As I’ve said many times before, The Original “Star Wars”, and “The Empire Strikes Back” were the two Films that Inspired me to Pursue Film Making…
But I thought it was time I Truly Shared My Path Through the Sci-Fi Genre, which basically started in the 70’s for me when I was very young.
Space 1999 (1975-1977)
Now I don’t remember when I started watching “Space 1999”, it probably wasn’t as early as 1975… But sometime when I was very young, I did watch it… And it was Cool, Lol
Wow, that was kind of painful, Lol… The 70’s man, Lol
Star Wars (1977)
Then came the Original “Star Wars”, and that was it, I was ‘hooked’ on Sci-Fi.
I was Han Solo, My Brother was Luke, and My Favorite All Time Villain Became Darth Vader.
Star Trek (1966-1969)
And of course “Star Trek” Reruns were on T.V. frequently, which were just Awesome… Spock was, and is, my favorite Star Trek Character.
The Ultimate in Sci-Fi Melodrama, Lol… With a sprinkle of Shakespearean Undertones for Good Measure, Lol
Buck Rogers In The 25th Century (1979)
I hardly remember the Buck Rodgers Television Show, but I know My Brother and I used to Watch it, Lol
Wow… Wow… The 70’s… Wow, Lol
Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Somewhere in there the “Planet of the Apes” Movies were on T.V. on some of the Channels as well…
“TAKE YOUR STINKING PAWS OF ME YOU DAMN DIRTY APE!” Lol
Battlestar Galactica (1978-1979)
We Loved this Show, Lol
Alien (1979)
Yes, are Mom actually took us to this Flick, Lol… Which is a Brilliant Film, but basically Scared the Hell out of My Brother and I, Lol
She regrets taking us, Ha
But in the end, I think we survived it ok, Lol
Uh, Yeah… It was pretty scary for a couple of young kids, Lol
Flash Gordon (1980)
We Loved This Flick, as Cheesy as it was, Lol… In fact I not only met Timothy Dalton years later, but My Current Cat is also Named “Baron”, after the Timothy Dalton Character, Lol Not to mention “Queen”, and more specifically “Freddy Mercury” was my Favorite All Time Singer…
Spaceships, Hawkmen, Queens Music… Yeah, this was my kind of Flick, Lol
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
And of course, One of My All Time Favorite Films, “The Empire Strikes Back”… Han was My Man, and this Film was definitely His Film.
In My Opinion, the Best Sci-Fi Film Ever… No “Star Wars”… No “The Empire Strikes Back”… No “Star Wars”… And so it Goes, Lol
But I will Say The First Two Star Wars Films are one of My Main Motivations Behind My Focus of “Characters”, “Story”, and “Character & Story” Development. And the Importance of a Great Villain.
Blade Runner (1982)
“Blade Runner”… Also one of the Most Brilliant Sci-Fi Films Ever Done… Just a Masterpiece… And also very Influential on My Screenplay Writing, for Sure.
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”
One of the Best Sci-Fi Lines, and Scenes Ever… Wridley Scott is a Film Genius Basically… And of course the Writer Philip K. Dick, whose “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?” Book it was based on.
TRON (1982)
“TRON”, a Film Way ahead of its time… My Brother and I Loved This Film.
At a Time when We Lived in Video Game Arcades, it was like Being in One of them…
And the List goes on and on… But those were the one’s that got My Bro and I Off the Ground so to speak, in regards to Sci-Fi.
When I saw this as a kid, I was simply blown away. By this point, Harrison Ford was already my favorite Actor, right along side Sean Connery. Han Solo and Indiana Jones were to blame. This Film was simply Visually Stunning. Directed by Ridley Scott, The Director that brought you Alien the Original, and Gladiator, has an innate ability of creating a Captivating Atmosphere. An Atmosphere that brings you in.
The Story; Rick Deckard, a once Renowned Blade Runner (Hunter of Replicants, synthetic man made beings), is approached by the L.A. Police Department (Though the City very much has a Futuristic Tokyo Feeling to it) to kill 4 remaining Replicants who had recently escaped the planet that they worked on.
As the story slowly unwinds, it becomes apparent that the Replicants are seeking their maker to see if there is a way to extend their lives, for they only have a short time to live. As Deckard hunts these remaining Replicants, their sheer Humanness, and his own Empathy for their Plight, begins to tear him up on the inside.
And by the end he not only falls in love with a 5th Replicant (Who didn’t even know she was one), but finds himself saddened from the experience, and torment that the Leader Replicant is going through, just to hold on to this rare thing called Life.
Character’s;
Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) – Blade Runner. A suave, scruffy looking (To Steal from Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back), intense, warn out guy.
Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer); The Brilliant, Enigmatic Replicant Leader.
Pris (Daryl Hannah); The Athletic, Alluring Pleasure Replicant.
Rachael (Sean Young); Deckard’s Love Interest. Is She a Replicant? Watch and see.
Gaff (Edward James Olmos); Come on, you gotta see anything with him in it, right? His character is Slight, but Masterful.
Director; Ridley Scott creates such a Beautiful Tale of Woe, Suspense, and Anima in this film. He is simply one of my favorite Directors. Through Story, Cinematography, Music and Strong Actor’s, he is truly making his Mark in Movies and Film.
The Writer (‘s); Hampton Fancher (Screenplay), David Peoples (Screenplay, Writer of Ladyhawke and the Unforgiven) and Philip K. Dick (Based on his Novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?).
Overall Rating; AA+ Yes, a Double AA+. This is a Must See Sci-Fi Flick. Not to mention, the Visuals and Characters are Stunning.
The Written Word 