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ON THE SHELF: Blade Runner (1982)
01/03/2009 ’On the Shelf’ is a new series for the film section of Athens Exchange that focuses on movies and television shows from my own private collection. While some of the titles will be relatively new, the majority of those chosen come from earlier periods of time. Hopefully it will introduce you to titles you’d like to see, or remind you of those you’ve already seen but haven’t viewed in a long time. Enjoy. Take into account the story, the performances, the music and the visual imagery, and it’s hard to believe that when it debuted in theaters, Ridley Scott’s futuristic masterpiece wasn’t worshipped in its heyday. Just 3 years after leaving a lasting impression on the sci-fi genre with Alien, Scott followed up with a film that, in retrospect, many credit as his best work to date (and I might have to agree with them). You’ve got Harrison Ford at his most brooding, Daryl Hannah at her most flexible, and Rutger Hauer at his weirdest. Not to mention that Sean Young makes the idea of sleeping with a potential robot seem very appealing. What’s not to love? Sure, the ending (depending on which version you’re most familiar with) can be a little hard to wrap your head around, but ambiguity isn’t exactly a new thing for science fiction. And if a certain ending does rub you the wrong way, that’s the beauty of the Four-Disc Collector’s Edition. You’ve got Scott’s final cut, in addition to three other versions: the U.S. theatrical cut, the international theatrical cut and the director’s cut. From where I’m sitting, it’s between the final cut and the director’s cut that represent the best version of the film. And while the ending for both may not wrap everything up in a neat little bow, it doesn’t utilize the somewhat awkward voiceover narration of the original theatrical cut. The absolute best thing about the set, though, has to be Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, a feature that’s also included on the 2-Disc Final Cut DVD. Ever switch to the making-of section for other movies you have, and they prove to be no more than 10-minute featurettes that don’t really add anything or pull you in? Well, prepared to be overwhelmed with this engaging, multi-layered documentary, one that spans over 3½ hours and is filled with loads of fascinating tidbits. Such topics of discussion are the apparent tension that existed between Ridley and the crew, the negative impact earlier works Star Wars and E.T. had on the film, and the first set of choices for the role of Deckard, neither of which is a name I would have even thought was a consideration. It’s not just a great making-of for this film in particular. It may be the best behind-the-scenes feature I’ve seen for anything. Without a doubt, this is a film any movie buff should have in their collection. I’d suggest saving and spending that extra $10 on the Four-Disc Collector’s Edition, though Amazon.com has it on sale now for a ridiculous $15.49. If you don’t have it yet, take advantage of any deal you can get. If you have it already, don’t let the dust settle on the slick packaging. It’s too bad the ’82 audience didn’t notice a classic when they saw one, but then again, who does? Comments [post a comment]Comments are closed |
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Friday, March 12, 2010
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Blade Runner Harrison Ford Ridley Scott Science Fiction Film Movie Cinema Review