It's especially interesting to me when the architecture, usually the city, becomes almost like a character in the film. Think of the dystopian cityscape of "Blade Runner", the future sterile utopia of "Logan's Run", the hypercities of films like "Things To Come" (above) or the nightly changing streets of "Dark City". These cityscapes become both symptoms and causes of the state of mind of the characters, as well as being sign posts that tell the audience this is not what you're used to.
[Link via things magazine]
9 comments:
LOVE IT!
Me too! Now where's my jetpack? Hand me my toga, there's a dear.
And my flying car? I want my flying car. If I had a flying car, I would be willing to dress like Klaus Nomi, no problem.
Mr. Has-a-link-for-everything here can tell you that this site:
http://www.fabiofeminofantascience.org/RETROFUTURE/RETROFUTURE1.html
is a huge resource for images of futures past.
i loved logan's run; at the time i thought a brilliant movie.
John C, truly you are a treasure. Now scooch over and let me give you a cuddle for that superb link!
Ur-spo. I was all about Logan in that sexy sandman uniform for a while there. Not to mention that the future was a sexually liberated one for his people. Remember the sexy toga wearing hunk that appears on 'Circuit', but Logan rejects instead settling for Ms Argutter? I was a teenager when I saw that and thought 'eh, maybe dying at 30 wouldn't be so bad...'
Ooh, cuddles are always welcome. :D
I'm a Blade Runner boy, I'm afraid, still love its gloomy, cluttered ambience. Can't wait to see Ridley's definitive version which is out on DVD soon. One of the highlights of visiting LA was going on a pilgrimage to the Bradbury Building where the end of the movie takes place.
John, I am a MASSIVE fan of Syd Mead who did the conceptual drawings for Blade Runner. I am absolutely in love with this film too. So beautifully realised from a visual standpoint.
When I was like 15 or 16 I remember saving up my pocket money to buy Syd Mead's large tome "Sentinel". Gorgeousness! A very utopian world view in much of the work, but it makes sense in the fact that many of them were concept drawing for Phillips, General Motors etc. Technology will set you free! I love the optimism of it, but then Blade Runner proves that he was a dab hand and more than just this one style.
Syd Mead, yes indeed! I remember seeing Sentinel in the shops but never got round to buying it for some reason. Pictures from it turned up in Omni for a while. I ought to track down a copy from Abe.com.
Post a Comment