Films & Architecture: "Blade Runner" (VIDEO)

By Daniel Portilla
Click here for the original article.

Following with the films we will recommend every week, this time we want to introduce “Blade Runner”. Another classic from the ’80 that shows a future Los Angeles with an atmosphere that intents to shape the urban space within which we will move in the current century. The soundtrack, composed by Vangelis deserves to be mentioned as it plays a fundamental role in the comprehension of this futuristic American city.

More info after the break.

MAIN INFO

Original Title: Blade Runner
Year: 1982
Runtime: 117 min.
Country: United States
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Hampton Fancher, David Peoples y Roland Kibbee
Soundtrack: Vangelis
Photography Director: Jordan Cronenweth
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah

PLOT

In Los Angeles 2019, humans have genetically engineered Replicants, which are essentially humans who are designed for labor and entertainment purposes. They are illegal on earth, and if they make it to our planet they are to be hunted down and killed.

Rick Deckard is a “blade runner”, or a hunter of replicants. A group of replicants make it to Los Angeles to seek out a way to extend their life span. Sent to the Tyrell Corporation to ensure that the test works on Nexus-6 models, Deckard discovers that Tyrell’s assistant Rachael is an experimental replicant who believes herself to be human; Rachael’s consciousness has been enhanced with false memories to provide an “emotional cushion”. As a result, a more extensive test is required to determine if she is a replicant. Replicants have a built in 4 year life span, and this group is at the end. Although he hunts them to the end, the replicants end up teaching the detached Deckard what it really means to be human.

TRAILER

ADDITIONAL INFO

The former designer for Ford Motor Company, as well as “futurist consultant” for companies like Sony or Chrysler, Syd Mead is responsable for the development of these futuristic ideas. Specifically for the film he worked close to Ridley Scott designing the environment for the movie, and his drawings of the “spinners” (flying cars) shaped the 25 models utilized on the movie.

Comments

[sherlockhemlock]

06:44 AM on 05/22/2012

Syd Mead's design style has a very retro feel--think 60s spy film/television sets--or at least that's how I think it's best to describe it today; but he's been mining that vein--clean lines with unexpected and even audacious curves, plastic plastic and chrome. Blade Runner's entire look is basically this--liberally doused with soot and slime.

[hhl482]

07:26 PM on 05/21/2012

Back in the early 80s my Uncle Kendall worked security at a hotel in downtown St. Louis. He sneaked my cousin and me into an empty room to enjoy the wonders of cable T.V., which wasn't generally available and I saw BR for the first time. What a movie - it was Raymond Chandler's LA, one hundred years on and a career highlight for 2 of my favorite actors, Edward Olmos and Rutger Hauer. You can have S-Wars and Indiana Jones - this was H Ford's best, and certainly Daryl Hannah's. Since than I've seen it several more times, a couple of different versions, and it's actually held up - I loved it when I was 14, and again 15 years later. This, IMO, is a case of a movie surpassing the book it was based on, P Dick's overrated "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", which I couldn't finish.
Now that I think about it, I think it may be time to watch it again.

[Dolphinfan65]

07:10 PM on 05/21/2012

I have seen,blade runner at least 10 tens and I find something new, every time, a simple story, told very well!!!! what a classic.

[Sandra Stipp]

03:27 PM on 05/21/2012

Blade Runner....one of the best movies every made.

[SeanMartin]

02:35 PM on 05/21/2012

Mead is an amazing conceptualist, and Blade Runner is arguably his masterpiece.

And we only have seven more years, guys! Where's my replicant?? And my flying car!!

[sherlockhemlock]

06:37 AM on 05/22/2012

I'm still waiting for the jetpack and the moonbase . . . .

[CSKAP]

11:29 AM on 05/21/2012

A true classic!
One of my favorites SF movies ever!