

Well there was a sequel to the movie already: The Edge of Human (Blade Runner, Book 2) by K.W. Jeter

I have no idea if it's worth the penny though.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:17 PM on January 29

It isn't, was more plot driven from what I recall.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:25 PM on January 29

The Buster Friendly versus Mercerism aspect of PKD's novel was by far the most interesting aspect to me, and Blade Runner abandons it completely.

This.

I gave the book to a friend who is a religion scholar because I knew she would find his concept of a religion based around empathy, along with the idea that empathy is what makes one human, really interesting. I wish there could be an adaptation that would stick to the original storyline and feel of the book more and explore those themes. I don't think it'll happen, though. Also, whenever I read the book I can't help but see Harrison Ford as Deckard.
posted by piratebowling at 12:29 PM on January 29

Although the book was totally different (and funnier!) the movie was the only movie I've seen more than twice. Atmospheric as hell. Looking forward to reading some of these articles at home.
posted by kozad at 12:30 PM on January 29

Yeah, this post is too cryptic, the masses wont' get it, it needs something to jazz it up a bit... it needs a voice-over.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:46 PM on January 29 [1 favorite]

There were SO many things about the PKD story that I felt could have been better alluded to in the Blade Runner film in subtle ways, far beyond "do you like our owl? Of course. It's artificial, I assume, and expensive. Very"... I mean, how many people understood after only viewing the movie that in the future, animals were no longer available as pets or food? Or even existed beyond the occasional rare example, except as robotic or cloned versions? And yet... cloned people were easily developed. And there was little empathy shown for them, even from their inventor and father-figure.

So I second all the Mercerism longing above, because I felt it could have been fleshed out a bit more in the film. Ugh, puns much? sorry

That said, I will never tire of this movie. I still get a kick every time I see the Atari logo. Ah, our perceptions of the future! And yet, it's so timeless and influential, as mush as Metropolis was and continues to be to this day. I just bought the Final Cut version to go along with my other 3 copies... /geek
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:57 PM on January 29

Ugh, I realize people are going to nitpick about my "cloned people" comment. Cyborgs, etc. Whatever you want to call them. I'm at home with a 100 degree fever, please don't kill me.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:59 PM on January 29

please don't kill me.

Can we clone you instead? That way your 100 degree fever can be amplified a few dozen times. Doesn't that sound like fun?
posted by rand at 1:10 PM on January 29

Did anyone else ever play this? It was the only PC game I ever owned. I thought it was remarkably faithful to the spirit of the movie.
posted by Rangeboy at 1:15 PM on January 29

Hell, it's been linked on the blue about a million times but here it is again.

Mark Kermode's On the edge of Blade Runner documentary.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:24 PM on January 29

I've always wanted to play it. It's hard to find now.
posted by chunking express at 1:27 PM on January 29

Did anyone else ever play this? It was the only PC game I ever owned. I thought it was remarkably faithful to the spirit of the movie.

oh yeah...for hours upon hours. pretty sure I fleshed out every possible ending. definitely had a similar feeling/environment to the film.
posted by rhythim at 1:33 PM on January 29

rand: yes, please do. I'd like to boil water with my fingers.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:37 PM on January 29

I'm okay with single links, but "The Websense category "Social Networking and Personal Sites" is filtered"? That's fucking lame as shit.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:51 PM on January 29

Did anyone else ever play this? It was the only PC game I ever owned. I thought it was remarkably faithful to the spirit of the movie.

Yeah that shit was tight.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:51 PM on January 29

orme, Schlitz did a "National College Preview" promotion of Blade Runner and there was a neon Schlitz sign that appeared in the film.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 3:05 PM on January 29 [3 favorites]

Very well done, shoesfullofdust. Very well done.
posted by nthdegx at 3:17 PM on January 29

Thanks, shoesfullofdust!
posted by orme at 3:48 AM on January 30

Disregarding authorial and directorial intent and looking at the film standing on its own, do you think Deckard was or was not a replicant, and why?

Unicorn dream + Deckard's eyes glow = He's a replicant.

No unicorn dream or glowing eyes = maybe, maybe not.

Looking at the film standing on its own, if (nearly?) all of the artificial beings in the movie have glowing eyes, and Deckard's eyes glow, he's a replicant. If he has a dream about a unicorn, and Gaff makes an origami unicorn, Deckard's a replicant.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:39 AM on January 30

man, i was pretty sad when I read about the possible Blade Runner sequel and then I read about 'Brave New World' with Leonardo DiCaprio and got real sad.
posted by saul wright at 2:36 AM on January 31

but then I got a little happy when that article informed me that there was a new Dune movie.
posted by saul wright at 2:39 AM on January 31

That'll be the new Dune movie directed by the bloke that did Handcock...
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:49 AM on January 31