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25 Years Ago! Part VIII! Replicants And Mr. Spider-Head On June 25, 1982...
Merrick here...
It's June 25th, 2007. Exactly 25 years ago…today…a film called BLADE RUNNER showed us the world of 2019. A world where "Spinner" vehicles lifted skyward from bustling streets to skim the aerial traffic ways of Los Angeles. A time when constructed life forms…who were "more human than human"…bore the brunt of the danger during mankind's off world colonization movement. A place that was peculiarly beautiful, even at its ugliest.
That's only twelve years away now. There are no flying cars and there probably won't be anytime soon (although we're getting closer). We're not building people yet - we won't be for some time, if ever. The notion of offworld colonization within the lifetime of anyone reading these words FEELS more and more improbable as the years go by. And, perhaps most disappointingly, cinema's "worlds of tomorrow" have become decreasingly fantastical. With a few exceptions, the "future" brought to us by movies these days seems far less amazing than it used to – there's less mystery awaiting us, less majesty to behold. It's rarely awe-inspiring, and is often disappointingly similar to the world we already know…too similar to be much fun. Increasingly, Science Fiction cinema lacks wonder.
I've been unable to locate the first trailer I recall seeing for BLADE RUNNER – I'm not sure it's actually available on the Net. But it went something like this:
(love that Pac-Man "wakka" crescendo at the end of the trailer!)
I was fourteen years old when I first saw a trailer for the film. Truthfully, I didn't know what the hell I was looking at. I knew Ridley Scott from ALIEN back in '79. It was one of my favorite films, so this had to be some kind of cool…right? I knew it had been on the cover of a STARLOG magazine. I knew it had Han Solo / Indiana Jones in it, and I remembered Vangelis from CHARIOTS OF FIRE. Oh yeah: that Douglas Trumbull guy made pretty okay effects, too. This was going to be incredible. It HAD to be incredible. How could it not be? There was no way it couldn't be.
I saw it. And…it wasn't incredible. It was a busy film. Cold, distant, unpleasant, alienating. I didn't "get" what Vangelis was doing. Indy looked like he was sleepwalking. The heart of the film seemed buried to me – but Zhora's titties were cool & I wondered what they felt like.
THAT's what I took away from BLADE RUNNER the first time I watched it. Clearly I had some growing up to do.
Which happened.
Over the years, I changed. My understanding changed. My perspective on life and how we relate to the world around us changed. And, after a while, I began to comprehend the truths director Ridely Scott and scripters Hampton Fancher and David Peoples put on screen back in 1982. As I became more complicated, I began to understand BLADE RUNNER's complexity.
BLADE RUNNER had, in actuality, none of the negative qualities I initially believed it to have (and Zhora's titties remained a blessed constant). It wasn't a cold film, it wasn't a heartless story, nor was it a tale devoid of ideas. It simply served these qualities in a package I wasn't capable of grasping at the time, by deploying conceits I wasn't awake enough to appreciate at the time.
Now…I get it. In a real sense, BLADE RUNNER has helped to shape, and inform, many elements of my creativity…as well as my overall perspective.
The film's nuance is so clear to me now that I can't believe it ever eluded me to begin with. More than Jordan Cronenewth's breathtaking photography or Trumbull's sweeping visual effects…BLADE RUNNER's greatest power lay in its ideas:
** The idea that the "badguys" in the film aren't bent on world domination, or the attainment of riches. Their "crime" was that they are desperate…and would do anything…to live. The fugitives being sought by Harrison Ford's character were born with a limited life span. But in their four years of existence, they'd lived more meaningful lives & enjoyed far richer experiences than some people manage over decades…and they didn't want to let go. To some extent, BLADE RUNNER is a film about killing – but in being so, it is ultimately a potent exaltation of life.
** The idea that our "hero" (perhaps "protagonist" is a better word in this instance) was trying to KILL people who just wanted to live – people whose death warrant was written only by virtue of their being born. Sure they did wrong things, but they did wrong things for reasons most of us could understand. The desire to survive, after all, is a strong motivator. For the unenlightened in BLADE RUNNER, creatures with beauty, talent, a sense of place, and searching for belonging deserved to be shot in the back on a rainy street like an unwanted animal. Those who truly understood...would never allow for this to happen:
** Perhaps most disquieting notion is the possibility that our "protagonist" might, in actuality, be the exact same kind of person he was sent to kill. By acting against the fugitives, he's also (symbolically) turning his back on his own self, and his own essence -- and the tragedy is he might not know it. This element is highly contested to this day. And, based on past Talkbacks, it's still a source of uncertainty / contention for many readers. But, there are certainly allusions that Harrison Ford is a "Replicant " in the film. And, after all, there are the words of Ridley Scott himself:
Where THE WRATH OF KHAN helped me to comprehend the pain brought about by the physical passing of a loved one, BLADE RUNNER helped me to define death's more esoteric context. Simply. Vividly. Frighteningly. Unforgettably.
In the end, BLADE RUNNER isn't necessarily about physical death – it's about the loss of hopes, dreams, experiences, memories, and ideals that physical death brings with it. It's about the simple, gut-wrenching truth that the beauty we see around us, the love we feel for ourselves or others, and the moments we most cherish will never be understood by others...can never be appreciated by others as fully as we appreciate them...and may simply vanish completely when our bodies stop working.
Is this a downer? At face value…yes. It's a rather bleak and nihilistic view of The Way of Things. But when you think about, it's not really grim at all. Perhaps BLADE RUNNER might best be seen as a call for self-empowerment, self-awareness, and self-appreciation. We can share many, many elements of our lives with others. But, in the end, each of us experiences uniquely, appreciates uniquely, and sees through unique eyes.
For me, at least, BLADE RUNNER says that what we carry with us…and who we are inside…is more valuable than any of the trappings by which we define ourselves on a daily basis. Like nearly every character in the film, perhaps the greatest challenge most of us will ever face is a deceptively simple one: make every moment count.
If a bunch of uppity Replicants can figure this out, why can't we all?
On the same day BLADE RUNNER opened, John Carpenter's THE THING came around.
What I most remember about THE THING is the profound disappointment I felt when my father…a huge fan of the original film as well as John W. Campbell Jr.'s source material…didn't actually go with me to see the damn movie. He must have seen it at some point, but I don't recall our seeing it together. Strange.
THE THING, as it happened, would be the first horror movie I'd see alone. And, what an experience it was. A brooding examination of paranoia that was unapologetically grotesque and unrelentingly bleak – THE THING sent my youthful mind spinning. As much as I cherish dogs, to this day I can not look at a pooch without sensing the briefest flash of this:
I love THE THING. I love all early Carpenter until his career went South (and never came home) after THEY LIVE. Early Carpenter….what I call "The Dean Cundey Years" (a reference to the Director of Photography Carpenter partnered with between HALLOWEEN and BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA)…had loads of class, gobs of style. And, for me at least, his films were the very embodiment of "cool". THE THING fit right in with all Carpenter that had come before. It was everything I expected it to be…and more.
The notion of friends suddenly ceasing to be our friends when co-opted by external forces was new to me at the time (I now recognize it as a frequently deployed SF conceit)…I seem to recall having trust issues for months after seeing this film. The reality that "good guys" don't always fight to a decisive victory also stirred me. At the end of the day, no matter how hard we try &how much crap we go through – we could still end up alone. Or, worse yet, with someone we can not trust. Thanks for the happy, shiny life lesson John.
I saw parts of the THE THING on DVD a few weeks ago; I'm not sure it holds up as well as I'd like it too. Rob Bottin's effects look a little less convincing than they used to – Mr. Spider-Head doesn't creep out the way he used to.
The tension that worked so well 25 years ago feels a little too over-the-top now. Its thematics still work though, and work well.
But, do I think this film should be remade, which has recently been indicated? No – at least not yet. Although, I understand that the oft-referenced "remake" is…actually… something of a prequel (focusing on the Norwegian team who discovered the downed spacecraft & brings the alien back to their base – this served as backstory in Carpenter's film). So, maybe there's a way to have our cake and eat it too. Maybe we'll get a THING project that can update the concept's presentation while not stomping on what Carpenter so carefully, lovingly created.
I'm intrigued that two movies of such unrelenting atmosphere, that are so thick on subtext, endure to this day – but this should also come as no surprise. Both films are about far more than the face value of what's onscreen, and both challenge us to look into ourselves to fully appreciate the stories they're telling. Movies like BLADE RUNNER and THE THING rarely come around anymore, and are especially sidestepped by a Hollywood system that often doesn't deem its audience capable of, or willing to, think. Ironically, BLADE RUNNER and THE THING endure because they gave their viewers credit, and resonate far beyond mere spectacle.
Think about all the movies that will release this Summer, and ask yourself what you…or sites like AICN…will likely to be discussing 25 years from now. What will be noteworthy this Summer? What will be remembered? And, why? From where I'm sitting, I'd say candidates are a precious few. And that's sad, really. It doesn't need to be this way.
Readers Talkbackcomments powered by Disqus
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June 25, 2007, 10:55 a.m. CST
Gotta have the new DVD!
by jimmy rabbitte
June 25, 2007, 11:03 a.m. CST
Access denied
by snomusic
"You are not authorized to access this page." What the heck is up with that?
June 25, 2007, 11:07 a.m. CST
Access granted!
by Stalin vs Predator
It's Brett Leonard's "The Lawnmower Man" again!
June 25, 2007, 11:12 a.m. CST
Don't watch the Thing in parts dude.
by necco
I pop the DVD in, maybe once a year. You have to watch it front to back, much like Blade Runner, for it to work it's magic on you. The effects the claustrophobia, the paranoia, all of it. It comes right back after about 10 minutes. You cannot possibly improve upon Carpenter's version. Updated effects? Totally unnecessary. CGI would just look fake. There was an otherworldly-ness to the way the monster moved and the sounds that it made that you'll never be able to reproduce to the same effect digitally.
June 25, 2007, 11:18 a.m. CST
Vangelis ruled
by Kamala
One of the best soundtracks ever on Blade Runner I tell ya
June 25, 2007, 11:19 a.m. CST
Building People = CLONING
by Darth Fabulous
I think you will see this happen, maybe on a large scale, in the next ten years.
June 25, 2007, 11:21 a.m. CST
The Thing still holds up
by Rupee88
I agree that you have to watch it from start to finish and it is still incredibly entertaining.
June 25, 2007, 11:21 a.m. CST
THE THING has some of the best practical FX even today
by George Newman
June 25, 2007, 11:26 a.m. CST
by bobbywatts
If anyone remakes this movie, CGI's everything and squeezes it into a PG13 bag, I will kill them. CGI has no weight on screen, and definetly can't be scary, so stop trying, and start calling Tom Savini again.
June 25, 2007, 11:30 a.m. CST
Bladerunner "Final Cut" Movie release/DVD this year?
by zinga
Isn't there supposed to be a DVD and limited cinema release of Ridley Scott's new Bladerunner final cut? I know they've shot some new scenes for it
June 25, 2007, 11:31 a.m. CST
by lost.rules
Love both these movies. And if you don't think the Thing holds up well... watch that dog scene without the image. Just hear the soundtrack, and you'll be totally freaked out. GREAT MOVIES!
June 25, 2007, 11:32 a.m. CST
Nice write-up, Merrick!
by Mr. Nice Gaius
It's always great to see films of this caliber get the praise they deserve. BLADE RUNNER has gained so much in its appeal as its ideas and influence have become increasingly recognized. And Carpenter's THE THING will always be a classic.
As for Deckard being a Replicant, I'm one of those who is opposed to this concept. It feels like too much of a cop-out and creates inconsistencies that the film is unable to account for. (Perhaps Ridley's "Final Cut" will add more to this growing debate.)
And yes, Vangelis's score for BLADE RUNNER is one of the greatest ever recorded. Although it's largely synth-based, it manages to sound completely organic with a very rich tone. It contains some of the most beautiful pieces I've ever heard in a film.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..."
June 25, 2007, 11:32 a.m. CST
Bladerunner - The Final Cut
by homer40
Saw the ad on the AFI 100 Best Films show. Can't have too many cuts of Bladerunner I guess. Still, I feel the need to get yet another version of a film I must have 10 different copies of. Hey, why hasn't there been anything about Blockbuster siding with BluRay? I hate Blockbuster and wouldn't rent from them under any circumstances, but is the the death knell for HD DVD? BTW, watched Mad Max II the other day on HD DVD and it never looked so good.
June 25, 2007, 11:36 a.m. CST
Yeah, but the film absolutely RAPED the novel
by Prague23
Only about 10% of the novel is in the film. In fact, the words 'blade runner' aren't even in the novel. William Burroughs coined the term.
 I believe the idea of Deckard being a replicant stems from a continuity error regarding the number of replicants Deckard is supposed to be after,. In other words, a forced layer brought upon by a mistake.
 In the novel, that idea would undermine everything Dick's story stands for - his life long questioning of 'what is human?' & 'what is reality?' which he does in the novel through a metaphor of a human's relationship with machines (more human than human) and all the falseness and artificiality that surrounds him.
 The novel is about empathy. Which is what grounds Deckard, and the rest of humanity to the human condition, by artifical means - an interactive 'TV show' where a character's physical pain, a man who approaches martyrdom, can be felt by all who participate as witnesses.
 It's a really complex and well written novel. It's a shame, as good as the film Blade Runner' is, that it completely missed the target of getting Dick's story across. It didn't even get the plot points right.
June 25, 2007, 11:46 a.m. CST
Blade Runner and The Thing came out the same week as...
by lost.rules
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Talk about a good week for movies! But as a result, The Thing and Blade Runner got their asses handed to them at the box office. Oh, and Fantastic Four finished 3rd this week. God does exist.
June 25, 2007, 11:48 a.m. CST
Zhora's titties
by Stuntcock Mike
ahh, memories.
June 25, 2007, 11:55 a.m. CST
by Stuntcock Mike
Deckard's not a replicant dammit! Vagina's score is amazing as well.
June 25, 2007, 12:02 p.m. CST
Deckard is a Replicante
by Affleckwasthebomb
He is. Without doubt. And I like that fact. Secondly you can't bitch about the film raping the book. One is called Do androids dream of electric sheep and the other is Bladerunner. It obvious that they were using the novel for it's very basic ideas. If you try and compare you're foolish. I love both book and film
June 25, 2007, 12:04 p.m. CST
"I've...sen things you people wouldnt believe..."
by Bong
cue 'Tears in the Rain'
June 25, 2007, 12:05 p.m. CST
First Trailer Had Ink Spots and 1984 was even greater
by DoctorShock
This is a later trailer, the first had no dialogue and just played "If I Didn't Care" by the great Ink Spots. It played for many many weeks in advance of the film and was one of the best there was of that fun era. By the way, 1984 was an even greater year we all remember well--- Temple of Doom, Search for Spock, The Natural, Ghostbusters, Greystoke, Splash, Gremlins, Romancing The Stone, The Terminator-- and many more--- they had to release early there were so many for summer.
June 25, 2007, 12:05 p.m. CST
Never seen Blade Runner
by SteffanLongdon
As a massive fan of Ridley Scott I have never seen Blade Runner. I'm gonna get it on DVD.
June 25, 2007, 12:06 p.m. CST
by Lour Reed luvs Frank Zappa
The book isn't that great. People like to think that since they spend time reading it, that somehow warrants giving it high praise. Well just because they are words on a page instead of images on a screen doesn't mean the final effect is better. In fact it isn't. The film has the book beat in terms of style--the tone is precise and speaks more directly to the themes, the acting / dialogue also relates to the themes better than in the novel. Some interesting insights in the book that don't exist in the movie, granted. But they are two separate entities, and the book just isn't that good of a book, while the movie is crafted much more finely.
June 25, 2007, 12:08 p.m. CST
poor kids
by stvnhthr
WE grew up in one of the greatest eras in cinema history. I can not think of any recent film that inspires on the level of what the 70s and 80s offered. What are kids going to remember from the 90s and early 2000s? The birth of cgi and bigger and bigger explosions in slick packages with no soul.
June 25, 2007, 12:10 p.m. CST
The Fountain
by Trenox
Fortunately there are still made movies today with many of the same qualities as these classics. Darren Aranofsky is one of those few directors. Blade Runner is probably my all time favorite movie, but the best movie in years is the Fountain, and im sure it will be one of those misunderstood classics that we will all reminisce about 20 years from now. Oh and Ridley should start making some more Sci-fi.. thx for the write-up Merrick!
June 25, 2007, 12:12 p.m. CST
Thank You Merrick....
by anti0gravity
Because I'd almost forgotten... "Make every moment count." Tonight the Director's Cut definitely gets another good viewing. Fantastic work my friend... please keep it up.
June 25, 2007, 12:13 p.m. CST
by Mr. Nice Gaius
I think you've confused BLADE RUNNER with STAR WARS. Currently, there are only 2 versions of the film; only one of which has been available on DVD in the past 6-7 years.
June 25, 2007, 12:13 p.m. CST
by homer40
I just read an interview with Harrison Ford in which he describes a conflict between he and Ridley Scott. According to Ford, Scott believed that Decker was a replicant and Ford disagreed. He noted that this dispute made sense within the context of the film, because Decker did not believe himself to be a replicant and would have strenuously resisted the idea.
June 25, 2007, 12:16 p.m. CST
Report would read 'Routine retirement of a replicant'.
by Bill Clay
That didn't make me feel any better about shooting a woman in the back.
June 25, 2007, 12:20 p.m. CST
by Mr. Nice Gaius
You make good points about the book (i.e. empathy...although the film does capture this if you're looking for it). When I first read it many years ago, I was rather surprised at how different it was from the film. There are a lot of details that the film doesn't even bother to include or address. That being said, I actually prefer the film over the book. I feel it works better as a story while the images and atmosphere stay with you long afterwards.
June 25, 2007, 12:20 p.m. CST
Excuse Me Mr_Incredible... Megaforce was AWESOME!
by anti0gravity
"Dallas, when a person doesn't have less on, they have...?" EXACTLY!
June 25, 2007, 12:21 p.m. CST
Ridley Scott said that Deckard is a replicant, but...
by Bill Clay
...Harrison Ford adamantly denies this. "We had agreed that he definitely was not a replicant," Ford once said.
June 25, 2007, 12:27 p.m. CST
If only you could see what i've seen with your eyes
by kwisatzhaderach
Can't wait for Blade Runner Final Cut, especially if the cinema release is still on. If there are 3 films that MUST be seen in the cinema they are 2001, Lawrence of Arabia and Blade Runner. The Thing still kicks ass too. "Supply window!!!!"
June 25, 2007, 12:27 p.m. CST
now I feel old
by disfigurehead
I remember seeing all of them in the theater. Those were the days. A nice little moment in time.
June 25, 2007, 12:30 p.m. CST
Both movies rock
by Abominable Snowcone
But Blade Runner is truly classic.
 Just like Megaforce. You know, there's never been a superhero like ACE HUNTER!! A true MAN OF ACTION!! He has a gold UNITARD and a FLYING MOTORCYCLE!!
June 25, 2007, 12:32 p.m. CST
Doctor shock is right--1984 was highwater
by Abominable Snowcone
for geek movies. Just reading that list made me aroused.
June 25, 2007, 12:41 p.m. CST
Barry Bostwick, Henry Silva, Persis Khambatta
by Stuntcock Mike
June 25, 2007, 12:46 p.m. CST
Where the fuck is the Bladerunner SE DVD?
by DannyOcean01
Getting tired of hearing the rumours. Get that fucking thing out already.
June 25, 2007, 12:46 p.m. CST
Blade Runner Final Cut
by thefreeagents
I read somewhere that the final dvd is going to be released in October. I hope it does. Isnt it supposed to have the the director's cut and the original theatrical version on it? I've always loved the voice-over by Ford, but I guess Scott and a whole bunch of other folks didnt like it.
June 25, 2007, 12:47 p.m. CST
Jaws News! Shark will have a sword fin!
by Kamala
And be 60 feet long, as the result of genetic experiments. And it will now star Skeet Ulrich as Chief Brody. "Skeet: will be reunited with his "Chill Factor" director Hugh Johnson, who is taking over for Tim Story
June 25, 2007, 12:53 p.m. CST
The Thing is the scariest movie ever!!!
by DerLanghaarige
I've seen a lot of scary shit over the years, but after I saw The Thing a few years ago for the first time, I couldn't sleep! It scared the shit out of me! (I was 21 years old back then). The visual effects, the sound effects, everything was so damn fucking scary!
 There were other films, like Alien, The Descent or The Exorcist, which were pretty scary and intense too, but only The Thing was able to ruin 2 1/2 nights for me!
 A goddamn masterpiece!
June 25, 2007, 12:54 p.m. CST
All those moments will be lost... like tears... in rain
by Racer Z
Excellent write up. I've never felt compelled to post on AICN before, but your thoughts on Blade Runner are so very similar to my experience with the film, I had to respond. I, too, did not understand the film when I first saw (I was only 10!!), but years later I realized how truly brilliant the film was. It is now among my top 5 favorite movies of all time and will likely always remain so. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Merrick.
June 25, 2007, 12:54 p.m. CST
by Kamala
June 25, 2007, 1:06 p.m. CST
by OtisSpofford
He kinda dropped off the face of the Earth after being part of the Holy Trinity of makeup with Dick Smith and Rick Baker... A credit here and there (Se7en, Fight Club) then nothing - whu hoppened?
June 25, 2007, 1:06 p.m. CST
I just want a Ridley "Blade Runner" commentary track
by BenBraddock
His "Alien" commentary was great. Intelligent guy. Ridley - do more Sci-Fi!! BTW, re. the "Blade Runner" OST - the "Esper Edition" has to heard to be believed..over 112 minutes of soundtrack!
June 25, 2007, 1:09 p.m. CST
Blade Runner is one of my favourite films ever.
by a goonie
I love that movie with a fiery passion, but interestingly, my first viewing of the film was similar to Merrick's initial viewing. I had heard so much about the movie (being younger, I saw it for the first time on video) and I had high expectations for this stylized sci-fi flick. When I discovered that the movie was a slow, brooding tale with a ponderous speech and a slow-motion dove at the end, I was pretty damn disappointed. I was under the impression I was going to get something else and so I pounced on the supposed "classic" when it wasn't what I then wanted it to be. But oddly enough, I still found myself drawn to the movie. A while later, during one of my regular DVD-shopping trips, I spotted a "Director's Cut" of the flick and picked it up. I read about it and noted the cheap price. On a whim, I decided to buy it. I usually only spent my money on movies I really badly wanted in my collection, but for some reason, I bought "Blade Runner." One of the selling points for me was that this "Director's Cut" had a new ending, which sounded enticing to me, so I took it home and immediately popped it into my DVD player and skipped to the end. Suddenly, I found myself listening to Rutger Hauer's speech as if for the first time. It was one of the most perfectly written and delivered movie speeches I had ever witnessed. Every line, every idea, opened up my mind and imagination and all I could think was "how the hell did I not LOVE this movie before?" It turned out that this "Director's Cut" was the same version I had seen before and there wasn't a damn new thing about it. Instead of seeing some new stuff that helped alter my perspective, I was falling in love with the ending I had seen before, seeing it through new eyes. It was a really strange experience, how it all worked out, but I'm so glad I gave the movie that second chance. Because it blew me away. After watching the scene where Hauer gives his amazing speech in the rain, I ended up watching the entire movie again and my love for it only grew. I thank Ridley Scott and everyone involved for bringing this glorious movie to life.
June 25, 2007, 1:16 p.m. CST
by Mr. Nice Gaius
CHILDREN OF MEN is an incredible frakkin' movie. But it also has the advantage being made more recently with a more current worldwide perspective.
Had BLADE RUNNER incorporated more of the details from "Do Androids Dream..." (i.e. a World War that killed millions, ash everywhere, mass extinction, those confined to living on Earth rather than off-world, etc.) it would have more than given COM a run for its money in terms of the portrayal of a dystopian society.
In my opinion, BLADE RUNNER is less about the direction of society than it is about questions of morality = At what point does something become human?
No matter what, both films are fantastic.
June 25, 2007, 1:17 p.m. CST
Seriously... MEGAFORCE Ranked #9?
by anti0gravity
"Rank? Why ain't nobody got a rank in Megaforce. 'Cept the Commander, but we all call him Hunter. "
June 25, 2007, 1:19 p.m. CST
Blade Runner is SO fucking overated!
by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies
Haha, not really, its one of my favourite all time films. Fucking love it. Cant wait to see the spruced up cut.
June 25, 2007, 1:20 p.m. CST
Why Deckard IS a replicant
by Fish Tank
EJ Olmos' character leaves a foil unicorn outside Deckard's door. Deckard had dreams about a unicorn. Olmos was telling him he knows he is a replicant because he knows what was programmed into his head. He just decided to let him live. Indisputable.
June 25, 2007, 1:22 p.m. CST
anti0gravity, now that is what I'm talking about!
by Kamala
Ace Hunter owned! Can you believe the local newspaper had the nerve to use "MEGA FLOP" as the title of their review of Megaforce?! Hacks, the lot of them. Hey, did Howard the Duck come out that year too? Another lost classic.
June 25, 2007, 1:26 p.m. CST
anti0gravity - Megaforce is AWESOME!
by tristeele
I had to buy a region 2 dvd to replace my worn out VHS. Now when I mean awesome....I mean awesomely bad. Bad acting, direction, poorly filmed action sequences, terrible one liners...and the fucking flying bike! This is one of the GREAT drunk party movies. Ive seen it a hundred times probably. Its crazy as a kid I thought it was a good movie. Then in my 20's I saw it again and realized what it really is. A cult camp comedy masquerading as a action movie. Barry Bostwick (yes the mayor from that Michael J Fox sitcom) is Ace Hunter the leader of Megaforce. That alone is worth the price of admission. Ill finish with this classic exchange between Ace and Dallas... Dallas: Well, I know how you feel, and I've been there myself. Let me see. One time before I made a jump into the night, an old buddy of mine told me something that made me feel a whole lot better. Ace Hunter: What, what did he tell you to do? Dallas: Well, he said, "You love 'em in blue and you love them in red. But most of all you love them in blue." Ace Hunter: That's totally inapplicable to anything that's going on here. And it's _dumb_. Who told you that? Dallas: You did! Ace Hunter: But it's very wise. Very wise.
June 25, 2007, 1:26 p.m. CST
This is why we must stop excusing the crap that.....
by IndustryKiller!
get's made today. because until we do no one will ever make another Blade Runner or The Thing but instead keep churning out unwatchable garbage like Underworld or Ghost Rider. The directors of yore, the Carpenters and the Spielbergs, simply aren't doing genre (at least not well) anymore but until the public creates an atmosphere that convinces the studio they want more than mindless, Bay-esque, ultra choppy, poorly directed explosions that is all we are going to get. Thank you Merrick for such wonderful retrospectives that will hopefully wake some up to how far down the rabbit hole we have gotten in terms of quality. For Christ sake nearly ever defender of Transformers can't form a more coherent argument than "It's got giant robots and that's all it needs." And in their heads that is actually some sort of twisted excuse. Sad sad times.
June 25, 2007, 1:27 p.m. CST
Wrote the following in
by SpookyOtaku
Wrote the following in response to this statement "The book was better. It always is." about LOTR Return of the King... Have you ever seen Blade Runner? If so, have you read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"? If so, can you honestly say that Phillip K. Dick's novel is better than Ridley Scott's movie? I know it's an exception to the rule...but Blade Runner blows it's source material out of the water... keep in mind my favorite book of all time (until i read SnowCrash) was A Scanner Darkly...PKD was a literary giant however Do Androids...? wasn't such a good read. Gotter launder me Karma!
June 25, 2007, 1:28 p.m. CST
Jar Jar in final cut?
by darrenspool
What they really should've done is get a chick with better titties. I hate those titties! God, couldn't they cast someone better?
June 25, 2007, 1:30 p.m. CST
I can't beleave the Mega Force fans are...
by tristeele
hijacking the Blade Runner talkback hahahahahahaha. Forgot to mention...The Thing is just the shit! Carpenter in the 80's was so awesome. But his scariest movie to me was Prince Of Darkness. I know its not his most popular but I love it. The dream sequence where they get contacted from the future. Or the touching of the mirror at the end. It still gets me. Also does anyone know if the Blade Runner with the voiceover is gonna be in the new set? Ive got a shitty avi with it...would like that version to complete the set.
June 25, 2007, 1:31 p.m. CST
As for the original version...
by a goonie
...for me, it's a tough call which is better. As my above story explains, I fell in love with the "Director's Cut" before ever seeing the theatrical cut. Finally, years later, I hunted it down in a beat-up VHS copy from a little video store and loved it, too. The narration is great, but I don't know if it's necessary. And the "driving off into the sunset" bit doesn't really bug me, but then again, I don't miss it in the Director's Cut. So it really is a tough call for me which is better. They both share my favourite moments in the movie (Hauer's speech being my favourite bit of em all), so I'll just have to say I love em both.
June 25, 2007, 1:33 p.m. CST
BLADE RUNNER = best.movie.ever.
by Motoko Kusanagi
fact. end discussion, close thread.
Of course I'm talking about the director's cut, not the godawful theatrical cut.
June 25, 2007, 1:41 p.m. CST
by Stuntcock Mike
Ace Hunter is the "man". Nuff said.
June 25, 2007, 1:42 p.m. CST
Well said, "IndustryKiller!"
by BenBraddock
The crap that Hollywood is serving these days... too bad.
June 25, 2007, 1:44 p.m. CST
Here is where a witty summary of my post goes
by PacmanFever
I hate to be the lone voice of dissent, but I don't *love* Blade Runner. And I have seen it several times, and seen both versions. Sure; I recognise its importance. I can admire the film, maybe even appreciate it on some levels, but I just don't love it (with the exception of Vangelis's score, which I own). I guess I have some of that growing up to do sometime. On the other hand, The Thing rules.
June 25, 2007, 1:44 p.m. CST
Blade Runner/The Thing...
by Pawprint
Oddly, I saw both of these films for the first time in about 1986, living at my Gran's in a sleepy village in Yorkshire; I was 14 at the time.
 As disturbing and challenging as they both are in their own different ways, I still consider them 'comfort films'. Living at my Gran's was one of the happiest times of my life, and when I saw the Thing, the village was undergoing one of the most snowy winters I'd ever seen, which tied in nicely with the setting of the Thing.
 I don't know why, but I identified with Blade Runner immediately, and it was already a 'cult classic' when I saw it. I fucking LOVED the whole atmosphere of it; hard to describe, but the whole film just seems 'warm' to me - despite the fact it pisses down continually throughout the film! The voice-over, the slightly 'off-kilter' acting, the soundtrack, and some of the most meaning-laden lines in history all combine to induce an almost trance-like state in me.
 I love both versions of Blade Runner; I loved Deckards voice-over, finding it almost soothing - and I liked the little insights he makes. I like the Director's Cut - voice-over removed - for simply having the balls to remove the voice-over and having long moments of contemplative silence, which the film does not suffer for.
 That said; if I had to choose, I'd take the original version each time.
June 25, 2007, 1:49 p.m. CST
by Kamala
With one punch, and then lights a cigar on ass and smokes over his limp body, and puts Sean Young on the back of his flying bike and takes her back to the Mega Force Compound for some hot monkey sex that will that replicant whore weak-kneed.
June 25, 2007, 1:52 p.m. CST
by mr. brownstone
Beatifully written man.
June 25, 2007, 1:53 p.m. CST
The Thing Chest Teeth
by necco
Y'all know what I'm talking about. There will never be a scene in a movie more shocking and terrifying than when that guy's chest splits open and those huge teeth bite off the doctor's arms. Never. No way. No How. I don't care what anyone says, no amount of CGI could ever improve upon it. Also, Blade Runner is the reason I went to film school and it's the reason I do special effects for a living, even more so than Star Wars.
June 25, 2007, 1:58 p.m. CST
They are hiding the Tech from public!!!!!!!!
by Norm3
They had Flying disc tech in Nazi Germany during the last month of the war. Red the book The Hunt for Zero Point Energy by Nick Cook!
June 25, 2007, 1:58 p.m. CST
Hey necco
by Kamala
When you were at film school, did anyone there talking about the flying motorbike scene from Megaforce, and say it was their reason for being there? Just try to keep this thread on topic man.
June 25, 2007, 2:02 p.m. CST
It's gooone, McReady...
by newkie brown
The Thing became my favourite film the day that I saw it in 1983 (I was too young to see it at the cinema and had to wait for the videotape to be released), and it's stayed my favourite film for almost 25 years. I adore it, and I doubt I will ever find a film I love more. Very few films maintain the power to shock and disturb after repeated viewings and still less after a quarter of a century, but dammit doesn't it still hold up! I still smile every time I watch it and hear Garry's brilliant reading of that line. No, not "I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of this winter tied to this fucking couch!") but, "It's gooone, McReady"
June 25, 2007, 2:07 p.m. CST
Krull = Flop
by Kamala
How could Krull and the Princess's love overpower the Beast, when they had just met? LAME
June 25, 2007, 2:09 p.m. CST
by Stuntcock Mike
June 25, 2007, 2:11 p.m. CST
Now on to Megaforce...
by mr. brownstone
One of the most hilarious and entertaining films ever made. Every person I show my VHS of it to has been sold on it big time much to their shock and dismay. When they release a HD edition of Ace Hunter and friends it will be a great, great day. *sheds a single tear*. By the way Mr_Incredible that 82 top ten box office list is pretty incredible. I remember that summer very vividly... all through movies.
June 25, 2007, 2:35 p.m. CST
Qui Gon Before the surgery=Krull
by MGTHEDJ
Watch that film and you will sit there going "Man that guy had some serious work done." Great job Merrick. I never did like the voice-over for "BladeRunner". To my ear, it didn't match the performance in the film. Ford did the voice-over while working on Return of the Jedi and he sounded too much like Han Solo. As for the unicorn dream, that was added for the Director's Cut. That's not in any of the previous versions. There were 3-workprint, U.S. theatrical, and International theatrical. So originally the foil unicorn is a symbol for Rachel-"She's unique", like a unicorn. "The Thing"-best damn horror film ever.----later-----m
June 25, 2007, 2:42 p.m. CST
still one of the all time sci-fi classics
by palewook
if you enjoy scifi, blade runner is someplace in your top 10 list.
June 25, 2007, 2:47 p.m. CST
My first impressions of Blade Runner (aged 11 in 1982)
by alucardvsdracula
Not very good. Back in the UK in 1982 Blade Runner was rated AA (a cross between a PG13 and an R) but it somehow un-nerved me, just the rating alone. Here was Harrison Ford, Han Solo himself in a sci-fi film which wasn't Star Wars. There was no safety net of the Lucas universe here, I got it, it was ADULT, it wasn't kids Sci-fi. It made me worried. And worried in seeing an ADULT film where Han Solo wouldn't be able to wise crack himself out of danger. A friend of mine's Dad had apparently seen it, so I had to ask: "Does Harrison Ford Die in it?" "Er, don't know," he said. "Oh, well… is it any good?" "My Dad says the Special Effects are good." And that was it. A week or so later I was hanging around in the lobby of the local cinema waiting for some kid friendly movie to start (it might have been ET, but I'm not sure), anyway Blade Runner was playing in Screen 2, nobody was about and my movie was a good few minutes away, so I decided to sneak into the Blade Runner screen and take a quick look. There I saw something which my young eyes didn't quite register, sure it was kinda cool, but it was Dark, too Dark for me to take on board. It was the opening industrial landscape shot of LA 2019. I was taken back, but not able to take it in, I felt this was definitely not for this kids eyes, so I left for the child friendly movie now showing upstairs. A few months later it arrived on video and everybody wanted to watch it. Myself included. Most of my friends had now seen it and said they liked the effects, but not much else. So now was my chance. And to be honest I got bored after the first ten minutes. What the hell was that rubbish all about? Boring. Slow. Dull. Why is everything pitch black? Just where was the sun? Fast forward to nothing much, this is complete crap, hit eject. And yet this film which had made me feel numb had unknowingly planted a seed in me. A few months later and I stumbled upon the Marvel comic book adaptation, by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson - I knew these guys and their work on the Star Wars comics, so I just had to read this. It was brilliant. Really brilliant, way better than the film I thought. About two years passed and Blade Runner came to TV. Oh fuck it, I'd give it another go. I made sure I stole a new VHS cassette off my Dad and recorded it. And then something happened with this viewing, sure it was a bit disturbing and pretty violent, but it wasn't boring at all, in fact it was down right thrilling, especially the ending which made me shit myself. A few days later I made the mistake of recording over Blade Runner with The Black Hole. Fucking twat! Another couple of years went by and the movie was being shown at around midnight on a commercial station, great I can finally get this back on tape and wash away the memories of The Black Hole. My parents let me stay up to record it (I wanted to pause it during the adverts - so it looked like a proper copy you see) providing I kept the sound low. Now here's the thing, I'd only really properly seen Blade Runner once before now and this time the film affected me profoundly, I found it deep, moving and griping beyond anything I'd really seen before. Not only that I wanted to be in that world, that future forever. Since then the film has stayed with me and remains once of my all-time favourites. Just reading some of these comments seems I wasn't alone in 'growing' up with Ridley Scott's evergreen classic. Can't wait for the Final Cut by the way.
June 25, 2007, 2:47 p.m. CST
Different Version
by homer40
I'm pretty sure that there were three versions. The first "director's cut" was a few minutes shorter than the original release and contained less violence. Then there was the slightly shorter version, and finally the "Director's Cut" which has been disowned by Scott as a rush job. Jesus, I had forgotten about that piece of cinematic shit called Megaforce. Saw it at the drive in stoned to the bone and just laughed and laughed. My eight year old brother thought it was cool though. As for The Thing, "You gotta be fucking kidding me." One of the greatest lines ever, perfectly inserting a moment of humor into a scene that had me climbing up the back of my seat in terror. Frankly,if I had to choose, I would pick The Thing over Bladerunner. It is a better film that represents the highest achievement of John Carpenter's career. So many scenes of greatness, the dogs, the spider head, and the interrupted CPR sequence. This was the Brimley performance of a lifetime, and Kurt was just as fucking cool as a cucumber. Russel would not achieve this level of brillance again until this year, where he just absolutely kicked ass in Grindhouse. Interesting note about Bladerunner. The future seems to an America filled with Asian immigrants. We know now that in a decade California will be almost entirely populated by Hispanics as part of their reconquista of America. With the vast migration out of CA now taking place, it will be hard to find a single good Noodle house.
June 25, 2007, 2:52 p.m. CST
tristeele - Ace Hunter, Cmdr MEGAFORCE, said it best...
by anti0gravity
"It's all on the wheel, it all comes around!" And it's true! As you say... "This is one of the GREAT drunk party movies. Ive seen it a hundred times probably. Its crazy as a kid I thought it was a good movie. Then in my 20's I saw it again and realized what it really is. A cult camp comedy masquerading as a action movie." Absolutely true... MEGAFORCE was a *FANTASTIC* cult camp comedy masquerading as a action movie! And here's EXACTLY why... Think back to the time you first saw this as a kid. What did you see? What did you feel? Those of us lucky enough to witness this film as fresh faced 80's youngsters were treated to something sorely missing today... A truly JOYFUL explosion of MANLY fun, adventure, ambition, hope, and BALLS. When was the last time you felt all that SPEWING at you from a film? I got the sense these guys just woke up one brightly sunny day and said, "Dammit! We're gonna make a monster crazy damn movie and love every frakkin' Manly second of it! Let's ROLL!!!!" And by God they did!!! Tell me you can't watch this movie and smell the absolute "WE DON'T GIVE A HAPPY FRAK!!!" attitude these guys went to work with everyday... Tell me you didn't want to ride Mach 5 across a hot desert your badass, color changing Megabike... Tell me you'd say no to 72 hours spent happy with your very best buds, lighting up those old world, old tech, and old fashioned badguys with your high tech lasers and your new wave rock music... You KNOW this... They must've had the time of their LIVES out there in the desert back then. Now, how many of us get ANYWHERE close to that level of REAL LIVING sitting in front of these plastic compu-boxes! That RIGHT! Don't hate them because they're BEAUTIFUL! Luckily for us, they went out and risked health, careers, and MERCILESS RIDICULE to make MEGAFORCE. Because of them, our dreams were FIRED UP to ROILING BOIL as young men who DARED imagine our lives could be exciting, romantic, and MEANINGFUL. Even better, as grown men NOW we can get NASTY drunk, watch this SINGULAR movie, and feel DESPERATELY ANGRY if we let those little man dreams slip away. And then, with Ace Hunter, Cmdr MEGAFORCE, at our side, we can (nay WILL) go forth and FINALLY make something SPECIAL of our lives! Hey, DON'T LAUGH!!! That Ace Hunter guy made no excuses for what he was... He wore his gold tights TIGHT (like TO THE SKIN)... no padding here Supes! And if wanted to be, say... REED RICHARDS... he would damn well wear his BIG BOLD HELVETICA "4" square in the middle of his Man chest (and NOT let it slip down and off to the lower left like SOME males... COUGH! GRUFFUDD!!) FOR SHAME!!!! Let's take back our MANHOOD! ACE HAS SHOWN US THE WAY!!! LET'S ROLL!!!! On the other hand... "Well, if it's a comfortable tour you're looking for, I have connections... at DisneyLand!"
June 25, 2007, 2:56 p.m. CST
This summerr's movies that we will talk about in 25
by Olsen Twins_Fan
Hot Fuzz, surely. Right?
June 25, 2007, 2:58 p.m. CST
Oh and here's another clue about Deckards real identity
by alucardvsdracula
As we all know, replicant's have artificial implanted memories, and keep fake photographs as mementos of their 'lives'. Right. Now just look at all those photos lying around Deckard's apartment. What the fuck are they doing there? BIG CLUE ME THINKS.
June 25, 2007, 3:04 p.m. CST
Wow, a Flying Car!
by unclemeat
Now they can have car crashes at 300 mph...and above the ground! Think of the traffic...Attack of the Clones and 5th Element come to mind.
June 25, 2007, 3:05 p.m. CST
well said Anti0grav....well said indeed!!
by tristeele
Time to listen to 707's Megaforce cd! Olsen twins fan....i dont think there is a SINGLE movie from this summer we will remember in 25 years.
June 25, 2007, 3:24 p.m. CST
In fact, there are five different BLADE RUNNER versions
by Motoko Kusanagi
and not only three:
1.) The famous workprint
2.) The San Diego sneak version
3.) The theatrical release
4.) The international cut
5.) The director's cut
Wanna know more? Read Paul M. Sammons great book "Future Noir - The Making of Blade Runner" (1996)
June 25, 2007, 3:33 p.m. CST
The Nostromo & The Spinner have the same computer?
by Orionsangels
I know Alien & Blade Runner were both directed by Ridley Scott. Isn't interesting that for both The Nostromo & The Spinner. They use that same circular computer graphic, to nevigate liftoff and desend. Anyone ever notice that? Do Alien and Blade Runner take place in the same universe?
June 25, 2007, 3:38 p.m. CST
Blade Runner was the very first movie I bought on Laser
by TimBenzedrine
Disc.The original, with the voice over. The version I saw in the theatre about six times that year. I've seen the other versions, but the '82 one will always be the definitive version. My girl friend loved that movie. I lost her to cancer many years later and I'll always associate Rutger Hauers speech at the end with our relationship.
June 25, 2007, 3:39 p.m. CST
ZombieSolutions, Kamala is right.
by classyfredblassy
How can you love someone you just met? There are tons of chicks I'd like to pork, and have after just a few hours and few Jim Beam shots, but believe me, their was no love there buddy boy. And what was with that cyclops with the EMO haircut. I like my cyclops to have horns like in Sinbad.
June 25, 2007, 3:40 p.m. CST
Blade Runner
by thefreeagents
To me its just a matter of opinion on whether Deckard is a replicant or not. But one hting that always stuck with me, even when I saw it for the first time when I was 14 was that all the replicants were called by their first names and all the humans were called by their last names. I dont know what that means, but its cool huh?
June 25, 2007, 3:45 p.m. CST
Ambiguity is a GOOD thing...
by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies
Seriously, Scott saying Dekard is a replicant pissed me off just like Verhoven saying Quaid was dreaming really pissed me off too. The fact these things are ambiguous is what makes them so great we don't want to know the answer because that robs us of our imagination about what the answers are.
June 25, 2007, 3:46 p.m. CST
I hate to say this, but this movies overrated
by Orionsangels
For those who've never seen the film. You're gonna get the same feeling. What's the big deal? Yes the effects and look of the film are fantastic and still impress today. (Aside from the spinner that flies in front of the giant billboard. If you look closely the spinner is slightly transparent. you can see through it. That always botherd me.) You're in for one boring movie. Harrison seems half asleep in this film. There's more talking than anything else and the story isn't even that interesting. The message at the end though is what makes it memorable, but mostly it's a slow going ride.
June 25, 2007, 3:48 p.m. CST
The Only Dodgy thing in The Thing...
by FILMFUNK
Is the Stop Motion tentacle beast towards the end. The rest is absolutely sick as fuck perfect! Watched it with my mum when I was a nipper. Also had a birthday Party and uncle Chuck's Invasion USA got stuffed in the VHS after all my little bitch friends booed Blade Runner off in favour of the bearded Ginger Ninja!? I watched Ridleys masterpiece(tied with Alien) alone later and even though it confused the fuck out of me It was a defining moment in me loving movies that la'l bit more than most of my mates.
He's a replicant. The constant Unicorn motifs and the fact Ridley said 'He's a Replicant'.
June 25, 2007, 3:50 p.m. CST
by rajium32
June 25, 2007, 4:22 p.m. CST
Same reaction for everyone
by lost.rules
Didn't like the first time, loved it the second time. Me too. I also had the same reactions to 2001 and Apocalypse Now. Some movies are intelligent enough that they have to be viewed more than once.
June 25, 2007, 4:27 p.m. CST
by Icky Thump
Well written. I agree with the slop that is being churned out at the moment, where's the effort? Keep in mind these films were done way before CG was the norm. thus relied on skillful story telling and acting (and directing) - people who say BR is boring or over-rated are spoonfed explosions and grqphics 24-7 and don't understand the power of restraint and care. I'll take Br over ID4, I Robot, or Phantom Menace anyday.
June 25, 2007, 5:01 p.m. CST
I remember Megaforce...
by kirttawesomio
...It had flying motorcycles. Wicked cool.
June 25, 2007, 5:26 p.m. CST
Deckard = Replicant?
by one9deuce
No. If he is a Replicant then the entire theme of the film is destroyed. Deckard has eliminated the rest of the Replicants, and the only reason he hasn't eliminated Roy yet is because he hasn't been able to. Yet when Roy has the chance to eliminate Deckard, he doesn't. He saves his life, he shows compassion, he becomes more "more human than a human". More human than Deckard.
June 25, 2007, 5:29 p.m. CST
God, not more Deckard is/isn't a replicant debates.
by Bronx Cheer
Seriously. It's over. It's decided. He shot JR.
June 25, 2007, 5:53 p.m. CST
msj sucks!
by El Borak
the thing still freaks me out!
June 25, 2007, 5:54 p.m. CST
How To Give Due Props to 2 Long Time MEGAFORCE AICNers?
by anti0gravity
On this glorious day, MEGAFORCE once again regained precious lost ground in our cluttered collective consciousness. (Thank you MR_INCREDIBLE!)
 Even so, and despite all our wonderful efforts, this good thing will fleet as all good things must. (S:AAB? SOB!)
 So, before we turn our big hairy back on this august event for the "pleasures" of the daily grinder, why not take this same moment to celebrate 2 who've never lost that MEGAFORCE faith?
 Of course I speak of...
 mr. brownstone! Who above followed up on his excellent "MEGAFORCE coming to DVD!" talkback post on this very site from way back in May 2003.
 Here's what he told us that day...
 "This is one of the best films ever made by the human race. I'm gonna celebrate by making a Megaforce cake and decorating it with my Megaforce Hotwheels toys, then ramming my face into it."
 BANG!!! Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!
 And let's not forget the "Ace" who started that historic MEGAFORCE AICN thread...
 YES! It's Mr. Harry "BLADE 2 is the tongue, mouth, fingers and lips of a lover" Knowles!!!
 Fearless Leader's feelings say what we aren't nearly brave enough to say...
 "Ya see, there are titles of such a deep personal interest to me that... well... it makes me all teary-eyed just thinking about it."
 DAMN STRAIGHT!!!
 So, what do you say... How do we salute these true believers in a manner that befits?
 I vote thusly...
 We kiss our thumbs, throw em' up in the air, and wave them madly like we JUST DON'T CARE!!!
 Because you know... "The good guys always win, even in the 80's!"
 Go see the original "MEGAFORCE coming to DVD!" article and talkback now at...
 http://www.aintitcool.com/node/15313
June 25, 2007, 5:58 p.m. CST
by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies
I saw that movie when I was a kid, up until this talkback I thought it was delta force I had seen for some reason! But it must have been megaforce as I remember the flying bike so clearly. Damn I need to see that movie again!
June 25, 2007, 6:06 p.m. CST
by BannedOnTheRun
All 7,000 of your MySpace friends are dead!
June 25, 2007, 6:08 p.m. CST
I disagree about The Thing F/X work....
by Quake II
I think they still hold up. The movie has an intensity that CGI would just ruin. Practical f/x worked and still hold up in that film. What no one ever gives The Thing credit for is its timeless "look". There are no terribly dated haircuts or clothing to "date" the movie and the cinematography can't be beat. The movie still feels fresh today and is 20X better than most horror films released SINCE then.
June 25, 2007, 6:11 p.m. CST
The Deckard controversy is over....
by Quake II
Ridley SCott said he wanted Deckard to be a Replicant and Harrison Ford didn't like that idea. So you decide. I side with the actor as he IS the character.
June 25, 2007, 7:12 p.m. CST
Blade Runner: Boring and Sucked THEN...
by TheGhostWhoLurks
Boring and sucks now. It's not NEARLY as deep and profound as Merrick and sci-fi elitists would like to think it is.
The Thing, on the other hand, continues to ROCK a quarter of a century later.
June 25, 2007, 7:14 p.m. CST
Replicants Gotta Eat!!!
by Lamerz
I gotta see this again. Haven't seen BladeRunner in prolly 15 years. Yeah yeah, not seeing BR in 15 years is blasphemy and all that ... fuck you.
June 25, 2007, 7:17 p.m. CST
by ArcadianDS
This movie is too dark, and I'm not referring to the setting, or the tone, or the characters.
 I'm talking about the fact that you cant see anything thats going on in the movie because they lit all the sets with Coleman flashlights.
June 25, 2007, 7:21 p.m. CST
by Lamerz
To work in another catchphrase.
June 25, 2007, 7:23 p.m. CST
When I saw BR, I was concerned at some of the killings
by Lamerz
... but then I looked over and Kurt Russell was laughing, so I guess it was OK.
June 25, 2007, 7:41 p.m. CST
Blade Runner = Logan's Run from the other perspective..
by Immortal_Fish
...with an Asimov twist. Kinda. Depending on who you speak with.
Is it truly that original after all?
Don't get me wrong. I love the flick. It's fantastic for all the reasons Merrick and others have accounted for here on TB. I point to Blade Runner and the Thing as the last movies to utilize 'true' special effects grounded in reality (i.e. non-CGI) that really felt organic. And it's WAAY better than most movies released this decade if not this year.
BUT...! It remains an ultimately derivative narrative from superior sources. Again, how is it anything but a collusion of Logan's Run and I, Robot mixed with just a touch of Columbo?
Yes, Blade Runner is great. But it's not GREAT!!
Tron deserves way more praise.
June 25, 2007, 7:43 p.m. CST
That BR trailer
by Orionsangels
It's funny if you released a trailer like that today. They'd probably call the movie bold and stylish. They just don't make simple trailers like that anymore.
June 25, 2007, 7:50 p.m. CST
Actors are NOT the characters. They are actors.
by Bronx Cheer
Most actors are too silly to have the sense to know what's best for their characters. That's why we have WRITERS. So Ford can go hang regarding Deckard's status as a human. It wasn't his show to run.
June 25, 2007, 7:50 p.m. CST
The Thing, one of most realistic alien movies eva made
by Orionsangels
The Thing is always felt real to me. There was no alien in a rubber suit, no UFO in the sky. It wasn't set in a major city. No army is called in. It was just these men in the artic doing their job and they happen to run into this thing. a thing they can't explain. it's somekind of organism they're dealing with.
June 25, 2007, 8:09 p.m. CST
by mr. brownstone
thanks man. I love stories like that.
June 25, 2007, 8:27 p.m. CST
Blade Runner and The Thing came out on the same day?
by Gozu
June 25, 2007, 8:29 p.m. CST
In my humble opinion, Blade Runner is...
by DoctorWho?
...the best combination of VISUALS and MUSIC ever put on film. Both visuals and score are top notch in their own right...but together it is simply ashtonishing. Add all of the many layered story points and concepts listed above by Merrick and you have the greatest film ever...in my book anyway:)
June 25, 2007, 9:43 p.m. CST
The Thing...Interesting side note...
by Quake II
Probably one of the only films in HISTORY that didn't have a single woman in the cast (or on screen). The only female (kinda) seen in the movie is on the "Let's Make A Deal" episode that is shown playing on the tv in the background.
June 25, 2007, 9:59 p.m. CST
"You've gotta be F[gunshot]ing kidding!"
by Osmosis Jones
"You guys don't understaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand....that thing wanted to be uuuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssssssssssss!"
June 25, 2007, 11:42 p.m. CST
Deckard can't be a replicant
by BenBraddock
...'cos if he was then he'd have super-strength and agility like Roy and the others, right? He get's beaten up several times, broken fingers etc.. he's clearly not as strong as the replicants he's stalking. What gives?
June 25, 2007, 11:45 p.m. CST
They don't advertise for killers in the newspaper...
by Bill Clay
That's what I was. Ex-cop. Ex-killer. Ex-blade runner.
June 25, 2007, 11:55 p.m. CST
Re: "Deckard can't be a replicant"
by Bill Clay
I agree. Harrison Ford was 100% correct when he said it made no sense for Deckard to be a replicant. The point of the movie was to show a real-man who was dead inside hunting fake-men who taught him how precious life is. He grew to love life so much, he gave up his lifestyle to run away with a fugitive and find whatever brief happiness they could make together. The broken Deckard at the beginning of the movie who whined about his ex-wife calling him "Sushi" would never have done that, he had given up on life. Follow Ridley Scott's artsy-fartsy ideas and you lose that whole beautiful story, to gain what? As Ford said, "Make Deckard a replicant and the audience will have no one to care about."
June 25, 2007, 11:58 p.m. CST
I don't know why he saved my life...
by Bill Clay
Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life, anybody's life, my life. All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die.
June 26, 2007, 1:02 a.m. CST
The debate on "Replicant or not" is so unnecessary.
by DoctorWho?
You either interpret it the way YOU like it. End of story. Sure, it's a cool debate to kick around in the TB...but it a film to be ENJOYED, not analyzed like the Zapruder film. I personally like both versions...a little more fond of the directors cut...but have no problem with the narration. Never understood why people thought it was SO bad. In one he's NOT a replicant...in the other he IS.
June 26, 2007, 1:05 a.m. CST
Oh, the debate.....
by MrScratch0753
Quite honestly fellahs, you CAN argue both ways.......Deckard COULD very well be a replicant, even with the physical limitations...ie, the FINALLY constructed a replicant indistinguishable from a human....the unicorn shot would seem to be a confirmation of this....but how do we know that Deckard never told anyone about that reverie? The theme of a human's redemption is shot with this theory, however. I always chose to take Gaff's origami as a message to Deckard.....chase your dreams, man.....So I prefer my Replicants ambiguous....hey, maybe they're ALL replicants, having replace humans centuries ago and recreating the "present" (for them) over and over....it's like 3019, and they don't know 'cause they keep recreating the cycle....you see where I'm going with this? One of the most beautiful things about Blade Runner is that it contains SO MANY points of debate....Final cut finally drops october this year, and will contain FIVE different versions, so everyone can have their own preferred version.....me? I might just do some splicing, and do my own damn cut.......
June 26, 2007, 1:07 a.m. CST
Deckard's not a frakkin' replicant!
by Zardoz
Sorry, but no one, including Ridley "I have no idea how many replicants came to Earth" Scott will ever convince me that Deckard was a replicant. It was just bad math, a deleted scene and continuity errors that made this whole speculation possible. The unicorn at the end? That was Gaff's reason for letting Rachael escape: she's the unique replicant that has implanted memories and an "unlimited" lifespan. Deckard as a replicant just doesn't make ANY sense. Replicants aren't allowed on Earth, "under penalty of death." Deckard has hunted replicants for years, certainly longer than a "4 year life-span". To say he's a replicant is just asinine and moronic...(sorry, Ridley!)
June 26, 2007, 1:12 a.m. CST
I'd still like a "Do Androids Dream..." movie.
by ZeroCorpse
Seriously, I LOVE Blade Runner, but I'd still like to see a direct translation of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" complete with Mercerism, Buster Friendly, and Iran (Deckard's wife). In fact, I think it would make a pretty fucking awesome mini-series or TV series. Stick to the book, and you'd have a huge hit for the clever folks out there.
June 26, 2007, 1:30 a.m. CST
Saw The Thing on the big screen a week ago in LA!
by Earthling
And it looked amazing. The print was near perfect and the film definitely held up - visual effects, music, story. The Aero Theater in Santa Monica showed it as a double with Cat People. The night before they ran Poltergeist with Creepshow and the night after they played Tron (70mm) and Star Trek 2! It was incredible. They even had crew members and cast from the movies to talk after the movies! *** Anyway, back to The Thing... I did not see the film in 1982, but I did see Blade Runner and E.T. I was only 10, but Blade Runner totally worked for me even then. Of course, I didn't pick up on all the subtleties of the story and themes, but I was blown away by the world on-screen. From the opening crawl and titles, to the couple escaping the city at the end. I even liked the voice-over and still do. For many years, I owned the laserdisc and taped the movie onto cassette tape so I could listen to its incredible soundtrack while driving! They sound design is just that good. Oh, and one last bit - there are at least three versions of the film I have seen. The third version is unavailable today, but was released by Criterion on laserdisc in the early 90s. It was an unrated version and had longer cuts of some scenes. When Pris is shot by Deckard, he shoots her three times, not twice. When Batty puts the nail through his hand, you see it actually pierce his skin and come out the other side. And the best part, is when Tyrell is killed, you see Batty's fingers go all the way into Tyrell's eye sockets and deep red blood oozes out! Still had voice over and the happy ending. I love these films. Thanks for the great review!
June 26, 2007, 1:48 a.m. CST
The Thing
by Crimson King
I fucking love that movie. Even to this day. I recently bought the DVD. One of the best horror movies even by today's standards...well, that's just my humble opinion.
June 26, 2007, 2:32 a.m. CST
Nice article, Merrick
by Franklin T Marmoset
Two very good films. Blade Runner is definitely a grower. I wasn't all that taken with it as first, but it's one of those films you find yourself going back to again and again, and then one day you realise you love it. Also, I've always enjoyed the ambiguity of not knowing whether Deckard is a replicant. It makes more sense in the context of the story to NOT know, since what the film is saying is that none of us know how much time we have left. It's a mystery.
And The Thing, which is one of my favourites, and one of the few pure horror films I really love. You should really sit and watch the film in one sitting, soak up that atmosphere and whatnot.
June 26, 2007, 3:23 a.m. CST
Deckard IS a replicant.
by Motoko Kusanagi
1.) He dreams about the unicorn and later Gaff leaves an origami unicorn at Deckard's home. The only way that Gaff could've known about the unicorn is because he knows which kind of dreams are implemented in the new replicants (=Deckard) - just like Deckard knows the implemented memories of Rachael.
2.) Only the Nexus-6 replicants have a 4-year lifespan. Deckard is not necessarily a Nexus-6. 3.) Gaff gives another 2 hints that he knows that Deckard is a replicant. First: In the final scene on the roof he says to Deckard: "You've done a man's job, Sir", meaning man=human (as opposed to Deckard not being human). In the same scene he says: "It's too bad she won't live - but then again, who does?", meaning Deckard won't live, too.
For me it's clear that Deckard is a replicant - but only in the director's cut. The theatrical cut is far more ambiguous and much more optimistic. That's why I prefer the director's cut :-)
June 26, 2007, 3:33 a.m. CST
Dear Motoko
by Franklin T Marmoset
Couldn't you also argue that by saying "You've done a man's job, sir" he's saying that Deckard is, in fact, a man?
Also, suggesting that Deckard won't live doesn't mean he's a robot. All of us humans die in the end, don't we?
I'm not saying you're wrong, by the way. Just that these things can be looked at from both sides, and that it's the ambiguity that makes it interesting.
June 26, 2007, 3:42 a.m. CST
Dear Franklin T Marmoset
by Motoko Kusanagi
Hmm, good point. I guess I have to rethink my arguments :-)
I totally agree that this ambiguity is one (of many) thing(s) that makes BLADE RUNNER so interesting.
June 26, 2007, 4:16 a.m. CST
Another thing that makes Blade Runner interesting...
by Franklin T Marmoset
Flying cars!
When the hell are we going to get those? What's the point of living in the twenty-first century if we're not going to work in our spinners? Or, at the very least, some kind of jet pack?
I wouldn't say no to a sexbot, either...
June 26, 2007, 4:43 a.m. CST
I'll concede the director's cut suggests he's a "SJ"...
by Zardoz
"Skin Job", that is. The original theatrical release, which I saw in the theaters with my Mom, just the two of us in an empty theater,(Yes, it WAS a bit of a bomb on the initial release) is the version that I remember the most. And that version is much less indicative of Deckard being a Replicant. The director's cut is much more ambiguous about it. I was disappointed with the film when I saw it at age 12, as well. It wasn't until I was 19 that I really understood and appreciated what the film was all about. (and the 12 year old also went expecting to see Han Solo in a different Star Wars film; boy was THAT disappointing!) But even as a kid I was overwhelmed by the SFX. Douglas Trumbul should have gotten an Oscar! (damn you, E.T.!) I'm pretty sure I saw it in 70mm at the Robert E. Lee theater in New Orleans: the screen was HUGE! Whatever Deckard's Skin-Job status, Blade Runner is, without a doubt, the most influential Sci-Fi film of the last 25 years! (now bring on the sequel!) The only movie on these lists so far that I didn't see in the theater in '82 was The Thing. I didn't see it until it was on HBO years later. I guess I couldn't convince my Mom to take me to see that particular R-Rated film. (But I saw every other movie on the '82 list with her: thanks, Mom!)
June 26, 2007, 6:01 a.m. CST
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn
by Kamala
Any one know when MetalStorm and the Deadly Spawn coming out on DVD? These are the two great films of 1983. Bladerunner? ET? The Thing? PFFST! Please! Trash, the lot of them. I know MetalStorm will miss the 3d effects that made watching it in the theater such an experience, but it is still a landmark film. Movies from Mad Maxx: beyond Thunderdome to tv shows like Firefly all ripped it off. And Deadly Spawn? Still gives me nightmares. Aliens 3 it a total rip off it, as well as Cabin Fever and Slither.
June 26, 2007, 7:47 a.m. CST
BLADE RUNNER sequel
by Motoko Kusanagi
I'd like to see a movie version of K.W. Jeter's "Blade Runner 2 - The Edge of Human". It was a good (written) sequel and even fixed the number-of-replicants-on-earth issue.
June 26, 2007, 9:20 a.m. CST
by Kamala
Metalstorm, Deadly Spawn > Thing, Bladerunner . And Mega Force is off the fucking charts!!!
June 26, 2007, 9:47 a.m. CST
by Kamala
I am joking, Thing and Bladerunner own. Metal Storm was d-grade Road Warrior rip off that was trying to cash in on the 3D craze of the early 80's (Jaws 3d, Friday the 13 part 4 in 3d, Parasite, etc,,)
June 26, 2007, 10:05 a.m. CST
Deckard = Replicant in Director's Cut
by SpookyOtaku
I haven't seen the original theatrical release since probably 1990...but I was more than game for rewatching my Director's Cut DVD last night after reading Merrick's reminiscence. I watched for any sign's relevant to Deckard being either a replicant or just a man. The two things that stood out the most in favor of his being a replicant were in a shot at around 1:40 his eyes had that internal glow that Priss's, Roy's, Rachel's and the owl's eyes had. And most convincing was when he is looking at the picture that Rachel brings to prove she's human, for a brief second it animates...indicating that this image is an implanted memory for Deckard as well. To me this means, at least in the Director's Cut, Deckard is a replicant.
June 26, 2007, 10:41 a.m. CST
Invasion USA
by homer40
Somebody mentioned this film. This is the best Norris film (not saying much) and I haven't seen it in years. It was a hard assed film, with two of the most sickening scenes ever filmed. The first was the Christmas attack on the cul de sac with the rocket launchers, just terrorists blowing up a neighborhood for no good reason at all. The second was when the bad guy smashes the face of a woman doing blow with a metal straw, which goes into her face. He then throws her out a window. Great stuff. Certainly a much better and more memorable film than Megaforce. Still, Red Dawn is the classic of the USA invasion films (the other notable being the ABC miniseries Amerika) Remember how brillant John Millius was? Watched his "Rough Riders" the other day and was just blown away. I know he produced "Rome" but I don't think he wrote any of the episodes or directed. Hard to say what his input was.
June 26, 2007, 11:18 a.m. CST
Deckard and Rachel are 5 & 6...
by Billyeveryteen
6 Replicants, 3 male, 3 female. Two are captured and "reprogramed" to help flush out the other four.(it's why Roy knew Deckard's name)
Yeah, I think that's bullshit too. Still it's fun to think about.
BTW, multicolored-getaway-smoke from dozens of Megaforce vehicles, is full of WIN!
June 26, 2007, 11:37 a.m. CST
Multicolored-Getaway-Smoke By MEGAFORCE!
by anti0gravity
Totally forgot about that!
 Nice one Billyeveryteen!
June 26, 2007, 12:16 p.m. CST
Disney 3D
by homer40
This is truly amazing technology. I saw "Nightmare" last year and it was amazing, as was "Meet the Robinsons". What is great is that there is no eye strain whatsoever. Also, the 3D is used to enhance the experience of watching the films, not for cheap effects. Mostly what you get is a much greater sense of depth perception. Particularly in the case of "Nightmare" which used three dimensional sets and characters, the technology is amazing. It is much better even than IMAX 3D. I have to drive an hour to get to the nearest theater with the 3D projector, its digital by the way, and it is well worth the trip. I hear they are doing "Titanic" using the technology and I can't wait. Oh, and before "Robinsons" they showed an old Disney cartoon and it looked just the way it should have looked, great, just great.
June 26, 2007, 1:04 p.m. CST
Sushi. That's what my ex-wife called me.
by Bill Clay
Cold fish.
June 26, 2007, 1:06 p.m. CST
If Deckard is a replicant then howcome he's not...
by Neo Zeed
superstrong? Granted I haven't seen the movie in a while but...
June 26, 2007, 2:19 p.m. CST
How can Deckard slam a door, a replicant is opening?
by Billyeveryteen
Easy, Roy is strength A. Rachel is strength D. Deckard, I'm guessing, is a C. This also explains why he can climb walls with broken fingers.
June 26, 2007, 3:54 p.m. CST
One of the best
by drdoom_v
They truly don't make movies like this anymore. Definitely kicks ass!
June 26, 2007, 3:59 p.m. CST
by trombone
No. If you follow the initial scene where Deckard gets the lowdown, one replicant was retired before the film began. It was caught breaking into Tyrell.Deckard is definitely NOT a replicant. The story falls apart if he is.
June 26, 2007, 4:22 p.m. CST
The Thing and Blade Runner
by Cobbio
I bought the HD-remastered DVD of "The Thing" about 2 months ago, and holy shit do the effects hold up! They remastered the film so well it looks and sounds like it was filmed yesterday. Incredible. The fucked up transformation sequences are scarier, grizzlier, and more alien than anything released in the CG age. "The Descent" had some nice sequences, and so did a few other films, but "The Thing" owns them all for brutally gross alien body horror. In my opinion, at least. Anyone who hasn't seen the HD-remastered version of "The Thing" really should check it out. Blew my mind.
 I enjoyed "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut" more than the theatrical release. The atmosphere of "Blade Runner" is what I most enjoyed about it. The hulking skyscrapers, millions of twinkling lights and advertisments everywhere, integrated languages (an idea ahead of its time), and a jagged corporate agenda controlling everything. Interesting how this last point has absolutely come to fruition.
 Good films, both! Thanks Merrick.
June 26, 2007, 4:51 p.m. CST
Zardoz, surely you jest...
by DoctorWho?
...when thou suggests "bring on the sequel!" in regard to Blade Runner. If not, please do not type such ruminations here. Some idiot out there in Hollywood might just take you up and that...or worse...a remake!
June 26, 2007, 8:07 p.m. CST
trombone, I agree...
by Billyeveryteen
Deckard as a human IS better.
Still, what the chief tells him could be BS. Implanting memories of an unhappy ex-wife is all a part of the same scam.
June 26, 2007, 8:49 p.m. CST
1982 was good, but 1981 was better
by Prossor
after you finish this series of 1982 talkbacks which i nostalgilove, you should start on 1981: Raiders, Mad Max 2, The Evil Dead, Das Boot, Escape from New York, Excalibur, American Werewolf in Paris, Time Bandits, Outlsnd, Stripes, Halloween 2, Body Heat, Gallipoli, History of the World Part I, Friday the 13th II, Clash of the Titans, Scanners, Nighthawks, and some others too. 1980-1982 has to be the best 3 years for genre filmmaking ever
June 26, 2007, 10:52 p.m. CST
Another BladeRunner influence-the overcoat
by MGTHEDJ
That jumped out at me when I saw achival footage of NYC in the winter circa 1981. Everyone on the street who was under 30 wore ski-jackets or parkas. By 1984-85 you saw more and more long overcoats, and by 1990 they were everywhere.-----later-----m
June 26, 2007, 11:51 p.m. CST
Skinjobs. That's what Bryant called Replicants...
by Bill Clay
In history books, he was the kind of cop who called Black men ni***rs.
June 27, 2007, 12:47 a.m. CST
by hank quinlan
I always loved Blade Runner as a kid. Even then I was impressed by its vision and creativity. It was only a few short years later Burton ripped it off (badly) for Batman. By then its growing influence was already being felt. A friend of mine pointed out that Scott never really made a film on the level of BR ever again. I think that's true. Parts of Legend measure up visually and obviously he's made some great movies since but none on that level. The Thing I didn't see until I was 15 but I loved it then. And years later when my brother finally got around to it he was blown away too. I've gone back to it time and again. That and Out of Sight were the first films I bought on DVD. I just watched it the other week. It's usually the first movie I pick to show a girl since its scary and usually they haven't seen it. Considering the last girl I showed it to was born in 1984 and the other was born in '85 its also usually a safe bet they havent seen it. And also viewing it through their eyes you see how well it holds up so I have to disagree with Merrick. Other then the computers the film looks timeless. I always watch the girls during the blood test. BAM! One of the best scares ever. Perhaps Carpenter's best looking film and an astonishing screenplay filled with great actors with great faces (not pretty boys but MEN) who clearly knew they were in a good movie. A Masterpiece. A few years back Creative Screenwriting featured The Thing on the cover with a retrospective of the screenplay. The next issue had a letter saying something like: "Thanks for the article on The Thing. Some of us have been saying since it was released what a great movie it is." Then it was signed Frank Darabont. The other great thing about both these films is they are unabashedly genre films and illustrate what is great about genre films. How you dont have to look down your nose at them and say "its all about the characters. its not really sci-fi. blah blah". Ford and Hitchcock didn't apologize for making westerns or thrillers. I just watched the interviews on the Black Christmas DVD. The original ONE. And Margot Kidder noted how she had worked with all these famous directors behind and in front of the camera who were supposed to change cinema and did this movie to pay the bills and yet which one are they talking about 30 years later? I think that speaks a lot to what film really means to people and to the kind of films that really do have something to say like Thing and Blade Runner. They were obviously dismissed as dank, boring, BAD movies all those years ago by audiences and critics. Precisely for the very things we love about them now. Look at all the debate they generated right here. Is he a replicant etc.? Which one is the Thing? Oh and I do have to say...I LOVE Megaforce. One of the proudest moments of my filmmaking career (such as it is) was Hal Needham being at the screening of my short film at a film festival. He was a bad ass. And gave my film a hilarious two line review: "You made one mistake. Shoulda made it longer". Alright enough rambling. I'll close by saying the posters for BOTH these movies are hanging on my walls even as I write this.
June 27, 2007, 12:39 p.m. CST
to SpookyOtaku and Prossor
by llac12
SpookyOtaku: Ring the movie is also much better in every way than Ring the book (I don´t doubt stuff was lost in the Japanese-English translation...but still). Prossor: You mean American Werewolf in London. American Werewolf in Paris came out in the 90´s and the FX looked so bad I (and pretty much everyone else) refuse to ever see it. It´s pretty cool that so many have had the same experience with Bladerunner (seen it as a kid, dind´t like it, gave it another chance as adults and loved it). I got the chance to see The Thing a couple of years back with a couple of friends (I had seen the movie a couple of times since I was 11 and my friends had never seen it) an that was very sweet. Seeing one of my friends jumping out of his seat during the "blood test" and seeing his expression whe the movie ended was priceless.
Dec. 19, 2007, 9:33 p.m. CST
by thelordofhell
I remember Megaforce for this one exchange.... scientist---If you don't have less on you have.... soldier---More on??? scientist---Exactly.
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Have you ever witnessed something that just pizzes you off to your core? Witness the proud youth of America in action...
What is doubly offensive is that WorldStarHipHop.com apparently displays this as a bragging video, not a random crime against an older, defenseless man.Warning graphic content: Video shows man punched - chicagotribune.com
"The whole of the Bill (of Rights) is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals.... It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of." (Albert Gallatin of the New York Historical Society, October 7, 1789)
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Animals! Nothing more than animals!
Member: NRA GOA
Est sularas oth mithas
"either way, you were guilty by association, so you were smited...." JD
How terrible. I hope they were caught and prosecuted.
at this point i think it best i just not say anything....
I can't even explain how much I hate the youth (and i'm only 28) of today. So many people without an understanding of how to be a man. I can't believe they are bragging about that.
I'm going to hold back what I really want to say.
What do I shoot with? Canon gear of course
"Adjust your DOPE Sergeant! No! Not the pills in your pocket, idiot! That stuff that lets you hit your target Sunshine!"
"Sua Sponte"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his. General George Patton
The only reason that alot of people are alive is because it is illegal to dispose of them..people like that are a waste of our oxygen
Semper paratus.....virtute et armis
S.S.S. 'Nuff said.
Dear Karma; You forgot someone...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
DETROIT (WKZO) -- The Chrysler 200 came into the world with an impressive "Imported From Detroit" Super Bowl ad a few years ago, and a makeover will be launched in Detroit. Chrysler Group LLC is set to unveil the 2015 version of the 200, which will be priced below the current model and get up to 35 miles per gallon.
A Chrysler spokesman said the new version gives "customers what they don't expect." The vehicle has been completely overhauled, including what's called a rotary e-shift dial replacing the shifter on the console.


text:
Okay well obviously that would be a really awkward situation. But you should go up to this dude & ask him if you can bring a friend or something. & I mean if he says no the least you could do is put on a pretty face & just go out & impress that guy. (:
Hope that helped.


text:
The alarm clock goes off at 4:02 AM so that Stephanie can get up and to the airport. Nathan finally made it to bed, but he doesn't hear it. Neither does Stephanie, or David, or Stephen, who are also all sleeping in the room. Suddenly, it's 5:33 AM. Stephen calls to Stephanie and asks what time her flight leaves. Stephanie takes a moment to gain consciousness, but then realizes that her flight leaves in less than half an hour. She tries to wake Nathan up, but he mumbles, "It's okay." Stephanie can't exactly spring out of bed, because she's naked. I think it's pretty inconsiderate to sleep naked when there are two other guys in the room, but maybe that's just me. Stephanie is still trying to get Nathan to haul ass out of bed while she gets dressed, but he doesn't quite seem to get it at first. In an interview, Nathan says that they got up at 5:45 AM and the flight left at 6:10 AM. They walk out the door, and Stephanie screeches that they only have ten minutes. Nathan tells her to get off his case. You know, if he has seventy-five dollars to spend at the bar, you'd think he could also afford to buy her another ticket if she couldn't change the time on that one.
They hustle into the car and take off. Where are the friends who came with her? I guess they had different flights. They pull into the airport at 6:01 AM. In an interview, Nathan says that if they hadn't been drinking, they would have been up on time and had plenty of time to say goodbye at the airport. He didn't get to hug her and tell her how much he loves her. Or that he cheated on her. Nathan runs into the airport, but I guess her flight boarded already, because suddenly he's back at the car. He voice-overs that he's drinking a lot, and that it might have ruined his relationship with Stephanie.
Back at the house, Nathan sits in the car, and probably cries. You can't see his face, but at this point, can't we just assume? He voice-overs that he doesn't know what's going to happen when he goes home, which is "the worst feeling [he's] ever had." In an interview, Nathan (surprise!) cries and says that, in the past few weeks, he's imagined a future without Stephanie, and he doesn't like the way it feels. Man, either he's putting on a bravura performance, or he really loves her. Loved her. Nathan sits on the bed in the dark and puts his head in his hands.
Guess what? In the next episode, they leave the house!


text:
Along with the regularly featured functional art by over 100 Arizona artists, we also host
an emerging Arizona visual artist for a month long solo show on our gallery wall.
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Exhibition: September 1-30, 2014
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Join us from 5pm-7pm at practical art, and hang out with other art lovers in our community. Everyone who joins us will be entered in a drawing; this month we will be giving away 5 Practical Art $15 GIFT CARDS.
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Spoils of War available NOW!
Wahoo and wa-hey, lookie at what's available now at Loose Id! Enslaved during the invasion of the rival King of Herra, Micah cut off his emotions and adapted to his new life in servitude. Xerxes, the Herran King, abuses his … Continue reading
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Twas the week before Christmas…
Got your shopping done yet? The stockings are hung? Any catastrophic no-bake cookie fails or am I just lucky that way? No visits from the fire department at my house so I'm calling that a win. To help put the … Continue reading


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Luis Alvarez
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin 2001; Associate Professor
Frank Biess
Ph.D., Brown University 2000; Professor
Nancy Caciola
Ph.D., University of Michigan 1994; Associate Professor
Robert Edelman
Ph.D., Columbia University 1973; Professor
Tom Gallant
Ph.D., Cambridge University, UK, 1982; Professor and Nicholas Family Endowed Chair in Modern Greek History
Cathy Gere
Ph.D., Cambridge University, UK, 2001; Associate Professor
Karl Gerth
Ph.D., Harvard, 2000; Professor and Hwei-Chih and Julia Hsiu Chair
Tal Golan
Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley 1997; Associate Professor
David Goodblatt
Ph.D., Brown University 1972; Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies
Jessica Graham
Ph.D., University of Chicago, 2010; Assistant Professor
David Gutierrez
Ph.D., Stanford University 1988; Professor, Academic Senate Distinguished Teacher and Vice-Chair, Academic Affairs
Mark G. Hanna
Ph.D., Harvard University, 2006; Professor
Mark Hendrickson
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara 2004; Assistant Professor
Todd A. Henry
Ph.D., UCLA, 2006; Assistant Professor
Deborah Hertz
Ph.D. University of Minnesota 1979, Professor and Herman Wouk Chair in Modern Jewish Studies
Judith M. Hughes
Ph.D., Harvard University 1970; Professor and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Christine Hunefeldt
Ph.D., University of Bonn 1982; Professor
Hasan Kayali
Ph.D., Harvard University 1988; Associate Professor
Rachel Klein
Ph.D., Yale University 1979; Associate Professor
Jane Kuo
Ph.D., Arizona State University 1992; Lecturer with Potential Security of Employment
Nancy Kwak
Ph.D., Columbia University, 2006; Assistant Professor
Weijing Lu
Ph.D. University of California, Davis 2001, Associate Professor
Natalia Molina
Ph.D. – History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2000; Associate Professor
Dana Velasco Murillo
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles 2009; Assistant Professor
Patrick Patterson
Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2001; J.D., University of Virginia, 1988; Associate Professor
Paul Pickowicz
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1973; Distinguished Professor; UC San Diego Endowed Chair in Modern Chinese History
Rebecca Jo Plant
Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, 2001, Associate Professor
Jeremy Prestholdt
Ph.D., Northwestern University 2003; Associate Professor
William Propp
Ph.D., Harvard University 1985; Professor; Harriet & Louis Bookheim Chair of Biblical Hebrew and Related Languages
Michael Provence
Ph.D., University of Chicago 2001; Associate Professor
Pamela Radcliff
Ph.D., Columbia University 1990; Associate Professor and Chair
Sarah Schneewind
Ph.D., Columbia University 1999; Associate Professor
Ulrike Strasser
Ph.D., University of Minnesota 1997; Professor
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Ph.D., University of Chicago 1978; Associate Professor
Eric Van Young
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley 1978; Distinguished Professor
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Ph.D., Yale University 2002; Alkiviadis Vassiladis Endowed Chair in Byzantine Greek History
Robert Westman
Ph.D., University of Michigan 1971; Professor
Daniel Widener
Ph.D. New York University, 2002; Associate Professor
Luis Alvarez
Frank Biess
Nancy Caciola
Robert Edelman
Tom Gallant
Cathy Gere
Karl Gerth
Tal Golan
David Goodblatt
Jessica Graham
David Gutierrez
Mark G. Hanna
Mark Hendrickson
Todd A. Henry
Deborah Hertz
Judith M. Hughes
Christine Hunefeldt
Hasan Kayali
Rachel Klein
Jane Kuo
Nancy Kwak
Weijing Lu
Natalia Molina
Dana Velasco Murillo
Patrick Patterson
Paul Pickowicz
Rebecca Jo Plant
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Sarah Schneewind
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Edward Watts
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Weekend readers' pictures: Refresh
The next topic is City (to appear 11 September). Email a hi-res image (one per entry), plus a sentence or two about what inspired you to take your photo, to firstname.lastname@example.com by noon on Tuesday 31 August; please supply a daytime telephone number. Conditions apply - go to guardian.co.uk/inpictures/tandc for full terms and conditions.
To suggest a future theme, please email email@example.com


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A52 Hack Tool
Copyright © 2011
Current version: 1.3.0
It's an open secret that the privacy in GSM (Global System for Mobile communication, the
standard used in 80% of the world's mobile phones) is compromised. The A5 set of ciphers it
uses has been proven incapable of preventing data from being decrypted. The architecture of
the standard makes it particularily vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, and since all
algorithms share a common key, the system is as weak as its weakest algorithm: A5/2.
Project Timeline
01/12/2011 ♦ Code release (1.3.0)
24/06/2011 ♦ Code release (1.2.0)
08/06/2011 ♦ Code release (1.0.5)
08/06/2011 ♦ Article publication
17/05/2011 ♦ Project initiation
Resources and Documentation
Global Encoding Matrix for all Steps (Fire Code, Convolution and Interleaving)codematrix.c
Online Documentation of the Source CodeA52HackTool Doxygen Documentation


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Posts Tagged 'HMDX JAM Plus'
Deal Of Day
Seiki's 4K Ultra HDTV Drops Under $500
So 4K display technology and media aren't exactly at parity yet. You don't have much to watch at the native resolution, and without a newer HDMI standard, you're limited to 30 FPS because of bandwidth restrictions. But for unde...


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Clearwater Beach Condo Rental Photos and Description
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, Sleeps 6, BEACH VIEW, fully equipped, linens provided.
Welcome to the white powdery sand and emerald green waters of Clearwater Beach. Closed from September thru December for renovations and updates to building.
This unit has been recently updated with a fun beach vacation theme. The floors which were buckling after renovation have been fixed. One bedroom has a king size bed and walk in closet. The other bedroom has 2 twin beds that can be put together and become a king size bed, plus a queen size sofa bed allow for up to 6 guests comfortably, it has 1 bath, a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer in unit, and plenty of windows with a peaceful view of the large heated pool, the inter-coastal, and the marina. TV in every room. Free Wi-Fi
You are going to love it here.
- Suitability:
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible
About Nina Higdon
I proudly manage this Clearwater Beach Condo and will work hard to make your stay with us is a very pleasant experience you will want to repeat year after year.
I have been a Licensed Realtor in FL for nearly 10 years with a successful track record. I work with Buyers and Sellers to help them achieve their real estate goals. I have earned various designations including ABR-Accredited Buyer Representative, GRI-Graduate of Real Estate Institute, and SFR-Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource among others.
I'm also a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.
I assist the owners of this beautiful condo in the efforts to offer potential visitors to Clearwater Beach a great place to enjoy their vacation.
Nina Higdon purchased this condo in 2013
Why Nina Higdon chose Clearwater Beach
Location: proximity to beach, restaurants, bars, shops and activities - large heated pool, affordability - traditional florida beach ambiance- roomy, bright, clean, updated - relaxing view of inter-coastal and pool from unit. Clean, spacious and comfortable.
What makes this condo unique
Views of Mandalay Park across the street, inter-coastal view to the East right from inside the unit.
Take a short walk to the beach any time of day, hop on the Jolly Troley to explore other areas, or just walk to the numerous restaurants, cafe's and shops along Mandalay Ave.
See the rising sun in the morning as you sip your morning coffed, and be sure to watch he sunsets, they are simply amazing!


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Great book. Have been trying 1-2 recipes a week and they taste great. They are easy to make for a beginner cook with a basic kitchen.
I Love the cookbook. It has wonderful recipes and color phots which I love. Lynda
This item will be delivered to you via USPS Trackable Media Mail or UPS Mail Innovations and will take from 2 days to 3 weeks from the time the item leaves our warehouse. *
Items must be returned in new or unused condition and contain all original materials included with the shipment. More details
FINAL SALE EXCLUSION: Items marked as FINAL SALE are not returnable unless the problem you experience is the result of our error.
* For your safety, some orders go through our loss prevention department. If we select your order for this process, we will immediately notify you that there may be up to a 3-day delay on your order.
** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.