Doing my bit for World Usability Day. Need I say any more?

OK!! So my pal Mart & I were chatting about Val Kilmer (I had just watched Tombstone) and Doc "I'm here Huckleberry" Haliday deserved a mention. Kilmer seemed to have the world at his feet sky rocketing career, buckets of talent and the golden touch. What went wrong you may ask yourself?

He brought some great characters to life:

Nick “my father thought of it while shaving” Rivers - Top Secret (I was 14)
The Iceman - Top Gun (I was 16)
Madmartigan - Willow (OK I wasn’t a big fan of this one, but worth a mention)
Jim Morrison - The Doors (as a period piece, pretty good)
Doc Holliday - Tombstone (awesome)
Chris Shiherlis - Heat (acting for a change)
Entourage - The Sherpa (Episode 05, Season 01)

Yea I think that's it. Pretty much everything else he did was crap &
got exponentially worse. 3 unsubstantiated stories I can repeat - to add to the "Kilmer is difficult and brings it on himself" are:

I should mention that these stories are hearsay & never been proven in a court of law.

1. Circa 1980 - Apparently Kilmer & Kevin Spacey were amigos before either made it big. Val is set to go to Juilliard and become an ACKTor. He convinces the penniless Spacey to do the same. So spacey borrows the tuition fees from Kilmer's father. Spacey never repays the loan. This causes a rift between the 2 friends that continues to this day.

Side note: Up until 2002 Kilmer was the youngest student ever accepted into Juilliard's Drama department.

2. Circa 1986 - Val is up for a career making role as Kyle Reese the hero in an edgy sci-fi film called the Terminator. For some reason Arnult nixes the idea and squashes Val's chances. Ironically Arnult was the first choice for Kyle Reese, but when Cameron meets him, he decides he is more Terminator material.

The role eventually goes to Michael Biehn who does a great job anyway. Ironically Kilmer's Doc Holliday faced off against Biehn’s Johnny Ringo in Tombstone

This comes back to haunt Arnult years later when he is put forward
for the role of Mr. Freeze in "Batman 93 - Mo bat crap". Naturally being an ego less artist Val kicks up a fuss. The ensuing conversation
must have gone something like this:

Val: "I don't think so. Listen Mr Producer only one of us is going to
be in this film. So it's either Arnult or me. Need I remind I am the
greatest actor of my generation and you'll remember me from such films
as Afterschool Special: One Too Many, Spartan, Red Planet, Batman Forever and Alexander."

Producer:"PA get me Clooney on the phone & Val Don't slam the door too hard on your way out.

3. Circa 1995 - Kilmer career is bottoming out but gets the chance to act in a contemporary version of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" with Marlon Brando. By now Kilmer is a few roles away from Van Damme/Lundgren/Rourke status. However the producers clearly happy to have Kilmer on board and buckle to his ongoing demands including swapping from the lead hero to the Doctors sidekick.

Richard Stanley the skilled but relatively unknown director is continually at odds with Kilmer. After making a couple of low budget sci-fi/horror films including; "Hardware aka M.A.R.K. 13 & "Dust Devil". The underrated South African gets:
- a break that could make him
- gets a decent budget to play with
- gets to direct a classic story
- gets to work with Marlon Brando
- gets to work with Val Kilmer

However ongoing clashes between Kilmer & Stanley continue. Eventually Kilmer gets Stanley replaced by Frankenheimer. Putting Stanley’s career on hold again. Ironically by the end of filming Frankenheimer vows never to work with Kilmer again.

In a bizarre move Stanley hides out on the island set, gets disguised as one of the "mutated" extras and continues to be part of the film. Seriously who can blame the guy for not letting go of his dream?

Yea!! I'm rooting for the guy he's talented and will eventually break Hollywood. Just watch "Hardware aka M.A.R.K. 13" his first big effort. The screenplay was written by Kevin O'Neill (comic legend).

Although a low budget, the film exudes imagination, skill & talent. C'mon Iggy Pop as the DJ voice of Angry Bob. The destined for eventual greatness Dylan McDermott is the protagonist in this tale of a dystopian future.

Richard Stanley is coming back to Montreal. Last year he presented Dust Devil, this year he brings us his director's cut of the 1990 film Hardware, one of the few good cyberpunk films. A hallucinatory, drug-fuelled blend of Terminator, Mad Max and Blade Runner (with a cameo by Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmeister!), Hardware suffered at the hands of those shadowy studio types who always manage to fuck things up for creative and ground-breaking filmmakers. - montrealmirror

OK so on balance Kilmer's ego seems to be writing cheques his talent can't cash.

After a couple of false starts and long term bookings I finally got to go to go to what is deemed by many as the finest curry house in all of Britain. Veeraswamy est. 1926

Hi all,
You are invited to dinner at (Booming Indian accented voice)
VEERASWAMY the legendary Indian restaurant. It's an eat and meet affair.
Sat 11 Nov 8pm - 11pm (3 hrs) (London)Mezzanine Floor, Victory House 99 Regent Street, London W1B 4RS (entrance on Swallow Street)

Veeraswamy is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the U.K. It was established in 1926 at the same site by the great grandson of an English General, and an Indian princess. The restaurant has been the rendezvous of rich, famous, and fashionable lovers of Indian food. Customers included Edward - Prince of Wales, King Gustav of Sweden, Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, King Hussein of Jordan and Marlon Brando.

As with all of these get togethers its about great company, good food & a comfortable atmosphere. This occasion did not disappoint. We had a great table under a giant chandelier decorated with rose petals. It was good to see old friends as well as meet new friends. One has to respect an establishment that has a no photos inside policy.

The crab kebab starter was subtly delicious. The Biryani Classic (Hyderabad lamb biryani) which has been on the menu since 1926. Was fragrant and delicate. It really made me regret all the overpowering quick fix-no time-dazzle me taste explosions I have been forcing onto my senses. It was from a more genteel time - when taste was not synonymous with "entertain me".

The Rose Lychee Martinis are great, although a little sweet as was the Espresso Martini.

Early in the 21st Century, THE TYRELL CORPORATION advanced Robot evolution into the NEXUS phase -- a being virtually identical to a human -- known as a replicant। The NEXUS 6 Replicants were superior in strength and agility, and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who created them. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor, in the hazardous exploration and colonization of other planets. After a bloody mutiny by a NEXUS 6 combat team in an Off-world colony, Replicants were declared illegal on earth -- under penalty of death. Special police squads -- BLADE RUNNER UNITS -- had orders to shoot to kill, upon detection, any trespassing Replicants.

This was not called execution. It was called retirement.

LOS ANGELES
NOVEMBER, 2019
OK!! the other day I got into a discussion with a friend, lets call him Alex about the new release of Blade Runner he was under the impression that a version had just been released. We have had a running discussion about BR over the last 4 years. I'm a big fan and he doesn't understand what more there is to see, say or know about BR. I should mention that Alex actually owns a copy of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner" by Paul M. Sammon as well as has a recorded from TV version of "On the Edge of 'Blade Runner' ". Both of which he loaned to me awhile back. Alex doth protest too much, methinks.

Anyhoo!! I thought I'd create the definitive list of the visual & soundtrack versions of the film that exists. I have steered clear of the content of Blade Runner for now. Allthough the following timeline is in chronological order I have indented the timeline where it was reto fitted.

1927 - German expressionist Fritz Lang creates Metropolis which feeds Ridley Scotts vision
1942 - Edward Hopper paints Nighthawks again this feeds Scotts bleek vision. Building on the dark atmosphere created by the death of Scott's just before the making of Blade Runner
1968 - Philip K. Dick writes "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". This forms the backbone of Blade Runner. Martin Scorsese and Jay Cocks were both interested but they don't option it.
1973 - Herb Jaffe options
1973 - Robert Jaffe does a screenplay
1975 or 76 - Dan O'Bannon and Moebius give us the conceptual visual stylings from their "The Long Tomorrow" graphic novel.
1975-77 - Hampton Fancher gets involved. Failing to option William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. Brian Kelly & Hampton Fancher finalise a deal.
1979 - Alan E. Nourse gives us the title Blade Runner from one of his books about smugglers of medical supplies.
1979 - William S. Burroughs writes "Blade Runner, a movie" loosely based on Nourse's story. Only the title was kept for the film.
1979 - Hampton Fancher completes his screenplay for Blade Runner called "Android" later changed to "Dangerous Days".
1980 - David Peoples rewrites it
March 9, 1981 - Photography starts
June 25, 1982 - Blade Runner is released

Thank you http://scribble.com for the following detail of each print.

1982 - US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint
1982 - US San Diego Sneak Preview
1982 - US Theatrical Release
1982 - European Theatrical and Laserdisc Release
1992 - Blade Runner The Director's Cut
2006 - Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut
2007 - Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Cable TV Version
Video Version

US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint--70mm (113 min):
- Webster's 2012 definition of a replicant used in lieu of opening crawl
- voiceovers deleted except at Batty's death
- Bryant says TWO replicants were fried running through an electric field
- conversation between snake-maker and Deckard is different and matches their lips
- includes shot of nearly nude dancers in hockey masks outside Taffey's bar
- Batty says, "I want more life, father."
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up
- different voiceover used after Batty's death
- ends with the elevator doors closing
- shorter than other versions

This version was shown at the Fairfax Theater in 1990 and UCLA's Los Angeles Perspectives multimedia festival in 1991. This was also the print shown at a London sneak preview in March of 1982. A 35mm reduction of this version was later shown at the Nuart and Castro Theaters in 1991. There were rumours that THIS version was the original director's cut, but the official 1992 Director's Cut is not the same.

US San Diego Sneak Preview (115 min):
- shows Batty making a telephone call to see if Chew is there
- shows Deckard reloading his weapon after firing at Batty
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

[Source: Video Watchdog no. 20, November-December 1993.]

European Theatrical Release/Criterion Laserdisc/Videocassette (117 min):
- Batty sticks his thumbs in Tyrell's eyes, which bleed copiously.
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up.
- Deckard shoots Pris a third time.
- more of Pris kicking and screaming when she is shot by Deckard.
- shows Roy actually pushing the nail through his hand
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

The added violence makes this version about 15 seconds longer than the US theatrical release. The 10th Anniversary video edition is the same as this release.

The Director's Cut (BRDC) (117 min):
- voice-overs completely eliminated
- added dialog from blimp to cover missing voice-over while Deckard waits for a seat at the noodle bar.
- 12-second unicorn scene added when Deckard plays the piano
- happy ending deleted (movie ends with elevator doors closing)
- extra violence seen on videocassette deleted
- digital soundtrack was remixed for BRDC.

Cable TV [? min]:
When BR first appeared on American cable TV, there was an additional line of dialog when Bryant gives Deckard the description, names, and addresses of Tyrell and Sebastian over the radio. In the cable TV version, Bryant adds "...and check 'em out" after he says "I want you to go down there."

VIDEOTAPE (117 min):
All video tapes before January 1993 are the "Not Rated" version and contain the extra violence in the Euro-release that's not seen in the 117 minute American theatrical release.

Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut:
Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cutwill debut in September in the U.S. and October in the UK for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut:
Later in 2007, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director’s Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.

I need one of these. Damn!! not available on ebay UK yet. The "Kronik Hill Karver" looks like it's the top electric skateboard out there. The Karver in the vid below is the "Grass Kutter".



You can be sure that I'll be picking one of these babies up real soon. That is, if I dont find a better one.

A time to meet new friends, catch up with old friends and wish Nikki happy birthday.

The Oratory is is one of the Brinkleys owned & operated restaurants. In summer with the large double doors open this place must be quite amazing. Our waiter guy was a tall drink of American and was beyond reproach. He was just the right balance of formal service and casual personality. His pesonality added to the evening makin sure it was memorable.

The ladies looked fine and the gentlemen were well groomed for the evening particulary Mark who was kilted out. A jolly laugh was had by all. The champagne flowed freely (thanks Mark), the grilled bruschetta
with goats cheese and a red pepper and red onion compote was divine, my main roast chicken breast stuffed with goats cheese, sun-dried tomatoes & mash was a little dry but delicios nevertherless.

The décor was a bit eclectic but interesting. The ceiling ornaments reminded me of Renaissance's Sebastians café Cape Town. Kind of gilded baroque.

Remember, remember the 5th of November (unless you are busy & have to do it on the 6th)

I may have missed Guy Fawkes but I had a fall back position Every year
one of my neighbours puts on a bit of a display. It's not Battersea
Park, which I do rate for it's fireworks to music display. But its
convenient and spectacular as the sparkles rain down over the river.

Thus far, all fireworks pale in comarison to Cape Town's "Symphony of Fire".