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Review – Blade Runner

28th July 2021

Review – Blade Runner Directed by: Ridley Scott Written by: Hampton Fancher & David Peoples Produced by: Ridley Scott & Hampton Fancher Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer & Sean Young Release Date: September 9th 1982 I first watched Blade Runner around twenty years ago and in my dumb kid-brain, I put it into the same category as Star Wars. They were both sci-fi movies, both made in a similar era and they both starred Harrison Ford. I think that the first version I saw was the director’s cut version. I then went back to Blade Runner at the age of 12, when the ultimate cut was released in 2007 and at the time, I felt that the setting and the world were still incredible, but the plot and characters in the movie left a lot to be desired. Recently, I decided to go back and re-watch the directors cut of Blade Runner for review and then follow it up with Blade Runner: 2049. The biggest shock that I experienced during this most recent re-watch what that I realised that I had totally forgotten just how excruciatingly slow this film is. The whole thing moves at a snail’s pace and half of the run-time is spent looking at Harrison Ford’s reaction shots. I had it in my head that the pace of Blade Runner was similar to that of A New Hope, but I was way off. I get it, it’s not a sci-fi action flick, it’s a hard-boiled, contemplative detective film, but it really is a slog to sit through. And that is coming from a guy that loves a slow burn movie! I still feel the same way about this movie that I always have, the world and the setting that the story takes place in are far more interesting than the movie itself, (something else that Blade Runner has in common with Star Wars!) There is a reason that so many other movies have borrowed elements of Blade Runner’s amazing setting over the years and used them as inspiration for their own set design. To this day the sets and the majority of this almost 40-year-old film’s visuals still look great, that is an achievement not to be scoffed at. I will always appreciate Blade Runner for what it did for sci-fi movies that came after it, but if you saw this film as a kid and are thinking about going back to re-watch it again to see how well it holds up, I would actually recommend against it. This movie was so much better in my head than it was when I actually re-watched it and I somehow like it less now after re-watching it. However, this certainly should not take away from the importance and influence of this film and if you consider this a classic, it would be hard to argue that point with you. [yasr_multiset setid=2] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=2] Speaking of things that blatantly ripped off the aesthetic of Blade Runner, you can check out our review of Cyberpunk: 2077 right here. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Discord and join our official Facebook Group. Check out our new Podcast and subscribe to the channel on Youtube, Spotify, Apple and Google. Buy tickets for BGCP Comic Con in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews and News from Glasgow, Scotland, UK and the US, HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE

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Review – Mindhunter

20th May 2021

Review – Mindhunter Directed by: David Fincher & Tobias Lindholm Written by: Liz Hannah & Tobias Lindholm Produced by: Liz Hannah & David Fincher Starring: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany & Anna Torv Release Date: October 13th 2017 Mindhunter is a Netflix series set in the late 70’s. It follows two FBI detectives as they embark to learn more about serial killers and why they do the things that they do. One of the detectives, Bill Tench, actually coins the phrase, ‘serial killer,’ at one point and the team do seem to be making progressive steps into understanding a disturbed psyche, even if some of the methods they use along the way are fairly questionable. The series is produced by David Fincher, who also directs 4 episodes of the first season and 3 in the second season. If you are a fan of Fincher’s other work, then this will be right up your street. It shares a lot of similarities with Se7en, The Social Network, Gone Girl, Panic Room and definitely Zodiac. The two main series stars, Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany are brilliant in their roles. You may recognise McCallany from Fight Club and Groff from Glee, but this show couldn’t be a further departure from Glee if it tried, which makes Groff’s already electric performance even better. McCallany plays Bill Tench, an older FBI agent who has a good few years of experience under his belt. Groff plays Holden Ford, a young maverick, who barges his way towards progress, regardless of who gets caught up in the collateral damage. The two work fantastically together and the chemistry between the two actors is one of the best things about this show. The supporting cast are also solid, with Hannah Gross standing out as Holden’s girlfriend, as well as Anna Torv, who plays a doctor of psychology helping the two detectives analyse the data that they collect from interviews held with various serial killers. The serial killers featured throughout the show are also memorable, especially Jerry Brudos and Ed Kemper. Cameron Britton, who plays Kemper, gives a subtly terrifying performance and is exponentially engaging for every minute that he is onscreen. The performances are helped with a brilliant script. The dialogue is snappy and effective, causing as many existential questions as it does unorthodox observations. Fincher’s direction, is of course, fantastic and the other directors who work on this show also do a good job. The soundtrack to the show is sometimes antithetic to what is going on in the storyline, but it is always effective and never distracting. The shot composition and cinematography was also on point in each episode, with some really effective imagery being implemented throughout. Overall, this is a brilliantly made, psychological thriller. The writing is of a very high standard and the performances are excellent all around. If you are a fan of serial killer stories or anything David Fincher has worked on before, this will be for you. The characters are all interesting and deep and although they may do some questionable things, I can’t wait to see where this endeavour takes them next. I really hope that Netflix can come to some sort of a deal with Fincher to make more seasons of Mindhunter. I genuinely think that this is one of the best TV shows from the past five years and it would be a real shame if we never got any more from this story. [yasr_multiset setid=2] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=2] If you enjoyed Dan’s review for Mindhunter, check out his review of Love, Death & Robots S1 here, which David Fincher also produced. Buy tickets for BGCP Comic Con in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE www.bigglasgowcomicpage.com

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Review – Upgrade (2018)

26th May 2021

Review – Upgrade (2018) Directed by: Leigh Whannell Written by: Leigh Whannell Produced by: Blumhouse Productions Starring: Logan Marshall-Green, Michael M. Foster & Betty Gabriel Release Date: August 31st 2018 (UK) Prior to the release of Upgrade, I wondered what Leigh Whannell could do out with the Horror genre. He is perhaps best known for writing the first 3 Saw movies, (AKA the good ones,) and the Insidious trilogy. I think it is fair to say that he has proved himself as a titan in that genre at this point. However, I always wondered what it would be like to see him expand to another style. In a similar way that we saw James Wan do in the last decade. Well this is it. Upgrade is a Sci-Fi movie that doesn’t follow the most unique concept in the genre, but does it in such a fresh and fun way that it works incredibly well. Upgrade also does a really good job at making you feel some genuine emotions of sadness and pity, something that I really didn’t expect to get from a movie like this. When it comes to the action and violence in the movie, Upgrade embraces it’s B-movie inspiration and gives us some awesome grisly practical effects along with some cool action choreography to go with it. There are some elements to the plot that may seem bizarre to those not familiar with the more campy side of this genre. The movie also does slightly feel like a video game at times. However, I don’t feel that this is to the movie’s detriment and instead, actually adds to the fun ride that the film is taking you on. I also like the way that the movie ends. Although the reveal of who the big bad was going to be is seen coming from a mile away, what happens afterward was really surprising and pretty bold and risky. It seems like the film is going one direction. A direction that would have been a really poor, cliché ending for a movie like this. Then it goes in totally the opposite direction. Expectations are subverted and the film ends on a genuinely unexpected note. Whether you like the ending or not, the guts that it took to pull it off deserves some praise. Overall, Upgrade is a really fun watch. It has its high octane action sequences as advertised in the trailer. However, it also has some surprisingly tender, heartfelt moments to go along with all of the stunts and gore. It is definitely worth a watch if you are a sci-fi fan looking for a thrilling, bloody good time. [yasr_multiset setid=2] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=2] If you enjoyed Dan’s review of Upgrade, check out what he thought of Venom here. Buy tickets for BGCP Comic Con in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE

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