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The
lights go down, the projector hums. Up on the big screen is Blade
Runner, a movie that has gained an immense following over the last 25
years, myself included. With multiple versions of the film out there,
hopefully Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be the (groan) final cut. I
own the special edition Director's Cut that was released in 1999 and
there are only a few noticeable differences. Gone is the stuntman in a
wig for Zhora's death scene, re-shot and edited in with new footage that
removes what some say is the worst stunt in history. They even got
Joanna Cassidy to play Zhora again. Otherwise it's pretty much the same
as the Director's Cut. So why spend your money to see it on the big
screen? Because it's all about seeing Blade Runner on the big screen. If
you are lucky enough to have a screening near you I would recommend
attending. I love when my favorite films come back to the big screen.
See, I was too young to catch Blade Runner at the theaters when it was
originally released and to see the final version up there, how could I
pass that up?
If you have been in a coma
for the past 25 years, Blade Runner is a Ridley Scott film based on the
novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick.
Harrison Ford stars as Deckard, a cop (or Blade Runner) who tracks down
life-like androids called replicants. A group escapes and finds it's way
back to Earth and Deckard is pulled out of retirement to dispose, or
retire as it's called in the film, this group. Also starring Rutger
Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos and M. Emmet Walsh,
Blade Runner is considered a classic by most moviegoers.
I really don't think that
full review of the film is really necessary but for those who want to
know a little more I will say that this movie has garnered so much
attention over the years for a reason. Extremely thought provoking as it
raises questions dealing with racism, discrimination, the inability to
change ones future as well as the question of what is humanity in the
first place. Excellent acting and directing by Ridley Scott based on a
novel by Phillip K. Dick is what keeps Blade Runner relevant even now.
Just an all around great sci-fi movie that will be around (and still
relevant) for at least another 25 years.
Now if you are lucky enough
to live in or near one of the cities that is showing Blade Runner: The
Final Cut, I recommend you take advantage of it as it may be the last
time you get to see it in theaters. I've included a list of the cities,
theaters and the type of print they have. If you are here in Detroit and
know the Landmark Main Art Theater in Royal Oak, then you know that the
older theater only adds to the time warp effect of seeing Blade Runner
on the big screen, with the old school columns in the main theater as
well as the lobby that even has couches for you to sit back and discuss
the film with your friends. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! It's
only going to be at the Main Art for ONE WEEK ONLY starting Nov. 16th.
Until the final final cut of
Blade Runner,
keep reading
Blade
Runner: Final Cut Big Screen Dates:
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10/26 - Seattle
(Cinerama, Seattle- 35mm)
10/26 - Washington
D.C. (Uptown, D.C. - 35mm)
10/26 - Portland
(Cinema 21, Portland - 35mm)
10/26 - Salt Lake
(Gateway Megaplex, SLC - Digital)
11/2 - Chicago (Music
Box, Chicago- 35mm)
11/2 - Santa Barbara
(Arlington, Santa Barbara - Digital),
11/2 - Baltimore
(Landmark Harbor East, Baltimore - Digital)
11/9 - Boston
(Coolidge Corner, Brookline - 35mm)
11/16 - Detroit (Main
Art, Detroit- 35mm)
11/18 - Austin
(Paramount, Austin -35mm)
11/30 - San Francisco
(Embarcadero, San Francisco - 35mm)
11/30 - Dallas (The
Inwood, Dallas- 35mm) |
11/30 - San Diego
(Ken, San Diego -35mm)
11/30 - Minneapolis
(Uptown, Minneapolis - 35mm)
12/7 - Denver (The
Landmark @ Greenwood Village - Digital)
12/7 - Philadelphia
(The Ritz 5, Philadelphia - 35mm)
12/25 - Boston (The
Brattle, Cambridge - 35mm)
1/2/08 - Austin (The
Paramount, Austin - 35mm)
1/4/08 - Nashville
(The Belcourt, Nashville - 35mm)
1/18/08 - Durham
(Carolina, Durham- 35mm)
2/1/08 - Columbus
(Drexel Gateway, Columbus - 35mm)
2/15/08 - San
Francisco (Castro, San Francisco - 35mm)
2/29/08 - Sacramento
(Crest, Sacramento - 35mm) |
Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
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