STACK #159 Jan 2018

DVD&BD

FEATURE

DID YOU KNOW?

Author K.W. Jeter wrote a sequel to Blade Runner in 1995.Titled Blade Runner 2:The Edge of Human , the novel was set several months after the events of the film. It was adapted into a screenplay called Blade Runner Down , but neither the book nor script were used as the basis for Blade Runner 2049 .

Blade Runner 2049 ’s marketing included three short prequel films (included on the Blu-ray and 4K discs) which dramatise key events that occur during the 30-year timeframe between Blade Runner and the sequel.

film might be, and then I had the incredible opportunity to grow out those elements,” says Green. “There are so many fascinating themes that run through the first film; one of them is about quantity of life. Among the themes we wanted to explore in Blade Runner 2049 was quality of life. In both films there are humans and there are replicants, and though in many respects they behave similarly, they have very different origins, as one is born and one is made. Society places a greater inherent value on humans over replicants because someone born is believed to have a soul. But what is the nature of a soul… and is it uniquely human?” This is just one of the big questions raised in Blade Runner 2049 , whose plot details remained a closely guarded secret to the

Neander Wallace (Jared Leto) presents his new Nexus 9 replicant line to the city’s lawmakers in an attempt to have the prohibition on replicants lifted. Directed by Luke (son of Ridley) Scott.

extent that the ending of the movie was not included in copies of the script used by the actors. Non- disclosure agreements were mandatory for

Sapper Morton (Dave Bautista) comes to the rescue of a mother and her daughter on the mean streets of future LA, exposing his status as a replicant in the process. Also directed by Luke Scott.

those involved with the production, with heavy penalties for violation. It’s a testament to the production’s tight security that nothing was leaked prior to its October 2017 release date – nor will any plot spoilers be revealed here. As textured, nuanced and visually mesmerising

as Ridley Scott’s original masterpiece, Blade Runner 2049 is a sci-fi sequel to rank alongside Aliens , Terminator 2: Judgement Day and The Empire Strikes Back – a worthy successor to the original that progresses the story and characters in a natural continuation, while delivering something new, exciting and completely unexpected.

An anime short, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, revealing the event that led to the downfall of the Tyrell Corporation. With appearances by Blade Runner characters Gaff (voiced by original actor Edward James Olmos) and Bryant.

• Blade Runner 2049

is out on Jan 17

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