OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Legend ruined Ridley Scott's 'creative' phase.

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 17:14
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 2218
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Friday, August 15, 2008 11:23 AM

OPPYH


Now listen,
I love Legend, I love Blade Runner, and Alien.
These three films are what I consider Scott's crowning achievements.

He really changed the form of cinema with these atmospheric, and beautiful films.

Alien was a success. Blade Runner bombed, and Legend really bombed.
At the risk of becoming a director noted for failure, I really believe he changed(or became more mainstream) to save his career after his back to back disappointments at the Box Office.
Although it can't be proven, this is what I believe to be true. Anyone else have an opinion?


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Friday, August 15, 2008 11:50 AM

HUGHFF


Blade Runner is now recognised as possibly his best movie (IMHO it's no contest). Despite its box office failure, it now appears in many "greatest all time" lists. Leonard maltin changed his rating of it from 2 stars to 4 (I think) out of 4 over the years.

But , yes, it's hard to make good movies if they don't sell.

www.cpfc.org - my life

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Friday, August 15, 2008 3:05 PM

DEEPGIRL187


Legend was one of my favorite movies as a kid; still is. But because it wasn't successful, I can see how Scott decided to move away from those types of films. Not that I'm a big fan of his later work, but a man's gotta eat, right?

The general public doesn't always see genius or creativity when it's shown to them. For instance, even if Citizen Kane hadn't been blacklisted by Hearst, it's likely people wouldn't have seen it for the great film that it is. Some recognition doesn't come until ages later.

****************************************************

"This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes ding when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow."

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Friday, August 15, 2008 3:07 PM

CHRISISALL


I believe you have something here.

I'm not as old as I used to beisall

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Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:38 AM

LWAVES


Ditto the above.
If something isn't working for you (as you see it) then of course you aren't going to continue with it, especially with such a financial stake involved each time. And however creative a director wants to be the financial side of it always comes into play. So yes I think he changed in the type of movies he made (no scifi or fantasy since those three) but I don't think he's changed his style, of which I am personally a fan. Most of his 'worst' films are still entertaining.

Alien is a classic. Blade Runner falls into the same category as Shawshank Redemption in that it only really gets appreciated by the masses years later.
Legend is a movie that I also like, it's not perfect but it is good. I never got to see it until years after it release but it was one I always wanted to watch.

He has made some fantastic films since then - Gladiator, Black Rain, Black Hawk Down and Thelma And Louise of the ones I've seen. But he's also given us the dubious delight of - GI Jane, Hannibal, White Squall and Kingdom Of Heaven.

Personally I was he make some more Hovis adverts.



"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Monday, August 18, 2008 4:58 AM

CHRISISALL


1492 was his only true failure........

Good recordisall

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Monday, August 18, 2008 6:15 AM

LWAVES


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
1492 was his only true failure........

Good recordisall



I liked 1492. It was a lot better than the other Columbus movie that same year. Plus Vangelis on the soundtrack so that's always good.
If I'm completely honest then I even thought White Squall and Kingdom Of Heaven were OK. There just wasn't much to them to seperate them from the masses. I'd have expected more from Ridley. But as I stated they have a certain style to them that Ridley brings to all his movies.

But I stand by my views on GI Jane (what was he thinking?) and Hannibal (another pointless sequel).



"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Monday, August 18, 2008 6:56 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST


Are you including Thelma and Louise as him catering for the mainstream?

I'm going to be play devils advocate here and suggest to you all that some directors have a classic film or two in them, but then beyond that not much more.

I'd place Ridley Scott into this category. I think he is a very good director but I also believe he fluked with Thelma and Louise and certainly fluked with Gladiator.

I don't regard him as a great director. Certianly visionary and extremely stylish, but I think his style idiology has conflicted with his subject matter on several occaisions. Blade Runner most notably.

These days he seems more like a director for hire. I'd love to think he has in him at least one more great film but it's looking increasingly doubtful.

Personally I don't think he was ever better than ALIEN





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Monday, August 18, 2008 8:20 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Are you including Thelma and Louise as him catering for the mainstream?

I'm going to be play devils advocate here and suggest to you all that some directors have a classic film or two in them, but then beyond that not much more.

I'd place Ridley Scott into this category. I think he is a very good director but I also believe he fluked with Thelma and Louise and certainly fluked with Gladiator.

I don't regard him as a great director. Certianly visionary and extremely stylish, but I think his style idiology has conflicted with his subject matter on several occaisions. Blade Runner most notably.

These days he seems more like a director for hire. I'd love to think he has in him at least one more great film but it's looking increasingly doubtful.

Personally I don't think he was ever better than ALIEN

Blade Runner IMO, is a perfect movie. The world, the characters...just brilliant. If I were Ridley Scott, I'd be shattered after the Box office take. Yet he still had the guts to go all out and make the richest FANTASY film I have seen. That is courage. Doesn't help that all the asshole film critics blasted both films. Oh well, you can only hope someday he will return to the sci-fi/fantasy realm that he is so obviously gifted at crafting.

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Monday, August 18, 2008 8:24 AM

LWAVES


Quote:

Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Are you including Thelma and Louise as him catering for the mainstream?

I'm going to be play devils advocate here and suggest to you all that some directors have a classic film or two in them, but then beyond that not much more.

I'd place Ridley Scott into this category. I think he is a very good director but I also believe he fluked with Thelma and Louise and certainly fluked with Gladiator.

I don't regard him as a great director. Certianly visionary and extremely stylish, but I think his style idiology has conflicted with his subject matter on several occaisions. Blade Runner most notably.

These days he seems more like a director for hire. I'd love to think he has in him at least one more great film but it's looking increasingly doubtful.

Personally I don't think he was ever better than ALIEN




He never has topped Alien but then that would take some beating.

I don't consider Thelma And Louise a mainstream movie. It has a lot of elements of one but when put together I think IMHO that it pushes it above mainstream. Gladiator is a tougher call though and one where I'd need to see the film again to give an accurate opinion.

You are right on the mark with him being a director for hire these days. His style is still there but it doesn't seem to get to greatness. I too keep hoping for something better from him but so far it hasn't emerged. American Gangster had potential for this and whilst I haven't seen it yet, the reviews were a little muted over here.



"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:26 AM

CHRISISALL


Does everyone here have the Director's Cut of Legend? It's REAL good, more fleshed out & such, however, I have to go with the Theatrical Cut most times for the Tangerine Dream soundtrack that is burned into my brain...

Sidebarisall

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:51 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Does everyone here have the Director's Cut of Legend? It's REAL good, more fleshed out & such, however, I have to go with the Theatrical Cut most times for the Tangerine Dream soundtrack that is burned into my brain...

Sidebarisall



Yeah, I have it. I actually like theatrical music score better. The director's cut works for me with the extra scenes, but the ending is too different. I didn't care for it.


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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:06 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
The director's cut works for me with the extra scenes, but the ending is too different. I didn't care for it.


Funny- I liked the theatrical release of both Legend & Blade Runner better than the Director's Cuts...

Hmmmmisall

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:18 AM

LWAVES


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Does everyone here have the Director's Cut of Legend? It's REAL good, more fleshed out & such, however, I have to go with the Theatrical Cut most times for the Tangerine Dream soundtrack that is burned into my brain...

Sidebarisall



I have both from the Ultimate Edition on DVD. The Tangerine Dream soundtrack is a big draw to the TC version, although Goldsmith's score is fine.



"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:26 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by lwaves:


I have both from the Ultimate Edition on DVD. The Tangerine Dream soundtrack is a big draw to the TC version, although Goldsmith's score is fine.




The DC is missing the 'impotent exile' speech at the beginning, though. One thing you DO NOT DO is cut Curry's stuff.

Darknessisall

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:32 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Funny- I liked the theatrical release of both Legend & Blade Runner better than the Director's Cuts...

Hmmmmisall



Blade Runner is an exception for me. I thought the DC improved upon an already great film!

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:35 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:

Blade Runner is an exception for me. I thought the DC improved upon an already great film!

I thought the emotion-less monotone narration in the International Theatrical Cut was SO 40's noir...I love it!

Cold fishisall

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:44 AM

OPPYH


I really think they should have kept some of the deleted scenes in one of the 5 versions of the movie.

Most notably, the nude Sean Young scene(no body double). Rachel is one hot replicant

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:51 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
I really think they should have kept some of the deleted scenes in one of the 5 versions of the movie.

Most notably, the nude Sean Young scene(no body double). Rachel is one hot replicant

That's so hetero.

Chrisisallwithya

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:56 AM

DEEPGIRL187


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Does everyone here have the Director's Cut of Legend? It's REAL good, more fleshed out & such, however, I have to go with the Theatrical Cut most times for the Tangerine Dream soundtrack that is burned into my brain...



I'm not sure I've ever seen the Director's Cut. All I ever remember seeing is the version with the Tangerine Dream soundtrack. What extra scenes are there in the other version?

*************************************************

"This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes ding when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow."

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:01 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by deepgirl187:
What extra scenes are there in the other version?


Wow- that's hard...it's a LOT of little stuff- Lilly singing in the field, longer Mucklebones confrontation, snippets of dialogue here & there...Gump doesn't seem as nice, and of course, a great Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack.

Childoftheforestisall

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 12:07 PM

REGINAROADIE


Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with you on that as well.

I love ALIEN, and while some people say that ALIENS is better, I think the first one was the best. The director's cut of LEGEND was way better than the theatrical cut. But for the most part, I think Ridley is a bit of an overrated director. I've tried to get into BLADE RUNNER and see why it's such a revolutionary bit of sci-fi, but I find it to be a very cold and emotionless film, which is surprising since it's all about what it means to be alive and to truly live. And if you've seen ROME, you'd see that GLADIATOR is also an incredibly overrated film. Oddly enough, I prefer his films where he's not trying too hard, like MATCHSTICK MEN. And I may be in the minority, but I actually prefer his brother, Tony. Wasn't too big a fan of MAN ON FIRE or DOMINO, but TRUE ROMANCE is I think the perfect date movie for guys.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 12:12 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by reginaroadie:
TRUE ROMANCE

*cough Tony Scott cough*

Chrisisall

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:14 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:

I thought the emotion-less monotone narration in the International Theatrical Cut was SO 40's noir...I love it!

Cold fishisall



I'm with ya on that one. The noir-style narration was Scott utilizing the ultra-woodenness that is Harrison Ford's "acting" ability at its finest.

I might be crazy, but Blade Runner is one of the very few movies I've ever seen that is actually far, far better than the book on which it was based.

I knew the lingo; every good cop does, is all.

Mike

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