Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

‘Blade Runner’ at 40

esquire.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

301–310 of 435 posts

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#301

Post by Krasnol »

JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #262
kirevmaco wrote: post #245

"The main difference between what Ridley views this all in terms of and what I view it all in terms of is as follows. To me, the replicants (or androids, if you will) are deplorable because [inaudible] they are cold, they are selfish, they are heartless, they are completely self-centered, they have no empathy, they don't care about what happens to other creatures, and to me this is essentially a less-than-human entit…

>they are cold, they are selfish, they are heartless, they are completely self-centered, they have no empathy, they don't care about what happens to other creatures Are we sure that there aren’t a lot of replicants walking around already?

Describe in single words.

Only the good things that come into your mind.

About your mother.

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#302

Post by Apocryphon »

deltaonezero wrote: post #295
trzy wrote: post #292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like you are trying to rationalize a taste for terrible movies with frenetic pacing.

Maybe. The problem is the majority of the population has the exact same taste I'm talking about. Everyone loves summer blockbusters while Bladerunner is a niche. So am I rationalizing something or am I trying to explain something to a stubborn elitist minority? I think we're both intelligent enough to know that the later reason is the actual reality and that I'm not the one actually rationalizing things. Top Gun just…

Top Gun Maverick’s pacing, while nowhere as meandering as its ‘80s predecessor, was actually not frenetic until perhaps the terminal velocity climax. It’s a very character-based film, not only a special effects extravaganza. It harkens to a slightly older type of action flick.

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#303

Post by Apocryphon »

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #25
modeless wrote: post #3

I had a professor in college who was obsessed with Blade Runner and had us watch it in class. I just didn't get it. I mean I love sci-fi, but Blade Runner was just OK. Maybe in the context of its time it was great, pioneering, all that stuff. But in the context of now, or even back when I was in college (closer to the release of Blade Runner than present day, yikes), it didn't seem that special to me. I guess now tha…

I think it still holds up. Very few films are as bold and original today. Everything is CGI focus group contrived garbage now. What good recent scifi comes close? Dune? Bladerunner 2049?

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#304

Post by Agentlien »

pengaru wrote: post #257
Agentlien wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm the other way around. I loved the atmosphere and the slow pace when I first saw it. But ever since I read the book I can't enjoy it the same way. I feel it just doesn't do it justice.

PKD was an excellent author, I feel like he doesn't get enough credit for Blade Runner. It'd probably be different if Alien didn't exist.

He's one of my favorite authors. While he wrote a lot of great science fiction my favorite of his works is "The Man in the High Castle". It's quite different. No space travel or aliens. It follows a few different characters in an alternate history world where the axis won WW2.

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#305

Post by Apocryphon »

candiddevmike wrote: post #150
aresant wrote: post #23

The visual language Bladerunner invented has virtually defined SciFi for the past 40 years. If you enjoy it's worth digging into the work Syd Mead - the film's concept artist - created: https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/5642443624/in/... https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/5642443252/in/... https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/5641873923/in/... https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_…

Can anyone recommend some music that has the same vibe as Blade Runner's synth stuff?

Makeup and Vanity Set

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOy9VowoLA&list=PL5zdIKeI6k...

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#306

Post by TedDoesntTalk »

8bitsrule wrote: post #263

If you can find a copy 'out there', [2] the 1980 film version [1] of LeGuin's novel 'The Lathe of Heaven' has something of the BR 'feel' to it. (Made by WNET it was aired on many PBS stations at the time.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lathe_of_Heaven_(film) Interesting trivia: that Dick and LeGuin both graduated from the same Berkeley High School in 1947. [2]Edit: of course [480p largest] ... https://www.you…

I just spent some time reading about this film amd trying to buy the dvd. Its on ebay for about $60. It's also on the thepiratebay.org with 6 seeders. Thanks for the recommendation.

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#307

Post by TedDoesntTalk »

ghaff wrote: post #133
sorokod wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I watched apocalypse now soon after it's release and was completely blown away by it. There is a soundtrack album to which I listen occasionally.

There were definitely other Vietnam War and related films like Platoon and Coming Home which were probably more highly regarded at the time but haven't had the staying power of Apocalypse Now.

I recall apocalypse now being extremely popular at the time of its release. Maybe that was just my social circle?

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#308

Post by june11 »

ajmurmann wrote: post #46
jmyeet wrote: post #9

I am one of the 11 people on Earth that hates coffee. "Hate" isn't strong enough. Even "despises" I'm not sure goes far enough. It tastes disgusting to me. I can't even stand the smell. This has led me at times to wonder if I'm crazy or if everyone else is. I do notice a ton of people consume a ton of sugar in their coffee so it seems like many don't really like coffee. They like sugar. But I digresss. I have the sam…

The xenophobia angle is really interesting to me. Despite being born after the movies release I always loved it. But I am also a huge japanophile and am unusual in the regard that I badly want cities as they are in Blade Runner and other Cyberpunk fantasies and was thus blind to the xenophobia, since I see the intended negative as desirable.

I also echo this pov, it never had occurred to me about the xenophobia angle

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#309

Post by Jaruzel »

croes wrote: post #293
jacobolus wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is also a film that most people probably have to watch 2–3 times to really understand the whole plot (much less notice all of the symbolism, etc.). The first time, a bunch is quite confusing.

Which cut?

I tend to recommend to people who've not seen it, to watch the Theatrical Cut first. Then watch The Final Cut, and keeping watching The Final Cut, and never re-watch the Theatrical.

The Theatrical Cut obviously adds the narration, which for first-timers helps with the comprehension. However once you know the story. The Final Cut is just pure bliss and I never tire of it.

Re: ‘Blade Runner’ at 40

#310

Post by craz8 »

crispyambulance wrote: post #160
candiddevmike wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can anyone recommend some music that has the same vibe as Blade Runner's synth stuff?

Yeah, Isao Tomita and Tangerine Dream come to mind. Contemporaries of Vangelis (the composer of the soundtrack of Blade Runner) from the 70's. Very similar vibe. Jean Michel Jarre as well, though he had more of a beat. I like Morton Subotnick and the seminal album "Silver Apples of the Moon" it's more out there and experimental but it definitely it had a similar texture.

I saw Jarre live in the London Docklands in 1988 - I was a poor student that lived within walking distance (Woolwich) The rain gave it an ambiance that worked, and the location was abandoned industrial location - now redeveloped

The difference between London in the mid 80s to now is stark, but it’s not quite fully Bladerunner

Post reply on HN