Recently watched movies

[Doe]

That's okay, I'm curious to know if you liked it, Doe.

Yes. I like it Arcadia. The film has been a little bit simple for Ben anymore.

[Doe]

Pulp Fiction

 

9/10

 

Very good film.

[Pseudonym]

Blade Runner 2049. If you liked the original you'll like this, very similar in style, tone, theme. I, however, was bored sh*tless by the original, and found this one the same. Some cool effects, but generally dull. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I have no interest whatsoever in seeing Blade Runner again, either version.  I saw the original, which does have the distinct advantage of Harrison Ford, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned.  It has a totally inappropriate title, borrowed from an unrelated book (presumably because it "sounds cool").  And as I understand it (namely as little as possible), the androids are bad because they're bad -- which makes me wonder why they were designed that way in the first place, though I suppose it may well have been a bug.  I seem to recall loads of gratuitous violence as well.

 

Thank goodness I've deleted most of it.

[Doe]

I was thinking, I can't decide whether to go or not.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Blade Runner, is it the one with Wesley Snipe, for older version? For some reason he repelled me with imo, punchable face. :p I think I only watched bits of it where it was yucky when there was blood sucking or something. Until now, I don't know what the franchise is about and not curious.

 

Therefore I'm happier to choose Wakefield to watch last weekend.

I'm sure there are mix review about the whole movie especially the ending. I like it, and curious to know other's opinion. Any? No time to write more now though.

[Pseudonym]

No, you're thinking of Blade which is a completely different thing. 

 

Isn't questioning the 'androids are bad because they are bad' the whole point of the film? That they aren't bad they just want their freedom?

 

It's annoying because I like the idea but it's just so so boringly done. And the acting in the original is so hammy, there's one girl who cartwheels and flips everywhere for no apparent reason, and then does a terribly OTT death scene that actually ends with her tongue sticking out like a comedy sketch. Eurgh. Ryan Gosling is good in the new one, but there's just too much with nothing happening except a load of dramatic music. Someone I went with said she was stick of seeing artistic shots of the back of people's heads.

 

Something else that annoyed me is the amount of naked women; naked holograms, naked women statues, naked woman being killed etc etc. I get it's a dystopia but that just felt incredibly grubby to me, and I think that was supposed to be the titillating part (excuse the pun). Oh look, another naked woman, more nipples, another statue with splayed legs and an open orgasmic mouth. FFS. You know what it made me want to see? A vision of the future where the women are in charge. 

 

I don't get why studios buy the rights to a book only to change it completely. I am Legend for example. I actually liked the film, though the ending is iffy, but the book is completely different. Just change the character's name and no one would even know it was based on the same book anyway. I can't remember if I finished reading it or not, if I didn't it's not because I wasn't enjoying it I think I just got distracted by something else. Anyone who has read it - that scene with his watch not working stuck with me. 

 

Oh, has anyone read Return Man by V.M. Zito? Anyone who likes zombie things that's a great book. I bet that would make a killer film... if they actually stuck to it. 

 

[Pseudonym]

Oh, one other thing I've noticed in eighties movies is that sudden declarations of love seems to be a big thing. In Blade Runner Dekker and Rachel have barely met, barely know each other, and the next thing you know their professing their love for each other. I remember them trying that in the most recent Terminator, and I was like huh? Wtf? You don't know each other, you don't like each other, but somehow in the minuscule amount of time you've spent talking to each other you're now desperately in love?

Perhaps it's my cynicism coming through, but if two people are going to be love interests I like to see a little bit of build-up, or, you know, some indication they can actually bear to be in each other's company before they're willing to die for each other. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Isn't questioning the 'androids are bad because they are bad' the whole point of the film? That they aren't bad they just want their freedom?

 

It's annoying because I like the idea but it's just so so boringly done. And the acting in the original is so hammy

 

Dredging through my mercifully faint recollections, I think you're right, the androids were freedom fighters.  But I somehow had the impression that I was supposed to be cheering for the humans.  Or maybe that was just because I liked Harrison Ford's character better than Rutger Hauer's.  I like the idea (loved the "Measure of a Man" episode of Star Trek: Next Generation), but was repelled by the film.

 

I don't get why studios buy the rights to a book only to change it completely.

 

If you're talking about Blade Runner, they bought the rights to two books, then used the plot from one and the title (only the title) from the other.  The movie is actually based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, whereas Blade Runner (the book) was about a guy who smuggled surgical supplies (in which context the title actually made sense).  I've never read either book, though, so can't comment on how faithful the adaptation was.

 

[Pseudonym]

That's even stupider. Like you said 'blade runner' makes no sense in this context where as it makes perfect sense for the other book you mentioned. *sigh*

 

Aren't there loads of films based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

[Arcadia]

I have no interest whatsoever in seeing Blade Runner again, either version.  I saw the original, which does have the distinct advantage of Harrison Ford, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned.  It has a totally inappropriate title, borrowed from an unrelated book (presumably because it "sounds cool").  And as I understand it (namely as little as possible), the androids are bad because they're bad -- which makes me wonder why they were designed that way in the first place, though I suppose it may well have been a bug.  I seem to recall loads of gratuitous violence as well.

Didn't the Rutger Hauer character (at least) kill people?

 

I don't get why studios buy the rights to a book only to change it completely. ...

I actually have a (partial) answer to that ... because some scripts, at least, go through numerous people, each with their own idea of what makes a successful movie, before it ever gets to film. So they keep changing things, trying to make it work.

 

Also sometimes it's really a new idea inspired by someone else's idea, but they want to keep the name because that's a selling point. (Think Jurassic Park.)

 

At any rate, usually it's for the same reason most decisions about movies are made ... money.

[Pseudonym]

The replicants (including good ole Rutger) do kill people, but since they see themselves as freedom fighters and soldiers those people are just necessary casualties.  

 

TV rather than movies, but I'm watching a documentary on swarms. So gross. Three have been in America so far; mice, mayflies and cicadas. 

[Arcadia]

 

Isn't questioning the 'androids are bad because they are bad' the whole point of the film? That they aren't bad they just want their freedom?

 

It's annoying because I like the idea but it's just so so boringly done. And the acting in the original is so hammy

 

Dredging through my mercifully faint recollections, I think you're right, the androids were freedom fighters.  But I somehow had the impression that I was supposed to be cheering for the humans.  Or maybe that was just because I liked Harrison Ford's character better than Rutger Hauer's.  I like the idea (loved the "Measure of a Man" episode of Star Trek: Next Generation), but was repelled by the film.

 

I don't get why studios buy the rights to a book only to change it completely.

 

If you're talking about Blade Runner, they bought the rights to two books, then used the plot from one and the title (only the title) from the other.  The movie is actually based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, whereas Blade Runner (the book) was about a guy who smuggled surgical supplies (in which context the title actually made sense).  I've never read either book, though, so can't comment on how faithful the adaptation was.

I started to read "Do Androids Dream," but Dick's style is not to my taste, I don't remember ever finishing it. But as I recall only the basic premise is the same; Deckard is a bounty hunter chasing down rogue androids in a dystopian future.

 

 

Aren't there loads of films based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

 

Not that I'm aware of, although I'm sure there's many stories with the same theme (what is humanity?)

[Pseudonym]

Too specific then. Hm, God knows what book I'm thinking of. 

[Arcadia]

Romeo and Juliet?

[Pseudonym]

Noooooooo

[Carol the Dabbler]

I started to read "Do Androids Dream," but Dick's style is not to my taste, I don't remember ever finishing it. But as I recall only the basic premise is the same; Deckard is a bounty hunter chasing down rogue androids in a dystopian future.

Dick's style is apparently not to my taste either.  I can recall reading only one short story of his, and had to struggle to finish even that.  It was my impression that he is aptly named.

[Pseudonym]

Oh dear...

[Doe]

I watched Black Mirror season 1 episode 1

 

5/10

[Fantasy Lover]

Rewatched Spectre

 

It seemed to drag on the second time I watched it

[Doe]

Black Mirror season 1 episode 2

 

7/10

[Fantasy Lover]

Oh, are we allowed to review tv shows? In that case

 

Star Trek TNG season 4 episode 7: reunion 7/10 holy shit this episode is f***ed up and awful and I love it!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Which episode is that -- just briefly what is the situation?

[Fantasy Lover]

Worf finds out he has a son but his mate gets killed and there is battle between two clans to gain leadership.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, right -- thanks!

 

I loved Suzie Plakson in that role.