'Blade Runner' at 40: Esquire Magazine feature.

[Dirty Epic]

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With Blade Runner coming up to 40 years to it's original release date I saw a good article in it and it's influence on film in the 40 years since in Esquire magazine.

www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a40351034/blade-runner-at-40/

Whether you like the film or not you can't deny the original was visually stunning and was arguably one of the best pieces of work to come from Ridley Scott - who has many others you can cite too.

Add to this a brilliant score from late Vangellis which has influenced and been sampled in countless electronic music styles since... 

It's long awaited sequel Blade Runner 2049 wasn't bad but I felt wasn't really in the same league as the original for how visionary it looked and felt in the early '80's it kind of didn't really add anything to what the original had done or done better for me.

I saw it at the BFI around a decade ago maybe for a 30th anniversary thing, a event or a cinema re-release for it's 40th would be a nice idea. Whether you like sci-fi or the film's feel in general it's simply one of those 'must see's' and it allowed Harrison Ford to totally throw off his Star Wars/Han Solo skin as Deckard  who is and looks a total polar opposite! 

I'll have to give it a watch again some time very soon!

[Deleted]

Absolutely brilliant film DE, and remember it like yesterday when it came out and me and my mate mate got the video from the local video shop. Vangelis’s trademark soundtrack was perfect and definitely made and suited the film, just like it did with Chariots of Fire. There’s been a few different cuts of Blade runner, but for me my ultimate fave will always be the version with Harrison Fords voice over narration, he has the perfect style and voice for this and to me it just makes the film much more better and exciting in every way. I know though a lot of people will disagree on this.. I think the best bit with this version of the film, is at the end, where instead of it finishing where Decker and Rachel get in the lift after finding the little paper unicorn that Gap left behind, it then goes on to show picturesque Ariel shots of mountains whilst showing Decker and Rachel driving. I love this! because it depicts a happy ending, they finally made it on the other side and that, more importantly they was no expiration date for Rachel. I think the reason this version came about was because the viewers were disappointed in the US with the abrupt ending of the other version. Also It’s interesting to note that, I think due to lack of funds and time etc, the arial shots at the end were clips/scenes taken from the film The Shining..

GC

[Lord Emsworth]

One of the all time greats

Love it, in all its incarnations

Blade Runner 2049 is well worth a watch too - a worthy and equally impressive sequel

[Del Boy]

This is a big movie that has escaped me over the years. Will have to give it a go as it sounds good.

[Lord Emsworth]

Jul 26, 2022 8:54:25 GMT Del Boy said:

This is a big movie that has escaped me over the years. Will have to give it a go as it sounds good.

You're in for a treat

Amazed you've escaped it all these decades Del

[Del Boy]

I don't know how I've not had time for this over the years. I'm sure everybody has a few holes in their viewing. However It is a good thing to have some classic stuff to see for the first time. I believe Blade Runner gets the odd showing on the big screen. The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square shows it now and then.

[Cartman]

I have seen it, my wife likes it, TBH, it wasn't really my bag, but I appreciate the inventiveness and quality of the film

[Dirty Epic]

As said I think when it came out in Autumn '82 it had a lukewarm reception probably due to it being a bit ahead of its time and something unexpected.

I tapped the original '82 cinema cut off Granada"s 'Night Time' segment in '88 and was hooked from then on certainly it was a great film to watch after a night out when it's all a little dark and moody too.

There are loads of its fans who do over obsess on it but for me it's one of the best films of it's gerne and a lot of things in it are to some extent now having some relevance now we're in and just passed the time it was set in too.

2049 sequel isn't bad but not necessarily needed, drags on a bit and doesn't really add or move on anything the original didn't do better for me.

Might have to catch one of those Prince Charles showings Del certainly enjoyed it in a cinema environment at the BFI a decade or so ago.

[Three Litre]

Yeah, Dark and Moody sums it up.

Very stylish and a lot written about it since it came out, debating the various endings and the voiceover.

I like it, not that struck with the recent sequel.

[Dirty Epic]

Jul 29, 2022 19:19:44 GMT Three Litre said:

Yeah, Dark and Moody sums it up.

Very stylish and a lot written about it since it came out, debating the various endings and the voiceover.

I like it, not that struck with the recent sequel.

BIB yeah sort of that opinion too 3L

Sequel isn't bad but just doesn't really go anywhere or add anything to this for me.