Blade Runner Changed My Life

1238 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: +philophy essays on movies

Blade Runner Changed my Life

Sitting in the New Yorker Theater on 88th street and Broadway, having been intrigued and fascinated by the long-running previews, I saw Blade Runner for the first time. I was just out of eighth grade, about to move on to high school, and trying to hold on to a middle-school friendship with a girl named Angela. We'd met to see Ridley Scott's new movie with Harrison Ford. Earlier in the summer, I'd seen 70mm booming previews in the giant Loews' Theaters around Manhattan. My head was still filled with dark-skied images of a dark urban future mixed with muted 1940's radio music. Harrison Ford was a hard-boiled detective in an ever-raining city, dwarfed by several-hundred-story spacescrapers and color TV billboards, with musical accompaniment by the Ink Spots.

I thought the film was quite a failure. There were several voiceovers and explanations in dialogue that insulted the viewers' intelligence, and a few last-minute, fear-driven decisions to lighten the touch and the message of the story. Visually, it was a masterpiece, but I would not have been drawn back to the film by its cinematography alone.

Although my grades at the time were still in their pre-highschool mediocrity, and I had only just started that year to read books for pleasure, I was beginning to fancy myself a young intellectual of sorts. I'd grown up assuming my family had money and was just keeping it from me. I had only ever had one torn blazer to wear to school with my plastic clip-on tie and sneakers, but how many kids have the good fortune to attend private school in the first place? I resented not having the money for better clothes, but didn't think I was poor. The five dollars I could never get f...

... middle of paper ...

.... The voice-overs and last-minute explanations I've come to ignore, and I watch the film with a nostalgic fondness and respect. Its strongest effect upon me was certainly philosophical, but I can see other influences as well. My general aesthetic is high-tech, dark and ominous.

I've come to think of the anachronistic, multi-cultural and sensuous, post-Information Age world of Ridley Scott and Cyberpunk as a rich playground for the imagination. Granted, this may all seem old-hat and backwards to my 21st-century students when I finally become a professor in a liberal philosophy department somewhere, but I'll keep my finger on the pulse of future philosophy and questions of mind and sentience, long after the science fiction scenarios of my youth have either become the familiar background of a new generation or the cynical prophecy of a past century.

Show More
Related

  • Tuck Everlasting

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    The movie is, most likely, done well enough to intrigue its intended audience. It captured the theme and story line of the book. It falls short, though, when compared to the beautiful, sensitive and contemplative prose of Natalie Babbitt. One could only hope that a viewing of the film will lead the watcher to try the book and be delighted all the more.

    Read More

  • Philip K. Dick: One of the More Prolific Science Fiction Writers of the 20th Century

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Regardless of their financial successes, both novels and their respective film adaptations are held in high esteem by many. They both utilize unique visual techniques to immerse their audience in the worlds of Philip K. Dick, but differ on their strictness of plot and characterization. In the end, however, the departures from the original source material of Blade Runner are executed so well that they come across on par with the literal A Scanner Darkly. Both movies play tribute to genius of Philip K. Dick’s writing by being complete, well-rounded works.

    Read More

  • Blade Runner

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    The plot of the movie “Blade Runner” becomes unrevealed till the end of the movie. Many assumptions about the plot and the final of the movie appear in the spectator’s mind, but not one of these assumptions lasts long. Numerous deceptions in the plot grip the interest of the audience and contribute for the continuing interest to the movie eighteen years after its creation. The main character in the movie is Deckard- the Blade Runner. He is called for a special mission after his retirement, to “air up” four replicants who have shown flaws and have killed people. There are many arguments and deceptions in the plot that reveal the possibility Deckard to be a replicant. Roy is the other leading character of the movie. He appears to be the leader of the replicants- the strongest and the smartest. Roy kills his creator Tyrell. The effect of his actions fulfils the expectation of the spectator for a ruthless machine.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Comparisons

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is an ironic and unfortunate example of a film that would have really been considered a lot better than it is if it were not for the book upon which it is based. It is clear that the film is strong and that it is well made, but when compared to Shelley's novel, it's really a pretty sad mess. The film by itself is more than able to captivate and impress, but to someone who knows the original story, it is a weak attempt to bring the story of Frankenstein and his monster to the big screen.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Removing a Scene From Shakespeare's Hamlet

    507 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is obsessed with revenging his fathers murder; destroying Claudius and it is evident in the play. This obsession initiates Hamlet's behavior. The reasons for Hamlet's obsession with exacting revenge against Claudius are fairly straightforward. The ghost of Hamlet informed him that Claudius killed Hamlet Sr., seized his throne and robbed him of his father. After the ghost informs Hamlet of Claudius' crime, Hamlet realizes that if he does not kill Claudius, he may forever be locked in the painfully stressful mental state in which his obsession puts him. If he attempts or succeeds in killing Claudius, he risks experiencing psychological estrangement so intense that it could destroy his sense of identity. Whether he does or does not kill Claudius, he faces enormous psychological pain.

    Read More

  • Othello Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Iago utilizes an unassuming manner of speech that reflects his guise of loyalty to persuade Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago knows that the idea of Desdemona’s adultery will be manifest itself much more powerfully in Othello’s

    Read More

  • The Differences Of Iago And William Shakespeare's Othello

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare 's exemplary dramatization Othello bases on the two clashing characters of conspiring, manipulative Iago and the good, however as a rule irresolute Othello. In spite of the way that these men are totally inverse in character, Iago orders such convincing forces that he truly begins to influence Othello 's reasoning, adjusting the metaphors he uses and his view of those near him. Both Othello and Iago use a large number of the same scholarly gadgets and a great part of the same allegorical dialect to express their conclusions of everyone around them, as well as their general originations of the workings of the universe on a more otherworldly level.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Metropolis and Blade Runner

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    Will Brooker. “Reel Toads and Imaginary Cites: Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner and the Contemporary Science Fiction Movie. (London: Wallflower Press. 2005)

    Read More

  • Blade Runner

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    Directors use various techniques to create a compelling and memorable motion picture film for the audience. In 1982`s Blade Runner, Ridley Scott portrays various themes of mortality, memory and identity through various film techniques such as editing, cinematography, and mise-en-scène.

    Read More

  • Othello, by William Shakespeare

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    There exists a kind of person who can be called by no other name than by “Magnificent Bastard”. They are masters of deception, bloody brilliant, unstoppable in achieving their goals even when it means grinding others into the dust, and yet they have such a flair, such a charming disposition, that they are often admired by even those who are wronged by them. Iago in Shakespeare’s play Othello is one such character. The audience may love or hate him, but either way they must admit that he commands the spot-light. In spite of this, the reason why Iago acts as he does is shrouded in mystery. Even when directly speaking to the audience about his motivations, Iago is not always truthful. In reality, while Iago derives great pleasure from manipulating others, his driving motivation throughout the entire play is his own jealousy; from being unrecognized for his greatness, to an impossible love for Desdemona, and of the virtuous characters all around him.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Office Space: Communication in the Workplace

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...r, this movie is lack of depth of storyline. The audiences can even predict what will happen in the next scenes. Moreover, the ending of this movie is too cheesy and irrational according to me. If only they change the ending to become more interesting and rational, I will give a four or five stars out of five. In spite of a lame twist ending, this movie is a perfect example to show that managers should be able to motivate and challenge their employee. It is important to remember that a happy employee means a productive employee.

    Read More

  • Compare And Differences Of Banquo Vs. Macbeth

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    King Hamlet was beyond annoyed that Hamlet had done what every child does when their parent asks them to do something, and did the exact opposite. Not only had Hamlet spoken to his mother about her poor choices, but he also had yet to kill Claudius. In Hamlet’s defense he had a good reason for why he hadn’t killed his uncle yet (definitely a good conversation to have over the holidays) and had half of Shakespeare’s characters taken the time to make sure things are done right then there probably wouldn’t be so much tragedy. Hamlet had waited to kill Claudius because he wasn’t certain about the ghost being his father and so he did not want to commit a sin that was not necessary. However, he still failed because he entertained King Hamlet’s ghost and that is a sin in and of its own. In order for Hamlet to decide whether or not he can trust the ghost of his father he decides to put on a play for his mother and uncle that was based around his father’s murder. As the play took place, Hamlet kept a close watch on Claudius and all of his emotions and that is how Hamlet knew that the ghost was not an evil spirit, but was definitely his beloved father. Once Hamlet comes to terms with the fact that he’s letting down his father even after he’s passed Hamlet is able to come up with a plan to kill Claudius so that he can suffer the same way that he has made

    Read More

  • Postmodern Film

    2291 Words  | 5 Pages

    Duckworth, A.R. (2008). Blade Runner and the Postmodern use of Mise-en-scene. Available: http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/blade-runner-and-the-postmodern-use-of-mise-en-scene/ Last accessed 21st Dec 2013.

    Read More

  • The Blade Runner Dystopia

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    Blade Runner is exemplified as a dystopia that predicts a future city that sustains corporate capitalism’s worst features, such as urban decay, extreme gaps between wealth and poverty, and authoritative police work. The film depicts an urban city that, due to capitalism, coalesced into a polluted, overpopulated city controlled by monopolies.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Essay On Hamlet

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet’s actions leave him no choice but to take revenge against King Claudius. In Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 117-119, Hamlet says “I have sworn ‘t”, vowing to the ghost of his father that revenge will be sought against his father’s killer, Claudius. Throughout most of the play, Hamlet is reluctant to kill Claudius, but this vow forces him to continue to take some sort of action to further his vengeance. This is shown in Act 3 Scene 3, when the King is praying. While praying, the King is defenceless and could have been easily slain, but Hamlet stalls and finds an excuse to not kill the King. However, must continue continue down the path of vengeance. He tries to find excuses out of killing Claudius, but when Hamlet confirms that Claudius is the murderer in Act 3 Scene 2 Lines 12-13, stating that he’ll “bet [Horatio] a thousand bucks the ghost was right” about the identity of the murderer, he can no longer leave Claudius alive. Even though Hamlet continues to hesitate until Act 4 Scene 4 when he sees ...

    Read More

More about Blade Runner Changed My Life

Open Document