There has been a great deal of speculation as to what a Denis Villenueve-helmed “Blade Runner” sequel could entail, but it’s doubtful we’ll get any tangible details until production begins. But why look forward when there’s still so much to admire about the 1982 original?
Film essayist Colin Marshall recently made a video analysis of “Blade Runner” that’s a part of his series, “Los Angeles: the City in Cinema.” The video takes a close look at how the film depicts a futuristic Los Angeles and compares this depiction to the cityscape’s present form. Marshall cites examples of what “Blade Runner” gets right about the city, but also humorously points out where it missed the mark. Flying cars? Video payphones? Print newspapers?
Of course, no film that attempts to be a realistic depiction of the future will get everything right, but the world of “Blade Runner” is so fully-realized and detailed that it hardly matters. Watch the video essay below. [35MM]