03 March 2011 / Film Blade Runner Kick Stopper
I watched Blade Runner again last night. That film really isn't too shabby, is it?
And then this morning I read the news. The terrible, terrible news. Some production company has bought the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to produce sequels and prequels and other "multiplatform concepts", which I think that means games and apps and junk, but maybe also lunchboxes.
Now, I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own a Blade Runner lunchbox and thermos set, and I'm reliably informed by my geek-in-denial other half that the old point-and-click computer game wasn't bad, but as for sequels and prequels and TV shows and … no no no no. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that. In fact, I imagine that the entire target audience for whatever it is they're intending would also be completely against it.
And that target audience must be pretty big. And they must have a bit of cash in their pockets that they'd be happy to put towards protecting The Greatest Science Fiction Film Mankind Has Made Thus Far, right? So here's a thought: how about setting up a Kickstarter project to raise enough funds to buy the Blade Runner rights and lock them in a vault, never to be messed with again? Would that be feasible? What's the most anyone has ever raised with Kickstarter?
You, at the back, what do you mean you don't know what Kickstarter is? It's 2011 … keep up.
Daniel Gray
Reader Comments (10)
Sounds like a splendid idea, but weren't you on a pro-sequel tip only yesterday? I seem to remember you advised a journalist who was lamenting sequels to 'get over it'. In caps.
@Dan I don't mind sequels per se, and I was mostly criticising them for suggesting that sequels, remakes etc. are a new thing. Actually, as long they bring something new to the table, I'm pro-remake (and re-versions/re-adaptations, or whatever it is we should call then) – otherwise we wouldn't have films like The Fly, The Departed The Thing, The Bourne Identity, Batman Begins, Insomnia, Ocean's 11, etc.
That said, Blade Runner is special. Hands off.
I must admit to a certain conflictedness (if that's a word it shouldn't be) myself. In general I disappprove of most sequels and many remakes. Except for the good ones.
Certain films should just be left alone. Re-visited and re-released, yes (I'm looking at the 238 different versions of Blade Runner available). Prequels and sequels directed, written and starring different people? No way.
The only thing I don't really oppose is the chance that a few decent games could come off the back of it. If given to a good company, they could do a really good job on making a Blade Runner game.
Could you imagine them making a sequel, prequel and TV series to A Clockwork Orange? No. Fudging. Way.
@Luke There are always exceptions … take Alien and Aliens for example. That film really didn't need a sequel, but James Cameron – back when he was a decent film-maker – took the concept and created something amazing.
The good thing about computer games is that if they're no good, they get left behind by the advance in technology and are eventually forgotten about.
I'm over saving for a wedding - we're buying Blade Runner, yes? xxx
P.S. ...and with the change, Preacher. xxx
@Dr B Sounds like a good idea for a wedding list … At the very least we could get enough cash to fly over to Hollywood and spend half an hour with Tim Burton, so we can sit him down and explain what's going wrong.
"........featuring the fine talents of Mr. Ashton Kutcher as the wise-cracking Deckard.2.1 offworld's first timeout-free replicant/rogue cop. He's his own partner!"
Does that mean I can look forward to finally getting hold of a Roy Batty bobblehead..?