Some questions on Blade Runner to replace those in the Critical Reader for Weeks 6-7!!
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
3. Blade Runner is a highly complex movie has been described as a 'palimpsest' of clues and layers that rewards repeated viewing.
In particular, it is full of visual and written clues and references (often ironic) that help us in 'reading' it, but they are easy to miss. Here are some references that you can Google. Follow the clues:
- Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony). What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia)
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
- Not long after Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment (after he kisses Priss and before he plays chess), he toys with the broken-half of a Barbie doll. In what way might this be allegorical?
- In the climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
- Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes).
- Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale).
4. What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie?
The following quotation is from Wikipedia, although 2 and 5 have not introduced to Japan and it is said that there are only five different versions.
Seven different versions of Blade Runner exist:
1. Original workprint version (1982, 113 minutes) shown to audience test previews in Denver and Dallas in March 1982. It was also seen in 1990 and 1991 in Los Angeles and San Francisco as a Director's Cut without Scott's approval. Negative responses to the test previews led to the modifications resulting in the U.S. theatrical version,[94] while positive response to the showings in 1990 and 1991 pushed the studio to approve work on an official director's cut.[95] It was re-released with 5-disc Ultimate Edition in 2007.
2. A San Diego Sneak Preview shown only once in May 1982, which was almost identical to the Domestic Cut with three extra scenes.[96]
3. The U.S. theatrical version (1982, 116 minutes), known as the original version or Domestic Cut, released on VHS in 1983 and laserdisc in 1987.
4. The International Cut (1982, 117 minutes) also known as the "Criterion Edition" or uncut version, included more violent action scenes than the U.S. theatrical version. Although initially unavailable in the U.S. and distributed in Europe and Asia via theatrical and local Warner Home Video laserdisc releases, it was later released on VHS and Criterion Collection laserdisc in North America, and re-released in 1992 as a "10th Anniversary Edition".[97]
5. The U.S. broadcast version (1986, 114 minutes), the U.S. theatrical version edited for violence, profanity and nudity by CBS to meet broadcast restrictions.[98]
6. The Ridley Scott-approved (1992, 116 minutes) Director's Cut; prompted by the unauthorized 1990–1 workprint theatrical release and made available on VHS and laserdisc in 1993, and on DVD in 1997. Significant changes from the theatrical version include: removal of Deckard's voice-over, re-insertion of a unicorn sequence and removal of the studio-imposed happy ending.
7. Ridley Scott's Final Cut (2007, 117 minutes), or the "25th Anniversary Edition," released by Warner Bros. theatrically on October 5, 2007 and subsequently released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray in December 2007 (U.K. December 3; U.S. December 18).[10] This is the only version over which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control; the Director's Cut was rushed and he was not directly involved. In conjunction with the Final Cut, extensive documentary and other materials were produced for the home video releases culminating in a five-disc "Ultimate Collector's Edition" release by Charles de Lauzirika.[9]
If I try to mention American situation at that time, it will be the quote from Wikipedia, again. Therefore I introduce the situation in the case of Japan at that time.
It is usually analyzed that the movie confused the audience because of the difference plot from other SF movies that have a lucid unfolding of the plot. Additionally, there was the release of “ET”, which has had a high popularity, at the same time in Japan. Therefore, “Blade Runner” might not gain the popularity at that time, and cut off the term of showing.
Of course, there are also lots of maniac fans of the movie in Japan nowadays, and then, I do not hear the critical comments about it.
Hi kimiko I hope you are good and have a nice holiday. About question 2, I have to say that as you mentioned, there are 7 versions according to Wikipedia. I can not to add anything. About question 4, I’d like to say that the genre of the film “Blade Runner” is science-fiction/ fantasy. Also it is the movie which wants to show the distinction between humans and machines, or replicants is blamed. The replicants like all advances in science were built for the good of humanity. They were designed to work in off world colonies as slaves to do the jobs no human would want to. “The replicants look identical to regular humans, however, they are faster, strangler, and more agile. The film was take place in Los Angeles in the year 2019” (www.123helpme.com).). In addition,I want to say that I do not like fantasy film at all.
Sorry for the late comment as I was so busy doing some of the works for other papers. However, I have got a chance to comment now.
Thank you much for starting our discussion this week. I'm so happy to see some interesting facts about this movie, as this is the first time I watched it (in class) before the holiday).
In fact, I don't get all the answers of these questions from the movie, so I am still having some research on it to answer some of them.
Therefore, don't worry, I'll be back soon. Catch you later!
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
Hi kimiko- In question two, you have clearly explained the versions of Blade Runner and I also agree with you, as I have found out from my research that there are seven versions as you mentioned.
The first is the 'workprint version' shown in Denver and Dallas in March 1982.
The second is the 'San Diego sneak preview' which was only shown once in May 1982.
The third is the 'U.S theatrical version' released in 1983 on VHS.
The 'International Cut' is the fourth version of Blade Runner also known as the Criterion edition released also in 1982.
The fifth verion is the 'U.S broadcast' realesed in 1986.
The sixth version is the 'director's cut' which is Ridley Scott's version to Blade Runner.
The last version is the 'Final Cut' which was released in 2007 and is the re-make of the "director's cut" by Ridley Scott.
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
Blade Runner initially polarized critics: some were displeased with the pacing, while others enjoyed its thematic complexity.
The film performed poorly in North American theaters. Despite the box office failure of the film, it has since become a cult classic.
Blade Runner has been hailed for its production design, depicting a "retrofitted" future. The film is credited with prefiguring important concerns of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, such as overpopulation, globalization, climate change and genetic engineering.It remains a leading example of the neo-noir genre.
Blade Runner brought author Philip K. Dick to the attention of Hollywood, and several more films have since been based on his work.
Ridley Scott regards Blade Runner as "probably" his most complete and personal film. In 1993, Blade Runner was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In 2007, the American Film Institute named it the 97th greatest American film of all time in the 10th Anniversary edition of its 100 years... 100 Movies list.
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
Because I like reading the bible, I think I have a short knowledge to answer the above question.
I think Miss Salome and the snake, a dance which was performed by Zhora refers to Salome, who is the daughter of Herodias in the bible. N.B: Herodias was the wife of Philip, who was Herods brother, but Herod took Herodias, and committed adultery.
However, this lady Salome had a dance in front of Herod, and as she danced, Herod responded "ask of me whatsoever thy wilt, and I will give it thee" (St.Mark 6:22)
She then talked to her mum, Herodias and she returned asking for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.
According to the bible, that was how John the Baptist died.(Wikipedia, 2008)
Hi Poe and Kimiko I am trying to explain the emotional feelings of the replicants in the movie. According to my understanding, replicants an unhuman sometimes showed more emotional feelings than a human like Deckard in the film. In fact, replicants do not have to have or show any emotions, but in the film we watched that they sometimes had humanistic and believable characters. Some of them were able to feel love as well as hate. If we compare the Deckard as a human he shows less emotion than Roy as a replicant. He seems heartless and his behaviour was very similar to an unhuman. For example, for me as a viewer this movie sometimes confused me and I thought that he was one of the replicants. The only time in the film Deckard really shows his own emotions, was when in the battle he looks terrified knowing that he is going to die. In addition, Roy showed his feeling to Pris by kissing her when she was killed by Deckard. I t showed his love to Pris. These feelings for Pris and Zhora breaking two of Deckard’s fingers, one for Pris and one for Zhora (www.helpme.com). I will be happy to know your opinion.
14 comments:
Some questions on Blade Runner to replace those in the Critical Reader for Weeks 6-7!!
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
3. Blade Runner is a highly complex movie has been described as a 'palimpsest' of clues and layers that rewards repeated viewing.
In particular, it is full of visual and written clues and references (often ironic) that help us in 'reading' it, but they are easy to miss. Here are some references that you can Google. Follow the clues:
- Zhora (snake dancing replicant) and Leon are staying a hotel called the Yukon at 1187 Hunterwasser St. What significance does the name Yukon have? (clue: frontier. colony). What is the significance of the name Hundertwasser? (clue: architecture, irony, dystopia)
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
- Not long after Roy arrives at Sebastian's apartment (after he kisses Priss and before he plays chess), he toys with the broken-half of a Barbie doll. In what way might this be allegorical?
- In the climactic scene in which Roy (uncomfortably for many viewers) kisses his 'father', Tyrell, what does the kiss represent? (clue: New Testament, Judas)
- Sebastian's apartment is located in the Bradbury building. How is this significant (clue: SF author Something Wicked this Way Comes).
- Much of the film is set in 21st century LA's Chinatown. How is this iconic? (clue: film noir, Polanski, femme fatale).
4. What did you think of the film? Does following these kinds of clues affect your appreciation of the movie?
This is my answer for question 2.
The following quotation is from Wikipedia, although 2 and 5 have not introduced to Japan and it is said that there are only five different versions.
Seven different versions of Blade Runner exist:
1. Original workprint version (1982, 113 minutes) shown to audience test previews in Denver and Dallas in March 1982. It was also seen in 1990 and 1991 in Los Angeles and San Francisco as a Director's Cut without Scott's approval. Negative responses to the test previews led to the modifications resulting in the U.S. theatrical version,[94] while positive response to the showings in 1990 and 1991 pushed the studio to approve work on an official director's cut.[95] It was re-released with 5-disc Ultimate Edition in 2007.
2. A San Diego Sneak Preview shown only once in May 1982, which was almost identical to the Domestic Cut with three extra scenes.[96]
3. The U.S. theatrical version (1982, 116 minutes), known as the original version or Domestic Cut, released on VHS in 1983 and laserdisc in 1987.
4. The International Cut (1982, 117 minutes) also known as the "Criterion Edition" or uncut version, included more violent action scenes than the U.S. theatrical version. Although initially unavailable in the U.S. and distributed in Europe and Asia via theatrical and local Warner Home Video laserdisc releases, it was later released on VHS and Criterion Collection laserdisc in North America, and re-released in 1992 as a "10th Anniversary Edition".[97]
5. The U.S. broadcast version (1986, 114 minutes), the U.S. theatrical version edited for violence, profanity and nudity by CBS to meet broadcast restrictions.[98]
6. The Ridley Scott-approved (1992, 116 minutes) Director's Cut; prompted by the unauthorized 1990–1 workprint theatrical release and made available on VHS and laserdisc in 1993, and on DVD in 1997. Significant changes from the theatrical version include: removal of Deckard's voice-over, re-insertion of a unicorn sequence and removal of the studio-imposed happy ending.
7. Ridley Scott's Final Cut (2007, 117 minutes), or the "25th Anniversary Edition," released by Warner Bros. theatrically on October 5, 2007 and subsequently released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray in December 2007 (U.K. December 3; U.S. December 18).[10] This is the only version over which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control; the Director's Cut was rushed and he was not directly involved. In conjunction with the Final Cut, extensive documentary and other materials were produced for the home video releases culminating in a five-disc "Ultimate Collector's Edition" release by Charles de Lauzirika.[9]
This is my answer for Question 1.
If I try to mention American situation at that time, it will be the quote from Wikipedia, again. Therefore I introduce the situation in the case of Japan at that time.
It is usually analyzed that the movie confused the audience because of the difference plot from other SF movies that have a lucid unfolding of the plot. Additionally, there was the release of “ET”, which has had a high popularity, at the same time in Japan. Therefore, “Blade Runner” might not gain the popularity at that time, and cut off the term of showing.
Of course, there are also lots of maniac fans of the movie in Japan nowadays, and then, I do not hear the critical comments about it.
Hi kimiko
I hope you are good and have a nice holiday. About question 2, I have to say that as you mentioned, there are 7 versions according to Wikipedia. I can not to add anything.
About question 4, I’d like to say that the genre of the film “Blade Runner” is science-fiction/ fantasy. Also it is the movie which wants to show the distinction between humans and machines, or replicants is blamed. The replicants like all advances in science were built for the good of humanity. They were designed to work in off world colonies as slaves to do the jobs no human would want to. “The replicants look identical to regular humans, however, they are faster, strangler, and more agile. The film was take place in Los Angeles in the year 2019” (www.123helpme.com).). In addition,I want to say that I do not like fantasy film at all.
Hi My Blog Mates!
Sorry for the late comment as I was so busy doing some of the works for other papers. However, I have got a chance to comment now.
Thank you much for starting our discussion this week. I'm so happy to see some interesting facts about this movie, as this is the first time I watched it (in class) before the holiday).
In fact, I don't get all the answers of these questions from the movie, so I am still having some research on it to answer some of them.
Therefore, don't worry, I'll be back soon. Catch you later!
Hello again!
2. How many versions of the film are there, when, and what are the differences?
Hi kimiko-
In question two, you have clearly explained the versions of Blade Runner and I also agree with you, as I have found out from my research that there are seven versions as you mentioned.
The first is the 'workprint version' shown in Denver and Dallas in March 1982.
The second is the 'San Diego sneak preview' which was only shown once in May 1982.
The third is the 'U.S theatrical version' released in 1983 on VHS.
The 'International Cut' is the fourth version of Blade Runner also known as the Criterion edition released also in 1982.
The fifth verion is the 'U.S broadcast' realesed in 1986.
The sixth version is the 'director's cut' which is Ridley Scott's version to Blade Runner.
The last version is the 'Final Cut' which was released in 2007 and is the re-make of the "director's cut" by Ridley Scott.
See you later!
Hi everyone!
1. How has Blade Runner been received critically since its 1982 release?
Blade Runner initially polarized critics: some were displeased with the pacing, while others enjoyed its thematic complexity.
The film performed poorly in North American theaters. Despite the box office failure of the film, it has since become a cult classic.
Blade Runner has been hailed for its production design, depicting a "retrofitted" future. The film is credited with prefiguring important concerns of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, such as overpopulation, globalization, climate change and genetic engineering.It remains a leading example of the neo-noir genre.
Blade Runner brought author Philip K. Dick to the attention of Hollywood, and several more films have since been based on his work.
Ridley Scott regards Blade Runner as "probably" his most complete and personal film. In 1993, Blade Runner was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
In 2007, the American Film Institute named it the 97th greatest American film of all time in the 10th Anniversary edition of its 100 years... 100 Movies list.
Back again soon!
Hi Everyone!
I have found one answer after searcing the net.
- When Deckard goes to the Snake Pit nightclub in Chintown, Zhora (unseen) performs a dance called 'Miss Salome and the Snake.' What does this reference? (clue: Bible, John the Baptist).
Because I like reading the bible, I think I have a short knowledge to answer the above question.
I think Miss Salome and the snake, a dance which was performed by Zhora refers to Salome, who is the daughter of Herodias in the bible.
N.B: Herodias was the wife of Philip, who was Herods brother, but Herod took Herodias, and committed adultery.
However, this lady Salome had a dance in front of Herod, and as she danced, Herod responded "ask of me whatsoever thy wilt, and I will give it thee" (St.Mark 6:22)
She then talked to her mum, Herodias and she returned asking for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.
According to the bible, that was how John the Baptist died.(Wikipedia, 2008)
Please - Comment!!!
Hi Poe and Kimiko
I am trying to explain the emotional feelings of the replicants in the movie. According to my understanding, replicants an unhuman sometimes showed more emotional feelings than a human like Deckard in the film. In fact, replicants do not have to have or show any emotions, but in the film we watched that they sometimes had humanistic and believable characters. Some of them were able to feel love as well as hate. If we compare the Deckard as a human he shows less emotion than Roy as a replicant. He seems heartless and his behaviour was very similar to an unhuman. For example, for me as a viewer this movie sometimes confused me and I thought that he was one of the replicants. The only time in the film Deckard really shows his own emotions, was when in the battle he looks terrified knowing that he is going to die. In addition, Roy showed his feeling to Pris by kissing her when she was killed by Deckard. I t showed his love to Pris. These feelings for Pris and Zhora breaking two of Deckard’s fingers, one for Pris and one for Zhora (www.helpme.com). I will be happy to know your opinion.
Saw this movie with Elizabeth Steiner who became my wife. It was our 1st date. Denver 1982
Saw this movie with Elizabeth Steiner who became my wife. It was our 1st date. Denver 1982
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