Thursday, December 28, 2017

IF MEMORY SERVES. BLADE RUNNER 2049

Memories...You're talking about memories. 

Saw 'Blade Runner 2049' yesterday at the cinema. Maranouchi Piccadilly. Great huge theater with awesome sound. 

Wow! Very powerful film. I have to say, I was impressed. But as someone who has lived and breathed 'Blade Runner' pretty much since it came out (for years it played on the VCR every night as I went to sleep) I can say with some authority that this was a pretty good effort at a sequel. Pretty darn good. I'm not sure how much better they could make it in this day and age, to be honest. But, for those who've seen it (spoilers ahead), I'd sum it up with this: 

I've always thought it would be cool to live in the world of the original 'Blade Runner' (that's probably why I'm still in Tokyo).

But, as for 'Blade Runner 2049', I would never want to live in that world...not for one minute. 

So, that says a lot, I think. 

Also, though they tried hard to get the feel, it didn't have the warmth and depth and quiet moments the original had, nor the humor or poetry. 


Han Zimmer's score was good, with touches of Vangelis in some parts. But the original film had a melodic magic to it that came alive with the score.  The Vangelis sound exuded a sense of humanity within the music, which was more than just music, really, but an atmosphere that sopped up the sounds and creaks and groans of the world of 'Blade Runner' and soaked everything in the film with it until every nook and cranny was dripping with it. Sound effects merged with the score and intertwined with it, so you couldn't tell what was sound effect Foley and what was music. Like a Japanese garden, not being able to tell where nature ends and the hand of man begins. 

If they had permeated the sequel with that kind of overwhelming musical score treatment, and in more scenes, and if they had included a little more humor, more humanity, they might have had a home run. 

But they didn't. So I'd say this was a good 'double', to keep the metaphor. They made it to second base, at least. Not bad. Not bad at all. Perhaps the next one, and I'm pretty sure there will be a next one, will complete the effort.  I'm going to see it again next week. Up in the balcony this time.

And as a side note, I did see some things that reminded me of my unfinished film: 
 The Einstein Tower, which was heavily influenced by the original Blade Runner. Peter Paluska as Alec reminded me in look and deed of 'K' in many a scene. 















Original post on Facebook with comment stream here

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Sunday, December 24, 2017

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A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS presented by The Cinemated Man

The Cinemated Man Christmas Special
Winter time. Christmas time. The time of sugar plums, Santa Claus and at last those lovable children from Peanuts. Enjoy a Charlie Brown Christmas...

Produced by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson
Directed Bill Melendez
Story by Charles M. Schulz
Music by Vince Guaraldi
Graphic Blandishment by Ed Levitt, Bernard Gruver,
Ruth Kissane, Dean Spille, Beverly Robbins,
Eleanor Warren, Frank Smith, Bob Carlson

 

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree.  It's not bad at all really. Maybe it just needs a little love." Grab some eggnog, get out the hankies and sit back and enjoy holiday favorites at  The Cinemated Man

The Cinemated Man Christmas Special!

It's Sparta Claus!

The Cinemated Man, uh, Men host the annual Christmas Special
with films and Christmas holiday productions we all grew up with.


Starts Christmas Eve and continues all thru Christmas Day worldwide!
As Andy Williams would say 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!' So grab a mug of cheer and  share some eggnog with

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET hosted by The Cinemated Man

The Cinemated Man Christmas Special
Miracle on 34th Street (1960)
Directed George Seaton
Story by George Seaton, Valentine Davies
Music by Cyril J. Mockridge
Cinematography by Lloyd Ahem
Art Direction by Richard Day

How's that eggnog holding out? Time for a refill? Well go fill 'er up and come on back to...

Saturday, December 23, 2017

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY presented by The Cinemated Man

The Cinemated Man Christmas Special
The Little Drummer Boy(1960)
with Jose Ferrer, the Vienna Boys Choir, Paul Frees, June Foray, Teddy Eccles and Greer Garson as the Story Teller
Directed Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr., Takeya Nakamura
Story by Romeo Muller
Music by Maury Laws

Production Design by Charles Frazier

Grab some eggnog, your drum and we'll see you  at the nativity scene!

Monday, December 11, 2017

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN presented by The Cinemated Man

The Cinemated Man Christmas Special
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)
Directed Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Told and Sung by Fred Astaire
Story by Romeo Muller
Music by Maury Laws
Production Design by Paul Coker Jr.
Animation Effects by Takeo Nakamura, Hiroshi Tabata, Kizo Nagashima


Grab some Eggnog!

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Turkey Day at MST3K!

Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey Day at MST3K!

Sunday, October 15, 2017

DARKROOM on MONSTERMONTH!!

Next up on... 
MONSTERMONTH!! 
A Time for Monsters, Mayhem and Madness! 
Darkroom (1981) 
"The Bogeyman Will Get You", "Catnip"
Hosted by James Coburn
Directed by Jeffery Bloom
Story by Robert Bloch
Theme Music by David Shire
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Saturday, May 27, 2017

GRAND PRIX hosted by The Cinemated Man

GRAND PRIX (1966) 
Starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, 

Yves Montand, Toshiro Mifune, Adolfo Celi  
Directed by John Frankenheimer
Story by Robert A. Aurthur
Cinematography by Lionel Linden
Music by Maurice Jarre 
Production Design by Richard Sylbert
Special Visual Effects by Saul Bass
Technical Adviser Carroll Shelby 

Stop in at the pits with The Cinemated Man

GRAND PRIX coming up next!

Enjoy the real sound of racing with John Frankenheimer's classic motor sport film -


"Grand Prix" (1966)

Coming up next!