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Same here. I have it in my collection.
Followed by Escape From Alcatraz.
Mine is probably Toy Story 3🤓 it’s a classic. One of the best sequels ever made. It’s hard to believe it’s 10 years old this year.
As far as Blade Runner goes, I was one of the people who saw Blade Runner when it premiered in '82 when I was a teenager. I was expecting big things, Harrison Ford coming off of Raiders, back in a sci-fi film, how could it possibly go wrong?
I was underwhelmed, not being prepared for the heavy themes, just thinking I was getting a Star Wars-inspired summer popcorn film. It had tie-ins like comics, story books and die-cast toys, after all. It took a while, but I began to appreciate it and now am a fan. It's nice to have the choices of if you like the original or the, what, 3-4 cuts available. The narration didn't do it any help then nor now. As for the happy ending, I like my endings to be open-ended, so I prefer the alternate one, leaving open what may happen to the characters.
Was it the character of Roy the replicant (Rutger Hauer) that really moved you towards liking the film, appreciating it more. He understood how precious life is, the wonder of it all, even if his time was ending. amazing line: "Moments in time lost, like tears in rain." that really got to me. plus he literally gave harrison ford the helping hand, enabling him to live. i also like the no narration elevator shot close, not the narration in the country version though i think there was dvd special edition that had 3 or 4 different ones. Crazy, but great film.
I love that they have released all the different versions and let the fans decide which one(s) they prefer. If only Star Wars would do this. I know there are various fan edits out there of the theatrical releases of the original trilogy, but it's odd that Disney hasn't seized the opportunity to make even more money by releasing them in a new set. I wonder if that was a stipulation in the contract when Lucas sold it to them.
It's as I said on another thread: Kubrick was a genius film maker, but his movies are all tests of stamina and endurance...
Meanwhile, we over praised James Cameron. Other than special effects, what has he honestly pushed forward? He rips off more in his writing than Quentin Tarantino, and no where more creative when he does. He’s mean and self centered. Talks a lot, and never amounts to anything. Had Titanic or Avatar bombed, he would be the modern day Michael Cimino. Richard Donner is always worth your time, James Cameron isn’t.
I think a lot of us had the same experience with Blade Runner and for the same reasons: we were expecting something akin to Star Wars and/or Indiana Jones in space. I remember not liking one bit the violence in it (not playful enough), the slow, slow pace, the grim look, the fact that Ford got his ass handed so easily. I've only watched it twice, the original theatrical version. I'm not surprised that it became a cult, but I'm not surprised it was originally a flop.
I can't say the Batty character's final scenes helped me appreciate it more, but it did put Rutger Hauer on my radar of favorite actors. I knew nothing about him before BR and he gave such an impression during that first viewing he was an actor to watch and I became a fan. Sadly now deceased, I was always hopeful he'd make an appearance in a Bond film and was underutilized the past several years of his career.
The last time I watched BR, I was moved by Batty's musings at the end. A friend of mine texted me last year and mentioned it was the date BR took place and I watched those end scenes and they really resonate now. It's a film with lots of depth.
Absolutely agree MaxCasino. I've thought about Donner's place among underrated directors for a while now. So many good films in his career and before that worked on TV classics like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Wild Wild West.I didn't realize he also turned 90 in April. Not a prestige director who will be remembered for awards, but a guy who knew how to deliver entertaining films, which is a great way to be recognized. Always friendly with the fan community too, from what I've seen. Always willing to discuss his Superman work.
You likely couldn't say that with Cameron. He's likely more interested in counting his millions instead of talking film. Also agree he's overpraised. The Terminators are the only things of his I kind of like. Aliens seems overrated, Titanic was fine but nothing that special that it got such acclaim and I never bothered with Avatar. Guess he thinks he can rest on those laurels.
Indeed. It's not the only film of his I struggle with, but 2001 is the only one I've never been able to sit through – even with breaks.
As much as I love the late, great Ennio Morricone's score for THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY I recently discovered I actually prefer his music in A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. They're all great, but I find his music in the first two films more catchy.
Interesting. I find 2001 a luxuriating experience when i watch it. Kubrick's best IMO.
If i can ask, how much of it have you watched?
Wish I had the same experience!
It's been a while, but I probably watched 100-115 mins of the 142 minutes running time.
Shame you've never got to the end but i understand 2001 isn't for everyone. And Kubrick can be challenging on the viewer!
I had to watch Kubrick's Barry Lyndon in 2 parts because it bored me to tears on my first watch. Now i really like it.
Leonard Rossiter’s in both films :))
I still find Barry Lyndon really slow, but I’ve only seen it a couple of times.
2001 is one of my favourites. Might be one of the best films ever made, IMO. It’s probably more controversial these days to say that you actually like 2001. Back in the day when IMDB had forums I lost track of the number of posts saying they hated 2001 or fell asleep during it, those posts easily outnumbered the pro-2001 posts. Ah well.
Indeed, as much as I want to enjoy Kubrick films, there are only a few I actually do like.
I've considered giving Barry Lyndon a watch, but with my past experiences watching Kubrick films, I've never got that far.
I agree. Although TGTBATU is also great, I think both Leone and Morricone reached their peak with For a Few Dollars More.
I agree, though I'd say Once Upon a Time in the West is even better.
That one is a brilliant film too, but I honestly think FAFDM is better. The great thing about the first two in the Man With no Name trilogy is that they are more tight, slick and compact thrillers. The more films Leone did, the more overindulgent his films became. As much as I love Once Upon a Time in the West, I still wish it was trimmed and edited slightly. Besides - and this might be an opinion worthy of controversy - I much prefer Eastwood and van Cleef to Bronson and Fonda.
We were brought to see '2001: a Space Odyssey" in primary school, where it went completely over our little heads!! (I only remembered the floating pen moment!)
Later i came to appreciate it more . Technically astonishing, beautifully made, it was only later i found out Kubrick didnt shoot any of the opening sequence with the apes! Cant remember where it was filmed but Kubrick doesn't like flying!
Really like 'Barry Lyndon' and you reallyshould stick with throughout as the ending is the best part!
@Mathis1 I believe only the background Africa scenery shots in the opening sequence weren't filmed by Kubrick. All the Ape sequence was shot in a studio projecting the background scenery on enormous screens at the back of the set. It's an amazingly effective 'in camera' effect.
There is a really good 7 part documentary on YT about the making of 2001 which really delves deep into the film's production.
You were lucky to see 2001 at school. All we ever got to watch was old Sinbad movies!
For people used to the non stop action flicks of today, the at times absurdly slow pace of 2001 has to be especially alienating (pardon the pun). And it's not only that so little happens during almost four hours, at the end you are left with several unanswered questions and an abstract, ambiguous, downright confusing message open to interpretation. Apart from the incredible visuals, this stark contrast compared with normal, mainstream science fiction films is what I appreciate the most with 2001. However I need to be completely certain I am in the right mood and peace of mind before I consider watching it. It's not exactly a conventional entertainment flick... ;))
I can't imagine any school showing 2001 to a group of school kids, especially with the pace of it. The staff must've been on their toes the whole time trying to stop the fidgeting.
2001 has plenty of good qualities, but it leaves me a little cold from an emotional standpoint. The film has a detached style that seems designed to place the events of the film in a larger context. A cosmic, evolutionary context, much greater than the story and the people in it. It makes sense, but it comes with a cost.
While watching 2001, I'm reasonably engaged with what happens in the film, but it's more out of wanting to see the outcome of a chain of events, rather than being emotionally invested in the characters, and I definitely miss not having the latter feeling. It seems to me the film's emotion is meant to arise from its ideas about humanity, evolution and sentience, rather than from a strong, immediate connection to the characters on the screen. It's not quite what I like in a film.
Like 2001, Barry Lyndon has a detached style, but in this film it becomes a tool for irony and even humor, which I appreciate, and the film is warmer and more charming than 2001 anyway. It's much more up my alley.
I also prefer Barry Lyndon to The Shining, which I really don't like at all. Scary stuff happens in it, and I don't care. In being understated and distant, and trying to create a strong feeling of horror out of those qualities, the film becomes uninteresting and unengaging.