From: "Strong, Lee" <StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL>
To: "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Culture hi, culture lo
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 12:00:32 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

	Well, it was certainly different from _Conquest of Space_ which I
watched over the weekend.  But are grit and noir good, or symptoms of a
society in decay?  Is a dark, "edgy", "streetwise" book or film human, or
merely animalistic?  _Blade Runner_ is certainly widely respected in the
United States and Japan as a cutting edge movie with a hard hitting view of
the future, but, as a trained optimist, I prefer brighter fare.  One reason
why Star Trek and Star Wars are so popular is that they say that we can
overcome problems, not just endure them.  In any event, I suspect that you
enjoyed seeing the underside of Corescent in Lucas' latest.
	Have you ever seen either version of the _Bubblegum Crisis/Bubblegum
Crash_ series?  It was inspired by _Blade Runner_.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Walsh [mailto:MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 10:59 AM
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Culture hi, culture lo

It had a grittiness to it, a future that looked as if people really did =
live there.  It was a bizarre & delightful combination of PKD and noir.

All opinion is subjective, mine quite so.

mjw

>>> StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL 05/20/02 10:54AM >>>
	O.K., Mike.  I'll rise to the bait.  Why is _Blade Runner_ still =
one
of the best SF films around?

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Walsh [mailto:MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 10:48 AM
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Subject: [WSFA] Culture hi, culture lo

The Turner exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art was quite nice. The =
roughs that Turner produced in watercolor are just incredible, and most of =
=
the show was watercolor with some finished oils.  It's incredible what how =
=
Turner did ocean water, sky, light, storms - just incredible.

As for Star Wars Numero Duece . . . it was ok.  Certainly better than =
Phantom Menace.  What makes the film more interesting is seeing how Lucas =
=
is moving Anakin towars his "destiny", the use of various people, places & =
=
things that bring the story line ever closer to the first Star Wars flick.

However, unless Two Towers is a complete dud, I expect the Tolkien to be =
=
the film to beat for next year's Hugo.  But I woyuld expect this Star Wars =
=
film to make the final ballot.

But Bladerunner is still one of the best SF films around . . . . just my =
=
opinion.

mjw