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Blade Runner, 2049. You might not want to see it -- read first.

63.142.207.34
Posted on October 6, 2017 at 09:22:51
free.ranger
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 I haven't seen it, but I'm reading things like the attached review, saying that the forlorn view of the future is beginning to seem a bit too real. It's not Star Trek.

 

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I'm soooo triggered I need counseling . . . ., posted on October 6, 2017 at 18:14:40
Billy Wonka
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 In 30 years the atmosphere will be a dusty, musty haze. There won't be a lot of real food and leftover replicants will be everywhere. I'm a-scared.

Gosling is an older model still doing so retirements on newer ones that are a bit more free-willed. He comes upon a replicant (Bautista) who is a synthetic farmer and an escapee. They dook it out and Gosling wins. He also accumulates some evidence from a buried skeleton next to a tree (dead, of course). The investigation shows cut marks on the pelvis which reveal a serial number. It was a female pelvis and it appears there had been a crude C-Section. A hybrid human-replicant is alive!

Now we sink into the surreal landscape of the near future and the glacially unfolding story of self-discovery. Leads take Gosling around the block in his search for serial numbers, real memories, and avatar love. He meets, beats, and allies himself with Ford to get to the bottom of this conundrum.

This is a very long film but the visually spectacular elements keep you going. The script was good and the CGI was excellent. The future never looked so bad.

I'm soooo triggered that I want to save the trees, whales, atmosphere . . . wait! The world is going to be that bad in 30 years! At least we will have replicant prostitutes keeping a smile on our faces.



Art direction is out of the ballpark.

 

RE: Blade Runner, 2049. You might not want to see it -- read first., posted on October 7, 2017 at 10:02:01
fantja
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 Thanks! for sharing- guys.
Was Ridley Scott involved w/ this film?

 

Went to see it yesterday at special 3D showing. Made it through 20 minutes. Nt, posted on October 7, 2017 at 15:26:55
geoffkait
 Nt

 

Your narcolepsy kick in?...N/T, posted on October 7, 2017 at 16:09:43
musetap
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 aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

this is the only film I have seen on IMAX and was blown away at the clarity of picture and sound, posted on October 7, 2017 at 16:14:44
PhilJ
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 I would characterize it as interesting rather than compelling

frankly it was better than I expected, I cautiously hoped it would be this good and had fingers crossed.

I agree with Billy that the awesome graphics keep this afloat during the lulls

overall I am glad I paid the extra for the IMAX experience I may not have been so blown away on a regular screen

 

Did the score and action give you "Space Odyssey" moments?, posted on October 7, 2017 at 16:48:10
Billy Wonka
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 A couple of times I felt 2001 flashbacks during his search for identity.

 

I don't recall that, but then my head was ratteling from the volume. I thought of AI myself, posted on October 7, 2017 at 16:51:43
PhilJ
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 ...

 

I rewatched the original 1982 version..., posted on October 8, 2017 at 10:29:44
mkuller
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 ...and I was a little underwhelmed by it.

Even though I watched it again some years ago I didn't remember most of it. Of course the scenes toward the end with Daryl and Rutger were burned into my mind.

It was interesting visually but the plot didn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

I agree that the original '82 version got more acclaim than it really deserved, posted on October 8, 2017 at 10:51:04
Chris from Lafayette
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 I'm still looking forward to seeing the current sequel, which some critics have asserted is actually BETTER than the original.

 

The original had Rutger Hauer. IMO, he made that film exceptional., posted on October 8, 2017 at 13:35:39
free.ranger
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 Like tears, ... lost in the rain.

 

RE: the original 1982 version..., posted on October 8, 2017 at 14:59:31
user510
 There were a couple of different 'cuts' offered on, VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray over the years. The Director's Cut. "Then The Final Cut". It appears RS could not stop fiddling with it.

As I recall many of the reviewers were not completely enthralled by the theatrical release.

Perhaps it is the bleak and sad atmosphere that saturates every frame of the movie. There is a sense of gloom. The characters are unattractive.
I thought the acting was second tier. Well, I think the entire cast is second tier. Rutger Hauer delivers his best performance in a movie and I wasn't particularly impressed.

There is a running theme that the 'replicants' had a sense of 'self' and wished to continue living. Self-awareness. Perhaps the replicants felt they should dominate the humans? At least the humans feared that the replicants might want to.

The novel the movie was based on was even less compelling than the movie. I blame that on the rather dry narration coming from Philip K. Dick. What worked for me was the Sid Meade graphics and set design. Every scene is night time. All of the interior shots are dark. It tries to be a horror movie. With Ridley Scott you get horror, I guess. Iirc, the novel was less so.

-Steve

 

Just the change in title from book to film sets the tone for..., posted on October 8, 2017 at 15:32:06
musetap
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 a different experience.

The film is supposed to be future sci fi noir and mostly succeeds at that sensibility.

Horror though? Naaa, that's Alien!

Or Blackhawk Down.


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

BRuno was ahead of its time in '82 . . . , posted on October 8, 2017 at 16:06:56
Billy Wonka
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 It was the future but all the many movies and effects that have come to pass have diminished it by comparison.

BRduo is much more stark and desolate than uno. One can't help but crave for color inside of duo. The flat palette and alphabet starve the retinas for something normal.

One thing, looks like there's no excuse for a sequel

 

RE: "the horror", posted on October 8, 2017 at 17:52:18
user510
 "Horror though? Naaa, that's Alien!"
-----------------------

That scene in the dillapidated old hotel where Roy Batty is toying with Deckard who means to capture and 'retire' the leader of the replicants (Batty). But Batty is superior in every way that matters. At one point Batty, on the other side of the wall, punches through the wall, grabbing Deckard's weapon hand. He breaks Deckard's trigger finger, then puts the weapon back in his hand. Deckard doesn't have a chance. Later in that act Batty howls like a wolf, adding immensely to the horriffic atmosphere.

The horror reveals itself in the opening scene where the replicant Leon shoots officer Holden under the table during the interview session designed to identify replicants from humans.

The horror reveals itself when replicant Pris attacks Deckard. She also displays superior physical abilities but after a valiant strugle Deckard manages to shoot her with his weapon. Pris was the pleasure replicant, fwiw.

That scene where the replicants gather around Hanibal Chew, the technician specializing in the manufacture of replicant eyes. Their purpose is to find their target, Dr. Tyrell. They kill Hanibal Chew after getting from him the location of another techie that knows how to get in touch with Tyrell.

That scene with Tyrell where Batty kills Tyrell using his thumbs against Tyrell's eyes, gouging out the eyes and crushing his skull. A horriffic death for Tyrell.

Also in that Tyrell death scene Batty kills J.F. Sebastian who had led the replicants to Tyrell. This killing is especially ugly because Sebastian had just witnessed the killing of his boss, Tyrell. Loose ends being tidied up.

This movie isn't Alien, that's for sure. But Bladerunner does have horror elements within and throughout. Although the movie itself is bigger than that and explores sci-fi themes, the horror is woven into the fabric of the plot. It is sci-fi horror.

-Steve

 

Blind Justice is one my my favorites of his,,,(nt), posted on October 8, 2017 at 18:56:21
mkuller
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 (nt)

 

Those elements of horror are violence..., posted on October 8, 2017 at 20:40:09
musetap
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 Graphic perhaps but not horror in the traditional sense.

If categorized as horror then I'd say some 83.6% of most Hollywood movies would qualify as horror.

You know, instead of horrible.


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: horrific violence... nt, posted on October 8, 2017 at 21:47:10
user510
 nt

 

RE: the original 1982 version..., posted on October 9, 2017 at 04:41:51
Jack G
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 The "Final Cut" was what RS really wanted to make. It was significantly better than the others. It got rid of the voice over, which the studio insisted on against RS's wishes as well as implications about Decker missed in the earlier versions.
Jack

 

Yes... , posted on October 9, 2017 at 13:02:15
musetap
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 The Godfather is full of horrific violence yet is not a horror film.

So is Forrest Gump for that matter.

For 1/1000,000 of an example.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: the original 1982 version..., posted on October 9, 2017 at 14:23:42
fantja
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 Agreed Steve- user510

there are many, many versions of the original film on VHS and DVD.
Do you own all versions? Which is the most original(theater) on VHS?
Which is the most orginal (theater) on DVD?

 

RE: the original 1982 version..., posted on October 9, 2017 at 14:31:41
user510
 I had the director's cut on vhs. Then I took that to hpb just to clear out my vhs collection. At this point the only vhs tapes I keep are family videos and some others that are only available as vhs.

The DVD I have is "The Final Cut". I feel no need to get that on Blu-Ray.

As to which is closest to the initial theatrical release, I don't know. It is likely that I have not seen it since viewing it in the theater way back then.

-Steve

 

RE: nope, posted on October 9, 2017 at 14:43:11
user510
 If you look at it from a mile up in the atmosphere. Viewing the elements as data to be correlated, yes I take your points.

However down on the ground, in the theater, in front of the flat screen, there is a mood to it. There is this sense of the sinister. I refrain from using the word 'evil' because these replicants are not that. They simply lack human empathy. And this is likely because they resent that humans have no empathy for them.

For me the horror is in the setup. The atmosphere. The mood. The intentional cruelty. The lack of compassion.

The movie isn't a monster flick like Alien. Yet the replicants are treated as monsters to be hunted down and 'retired', dispatched, killed.

These particular replicants are wanted for their rebellious mis-deeds they had done in another star system. In the beginning it seemed like the plot would take on the form of a simple hunt. But the going gets trickier than anyone in law enforcement thought it would. We the viewer see the process through Deckard's eyes. And for him, it turns into a harrowing, horrific ordeal. I put an emphasis on horrific.

-Steve

 

Very nice summation..., posted on October 10, 2017 at 10:01:49
musetap
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 I am convinced.


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: I was being stubborn, posted on October 10, 2017 at 13:08:57
user510
 ...and you made good points.

-Steve

 

RE: the original 1982 version..., posted on October 10, 2017 at 14:26:58
fantja
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 Much Thanks! Steve.

 

I was being stubborn too..., posted on October 12, 2017 at 22:38:15
musetap
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 and you made far better points!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Blade Runner, 2049. You might not want to see it -- read first., posted on October 13, 2017 at 21:24:54
Steve O
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 Saw it tonite in IMAX format. 2049 pretty much defines the concept of bleak and dystopian. Technically well done but I left the theater feeling pretty queasy. Definitely not for everybody.

 

Just saw it..., posted on October 15, 2017 at 15:14:00
mkuller
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 ...on a big XD screen and I loved it - a work of art.

I'm glad I saw the original one again first because of the connections.

The visuals and the music/sounds are a feast for your eyes and ears.

The plot, acting and characters were much better than the first.

It was long but I just sat back and let it wash over me.

Brilliant.

 

We did too - just got back about an hour ago, posted on October 15, 2017 at 19:46:59
Chris from Lafayette
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 Yeah, it's pretty epic, I'd say. Loved the Dolby Atmos too, as well as the apocalyptic scenic design. Lots of stuff to like actually.

 

Did you..., posted on October 16, 2017 at 10:51:13
mkuller
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 ...see it in Walnut Creek like us - 11:10am show?

 

The big question - spoiler alert..., posted on October 16, 2017 at 12:50:19
mkuller
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 ...do you think Deckard is a replicant?

Why or why not?

I could argue either way.

 

We decided not to go to Walnut Creek - went to Martinez just for kicks (3:35 showing) [nt], posted on October 16, 2017 at 14:15:28
Chris from Lafayette
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Answer..., posted on October 18, 2017 at 10:00:44
mkuller
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 ...Decker was a replicant all along.

 

RE: I'm soooo triggered I need counseling . . . ., posted on October 20, 2017 at 13:33:24
Dr Phibes
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 Beautiful film, great art direction, first rate acting and the writing was ambitious and uncompromising.

I liked what it wasn't - a shallow commercial rewrite of the original.

I think Blade Runner 2049 stands as an excellent film by itself. A film worth discussing.

Is Deckard a replicant? I can't say for sure.
Did K die at the end? I can't say for sure.
Was Joi a computer program capable of real love? I can't say for sure.

I have many more unanswered questions -and I find that refreshing.

Not a perfect movie- it felt a tad long...

 

Blade Runner 2049 supplemental shorts, posted on October 28, 2017 at 10:35:01
Dr Phibes
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 For those interested - These were quite good and filled in a few gaps ...

 

RE: Thanks for the link, posted on December 1, 2017 at 15:07:24
user510
 Watanabe. He also produced a couple of animated shorts on the "Animatrix" production. Animatrix was a compliment to the Matrix series.

This Bladerunner animated short -stuff- has the same fingerprints as the Animatrix shorts.

Love it.
-Steve

 

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