Halb Mensch. Halb Ding.
Blessings of the state. Blessings of the masses.
THX 1138 is certainly not the most accessible film of all time, but for my money it remains not only timeless, but both engrossing and devastating. It’s as uncompromising in its portrayal of a fundamentally alien society as it is in ignoring and avoiding traditional narrative structures and science fiction tropes.
A story that Blade Runner 2 was being worked on by two screenwriters from DJ Caruso’s Eagle Eye floated recently. It was unclear just how official this project was, and how serious it should be taken. Was it the hopes of this screenwriter, or was it actually in pre-production already?
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, here is the trailer for the final cut of Blade Runner, coming out in October. Warner Brothers, in their infinite wisdom, apparently don’t quite understand the concept of a trailer, and have decided to do their best to deny people access to it. Go figure.
Not bad, a bit jarring with the ‘hey, we can do After Effects text animation’ stuff going on. I’m still not convinced it needs new footage injected, but then I’m naturally skeptic when it comes to Blade Runner.
PS: The music in there is Death is the Road to Awe from The Fountain, by Clint Mansell, and it is the most heartbreaking, tear-wrenching, uplifting, spiritual piece of score in ages.
That said, one has to wonder why you would use someone else’s score for your trailer, when Vangelis’ Blade Runner score is one of the best and original scores ever written? Especially considering how over-used Requiem for a Dream’s score has been in trailers since The Two Towers first hit; and while I love this, there is some semblance. Has Clint Mansell become the grand-choir-track of today?
Happy 25th anniversary Blade Runner. You remain unsurpassed.
And for all of you out there at your radio sets, I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of Future Noir.
It would seem that details about the Blade Runner Ultimate Collection DVD have leaked online, and it sounds… pretty good. Pretty good indeed. I’m copying the specs whole-sale, since the details have since vanished from Australian retailer EzyDVD.
Continue reading ‘Details on Blade Runner: The Ultimate Collection’
Blade Runner is possibly the best movie ever made. Period. Rikke and I were recently lucky enough to catch a theater showing of the Director’s Cut in Cinemateket, which was pure pleasure, even the parts I slept though… Ehm… It was late, okay?:”(Cinemateket is having a large showing of Roger Corman movies in June, in case you like me enjoy yourself a bit of movie history, like Death Race 2000)”:.
The reason I’m mentioning this, is that after literally years of waiting, rumors going this way and that, the Blade Runner Final Cut DVD has finally found its way out of the legal hellhole it’s been living in, and is making its way to stores in September 2007! But that’s not all:
“Blade Runner: Final Cut” will arrive in 2007 for a limited 25th anniversary theatrical run, followed by a special edition DVD with the three previous versions offered as alternate viewing: Besides the original theatrical version and director’s cut, the expanded international theatrical cut will be included. The set will also contain additional bonus materials. “#”:http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14724
This is great news indeed! Finally this, one of the very cornerstones of modern cinema, will gets its due. It breaks my heart to see movies like Pearl Harbor get the full treatment while Blade Runner and 2001 are allowed to be released in sub-par DVD versions that don’t do them proper justice.
By the way, if one was so inclined, one might be able to procure a HD version of Blade Runner off of UseNet. Just sayin’.