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Hi Everyone!We've got a super classic sci-fi movie this week, voted by... you! It's easy to see why this is such an iconic film. Everything about it was so unique and incredibly done. And it makes us want to watch MORE amazing sci-fi movies! I bet there are soooo many like this one out there that we have yet to see, so if you know of more definitely let us know!

Files

Blade Runner (Final Cut) - Patreon Version

Comments

JM63

Can't wait for this later! And yes, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" is also fantastic! My other big sci-fi rec is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Completely upended the sci-fi genre and paved the way for Star Wars. However, it may not be best to jump right into 2001 b/c Kubrick's style takes some getting used to. Dr Strangelove (1964) is kind of a sci-fi film and IMO the peak of Kubrick's early career. Paths of Glory (1957), which is about World War I, is another excellent early Kubrick work. I think it helps to get a sense of how Kubrick's style evolved before jumping into 2001. (Kubrick's next film, A Clockwork Orange, is another great 70s sci-fi classic.)

Wade Wallenstein

So happy to see this uploaded! As you know I'm a huge Sci-Fi fan so I've seen this so many times over the years. Even bought a 7-Disc DVD/Blu-Ray set with all the different versions. The theatrical version has Deckard doing some narration but the ending isn't the best. You were right about the name of the novel! In Philip K. Dick's original novel, animals were virtually extinct, something that this movie only addresses in very subtle ways. In Dick's novel, the owls were the first creatures to die out. Also, the term "replicants" is used nowhere in it. They are instead called "androids" or "andies". The movie abandoned these terms, fearing they would sound comical spoken on-screen. Philip K. Dick died before the films release but was given a private screening. He said about Harrison Ford, "He has been more Deckard than I had imagined. It has been incredible. Deckard exists!" and he personally approved of Rutger Hauer, describing him as, "the perfect Batty-cold, Aryan, flawless". You should definitely watch Blade Runner 2049! The late Rutger Hauer starred in a lot of Sci-Fi films and one of my underrated favorites is "The Blood of Heroes"

scott osborne

how the blooming heck did blade runner win that poll damn it voters they must of thought the same as me when the poll was up should we get you 2 to follow on continuing with the aliens and predator universe

scott osborne

im also not going to watch cause blade runner bores me after watching it over a dozen times but i hope that you both enjoyed it very much

MaplenutsReact

Wow, what a compliment to have Philip K. Dick say that about Harrison Ford's portrayal of Deckard!

Wade Wallenstein

There are a few mores films based on Philip K. Dick stories as well: A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report and Impostor.

Thomas Yanez

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... time to die." Roy's monologue is forever burned into my memory. It lives in a little room in my brain next door to the one where Quint's monologue about the U.S.S. Indianapolis lives.

Nathan Jasper

So now, the age-old question... Is Deckard a replicant? I know what Ford and Scott say but I'm curious what your thoughts are!

John Conti

Such an amazing film questioning what makes us human and questions what is moral.Still one of my all time favorite films especially the practical sets that make it feel so alive and real much more than CGI."I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to die."Absolutely amazing line.This film was basically the reason I built my home theater to see it on a 120" screen with Dolbly Atmos is breathtaking.

John Conti

Bladerunner 2049 is a must watch now for sure.

Fernando Alamán

Three sci-fi suggestions. First, the obvious one. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), widely considered the best of the genre I would say, even one of the best films ever. It's a demanding movie, don't expect light fun stuff. It's really awesome. But if you are in the mood for the fun stuff, then go for "The Fifth Element" (1997). Over the top action-packed, hilarious movie. Pure entertainment. And finally, the realistic gritty one. "Children Of Men" (2006). Such a powerful story with one of the best camerawork you will ever see.

JM63

Children of Men is phenomenal

MaplenutsReact

Yeah! Now that we've seen the original we can watch the new one!

MaplenutsReact

I couldn't agree more!! Everything about this movie was incredible ❤️

MaplenutsReact

Wait WHAT!? I hadn't even considered that!! I think I'd have to watch the movie again with that question in mind to really form an answer.

Wade Wallenstein

That has been the biggest question for decades. Just another reason to watch it again lol

Wade Wallenstein

A Scanner Darkly and Minority Report are the well known ones. Impostor is "Under the radar" but it very well done!

JM63

Philip K. Dick, who wrote the novel, wondered what the defining characteristic of human beings was. His answer was "empathy". So the Voight-Kampf test identifies replicants by their lack of empathetic responses to the questions and prompts. The irony of the film is that the humans show no empathy towards replicants, who are human in every way except their reduced lifespans, while Deckard is saved in the end because of Roy's empathy. I think Deckard's journey is symbolized by his treatment of Rachel. After he kills Zhora, his hands shake because he feels like he's just committed murder. To relieve his guilt, he treats Rachel like an object and forces himself on her sexually. (I wish the film didn't use such a romantic score for this section.) But after being saved by Roy, he treats Rachel like an autonomous being. He asks her, "Do you love me? Do you trust me?" He gives her a choice instead of commands.

JM63

The big question: is Deckard a replicant or a human? I believe he's human because Deckard's transformation makes more sense that way. A lot of people point to the origami unicorn as evidence that he's a replicant because it means that Gaff (Edward James Olmos) knew about his memory/dream. But I think the unicorn at the end is symbolic. We can see by Deckard's reaction to it that he finally realizes that there's no fundamental difference between replicants and humans. Both are intelligent beings capable of suffering, which means they both have the fundamental right to not be exploited. Glad you enjoyed this film so much! It's not just great sci-fi, it's one of the best films of all time IMO.

KamikazeCDN

Obviously Blade Runner 2049 should make it on the list of "what's next" since you've watched this one. Returning to the Alien films/universe would also be great. Other movies with a sci fi theme that would be worth a watch could be Ex Machina (2014) which can really play on your mind. Equilibrium (2002) is also cool and deals with some interesting themes, even if its maybe a little cheesy or campy at times (I still love it). Upgrade (2018) is pretty decent for general action type sci fi. Pandorum (2009) is also really good that dips back into the Horror/Sci fi realm with a dash of mystery. Minority Report (2002) is also a really great dystopian sci-fi conspiracy thriller. (Fun fact: there is an unofficial-official canon out there that Blade Runner and Alien are in the same universe. It's all based on some comments by Ridley Scott himself, some easter eggs to each other in their movies as well as just a similar theme/aesthetic in general. )

MaplenutsReact

Ooooo, thank you so much for all of these recommendations!! And Blade Runner being in the same universe as Alien is wild! I want to rewatch both now to find the Easter eggs!!

KamikazeCDN

Always happy share recommendations! Hopefully some of them are enjoyed if they get added on the watchlist for you two. As for the easter eggs and universe stuff. I won't spoil any of it but I will say they can be very subtle. The one in Blade Runner is very much "blink and you'll miss it" type of stuff. I didn't even catch it until I was told about it. I think a lot of the others ended up more on like DVD extras and such. Regardless always neat to consider and fun to try and spot and research about.

MaplenutsReact

That's good to know! We'll just have to be super observant haha

take it easy (tkitez)

Batty's dying monologue is actually improvised by Hauer, significantly changed the tone of his death, the scene, and the message of the replicants lust for life in general. The original scripting was hokey and would have screened even worse in the theatrical cut. That original cut, by the by, was much more conventionally minded in that it was a 'happier' more concrete end. The final cut is the only one worth watching just for the change to the ending scene.

take it easy (tkitez)

Just wanted to drop some recommendations after watching this reaction, if that's alright. Blade Runner essentially invented the visual language of cyberpunk in film, at least a more modern version of it or proto-cyberpunk...and so some other cyberpunk or adjacent films I'd hope you two would check out: -Strange Days (1995) -Lawnmower Man -Judge Dredd (1995) would inform a Dredd (2012) watch, something to double feature -Gattaca (it's cyberpunk adjacent) -A Scanner Darkly -New Rose Hotel -eXistenz -Equilibrium -Johnny Mnemonic (B&W cut only, so you'd have to order the BD more than likely) -Nemesis (1992) A few Japanese cyberpunk films: -Death Powder -964 Pinocchio -GUNHED (1989) -Burst City (1982) And a FANTASTIC early 90s high budget pay channel series that is worth your time: Wild Palms.

Nathan Jasper

Today I learned that Ridley Scott, director of Blade Runner and the first Alien, considers them to be in the SAME universe! Apparently, in Captain Dallas's dossier, it states he previously worked for the Tyrell Corporation. Tyrell was the company that made the replicants! Also a tattoo on Todd's arm references Tannhauser Gate which is also mentioned in Blade Runner. And apparently Kurt Russell's film Soldier is also part of this universe as it also references the Battle of Tannhauser Gate.

Simone's Coconut Squire

A bit late to this one but... Fun Cameo: The Millennium Falcon! It's propped upright in a wide shot following a flying car, posing as a building with the iconic front "forks" of the ship pointing upwards.

pinkdino99

A film that rewards your viewing whether it's your first or 1,000th time watching. The external shots were on the old Warner Bros backlot, a location that had been used in thousands of movies. This led Scott to overdo it on set dec, steam, rain and neon to disguise the familiar landscape. The replicants, despite being killers are not the bad guys. Deckard shoots Zhora, an unarmed woman in the back one of the most stunning sounding and looking sequences in cinema history. That and the theme when Pris is introduced sends chills through me. Speaking of Pris, Darryl Hannah slipped and fell into Sebastian's car breaking an actual glass window and causing a nasty gash down her arm. But like a true pro she just shoved it under her coat and finished the scene. In the book all animals have been made extinct. A person's status symbol is therefore what type of robot animal they can afford. Deckard has a little sheep. His neighbour gets a cow, something that drives him wild with envy. Rutger Haur was such a gift. See him also in Sin City, The Hitcher (terrifying !), Blind Fury (he plays a blind samurai) and Hobo With a Shotgun. Also consider David Lynch's Dune which also features Sean Young. It's wildly different form the Denis Villeneuve flicks, but so rewarding and will also open up the world of David Lynch for you. Edward James Olmos featured in the 80s hit show from Michael Mann called Miami Vice, and starred in the remake of Battlestar Galactica, which you guys would loooove. The theatrical cut was considered too cerebral for audiences, so Ford was asked back to record a narrator's voiceover. Ford protested vehemently against this, but was shouted down, so went on to create the least enthusiastic voice acting that has been in any performance in the history of cinema. There are also a few Shining links to Blade Runner. Joe Turkel played the bartender, and also Tyrell. Linked to the above theatrical release which wanted to show a happy ending, discarded footage of the family driving through the mountains from The Shining were literally taken off the cutting room floor and inserted in the final reel of Blade Runner to show Rachel and Deckard escaping north.

Stuart Brewster

A film set in the cold, bleak future of 2019... Well, it wasn't far off! 😅 On a sad side note, we see Roy Batty pass away at the end, with his amazing monologue... Rutger Hauer, who played Roy, also passed away in 2019 😢