Tuesday, November 30, 2010

WTAL “Man of Science, Man of Faith” Podcast Details!

Hey LOSTblog.com fans! Tonight‘s episode we will be talking about is “Man of Science, Man of Faith” This is a Jack-centric episode. Kate and Locke leave camp to discover the Hatch. Jack follows to rescue Kate, while he struggles with believing. Shannon sees Walt in the jungle. Dara will be talking with me as usual. [...]

Blade Runner (1982)





Blade Runner (1982)



  • Directed by: Ridley Scott

  • Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah (in a REALLY bad wig)

  • Release Date: 1982




SYNOPSIS




20 years ago (give or take), the Tyrell Corporation successfully creates genetically engineered androids, called replicants, designed to be like humans in just about every way. They are physically identical to humans, and they think and learn like humans do. They can be tailored to fulfill specific functions and are all designed to work in adverse environments. Result: the human race now has all the “slave” labor it needs to get things done.




Naturally, the replicants violently revolt, and, naturally, the humans thumb them down.




As our story begins, in 2019, Earth has become that crappy neighborhood everyone’s trying to move out of (to the “Off-world Colonies”). Anyone who stays behind is either physically unable to leave OR has a sick, psychological need to remain with the dregs. Replicants are forbidden to be on Earth, and any found are immediately terminated. Blade Runner squads (part of the police) are tasked to hunt down and kill any replicants that manage to sneak on to the planet.




The only way to tell if a replicant is a replicant is to run a test on them where a weird looking machine (a Voight-Kampff machine) measures their pupil dilation while the tester asks questions designed to provoke an emotional response. Replicants are designed to mimic humans in every way except human emotion. Therefore, lack of emotional response = replicant. Shoot to kill.





Voight-Kampff Machine



Tyrell realizes that replicants are developing their own emotions: not good for business. To solve this problem, his latest models (Nexus 6) have a built in fail-safe: four-year lifespans. Problem: four Nexus 6 replicants kill a bunch of people Off-world and show up on Earth. No one knows why. Deckard is grudgingly pulled out of retirement to find them and kill them quick.




Tyrell asks Deckard to run the Voight-Kampff emotion test on a Nexus 6 but wants him to start with Rachel, Tyrell’s assistant [played to perfection by Sean Young]. The test reveals that she is a replicant, but it takes a lot more questions. After Rachel leaves the room, Tyrell confirms it: Rachel’s a replicant, but get this – she doesn’t know it.




Tyrell tells Deckard that Rachel is an experiment, (“nothing more”). His theory is that implanting memories (borrowed from someone else), into replicants before activation might give them some emotional maturity and make them easier to control. All of Rachel’s memories are from Tyrell’s niece. Once the experiment is over, Tyrell tells her the truth, sends her away and reports her presence to the authorities.




For the rest of the movie, the rogue replicants attack, question and kill just about everyone trying to find out how to live longer. Deckard tracks them down, and they take turns kicking his ass. He kills one, Rachel kills one.


The last two, Roy and Pris pal up with one of Tyrell’s top super-genius designers, J.F. Sebastian. J.F. is stuck on Earth due to his health: Methusela syndrome aka premature  aging [this would be what we in the academic world would call thematic overkill]. He lives alone in the deserted Bradbury hotel with all his creepy “toys” that he “makes.”


To remedy his solitude, J.F. fills his life with “friends.” He is referring to the “toys” that fill his apartment. He “makes” them. His toys are genetically engineered and alive, like replicants. He reluctantly agrees to sneak Roy in to Tyrell’s inner sanctum [his bedroom].




Tyrell plays God/Father for Roy, and explains that the 4 year deadline [pun intended], is IRREVERSIBLE.  Roy [beautifully played by Rutger Hauer] kisses him and then crushes his skull with his bare hands. [And we hear his EYES pop! EW!]




Between letting the replicants beat him nearly to death (before he shoots them with a hand cannon), Deckard hooks up with Rachel. He tries to help her accept her identity as her own (mainly through piano playing and sex). They fall in love.



During the course of their hook up, Rachel asks Deckard two interesting questions.



  1. “If I run, will you hunt me down? Kill me?” [Deckard's sincere answer: "No."]

  2. “Have you ever retired a human by mistake?” [a passed-out Deckard never answers].


Roy meets up with Deckard at J.F. Sebastian’s place just after Deckard gets TOTALLY lucky and manages to kill Pris. Roy plays cat and mouse with Deckard, and they end up on the roof. Nearing his own [pre-determined] end, Roy saves Deckard from falling to his death. They sit together in the rain. Roy briefly postulates on the bummer that is mortality, then quietly dies.


After the fun and games are over, Detective Gaff [Edward James Almos in major guyliner] arrives to wrap things up. The oddly silent yet satirically chatty [via random origami] fellow blade runner notes out loud that it looks like Deckard has completed his mission ["Finished," answers a war-torn Deckard].


Then Gaff says It’s too bad she won’t live. But then again, who does? before he zippapears into the pouring rain.


[Uh-oh.]


Deckard rushes back to his apartment [hand canon at the ready] to check on Rachel. He’s overwhelmingly relieved to find her okay. They kiss and trade verbal commitments. Then he covers the hallway  [hand canon at the ready] as she sneaks out of his apartment.


[Remember - Rachel faces a mandatory death sentence for being on Earth because she's a replicant -- regardless of how she got there -- and that putz Tyrell ratted her out to the authorities well before Roy popped his head like a zit.]


As she hurries to the elevator, her [exceptionally high] heel knocks over a small, silver, origami unicorn on the floor just outside the apartment door. Gaff has been there, and even though it breaks all the rules and social conventions of the times, he’s let her go.


Deckard stares at the unicorn as Gaff’s words echo in his mind. Deckard nods, and that’s when WE realize what Gaff’s words mean.


Gaff says:


“It’s too bad she won’t live. But then again, who does?”


But what he MEANS is:


“She deserves to live. She’s no different than the rest of us.”


[Profound, yes? This would be what's commonly known as subtext, folks: the meaning beneath the words. Wordplay, btw, is the double meaning of the words themselves.]


This is a really important thematic moment in the film [probably the MOST important]. As we watch Deckard stare at the unicorn, we understand that he has finally made a choice. He already sees replicants as people, not dolls or toys. They are living things with minds and feelings, flesh and bone. He recognizes their humanity even if that humanity is merely replicated. His struggle over this concept is why he quit the blade runner squad in the first place [he used to be "the best, a real killer"].


However, this time, instead of hiding and avoiding the issue, he’s going to take it up as his own. He’s going to defend Rachel because she deserves defending. He joins her in the elevator. The doors close.


Cut to black. Cue groovy, upbeat, dystopian soundtrack.


A WORD ON THE UNICORN


Halfway through the 2007 version [considered the best of the THREE recuts], Dekard tinkers on a piano looking at old family photographs. We hear music that’s oddly organic compared to the rest of the dystopian-centered soundtrack. Then a brief, slo-mo clip of a white unicorn running through a forest overlaps with a pan of the family photos on the piano. This unicorn (in another thematic overkill move) connects the “specialness” of the unicorn to the “specialness” of being human and/or having “real” human memories and experiences IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD. When we see the origami unicorn at the end, it’s supposed to represent that “specialness.” The ARTIFICIAL version of that specialness.


HOWEVER, did you notice that the use of a UNICORN to represent “real” human identity is a bit ironic? I mean, unicorns are MYTHOLOGICAL creatures. They don’t exist except in stories and legends (and art about stories and legends).


[Let that one sit for a while and see if your brain doesn't start smoking!]


[Click here for Background Info]

Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner (1982)

  • Directed by: Ridley Scott

  • Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah (in a REALLY bad wig)

  • Release Date: 1982





SYNOPSIS




20 years ago (give or take), the Tyrell Corporation successfully creates genetically engineered androids, called replicants, designed to be like humans in just about every way. They are physically identical to humans, and they think and learn like humans do. They can be tailored to fulfill specific functions and are all designed to work in adverse environments. Result: the human race now has all the “slave” labor it needs to get things done.




Naturally, the replicants violently revolt, and, naturally, the humans thumb them down.




As our story begins, in 2019, Earth has become that crappy neighborhood everyone's trying to move out of (to the “Off-world Colonies”). Anyone who stays behind is either physically unable to leave OR has a sick, psychological need to remain with the dregs. Replicants are forbidden to be on Earth, and any found are immediately terminated. Blade Runner squads (part of the police) are tasked to hunt down and kill any replicants that manage to sneak on to the planet.

The Blade Runner Principle: How To Make A Fantastic Film Despite Yourself






THE LOWDOWN




Blade Runner (1982) is considered one of the best freakin’ sci-fi films of all time, which is amazing considering everything about the film’s creation, from writing the script to shooting to editing for release, was Hollywood’s version of Open Warfare.




[If you want to get a real taste of how screwed up the filmmaking process is, I suggest you follow this link for the full story on Imbd.com. Make sure you check out the T-Shirt wars on the set during filming. I kid you not!]




Based (somewhat) on Philip K. Dick’s story, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” this sci-fi Classic with a capital ‘C’ has been re-released 3 times and re-cut for re-release twice. The first release of the film had this really horrible voice over (by Harrison Ford) that explained the entire film to the viewers. This was added because the producers at the time fired Ridley Scott and took control of the project right near the end. They didn’t think audiences would understand the film without help. They also insisted on the “happy ending.” By some miracle, it was recognized as an amazing film anyway.




In 1989, the original print was discovered and released to a limited number of theaters. A few years later, the entire film was re-cut and re-released without the voice over and without the really stupid “drive off into the sunset” final shot, and, again, it was absolutely amazing!




However, Scott only considers the most recent cut (2007) to be the FINAL final cut because the re-cut and re-release #2 team did not allow him enough time to participate to the extent he wanted to [or he turned them down. You never know with these auteur types].




Basically, it’s a miracle this film didn’t suck major A$$.




What makes this story even weirder is Scott’s insistence that the film’s thematic discussion of what it means to be alive and what it means to be a slave and when to draw the line between the two isn’t really what the film is about. In July of 2000, Scott “revealed” that Deckard (Harrison Ford) is actually a replicant himself. Both Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer have publicly expressed their disappointment and/or disagreement with Scott’s assertion [most likely on the basis that it’s FLIPPING STUPID, and the entire film makes no sense whatsoever if Deckard is a replicant].




In the end, Blade Runner set the bar for scifi flicks that think without being boring or pedantic or overly complicated. It’s absolutely beautiful. Take my advice and watch it immediately, or watch it again! (The second version, “The Director’s Cut,” considered the best of the three, is my personal recommendation).


You’ll be amazed it was created nearly 30 years ago.



Special Effects brought to you from 1982. No kidding.



The Blade Runner Principle: How To Make A Fantastic Film Despite Yourself



THE LOWDOWN




Blade Runner (1982) is considered one of the best freakin’ sci-fi films of all time, which is amazing considering everything about the film’s creation, from writing the script to shooting to editing for release, was Hollywood’s version of Open Warfare.




[If you want to get a real taste of how screwed up the filmmaking process is, I suggest you follow this link for the full story on Imbd.com. Make sure you check out the T-Shirt wars on the set during filming. I kid you not!]

'FRINGE' exclusive trailer from EW.com [Updated: Hidden Message]

EW.com's own Doc Jensen shares preview trailer for newest Fringe episode,"Entrada" [airs December 2, 9/8C]

Thanks to @countingtofive for the heads up.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/17381393[/vimeo]

Also according to Doc Jensen, there's a hidden message (backmasked) at the end of the trailer.  Current consensus is it reads as follows: "Only one way to find out."  Listen below and tell us what you hear.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/17388079[/vimeo]

Monday, November 29, 2010

Pre-Hash: Man of Science, Man of Faith

Just like Alice going down the rabbit hole, LOST season 2 begins with Locke and Kate exploring what’s on the other side of the hatch door in “Man of Science, Man of Faith”. In the flashbacks we see Jack work to fix his future wife, Sarah, and we learn of the first interaction between Jack [...]

“The Final Season” by Ty Mattson




“Final Season”  by Ty Mattson, limited edition, signed and numbered.  Purchase here.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

@Loster21's Tweets O' the Week from November 20-26, 2010

Welcome back to the latest edition of Tweets O’ the Week!  I hope all our US Losties had wonderful long holiday weekends, and that you’re ready to enjoy some terrific LOST-related tweets from fans and LOST participants alike.

The standard stuff: THIS IS NOT A SPOILER FREE ZONE so if you’ve not watched LOST from beginning to end, do so and then come back.  Tweets from LOST cast and production are in red, and a list of their Twitter names along with their positions with LOST and current gigs can be found here.

Tweets from LOST Cast and Production:

Eric Lange MrEricLange Working with Illeana Douglas and the gang on @EasyToAssemble 20 Nov

Kristopher White heykristopher Okay... check out this podcast I did with Debra Jo Rupp & Kurt Fuller. These guys cracked me up! http://bit.ly/9kXWkw #Betterwithyou 20 Nov

Josie Kavadoy JOvsZ Checking out Jack Benders art show with @la_basura and @cuttgloves in Chinatown! 20 Nov

Carlton Cuse CarltonCuse At the Wurstkuche, downtown LA. Don't miss it. 20 Nov (At Jack Bender’s art show)

Dylan Minnette dylanminnette Recording was great! Now we have our very first photo shoot tomorrow! Should be fun 20 Nov

Michelle Rodriguez MRodOfficial Greetings from the Sea Shepherd out in the southern Ocean Internet is slow but Ill post some pics for you soon to share the journey :) 21 Nov

Michelle Rodriguez MRodOfficial Took about two days to get over the sea sickness but Arrrg Im good to roam the ocean for months now Not sick anymo http://twitpic.com/38twzw 21 Nov

Nathan Fillion NathanFillion Love having @L_Pre (Laura Prepon) on Castle. Little cheesed she's funnier than me, but take it out on @seamusdever. 22 Nov

Carlton Cuse CarltonCuse Some details about my next project: http://tinyurl.com/2469nsr 22 Nov  Can’t WAIT!!!

Daniel Dae Kim danieldaekim Ooo we get to meet Danno's ex tonight. I wonder if she lives up to the PSYCHO ringtone... #H50 22 Nov  Actually she was quite lovely…

Adam Horowitz AdamHorowitzLA Saw The Fighter with @CarltonCuse -- was excellent but thinks Lowell, Mass visitor's bureau has its work cut out for it after its release 23 Nov

Dylan Minnette dylanminnette It's an event put together by 98.7 and Weezer is announcing the lighting of a Christmas tree for it and we get to meet them! 23 Nov

Nathan Fillion NathanFillion I put something for Firefly in the People Magazine shot. Anyone spot it yet? 24 Nov

ian somerhalder iansomerhalder Wrapped!!!Happy turkey day people! Thanks@MSiega for plowing through episode 212 and getting our crew a much-deserved short day,we love you 24 Nov

ian somerhalder iansomerhalder And thank you to the best crew in show business-TVD crew 24 Nov

Rebecca Mader bexmader Todays VARIETY! http://twitpic.com/39vfxi 24 Nov

Dylan Minnette dylanminnette Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I'm thankful for all of my awesome fans! You guys are awesome! 25 Nov

ian somerhalder iansomerhalder Happy Thanksgiving! Productivity today should be a minimum...if you are so inclined to relax. Enjoy enjoy enjoy and thank you for everything 25 Nov

Rebecca Mader bexmader Happy thanksgiving!!! I'm thankful for you. Xx 25 Nov

Josie Kavadoy JOvsZ Happy Thanksgiving! 1st course pumpkin pancakes with homemade nutmeg whip cream! 25 Nov

Eric Lange MrEricLange Today reminds me to be more grateful for the blessings in my life. Twitter reminds me of the people that make up many of those blessings. 25 Nov

Daniel Dae Kim danieldaekim Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! May you all have something special to be thankful for. 25 Nov

 

LOST Cast and Crew Elsewhere

Bonnie Upright, APR bonnieupright How did I not know John Locke was Luke Wilson's boss in Old School? #lost #fallingbehindinpopculture 20 Nov

TJ BstMstR Every other flick I watch seems to have an actor in it that was on #Lost 20 Nov

myfriendamy myfriendamy Tania Raymonde is in the Blue Like Jazz movie!!!! :) http://bit.ly/hrsbHp #LOST 22 Nov

BeingHuman3 BeingHuman3 #BeingHuman: Jacob from #Lost in Montreal-star power of actor Mark Pellegrino should give ratings a real boost http://tinyurl.com/2a35y68 24 Nov

And then came …

Kristian Blake NotSoBadLit About to watch How I Met Your Mother for the first time. The things I for my #Lost love. Jorge's on!! 22 Nov 

And the tweets came flooding in, including these:

Tom Wilson tomwilson23 Ooooo the numbers lol!!! #HIMYM #lost 22 Nov

jeremy gonis  zjg Love the Jorge Garcia #Lost moment on #HIMYM 22 Nov

Stacy Selanders Pantherlilykat "I was on that island for eternity." Another #Lost refrence. #HIMYM 22 Nov

Tom Wilson tomwilson23 Did anyone see the donkey wheel when Barney came into the empty room? #lost #HIMYM 22 Nov

Hash Tager hashtager # Awesome #Lost joke in #HIMYM tonight. Love it. And how I've missed the #Lost hashtag! 22 Nov

Dish Online watchDishOnline Hurley from #Lost guest starred on last night's #Thanksgiving themed How I Met Your Mother, online here -- http://bit.ly/iiLuKS #dishnetwork 23 Nov

 LOST in Real Life:

Mubariz Ahmedi mubzymalone @Loster21 Just spotted Matthew Fox standing next to Thierry Henry at the Emirates! 20 Nov

Mubariz Ahmedi mubzymalone @Loster21 @tomwilson23 Just like Jack, Arsenal are #LOST! http://yfrog.com/b9wulsj 20 Nov

Donald  DonaldJr I feel like the Desmond Hume of twitter. I flash between tweets and DM's and sometimes I dont realize where I am. 20 Nov

Waheed M AMonsterAteMe Listen to New Divide (Linkin Park) with #LOST on the mind and it will change the song forever. "I remember each flash,as time began to blur" 20 Nov

Matt Luntley Mattluntley was just in Stanley Park....went to #Lost Lagoon....well i just had to ;P 20 Nov

Joel Burkhead joelburkhead just saw a big coffin shaped box getting unloaded from our plane. i'm on the lookout for Jack. #lost 22 Nov

Alana Powell nanathetiger Packing for home, watching #Lost and dutifully neglecting my homework... 22 Nov

Dimitris Leonidas Sk jamesleonsk @neeea If it's too cold for you, then... "We have to go baaaaaack!!!" #LOST 23 Nov

Linnea Wiklund neeea yes, it's our destiny, we're supposed to do this! RT @jamesleonsk @neeea If it's too cold for you, then.. "We have to go baaaaaack!!" #LOST 23 Nov

Jon Levy jonlevymusic Haven't been on a flight since I watched all 6 seasons of #Lost Here's hoping I get to sit next to Hurley. 23 Nov

Matthew M. wopsican Just entered Tustin,Ca. No box companies sighted yet, I'll keep you posted. #LOST 23 Nov  Welcome to So Cal, my friend.

Erin erinava Beyonce is my constant. 25 Nov

Frances Abad abadfran Omg!!! Josh Holloway cut his hair!!! #lost http://plixi.com/p/59334741 26 Nov

LOST… Ornaments?

Christina Bauer xtinaluvspink @corrwill @Lady_Macbethe Make your own! Buy cheap round ornaments, put a glitter glue number on each, then disperse throughout the tree! 25 Nov

Sarah Bethe Lady_Macbethe @xtinaluvspink @corrwill haha a jesus stick would be awesome! A dharma beer can! Or a polar bear! 25 Nov

Christina Bauer xtinaluvspink @Lady_Macbethe @corrwill YES a beer can! That would be easy to make, too. There's a site that has all the Dharma food packaging to print 25 Nov

Sarah Bethe Lady_Macbethe @corrwill @xtinaluvspink I've seen that! I have a toy plane and polar bear!!! Omg ideas are hatching(no pun intended) my mind now! :D 25 Nov

Sarah Bethe Lady_Macbethe @xtinaluvspink @corrwill haha I want a hatch computer ornament so bad!!! 25 Nov

Cortney Williams corrwill @Lady_Macbethe @xtinaluvspink Run up to Dom and go "Can I make a plaster mold of your hand? No, no seriously it's for an ornament." :) 25 Nov

Not sure who started the hashtag #LOSTPickupLines but it garnered some good results:

The Lost Boy! TeamJacob815 #lost Chat up lines; "We have to go back Kate, We have to go back! For coffee!" 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti @erinava you can be my smoke & I can be your monster. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti We go together like Dharma beers & Roger. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti You can crash your plane on my island anytime baby. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti Was that time traveling or did u just rock my world? #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

Rob Gobell DharmaScientist @LizPrietti @xtinaluvspink Hey I lost the numbers to enter into the hatch computer, can I have yours? #LOSTpickuplines 22 Nov

Erin erinava @LizPrietti You make my heart skip like the time in Season 5. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti I'll let you flashback me anytime. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

✓ Verified LOSTie✈ LizPrietti @erinava I think it's destiny, cause you are running through my mind. #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

Erin erinava @LizPrietti We broke up, and now my nose is bleeding. :-( #LOSTpickuplines #LOST 22 Nov

Rob Gobell DharmaScientist @erinava @LizPrietti Hey you must be my constant, cuz once I saw you, my headache and nosebleeds went away..#Lostpickuplines 22 Nov

 

Shows that Losties Like:

Joanna SopranoJKM #TheWalkingDead is beginning to fill the void that #LOST left in my TV-loving heart.  For me nothing will replace LOST, but The Walking Dead is one series that many Losties seem to like. 23 Nov Click here for the LOSTblog section about TV shows that Losties like.

LOST Love:

Kelly Rapp Kellya1023 I think on obsessed with #lost. I just keep watching it over and over again. 20 Nov

Sarah Bethe Lady_Macbethe Hurley is such a great character. He's so fun & optimistic even when he's gone through so much. There needs to be more Hurleys in the world! 20 Nov

Douche Bag douchebaggette @lostdogs20 @corrwill I don't believe we ever found out how special Walt really was. I'll assume he can bring the whispers back to life. :) 20 Nov

Tina lostdogs20 @corrwill Charlie's jears are way worse thank Jack's. Charlie's jears made me cry. 20 Nov

Idle Dandy idledandy @damonlindelof The only thing I hate is that every month or so since the finale, I dream #Lost is still on and wake up sad it's not. 22 Nov

Jay Aniceto jayncoke Wow. The symmetry between "Pilot Pt 1" and "Ab Aeterno" is just stunning... http://tumblr.com/xnerg0zke #LOST 23 Nov

Emily F Emiilina I can't believe its been half a year since The End! #LOST 23 Nov  Wahhhhh!

Heather Westrol hwestrol10 Just tried to explain something #LOST to @azopf and drew a blank! My LOST knowledge is rusty. I think enough time has passed for a re-watch! 23 Nov Check out the LOSTblog rewatch info here

Jessica Rockwell jrocasaurus I'm totally on a #LOST kick again... 23 Nov

Elyse Wolf alrightelyse ROSE AND BERNARD <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 #Lost 25 Nov

Erika Matthews erikakay17 "We're all convinced sooner or later, Jack." #Lost is so amazing and meta. 25 Nov

Nina Abby McNally NinaAbbyisLOST going home LOST is my home. Namaste. 25 Nov 

Ours, too!  And all LOSTies have a home here at LOSTblog.  And on Twitter!  Thanks to all who tweet about the best tv show ever, our beloved LOST.  Please keep those LOST tweets coming!  Have a great week, and Namaste.