Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Part real, part fake, all silly fun

I'm pretty sure that this isn't what Philip Dick had in mind when he wrote "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw


(Extra points if--- without Googling--- you know what movie was based upon "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" It's one of my all-time favorites. )
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8 comments:

  1. GavrielleMarch 31, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    Is there someone in the world who doesn't know what movie is based on it? Which reminds me - gotta buy the 2007 five-disc Final Cut. I'd given up on it ever being released, then they sneaked it out when I wasn't looking.

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  2. GailMarch 31, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    Here's the "someone in the world". I don't do movies, so have no idea. But I loved this video. Amazing what those dogs can do.

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  3. OblivionMarch 31, 2009 at 8:53 AM

    Also a favourite of mine. I /think/ I preferred the "Director's Cut" that stripped the commentary and replaced the unicorn-sequence dream (that made sense of the origami unicorn close to the end of the film that, in the initial release, had no context and therefore made no sense) but Ford's commentary gave it an additional film noir feel and I sometimes wonder if I don't like the original better after all (since I can't forget I know the other stuff anyway.)

    I am, of course, old enough to have seen it in the theatres when it was first released, and there's a magic there that DVDs just can't replicate, sadly.

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  4. UnknownMarch 31, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    The movie is Blade Runner. It wasn't a big theatrical success, nor initially a critic's choice. But among a certain subset of geeks, it was a revelation. Over time, especially as the movie's influence has seeped out into mainstream cinema, even stodgy critics now acknowledge it's something very, very special.

    To some (myself included), it's on the short list of best science fiction movies ever; and also in contention as one of the best movies of any type ever--- maybe not #1 there, but surely on a list of, say top 25.

    Great early performances from a bunch of actors who went on to major careers. Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien , Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), etc etc.)

    The visuals stretched the technical abilities of the day and most of them still hold up well today. (Old-school composite matting often fails in the transition from the reflective lighting of a movie screen to the self-illumination of TV screens. Only the very best work does well under both lighting conditions.)

    Outstanding score, too. It's early symphonic synthesizer by Vangelis. A lot of Vangelis's work (eg Chariots of fire) sounds very dated today, but it somehow still works in Blade Runner--- another case where the quality of the work rises above the technical limitations of the day. Plus, Vangelis also worked with a live human saxophonist who produced a slow, haunting musical theme that recurs throughout the film. The music creates a mood of, I dunno, call it "beautiful ennui" that's at the core of and perfect for the movie's aesthetic.

    It's not for everyone. You'll either watch the movie and say "WTF?" or absolutely love it.

    I'm in the latter camp. :)

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  5. UnknownMarch 31, 2009 at 9:29 AM

    BTW, Google Ads served up this gem today:

    Electric Sheep
    Find more sources/options for Electric Sheep

    I had to click--- I mean, what the hell could that be about?

    The top item in the sponsored search under the ad was for an electrical supply house called "Lamb Electric," and the list went downhill from there....

    Ah, well. My visions of a robotic companion for my Roomba evaporated in the hot glare of mundane commerce.... :)

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  6. GavrielleMarch 31, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    @Oblivion: being a complete film noir nut, I have a sneaking regard for the voiceover version too - although I don't think the happy ending was much missed. I'm lucky enough to have a projector and screen at home, and I can confirm that Blade Runner seen today at the right size has lost not a single sparkle of its magic.

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  7. GoldenBearApril 2, 2009 at 7:29 AM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9KAqhbIZ7o

    Perhaps one of the greatest scores in history.

    And, along with Fred, and so many others, an amazing movie.

    And such an amazing book. His books are the only thing I have ever read that made me feel like I did in the early 70s when I did acid. Amazingly powerful.

    Trippy stuff there. PKD rules.

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  8. GoldenBearApril 2, 2009 at 12:44 PM

    I really need to quit commenting at 330 in the morning. Just so you know, I quit drinking decades ago but based on lucidity of the above comment, one would never guess that. :D

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