Experience Ridley Scott’s multi-Academy Award-nominated cult classic, Blade
Runner (2007 Final Cut), on a vast HD screen accompanied by The Avex Ensemble
performing Greek composer Vangelis’ original synthesiser led score in sync
with the film.
It has to be said that I have sadly seen too few trailers of late that differentiate themselves, elevate the game or mean anything. That doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't many good films on the way just that - I haven't seen many exciting trailers. But late last year I was bowled over by the trailer for Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups in fact the first five shots from the trailer had me absolutely stunned as his use of sound and visuals enthralled me.
First a little context as to how we got here may be in order Knight of Cups is the third in Malick's epical (in the true sense of the word) allegorical exploration - of modern man in the throes of existential angst as he comes to terms to modern life and moves down a path further from nature or Supernature and himself.
We have had Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn in The Tree of Life (2011) symbolically bridging the generational gap (from The Thin Red Line 1998) and heralding Malick's move into the modern era. Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams and Javier Bardem in To the Wonder (2012), Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale in Knight of Cups set for release this year followed up by his currently untitled project Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman Texas Music film.
Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups Film Poster
SYNOPSIS
Knight of Cups
A screenwriter living in LA tries to make sense of the strange events occurring around him.
Director: Terrence Malick Writers: Terrence Malick Stars: Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Imogen Poots
The former farmer turned M.I.T. philosophy professor, started in film as a writer for hire working on films like Don Siegel's Dirty Harry (rumour has it Malick's ideas became the plot for the sequel Magnum Force) and Jack Nicholson's Drive, He Said before writing the screenplays for the Paul Newman, Lee Marvin starrer Pocket Money and the Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland - Lady Ice around this point Malick decided that he would only work on projects he felt he could bring something to.
Which led to Malick independently making his seminal feature Badlands in 1973 starring Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen.
I am acutely aware that Malick has worked on 4 films in the last 5 years (not including his upcoming IMAX documentary - Voyage of Time), for a man that averaged a film every 5 years with a 20 year gap between his second film Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line, whilst Malick was seemingly went missing, more likely wandering, living and writing.
There were even reports that he might be dead, depressed, or just holed up in some back corner of the world.
The point here being I suspect that this prolific run may end at any time and Malick may disappear to ponder his next film, so sooner rather than later would be an appropriate time for me to explore the poetic genius of Terrence Malick or least try take a look at the the first five attention grabbing shots from the trailer of Knight of Cups and let my stream of consciousness freestyle as it scrapes the surface of Malicks works. Terrence Malick's films always have my curiosity, but after the first five shots, Knight of Cups has my attention.
To accompany your reading of this post I have embedded a playlist of tracks inspired by Terrence Malick's the Knight of Cups soundtrack. It is comprised of some of the tracks from the Extended Soundtrack of Knight of Cups, available alternate versions of some of the tracks as well as periphery music. More information on the Knight of Cups extended soundtrack can be found in the playlists description on YouTube.
Typically we focus on UK events but this one's a doozy and if any of our US readers get to go we're quite envious.
Bonhams & Butterfields’ prestigious Sunset Boulevard galleries in Los Angeles will play host to a panel discussion on April 15 centering around the cult classic film, Blade Runner.
Around 150 celebrities and industry power players are expected to attend the panel discussion, entitled “Blade Runner: Designing the Future.” The panel will dish on everything Blade Runner, from its environmental and social themes to the brilliant visual design that left audiences in 1982 reeling, and audiences today still just as appreciative of the classic science fiction film.
The Academy-award winning producer, Michael Deeley (The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell to Earth) will participate in the panel, along with legendary conceptual and industrial designer, Syd Mead (Star Trek, Aliens, 2010). Frances Anderton will moderate, and the Oscar-winning director of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott will attend, schedule permitting.
The event is to coincide with the opening of the auction preview for the 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, scheduled for April 20. Blade Runner fans will not want to miss out on this opportunity to pick up one-of-a-kind memorabilia from the iconic movie.
Featured auction highlights on preview include a signed promotional poster from the Blade Runner’s “Final Cut” release from the personal collection of Michael Deeley, a copy of a reissue of Philip K. Dick’s 1968 science fiction classic book on which Blade Runner is based, and a signed copy of Oblagon: Concepts of Syd Mead, 1985, which contains 17 pages of Mead’s art, created for Blade Runner from the designer’s personal library.
Blade Runner: Designing the Future Panel Discussion (US)
Where Bonhams 7601 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Ever since seeing the neon lite streets of Los Angeles circa 2019 via Blade Runner. I've wanted one of these bad boys. My need for one of these was increased when reading Bladezone.com (a Blade Runner fan site) and finding out that at the launch of the Blade Runner Final Cut 25th Anniversary Edition After Party. Guests were given a gift pack that included a Blade Runner branded LED umbrella.
Now via the miracle of the "future" and the Internet we can all own buy one for £17 ($24.99) from ThinkGeek.com . The umbrellas come Jedi Blue and Sith Red.
Early in the 21st Century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the Nexus phase - a being virtually identical to a human - known as a Replicant. They're all around you, even now. That guy next to you? He's a Replicant. How do we know? He's walking the streets in the rain with no umbrella. That, and he failed the Voight-Kampff.
In the pre-apocalyptic future, the air will be so thick, it will be dark in the middle of the day. Coupled with the almost constant rain, you'll need to find a way to stay dry, and light your way to the noodle shop down the street.
Even if you don't live in a quasi-futuristic Los Angeles, and aren't a Blade Runner, you can still have the coolest umbrella on the street. With a push of a button, the shaft lights up, illuminating you and your path. Now, even in the darkest of nights, you're a lot more visible to the cars on the street, making your long walk home through the rain a lot safer.
This week we have heard two pieces of Blade Runner news that may be related. Let's start with the most recent "flash".
A few weeks ago Henry Jenkins (a Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts as well as all round Convergence Culture player) sat down with with Steven Lisberger (director of the original Tron) to discuss Tron; its social relevance of, his experience of making Tron and how Tron: Legacy fits.
The discussion is currently made up of 9 clips, with more to come. In the first clip, in reference to people connecting with ground breaking Sci Fi from a certain period - Henry Jenkins says at around 4:22 :
“with the Scott Brothers returning to Blade Runner, with a new project right now which is roughly the same vintage.”
The full post and interview clips can be seen over here on Henry Jenkins website. It's insightful a well worth a browse.
We suspect that Jenkins is referring to "Purefold" a web series to be developed by Ag8, Ridley and Tony Scott’s RSA Films and Baby Cow Productions. The series was to consist of five- to 10-minute webisodes set shortly before 2019, when Blade Runner took place and aimed initially at the Web moving to television.
Which brings me to the second news flash this week , yesterday we were given the heads up that the Purefold project had been cancelled! You can read the full statement on the Ag8 website here.
We still live in hope of Blade Runner being revisited.
Update #1: 29 March After a bit of digging we found a video presentation from Ag8 that pitches/explains Purefold, the people involved and touches on how it is related to Blade Runner. Wow! It really was an ambitious project that seems a little ahead of its time. I'm hoping that it's reincarnated at some point.
The Prop Store of London (http://www.propstore.com/), one of the world's leading vendors of movie props and costumes as memorabilia). Has two awesome items of cinematic history for sale.
Two pieces of the futuristic skyline used in Ridley Scott's masterpiece Blade Runner.
This highly detailed brass section was used along with other similar pieces of varying sizes on a table top set to form a forced perspective miniature for the opening scene of the movie.
Video: Blade Runner - Opening Titles
Each panel was laid out to give a multi layered effect and had a fibre optic light glued to the back. They were saved after filming by Mark Stetson's crew and have been in storage ever since. The section has been custom framed with laser cut mount board featuring the film’s title and stills from the movie. The display also has three LED's built in which help silhouette the "building" perfectly.
The lights are activated by a small concealed switch on the inside of the frame. The overall display measures 49.5cm x 43cm (19.5" x 17"). The skyline image along with Vangelis' haunting music is perhaps the most memorable scene in the movie and one of the great movie openings of all time.
As part of the BFI's Blade Runner Day which includes special screenings and events relating to the BFI's 75th anniversary poll.The BFI welcome one of Britain's most celebrated directors to the BFI Southbank stage.
The Times film critic James Christopher's description of Blade Runner as 'magnificent cinema... a big and broody sci-fi thriller that is impossible to swallow in one gulp' - in response to the question 'Which film would you want to share with future generations and why?' - helped to win the film first place in the BFI's 75th anniversary poll. As the highlight of our day-long celebration of the film, we are thrilled to be able to welcome one of Britain's most celebrated directors - Sir Ridley Scott - to the BFI Southbank stage.
Director of films such as Thelma & Louise and Gladiator, his career famously began in advertising alongside other future film-makers such as Sir Alan Parker. This led to his debut feature film The Duellists (1977), which won him a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, while he received universal acclaim two years later with Alien, another classic in the sci-fi genre. The BFI look forward to welcoming him to discuss the legacy of Blade Runner and his career so far.
The BFI welcome Sir Ridley Scott to BFI Southbank for an on-stage interview to discuss the legacy of Blade Runner and his career so far.
Ridley Scott's 1982 classic defined the neo-noir genre, and this recently released Final Cut remains a visually stunning and highly influential film. Harrison Ford is exemplary as the world-weary detective searching for replicants amidst a neon-lit, rain splattered, darkly gothic Los Angeles of the future.
An in-depth examination of one of the most iconic sci-fi films of all time – written and presented by Mark Kermode, and featuring interviews with Rutger Hauer, Ridley Scott and Daryl Hannah among others – this provides a fascinating insight into the film’s production and is famed for finally settling the fierce debate that surrounded the plot twist for almost 20 years. Following the screening we host a panel discussion with special guests, including the producer of Blade Runner, Michael Deeley, and writers Will Brooker and Paul M Sammon.
On the Edge of Blade Runner + Panel Discussion
Saturday March 21, 2009 at 1:50pm
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
London,
SE1 8XT
The BFI are delighted to welcome Rutger Hauer, who brought a rare intensity to his iconic performance as lead replicant Roy Batty, to the BFI Southbank stage following this screening.
Ridley Scott's 1982 classic defined the neo-noir genre, and this recently released Final Cut remains a visually stunning and highly influential film. Harrison Ford is exemplary as the world-weary detective searching for replicants amidst a neon-lit, rain splattered, darkly gothic Los Angeles of the future.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut + Q&A with Rutger Hauer
Saturday March 21, 2009 at 5:00pm BFI Southbank Belvedere Road London, England SE1 8XT
The producer of Blade Runner and The Italian Job joins us in conversation.
Tue 30 Sep 20:30 NFT1
We are delighted to welcome producer Michael Deeley to BFI Southbank to celebrate the release of his book Blade Runners, Deer Hunters & Blowing the Bloody Doors Off - My Life In Cult Movies. An Oscar winner for his production of The Deer Hunter, Michael Deeley's other credits include The Italian Job, Nicolas Roeg's visionary The Man Who Fell To Earth, starring David Bowie, and Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
Please join us for what is sure to be an absolutely fascinating and entertaining evening. The interview will be followed by a book-signing in the BFI Filmstore.
In an effort to continue the exploration of Blade Runner media my final post covers Blade Runner literature. The film spawned 2 book sequels which continue the adventures of Rick Deckard.
Blade Runner, by Philip K. Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a book that most people think they remember and almost always get more or less wrong. Ridley Scott's film Blade Runner took a lot from it, and threw a lot away. Wonderful in itself, the film is a flash thriller, whereas Dick's novel is a sober meditation. As we all know, bounty hunter Rick Deckard is stalking a group of androids who have returned from space with short life spans and murder on their minds--where Scott's Deckard was Harrison Ford, Dick's is a financially strapped municipal employee with bills to pay and a depressed wife. In a world where most animals have died, and pet keeping is a social duty, he can only afford a robot imitation, unless he gets a big financial break. - Amazon.com
Blade Runner 2 : The Edge of Human, by K.W. Jeter The book continues the story of Rick Deckard. Beginning several months after the end of Blade Runner, the author attempts to resolve many of the differences between the movie and the novel. He also addresses at least one inconsistency to be found in the movie itself -- the question of the sixth replicant. Is Deckard a replicant after all?
The book is, however, extremely poorly researched, showing little indication that Jeter had read more than a synopsis of Dick's original novel or seen the movie more than once. He includes appearances from both JF Sebastian and JR Isidore despite Sebastian and Isidore being the same person (the character was renamed for the movie and given a different disorder, but he serves precisely the same function in the plot of each). This alone would be sloppy enough, but to make matters worse both Sebastian and Isidore were killed in the movie and book respectively. - wikepedia
Blade Runner 3 - Replicant Night, by K.W. Jeter Is it real or is it a replicant? Nothing is what it seems in Jeter's second sequel to Ridley Scott's classic SF film, Blade Runner, itself based on Philip K. Dick's classic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Here, Jeter casts doubt on the identity of just about every character who appeared in either the film or the previous sequel, The Edge of Human (1995). The action opens in the orbital studio Outer Hollywood, where a video is being made of Rick Deckard's original pursuit of the rogue replicants, with Deckard acting as technical advisor. After both a replicant and Deckard's former partner are murdered, Deckard storms off the set to head back to Mars, where he lives in squalor with Sarah Tyrell, former heir to the defunct Tyrell company, the original creators of all replicants. Sarah, however, out of her mind with bitterness and boredom, plans to murder Deckard upon his return. Fortunately for Deckard, she is whisked back to Earth by two disciples of her dead uncle, the evil genius Eldon Tyrell. There, she is convinced to reenter the time-warping derelict starship on which she was born, in search of information about her past. If this sounds confusing, it is. Reality could not be trusted in either Scott's film or the Dick novel, and matters have gotten only more complex since Jeter took over the franchise.
Readers unfamiliar with the story's previous incarnations will have a hard time figuring out many twists and turns, suddenly revealed secrets and cameo appearances by characters who died in earlier instalments of the series. - Publishers Weekly
Blade Runner IV, Eye and Talon, by K.W. Jeter Fully authorised by the estate of Philip K. Dick and written by the author they felt best equipped to take forward the vision of one of the great what's going on here. Blade Runner aficionados, however, will enjoy the names in SF, BLADE RUNNER 4: BEYOND ORION combines the dark imagery, paranoia, tension and pace of Dick's original novel and the cinematic genius of Ridley Scott in a novel that takes the Blade Runner series into a new millennium. Blade Runner has become one of the most recognisable and well loved brands in SF and K.W. Jeter has only added to its reputation and impact.
In my last post I discussed the visual history of Blade Runner I thought I would follow up with an exploration of one of the most loved film soundtracks.
The film had a checked history and the sound track was not spared controversy either. Delays in bringing out an official soundtrack brought on a spate of bootleg versions. Naturally having such a tech based fan base the bootlegs and variations continued after the official soundtrack release. Which was deemed to be unsatisfactory by many.
1982 - The first official release was a reinterpretation by the New American Orchestra. Billed as an "orchestral adaptation of music composed for the motion picture by Vangelis" this release consisted of jazz-inspired, orchestrated renditions of the major tracks from the film, but not the original score tracks.
1989 - The Vangelis "Themes" Collection LP was released. This compilation featured compositions from a variety of Vangelis film scores, including three tracks from Blade Runner.
1994 - Vangelis released the Official Blade Runner Soundtrack for the first time. Vangelis' notes accompanying the album say:
"Most of the music contained in this album originates from recordings I made in London in 1982, whilst working on the score for the film BLADE RUNNER. Finding myself unable to release these recordings at the time, it is with great pleasure that I am able to do so now. Some of the pieces contained will be known to you from the Original Soundtrack of the film, whilst others are appearing here for the first time. Looking back at RIDLEY SCOTT's powerful and evocative pictures left me as stimulated as before, and made the recompiling of this music, today, an enjoyable experience." - VANGELIS Athens, April 19941982 - Bootleg studio tape 1993 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Blade Runner (Off World Music) 1994 - Gongo Records Bootleg (The Gongo release is considered the best presentation of the music) 2003 - Esper Edition double disc 2003 - Los Angeles - November 2019
BOND 23 SKYFALL ON HANKLEY COMMON, SURREY
James Bond themes you probably haven't heard before
James Bond Thunderball Villain Emilio Largo’s Palmyra Estate Film Location - VISIT BAHAMAS
On our radar: Countdown to DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA release
Writer Director Richard Kelly Discusses Making Donnie Darko
Cineworld IMAX Dune Screening and Live QA with director Denis Villeneuve, Nov 22
We look at the similarities between Skyfall & Christopher Nolan films are they a slap down or an invitation to direct 007? SPOILERS DON'T READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN SKYFALL! - ANALYSIS
It has to be said that I have sadly seen too few trailers of late that differentiate themselves, elevate the game or mean anything. That doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't many good films on the way just that - I haven't seen many exciting trailers. But late last year I was bowled over by the trailer for Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups in fact the first five shots from the trailer had me absolutely stunned as his use of sound and visuals enthralled me.
Typically we focus on UK events but this one's a doozy and if any of our US readers get to go we're quite envious.
Ever since seeing the neon lite streets of Los Angeles circa 2019 via Blade Runner. I've wanted one of these bad boys. My need for one of these was increased when reading Bladezone.com (a Blade Runner fan site) and finding out that at the launch of the Blade Runner Final Cut 25th Anniversary Edition After Party. Guests were given a gift pack that included a Blade Runner branded LED umbrella.
This week we have heard two pieces of Blade Runner news that may be related. Let's start with the most recent "flash".
and this recently released Final Cut remains a visually stunning and highly influential film. Harrison Ford is exemplary as the world-weary detective searching for replicants amidst a neon-lit, rain splattered, darkly gothic Los Angeles of the future.
Ridley Scott's 1982 classic defined the neo-noir genre, and this recently released Final Cut remains a visually stunning and highly influential film. Harrison Ford is exemplary as the world-weary detective searching for replicants amidst a neon-lit, rain splattered, darkly gothic Los Angeles of the future.
and the novel. He also addresses at least one inconsistency to be found in the movie itself -- the question of the sixth replicant. Is Deckard a replicant after all?
classic SF film, Blade Runner, itself based on Philip K. Dick's classic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Here, Jeter casts doubt on the identity of just about every character who appeared in either the film or the previous sequel, The Edge of Human (1995). The action opens in the orbital studio Outer Hollywood, where a video is being made of Rick Deckard's original pursuit of the rogue replicants, with Deckard acting as technical advisor. After both a replicant and Deckard's former partner are murdered, Deckard storms off the set to head back to Mars, where he lives in squalor with Sarah Tyrell, former heir to the defunct Tyrell company, the original creators of all replicants. Sarah, however, out of her mind with bitterness and boredom, plans to murder Deckard upon his return. Fortunately for Deckard, she is whisked back to Earth by two disciples of her dead uncle, the evil genius Eldon Tyrell. There, she is convinced to reenter the time-warping derelict starship on which she was born, in search of information about her past. If this sounds confusing, it is. Reality could not be trusted in either Scott's film or the Dick novel, and matters have gotten only more complex since Jeter took over the franchise.
The film had a checked history and the sound track was not spared controversy either. Delays in bringing out an official soundtrack brought on a spate of bootleg versions. Naturally having such a tech based fan base the bootlegs and variations continued after the official 
soundtrack release. Which was deemed to be unsatisfactory by many.
Collection LP was released. This compilation featured compositions from a variety of Vangelis film scores, including three tracks from Blade Runner.
l Soundtrack of the film, whilst others are appearing here for the first time. Looking back at RIDLEY SCOTT's powerful and evocative pictures left me as stimulated as before, and made the recompiling of this music, today, an enjoyable experience." - VANGELIS Athens, April 19941982 - Bootleg studio tape
