Some questions on Blade Runner to replace those in the Critical Reader for Weeks 6-7!!
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
3. Blade Runner is a highly complex movie has been described as a 'palimpsest' of clues and layers that rewards repeated viewing.
In particular, it is full of visual and written clues and references (often ironic) that help us in 'reading' it, but they are easy to miss. Here are some references that you can Google. Follow the clues:
- Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony). What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia)
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
- Not long after Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment (after he kisses Priss and before he plays chess), he toys with the broken-half of a Barbie doll. In what way might this be allegorical?
- In the climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
- Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes).
- Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale).
4. What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie?
Hi all, I'm tring to figure question 3.6 out. - Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale)
I think it means that the Chinatown is "not the US" although it is in the US. So the director descibes the Chinatown as "another world". Androids are not humans, so they live in "another world". But androids are not acceptable in society and neither are femme fatales. That's my thoughts. But I'm not quite sure. Do you guys have any idea?
Blade Runner(1982)is a science fiction film which actually take place in an existing world in the year 2019 in L.A. In which non-human being who looks like humans but was built with a way better technology is called "replicant" are used for the dangerous and degrading workforce. Some of the replicants were escaped and "Blade Runner" is the one who should hunt them down as he is acting like a police in nowadays. The Blade Runner has been received critics from the audience; some were not pleased about the movie but other people enjoyed the movie a lot about where it took place and how every scenes's complexity (Wikipedia, 2008). According to Wikipedia(2008) "the film has since become a cult classic and also an important concerns of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, such as overpopulation, globalization, climate change and genetic engineering".
Hi guys, In my previous I was trying to answer No.1. I hope it helped a little bit.
Now I want to try to answer No.3.1 Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony). From googling the page about Yukon I think Yukon means "Colony" according to Yukon Tourism(2008) "Over 20,000 years ago, the Yukon's original people inhabited an area near what is now known as Old Crow. It is believed that they migrated across a land bridge from Asia in what must have been a long and difficult journey of endurance and dedicationIt wasn't until the 18th century that Yukon's First Nations people met with visitors from other parts of the world. That's when Russian explorers arrived in search of furs and other resources. The fur trade developed as explorers from Europe, such as Alexander Mackenzie and Sir John Franklin, arrived". Russians and Europeans had found the new colony so they have lived in Yukon since then.
Which is the same as Blade Runner film, the replicant tried to escape to the new colony(earth) in order to have new life and try to find the solution of death.
And another question is No.3.2 What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia) I'm not sure that what is the answer to this question. It could be "Dystopia or Architecture or Irony". I guess the author of the film named the street aftered the Austrian Artist "Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser". He is very famous artist, paintor, architecture and sculptor who does his works on building and one of his works was the public toilet in KawaKawa, New Zealand(Wikipedia, 2008). He desinged on buildings for low-income people, he helps to paint unwanted buildings to become more attractive. Also "Dystopia" means the negative and undesirable societies and in general dystopias are seen as visitors of a dangerous and alienating future societies(Wikipedia, 2008). Lastly, it could have meant as "irony" because "Hundertwasser" means "hundread water".
Hi Jan, I agree with your opinion of question 3.1. I googled "Yukon", but I couldn't find any relevant information. I found that Yukon is in Canada and Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in language. So I was wondering how I clould connect this information to frontier and colony. But I now understand that its history relates to these clues.
Hi Jan, I also found interesting article in Wikipedia (2008). The following passages are from Wikipedia (2008): "The question of whether Deckard is intended to be a human or a replicant has been an ongoing controversy since the film's release. Both Michael Deeley and Harrison Ford wanted Deckard to be human while Hampton Fancher preferred ambiguity. Ridley Scott has confirmed that in his vision Deckard is a replicant." And subsequently it says that Deckard dreams unicorn, and Gaff makes a unicorn by paper. These actions confirm that Deckard is a replicant because Gaff can read Deckard's mind. In addition, Japanese version of Wikipedia (2008) says that there should be six replicants in the first release. But there were only four replicants (one of them is dead). So there was a question "where is the sixth replicant" among the fans of Blade Runner. However, they couldn't make the sixth replicant because of over budget. This problem is fixed in Director's Cut.
Hi Hisako and Jan: It seems that you guys like the film Blade Runner ^-^ I wanna talk about:The climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
I follow the hints of “New Testament and Judas”, I find the short words of The kiss of Judas which means to betray someone. I think the reason of kiss his “father”. His father invents him, just like the Christ to man. He kisses his father and kills him just like Judas betrayed Christ and made the arrest of Jesus. In the other hand, the kiss reflects the relationship between the demiurge and the invention in an ironical way.
Hi guys^-^ I find the film Blade Runner has lots of connection of Holly Bible!
I find the answer of this question: When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
Salome：the Daughter of Herodias, is known from the New Testament, where, however, her name is not given.in connection with the death of John the Baptist. Another source from Antiquity, Flavius Josephus' Jewish Antiquities, gives her name and some detail about her family relations.
Christian traditions depict her as an icon of dangerous female seductiveness, for instance depicting her dance mentioned in the New Testament (in some later transformations further iconize to the dance of the seven veils), or concentrate on her lighthearted and cold foolishness that, according to the gospels, led to John the Baptist's death. A new ramification was added by Oscar Wilde, who in his play Salome let her devolve into a necrophilia, killed the same day as the man whose death she had requested.( Wikipedia, 2008) Just my point of view. Do you guys have any idea of this?
Hi Shirley, Did my comments sound like I liked the film? No, I HATE sci-fi movies!! Anyway, I found the answer of question 2. According to Wikipedia (2008), there are seven versions of Blade Runner. First, original workprint version. This version was shown in March 1982 for the trial. This version was subsequently shown in 1990 and 1991, but the director disagreed about this show. The negative feedback on this trial show made the U.S. theatrical version modify. Second, a San Diego Sneak Preview. This version was shown in May 1982, with three additional scenes. Third, the U.S. theatrical version. This version was released on videos in 1983 and laserdiscs in 1987. Fourth, the International Cut. This version was added some more violent scenes in the U.S. theatrical version and released on videos and laserdiscs in North America. Fifth, the U.S. broadcast version. This version is the new version of the U.S. theatrical version, editing violence, profanity and nudity scenes. Sixth, Director's Cut (with the director's approving). This version was released on videos and laserdiscs in 1993, and on DVDs in 1997. Deckard's voice-over and the studio-imposed happy ending were removed from the theatrical version, and added a unicorn sequence. Last, Ridley Scott's Final Cut. This version was produced by Warner Bros. and shown in cinemas in 2007. Afterwards it was released on DVDs and videos.
Hi shirley and Hisako, I am not so sure if you guys have answered this question "Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes)".
"Bradbury" comes from Ray Bradbury who is SF author. Accordin to Wikipedia(2008) "Bradbury is widely considered one of the greatest and most popular American writers of speculative fiction during the twentieth century. Bradbury was a reader and writer throughout his youth, spending much time in the Carnegie Library in Waukegan. He used this library as a setting for much of his novel Something Wicked This Way Comes". The Bradbury building and Warner Bros. become the most important location which later called "LA 2019 Street" for the tourist to visit Hollywood (Wikipedia, 2008). I think that Philip K. Dick may be influenced by Ray Bradbury in his SF novels, then he used Bradbury as the name for the building in the scene.
I think this week only 3 of us participate. Everyone else may take a break already. Shirley, I think SF film is not my type of movie.
What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie? When I watched Blade Runner(1982) I do not feel that I appreaciate it at all. But after knowing all the clues I have different thoughts
Hi Jan, As you said, I also don't change my attitude towards the film. But the clues made me interested in the film, although I still don't like sci-fi movies. I think if I watch Blade Runner again, maybe it'll be more enjoyable.
First of all, I wanna say something about my feeling of the Blade Runner. In my opinion, this is a film that filling with much gloomy and repressive emotions. For one hand, human beings tried to destroy the “replicants” that were produced by them; for another hand, the “replicants” struggle for their rights to live and have other rights with human beings. So these facts make people to think back to their deed, whether to produce the “replicant” is correct or not. Secondly, this film makes me to think about: what is life? And what is the real meaning of human beings’ life? Maybe such as these questions would be ignored by people at present, but these are facts, which worth to consider by human beings. Do you agree with me?
Hi Jocelyn, I beg to differ, because the story in sci-fi is almost always the same (aliens or replicants or whatever are always enemies of humans). But after answering these questions, my view of Blade Runner has changed. The story has ironic meanings, and it's not a simple story. Have you read all of our answers? After reading, your thoughts also change perhaps..
Hi Hisako, Thank you for giving me the suggestion of your thought about the film:) As you mentioned that the story is not a simple story, exactly, it was filled with ironic meanings.
Next, I’d like to answer the question 3.5 Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes). In the film, J.F. Sebastian invited Pris in the Bradbury Building where he lives with his manufactured companions. And the architecture “Bradbury Building” gives me such a mysterious impression. According to wikipedia, “the Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark in Los Angeles, California, in the United States,” and “the magnificence of the building is the interior that you reach through the entrance with its low ceiling and minimal light that seems to hug your senses until you are welcomed with the flood of natural light and expanse within great center court.” So, I think the significance of Sebastian's apartment located in the Bradbury building is to indicate Sebastian’s manufactured companions were mysterious, and foreshow that the fight between Roy and Deckard would be hard in the building at the end of the film.
hi guys, sorry i'm late. I've heard about this movie for a while now but I've never got around to watching it until recently. Very impressive filmmaking, and definitely a film that rewards multiple viewings.
1. Wikipedia mentions that upon its original release in 1982, the film received mixed reviews, many trashing the film for its perceived poor pacing. The film did poorly in the box office but since then it has become a cult classic. In 1993, the Library of Congress selected Blade Runner for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 2007,the American Film Institute named it the 97th greatest American film of all time in the 10th Anniversary edition of its 100 years... 100 Movies list.
3. I agree with Jan, the film contains many references to the bible! The dance called Miss Salome and the Snake is a reference to Selome, the daughter of Herodias.
Another example of biblical references is the incident where Roy kisses Tyrell, which compares with the story in the bible where Judas kisses Jesus before betraying him. Roy is compared with Judas here
Hi Jason, Glad to see your comments here:) Just as you said that the film Blade Runner contains many references to the Bible. I like the film or TV play which is made containing some stories or literary quotations from the history or the actual occurrences. Because I think although the film or TV play is fictive, if the author can add some story from the actual world, the film or TV play will be more attractive and appreciative.
hey jocelyn, Yup i agree that historical references in a movie can make it more interesting. And judging from some of the responses here, like Hisako's, I assume you guys are not big fans of science fiction films. I actually prefer science fiction films compared to fantasy like Narnia etc. I like how some science fiction films try to be 'prophetic', giving us warnings of what can go 'wrong' in the world if cloning is allowed, if governments are given to much power etc.
Honestly, I don't quite into these kind science fiction. I did watched in the class and I felt kind of that it's not my type. However, Japanese anime is more attractive, acceptable and interested to me.
I'm gonna continue with Question 2 which Hisako has already answered.I'm also gonna focus on the differences among all of the versions.According to Wikipedia (2008), no one can deny that there are seven different versions of Blade Runner, they are original work print version, a San Diego Sneak Preview, the U.S. theatrical version, the International Cut, the U.S. broadcast version. Director's Cut and finally the Ridley Scott's Final Cut. As we can see that, compare with all these different versions. It's clear to see that the most differences among them which is the period of release. The oldest one was producted in 1982 and the lastest one which was producted in 2007. Therefore, prodution technology also can be considered as the factor of the differences. According to the Wikipedia (2008), it do compare with the final cut in 2007 and the director's cut in 1992.
The differences which including the colour timing has been noticeably altered to give the film a more greenish tint;All the violent scenes in the International Cut;After Batty releases the dove, it now flies up into a dark rainy sky instead of a blue sky;After Batty releases the dove, it now flies up into a dark rainy sky instead of a blue sky;Bryant adds a new line about Leon being able to lift 400 pound atomic loads all day and night. This is from the workprint; Smoke has been added behind the cook when he serves Deckard; As Deckard enters Bryant's office, Bryant's statement "I've got four skinjobs walking the streets" is no longer obviously a spliced-in re-recording; When Gaff and Deckard first appear at Leon's apartment, the landlord now says "Kowalski", another small bit originally from the workprint and so on.
I do agree with you that this movie can be considered extremely boring, gloomy and repressive emotions basing on the plot of the movie. As you guys commented that, this movie should be long tasted again when you finished watching and think deeply. And you will realize that it's not a simple science fiction about just Aliens or the other super natural. This movie can be considered as strongly ironic plotted and criticlelly constructed. The author want to show the darkness, ugly and negative side of the future world in 2019. The plot focuses on a brutal and cunning group of recently-escaped replicants hiding in Los Angeles and the semi-retired blade runner, Rick Deckard , who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment. Moreover,Despite appearing to be an action film, Blade Runner has many dramatic, narrative levels, greatly indebted to film noir conventions, such as the femme fatale, protagonist-narration , dark and shadowy cinematography, and the questionable moral outlook of the hero, extended to include his humanity
23 comments:
Some questions on Blade Runner to replace those in the Critical Reader for Weeks 6-7!!
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
3. Blade Runner is a highly complex movie has been described as a 'palimpsest' of clues and layers that rewards repeated viewing.
In particular, it is full of visual and written clues and references (often ironic) that help us in 'reading' it, but they are easy to miss. Here are some references that you can Google. Follow the clues:
- Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony). What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia)
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
- Not long after Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment (after he kisses Priss and before he plays chess), he toys with the broken-half of a Barbie doll. In what way might this be allegorical?
- In the climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
- Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes).
- Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale).
4. What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie?
Hi all,
I'm tring to figure question 3.6 out.
- Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale)
I think it means that the Chinatown is "not the US" although it is in the US. So the director descibes the Chinatown as "another world". Androids are not humans, so they live in "another world". But androids are not acceptable in society and neither are femme fatales.
That's my thoughts. But I'm not quite sure. Do you guys have any idea?
Blade Runner(1982)is a science fiction film which actually take place in an existing world in the year 2019 in L.A. In which non-human being who looks like humans but was built with a way better technology is called "replicant" are used for the dangerous and degrading workforce. Some of the replicants were escaped and "Blade Runner" is the one who should hunt them down as he is acting like a police in nowadays. The Blade Runner has been received critics from the audience; some were not pleased about the movie but other people enjoyed the movie a lot about where it took place and how every scenes's complexity (Wikipedia, 2008). According to Wikipedia(2008) "the film has since become a cult classic and also an important concerns of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, such as overpopulation, globalization, climate change and genetic engineering".
Hi guys, In my previous I was trying to answer No.1. I hope it helped a little bit.
Now I want to try to answer No.3.1
Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony).
From googling the page about Yukon I think Yukon means "Colony" according to Yukon Tourism(2008) "Over 20,000 years ago, the Yukon's original people inhabited an area near what is now known as Old Crow. It is believed that they migrated across a land bridge from Asia in what must have been a long and difficult journey of endurance and dedicationIt wasn't until the 18th century that Yukon's First Nations people met with visitors from other parts of the world. That's when Russian explorers arrived in search of furs and other resources. The fur trade developed as explorers from Europe, such as Alexander Mackenzie and Sir John Franklin, arrived". Russians and Europeans had found the new colony so they have lived in Yukon since then.
Which is the same as Blade Runner film, the replicant tried to escape to the new colony(earth) in order to have new life and try to find the solution of death.
And another question is No.3.2 What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia)
I'm not sure that what is the answer to this question. It could be "Dystopia or Architecture or Irony". I guess the author of the film named the street aftered the Austrian Artist "Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser". He is very famous artist, paintor, architecture and sculptor who does his works on building and one of his works was the public toilet in KawaKawa, New Zealand(Wikipedia, 2008). He desinged on buildings for low-income people, he helps to paint unwanted buildings to become more attractive. Also "Dystopia" means the negative and undesirable societies and in general dystopias are seen as visitors of a dangerous and alienating future societies(Wikipedia, 2008).
Lastly, it could have meant as "irony" because "Hundertwasser" means "hundread water".
Hi Jan,
I agree with your opinion of question 3.1. I googled "Yukon", but I couldn't find any relevant information. I found that Yukon is in Canada and Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in language. So I was wondering how I clould connect this information to frontier and colony. But I now understand that its history relates to these clues.
Hi Jan,
I also found interesting article in Wikipedia (2008). The following passages are from Wikipedia (2008):
"The question of whether Deckard is intended to be a human or a replicant has been an ongoing controversy since the film's release. Both Michael Deeley and Harrison Ford wanted Deckard to be human while Hampton Fancher preferred ambiguity. Ridley Scott has confirmed that in his vision Deckard is a replicant."
And subsequently it says that Deckard dreams unicorn, and Gaff makes a unicorn by paper. These actions confirm that Deckard is a replicant because Gaff can read Deckard's mind.
In addition, Japanese version of Wikipedia (2008) says that there should be six replicants in the first release. But there were only four replicants (one of them is dead). So there was a question "where is the sixth replicant" among the fans of Blade Runner. However, they couldn't make the sixth replicant because of over budget. This problem is fixed in Director's Cut.
Hi Hisako and Jan:
It seems that you guys like the film Blade Runner ^-^
I wanna talk about:The climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
I follow the hints of “New Testament and Judas”, I find the short words of The kiss of Judas which means to betray someone. I think the reason of kiss his “father”. His father invents him, just like the Christ to man. He kisses his father and kills him just like Judas betrayed Christ and made the arrest of Jesus. In the other hand, the kiss reflects the relationship between the demiurge and the invention in an ironical way.
Hi guys: I find this website about Blade Runner : http://francesca.net/PlasticBody.html
It may worth reading. ^-^
Hi guys^-^
I find the film Blade Runner has lots of connection of Holly Bible!
I find the answer of this question: When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
Salome：the Daughter of Herodias, is known from the New Testament, where, however, her name is not given.in connection with the death of John the Baptist. Another source from Antiquity, Flavius Josephus' Jewish Antiquities, gives her name and some detail about her family relations.
Christian traditions depict her as an icon of dangerous female seductiveness, for instance depicting her dance mentioned in the New Testament (in some later transformations further iconize to the dance of the seven veils), or concentrate on her lighthearted and cold foolishness that, according to the gospels, led to John the Baptist's death. A new ramification was added by Oscar Wilde, who in his play Salome let her devolve into a necrophilia, killed the same day as the man whose death she had requested.( Wikipedia, 2008) Just my point of view. Do you guys have any idea of this?
Hi Shirley,
Did my comments sound like I liked the film? No, I HATE sci-fi movies!!
Anyway, I found the answer of question 2.
According to Wikipedia (2008), there are seven versions of Blade Runner.
First, original workprint version. This version was shown in March 1982 for the trial. This version was subsequently shown in 1990 and 1991, but the director disagreed about this show. The negative feedback on this trial show made the U.S. theatrical version modify.
Second, a San Diego Sneak Preview. This version was shown in May 1982, with three additional scenes.
Third, the U.S. theatrical version. This version was released on videos in 1983 and laserdiscs in 1987.
Fourth, the International Cut. This version was added some more violent scenes in the U.S. theatrical version and released on videos and laserdiscs in North America.
Fifth, the U.S. broadcast version. This version is the new version of the U.S. theatrical version, editing violence, profanity and nudity scenes.
Sixth, Director's Cut (with the director's approving). This version was released on videos and laserdiscs in 1993, and on DVDs in 1997. Deckard's voice-over and the studio-imposed happy ending were removed from the theatrical version, and added a unicorn sequence.
Last, Ridley Scott's Final Cut. This version was produced by Warner Bros. and shown in cinemas in 2007. Afterwards it was released on DVDs and videos.
Hi shirley and Hisako, I am not so sure if you guys have answered this question "Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes)".
"Bradbury" comes from Ray Bradbury who is SF author. Accordin to Wikipedia(2008) "Bradbury is widely considered one of the greatest and most popular American writers of speculative fiction during the twentieth century.
Bradbury was a reader and writer throughout his youth, spending much time in the Carnegie Library in Waukegan. He used this library as a setting for much of his novel Something Wicked This Way Comes". The Bradbury building and Warner Bros. become the most important location which later called "LA 2019 Street" for the tourist to visit Hollywood (Wikipedia, 2008). I think that Philip K. Dick may be influenced by Ray Bradbury in his SF novels, then he used Bradbury as the name for the building in the scene.
I think this week only 3 of us participate. Everyone else may take a break already. Shirley, I think SF film is not my type of movie.
What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie?
When I watched Blade Runner(1982) I do not feel that I appreaciate it at all. But after knowing all the clues I have different thoughts
Hisako and Shirley. Do you think these clues have changed your feelings towards the film?
Hi Jan,
As you said, I also don't change my attitude towards the film. But the clues made me interested in the film, although I still don't like sci-fi movies.
I think if I watch Blade Runner again, maybe it'll be more enjoyable.
Hi girls~
Sorry about so late to join you：）
First of all, I wanna say something about my feeling of the Blade Runner. In my opinion, this is a film that filling with much gloomy and repressive emotions. For one hand, human beings tried to destroy the “replicants” that were produced by them; for another hand, the “replicants” struggle for their rights to live and have other rights with human beings. So these facts make people to think back to their deed, whether to produce the “replicant” is correct or not.
Secondly, this film makes me to think about: what is life? And what is the real meaning of human beings’ life? Maybe such as these questions would be ignored by people at present, but these are facts, which worth to consider by human beings.
Do you agree with me?
Hi Jocelyn,
I beg to differ, because the story in sci-fi is almost always the same (aliens or replicants or whatever are always enemies of humans). But after answering these questions, my view of Blade Runner has changed. The story has ironic meanings, and it's not a simple story.
Have you read all of our answers? After reading, your thoughts also change perhaps..
Hi Hisako,
Thank you for giving me the suggestion of your thought about the film:) As you mentioned that the story is not a simple story, exactly, it was filled with ironic meanings.
Next, I’d like to answer the question 3.5 Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes).
In the film, J.F. Sebastian invited Pris in the Bradbury Building where he lives with his manufactured companions. And the architecture “Bradbury Building” gives me such a mysterious impression. According to wikipedia, “the Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark in Los Angeles, California, in the United States,” and “the magnificence of the building is the interior that you reach through the entrance with its low ceiling and minimal light that seems to hug your senses until you are welcomed with the flood of natural light and expanse within great center court.” So, I think the significance of Sebastian's apartment located in the Bradbury building is to indicate Sebastian’s manufactured companions were mysterious, and foreshow that the fight between Roy and Deckard would be hard in the building at the end of the film.
hi guys, sorry i'm late. I've heard about this movie for a while now but I've never got around to watching it until recently. Very impressive filmmaking, and definitely a film that rewards multiple viewings.
1. Wikipedia mentions that upon its original release in 1982, the film received mixed reviews, many trashing the film for its perceived poor pacing. The film did poorly in the box office but since then it has become a cult classic. In 1993, the Library of Congress selected Blade Runner for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 2007,the American Film Institute named it the 97th greatest American film of all time in the 10th Anniversary edition of its 100 years... 100 Movies list.
3. I agree with Jan, the film contains many references to the bible! The dance called Miss Salome and the Snake is a reference to Selome, the daughter of Herodias.
Another example of biblical references is the incident where Roy kisses Tyrell, which compares with the story in the bible where Judas kisses Jesus before betraying him. Roy is compared with Judas here
Hi Jason,
Glad to see your comments here:)
Just as you said that the film Blade Runner contains many references to the Bible. I like the film or TV play which is made containing some stories or literary quotations from the history or the actual occurrences. Because I think although the film or TV play is fictive, if the author can add some story from the actual world, the film or TV play will be more attractive and appreciative.
hey jocelyn,
Yup i agree that historical references in a movie can make it more interesting.
And judging from some of the responses here, like Hisako's, I assume you guys are not big fans of science fiction films. I actually prefer science fiction films compared to fantasy like Narnia etc. I like how some science fiction films try to be 'prophetic', giving us warnings of what can go 'wrong' in the world if cloning is allowed, if governments are given to much power etc.
Hi:guys
Honestly, I don't quite into these kind science fiction. I did watched in the class and I felt kind of that it's not my type. However, Japanese anime is more attractive, acceptable and interested to me.
I'm gonna continue with Question 2 which Hisako has already answered.I'm also gonna focus on the differences among all of the versions.According to Wikipedia (2008), no one can deny that there are seven different versions of Blade Runner, they are original work print version, a San Diego Sneak Preview, the U.S. theatrical version, the International Cut, the U.S. broadcast version.
Director's Cut and finally the Ridley Scott's Final Cut. As we can see that, compare with all these different versions. It's clear to see that the most differences among them which is the period of release. The oldest one was producted in 1982 and the lastest one which was producted in 2007. Therefore, prodution technology also can be considered as the factor of the differences. According to the Wikipedia (2008), it do compare with the final cut in 2007 and the director's cut in 1992.
The differences which including the colour timing has been noticeably altered to give the film a more greenish tint;All the violent scenes in the International Cut;After Batty releases the dove, it now flies up into a dark rainy sky instead of a blue sky;After Batty releases the dove, it now flies up into a dark rainy sky instead of a blue sky;Bryant adds a new line about Leon being able to lift 400 pound atomic loads all day and night. This is from the workprint; Smoke has been added behind the cook when he serves Deckard; As Deckard enters Bryant's office, Bryant's statement "I've got four skinjobs walking the streets" is no longer obviously a spliced-in re-recording; When Gaff and Deckard first appear at Leon's apartment, the landlord now says "Kowalski", another small bit originally from the workprint and so on.
Re: Jocelyn
I do agree with you that this movie can be considered extremely boring, gloomy and repressive emotions basing on the plot of the movie. As you guys commented that, this movie should be long tasted again when you finished watching and think deeply. And you will realize that it's not a simple science fiction about just Aliens or the other super natural. This movie can be considered as strongly ironic plotted and criticlelly constructed. The author want to show the darkness, ugly and negative side of the future world in 2019. The plot focuses on a brutal and cunning group of recently-escaped replicants hiding in Los Angeles and the semi-retired blade runner, Rick Deckard , who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment. Moreover,Despite appearing to be an action film, Blade Runner has many dramatic, narrative levels, greatly indebted to film noir conventions, such as the femme fatale, protagonist-narration , dark and shadowy cinematography, and the questionable moral outlook of the hero, extended to include his humanity
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