I don't think I've ever actually watched Blade Runner in it's entirety. Perhaps I'll check out the original, then the more recent.
What a day. Job gave today and Monday as holidays, so I was pretty free and relaxed and did what I used to be able to do a lot more....watch films.
Blade Runner (1982) - actually watched Blade Runner: Final Cut (2007)
The 'Final Cut' is the version Ridley Scott wanted to make but couldn't. The Director's Cut was an attempt at that but not directly remade by Scott, so, not exactly the Director's Cut. Still, the meat is what was filmed in 1982 and while there was some remastering done, it appears primarily as that dark and gritty 1982 film folks speak of with a cult following. I'm ashamed to have waited decades later, because my mind has been filled with years of movies spawned from this original. Having grown up in the 80's, I can appreciate how cutting edge this would have come across. If I'd have watched it back then I could appreciate all the years that followed oh, so much more. I didn't. My loss. Loved this, though, getting to watch the whole thing through on a widescreen. I loved the commercial placement of brands, and laughed at all the failures of those companies...something the trivia confirmed for me when I read it after the film. I liked all the future infrastructure, how much predicted the future, and how much was oh, so wrong. Payphones? Ha! A call for $1.25? Ha! Scott did a great job in making this, the eye candy alone was worth it and set a standard for others to follow. The 80's had a lot of sci-fi films, but I can see how this one is the template for a lot of what I watched in subsequent decades. Actors were all on point, even Rutger Hauer as our prime villain and his always 'just off' acting ability. The story was great, especially at the time when computers and AI were starting to bud, and questions over what that means were abound. If I could get myself to reading again, I would read the book upon which this was based. Being very much a fan of film, this will suffice for now. I do very much regret not seeing this earlier, but damn, what I solid film in so many ways. 9/10.
Because I still had time....
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Hoo Boy! I can see how some may not like this as much, it may not live up to the mystique and statement making level of the original when it was released. But, watching both for my first time, doing so back to back, it def flowed well enough and built upon the original without milking a franchise. It can likely stand well enough on it's own, but back to back was very well executed for my afternoon. I really got into the story a lot more, still had similar dark and bleak futuristic visuals, carried a lot of the same themes, but built it's own storyline that Ryan G pulled off very well. Jumping a generation forward, with replicants being redesigned, relaunched, and following along on Ryan's exploration of the mystery, of himself, and being pulled hard when he makes a self-realization, that is then twisted for the third act. I thought all of it was very well done. Enjoyable story, more female nudity (always good in my book), strong visuals, solid acting, but above all...and enjoyable story. 8.5/10.