Japangeles in 2019

Blade Runner (1982)

Let us just appreciate the beauty of this poster. 

In one image the whole aethetic of the film is captured so vividly. Set in a dystopian Los Angeles, with darkness and fleeting rain being a constant part of the scenery, our main characters shown in the poster, weave their way through the flowing current of 106 million people. 
LA has been Japanified. neon lights are the main source of illumination. This allows the atmosphere to feel contemporary, rather than wildly futuristic. The sparsity of CGI also adds to the realism. This is a key feature of what makes the film so good. However, it is insteresting to think that the storyline is this conflict between the real human and the 'Replicant' - manufactured humans - who are only distinguished by subtle traits only really recognisable by an elaborate test. This is why Blade Runner Decker (Harrison Ford) has to be sure. Despite this, there is little remorse when a replicant is shot. Their funeral is a statistic.

This film has been growing in poignancy. Yes, the costume, sets and score are achingly beautiful - but very 80s. Nevertheless, the notion and development of cyborgs, humanoids and AI is increasingly contemporary. It is as if the computer engineers are all sci-fi fans and just appealing to our fictional desires. Is this a good thing?

Ridley Scott (Legend, Gladiator) - the director explores many philosopical and ethical questions. People; living, seeing entities are created by a wealthy businessman who holds the monopoly on Replicant creation. He in effect is God. In the 21st Century there are questions about IVF, embryo selection and our role in altering and creating life. If, like the Replicants, you are known to be a 'fake' human, will the normal population view you differently. Blade Runner explores this through romance, and the prejudice that is held overtly by the police force of Blade Runners, but more subconciously by Decker . The 6 hunted Replicants have turned violent however in the finale they cower in fear of themselves and of death. How far do they differ from humans? The last, departing soliliquy is haunting. I won't say anymore. 

Rachael, is a stunning character whose wardrobe is uniquely 80s because of the her oversized shoulder shoulderpads and bold hair style. It takes inspiration from the New Romantics but also the more under-the-radar subcultures. She portrays a delicate classicism fused with futuristic shapes and materials. Ridley Scott sets up stunning shots in darkness with only a mustly light filtered through blinds; highlighting her ethereal cigarette smoke. Her image compliments the soundtrack which is hazy jazz on electro-saxophones and smokey synth presets.

This film is one of my favorites, and a visual spectacle. Full concentration is required for you to respect the beauty of Ridley Scott's masterpiece.

*****

Do aliens and old people mix well?

 So went and bought this film called Cocoon cos it was on offer - (skint kids these days)

This film is a weird film. Running on the same theme of 80s - with the 'good alien' like in E.T, this sentimental film is a hard one to categorize because it quite silly really. The story doesn't really work, old people and aliens combination - yet the director (Ron Howard: Arrested Development, Rush) does try to win the viewer over by creating a sweet relationship between the phantom like creatures and the old pensioners.

A group of old age men who are all friends find that their disused swimming pool that they attended regularly has been bought by some aliens disguised as humans. The aliens use the swimming pool to keep cocoons alive. However when the old men enter the swimming pool they feel themselves internally gaining a new lease of life and energy. But this has repercussions for the aliens :/ is their spaceship going to come save them? The ending has so much cheese I don't want to spoil it for you so you can relish in the moment when your like 'omg that was just so cheesy' or whatever you say to express that.

Whilst trying to make the story relatable - the director uses clichés which, to be honest doesn't really help the movie - the story of Atlantis really doesn't have to feature in it. What is actually quite sweet is that the boy in the film is Bastian from The Neverending Story! n'aww bless.

so yeah go watch if you want... not really a cult classic. just a bit of a strange film really.

*** from MiloG written by Georgiaa

Exciting times guys

We are going to start by reviewing on of our BEST LOVED FILMS.

S T A R W A R S 1977 - 1983

this is a real neat poster which we would love to say is ours... but we can't. :(

Okey so readers don't judge. We are not one of those fans who put Jedi down as their religion in the UK 2011 census. Although, I did ask my mum to make me a full Jedi robe once. :/ Star Wars: A New hope was watched on early 2000s VCR ( *sigh*) as one of my first. It opened my mind to what could be portrayed on screen, and what kind of worlds could be imagined by such a good director as George Lucas. Here are top 3 arguments for why this film is just too good.

1. First of all the opening sequence to the space opera.

and BAM you know where the film was set, when it was set in the first shot. Can you say that about many Epic sci-fis these days. Then begins the main theme and the scrolling yellow story against a stary night. You know now you are truly submerged and there is no going back. My dad told me that when he first saw Star Wars in the cinema it was groundbreaking as the first actually footage is of two ships that were shot as if they were flying over head. The sound of the ships above echoed around the cinema; you really were aware of the advances in sound technology thanks to a great sound editor Ben Burt and George Lucas's new state of the art THX.

2. You really can't be cynical with this films as we all know yes it is a bit dated but then again that can be a good thing as in the original version the puppetry of Yoda is reality and you can sense the mastery that Frank Oz has with these things. Reality of this distant galaxy really comes across when you see the constructed Tatooine - the desert village fabricated in Tunisia. The dedication to the intricacies like the iconic spaceships (millennium falcon, the X-Wing ect.) and their rusted metal feeling all contribute to making the film so iconic. These ships are so much more authentic then the shiny plastic and artificial ships that are recurrent in many films.

3. The music. You've all heard it. You can all hum it. Round of applause to John Williams go get an Oscar. It is so emotive and is almost an extra omnipresent character. This is a score which is best heard live with full symphony orchestra which we both have done.

so this film i guess you guessed is a ***** from us.