BladeZone's Off World Forums

One of the things that seduces us most about Blade Runner is the city concept. Visually amazing, LA2019 landscapes catch our eyes<BR>and soul with a powerful, overwhelming feeling. Of course we've dreamed of being Deckard and living in that city of rain, neon and trash. And, personally, to me it's been very nice, when playing the game, to feel myself inmerse at some degree in the BR City. (First time I played was awesome).<BR><BR>But, as sure as it is cool to imagine yourself walking down those streets, dressed in a trenchcoat like Deckard's, it is true that life in LA 2019 would be hard, and sometimes unpleasant to the inhabitants. <BR><BR>So, what I want you to share in this forum, is the moments and places of your daily life when suddenly you've realized 'Hey, this seems/feels like LA 2019'. I'm sure many of us have had at least one.
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Interesting that you should bring this up, as there were many times I had these experiences during my previous career as a paramedic. <BR><BR>Having left NYC, the place of my birth, and where I lived most of my life until 2 years ago, I often think back to certain moments that were very BR-ish. It has been argued that NYC is vastly diferent than LA for a BR setting, but I would disagree. <BR><BR>I worked for 10 years in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, and on many a rainy, summer night, images of BR would float through my head. Racing up to a SRO (single room occupancy) hotel in downtown Brooklyn to treat yet another drunk, or victim of crime, one could clearly see the image of the Bradbury racing through my head.<BR>Visiting the shops along Utica Avenue in the West Indian section of Crown Heights, you can just imagine Mama Isabella being behind the counter of one of the roti restaurants. And certainly, with the police helicopters circling the rooftops in search of perps, one could imagine them as spinners, as they flew off into the distance to the MetroTech Towers Complex.<BR><BR>Yes, there are many images of BR in my head from those days. <BR><BR>
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Have to agree with you on that, NYC resident also. I think Canal Street China Town reminds me of our movie alot, especially when the stores are shut up for the night. The dirty, trashy streets,grime encrusted buildings with graffiti covering the lower walls, foul smells coming from god knows where, steam venting out of manholes and sewer grates. Personally, I think you can experience the full blade runnish effect in the winter when the steam is more prevalent. Reminds me of when Pris is walking towards the Bradbury for the first time to hide in the trash.<BR><BR>Central New Jersey's Oil refinaries and power plants bordering the Turnpike (I-95) and Staten Island. Every now and then you can see the ocasional flare up from on of those towers , nothing like the sizes from the movie, but it reminds me every now and then.<BR><BR><BR><BR>_________________<BR>I like Cheese.<BR><BR><font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: betz698 on 2001-08-09 02:35 ]</font>

betz698 writes:<BR><BR>"Central New Jersey's Oil refinaries and power plants bordering the Turnpike (I-95) and Staten Island. Every now and then you can see the ocasional flare up from on of those towers , nothing like the sizes from the movie, but it reminds me every now and then."<BR><BR>Oooh, yes, good pickup! I have a cousin who lives in Jersey City, and from her balcony, you can see those things quite clearly, in addition to the planes flying into and out of Newark. Kinda makes me think of both spinners, and solar system shuttles flying in and out of the reigon. <BR><BR><BR>
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I live in NJ and commute thru Manhattan. When driving home at night, I sometimes have the Blade Runner soundtrack playing in my car. It's quite a powerful effect; it brings the movie to life full force. You see the occasional smoke coming thru a manhole cover, blinking lights from roadwork, crowds of people walking in Time Square's flashing lights, lit skyscrapers in the background, car headlights streaking on the FDR drive, etc. <BR> I recommend people in the area to give it a try, the soundtrack comes to life with unbelievable impact.

You know, I'm gong home to NYC next month to go to a wedding and visit my mom and my brother. I may just get the BR soundtrack and do what you suggest. Bringing back some memories here.
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I've had a few of those myself. I live in Houston, TX., & there're several areas of the city (it's spread out over quite a few dozen miles) with refineries that belch flame into the night, which looks especially eerie during our frequent rainstorms. Also, some of the areas surrounding downtown (Chinatown, Little Saigon) are highly reminiscent of LA 2019.<BR><BR>Glad to know I'm not the only "BR geek" who thinks this way!!
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As a LA resdient it's kinda hard to avoid the feeling, esp. the going by the Bradbury Building or the Ennis Brown House.<BR><BR>There are other times, we have a rater large refinery by the border of Orange County off the 405 Interstate, I thing it's a t least a coupple of hundred acres. Its full of pipeing and flaming stacks and is quite unsettling even if your jaded. I would dare anyone to drive by at night and tell me it didn't bother them.<BR><BR>In Little Tokyo there is a mall thats done up like a Japanese village. It's authentic but it's also very modern. The parking strcture is taller than the mall, not to mention it's kinda narrow and maze like enough to get lost in. If the color scheme were darker (it's white and blue) it would be hard not to go looking for replicants.<BR><BR>There was also the time when I was at a bus stop one night in Hollywood and a speed freak broke my jaw for me, proably the closest I'll get to having my ass kicked by Leon. <BR><BR>But enough about me, let's talk about your BR moments in LA. If you ever get the chance to come here check out the locatins section on Bladezone and set up your own tour. Be fore warned though that the sites in downtown LA can be kind of dangerous, esp. if youv'e never been (that includes Hollywood kiddies, for those of you paying attention). Union Station (or police headquarters) can be particulary bad, do not use the bathroom there alone, I mean it, watch yourself ok.<BR><BR>On a more pleasant subject, other must see's are China Town and Little Tokyo of course. Near by you'll find City Hall, the LA Times Building and the Los Angeles Central Libary, they should give a good feel for "Future Noir". Also nearby is the LA Coroner's office with it's gift shop, yes, gift shop. I don't think you can get eyes there but you can get your own LA Coroner wind breaker or a toe tag of your very own (I kid you not folks, the truth is stranger than fiction).<BR><BR>There's the Grfith Park Obsevatory, another nice retro building where you can get a killer view of LA. Maybe a good spot for some digital video for a BR compalation salute.<BR><BR>As for futureistic, try the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown. Try out out the lobby mall and the exteror elvators and see if that does anything for ya. The Meseum of Science and Industry in Expostion Park would be the place where you would find something to do with robotics and artifical intelgence, as well as a kentic sculpture that oppens to over 50 feet. In LAX International Airport you can find Encounters, a restaurant inside suspended dome with a Sci Fi theme. It's pointed more torwads grey aliens and 50's retro but they have blck light senstive drink's other things to make you feel not so quite at home. Just outside of the airport they have huge lighted glas collums that slowly cycle through color changes, ok, not such a big deal but enough to match a Vangelis song to.<BR><BR>In any case if you ever find your way down here you'll find plenty to keep you occupied. Just rember if you think you are actually being stalked by replicants, Hauer, Cassidy, or Hanna are proably just in town, or it will be time for you to go home
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Check this out -<BR>I had a dream last night that I was some kind of duplicate of myself, sitting in a chair and tying my shoes.<BR>My girlfriend says to me,"It's amazing,I can't tell the difference."<BR>I looked up at her feeling boyish,and just grinned.Then I realized that I could'nt tell the difference either... I'm me.I'm just <!-- BBCode Start --><B>ME!</B><!-- BBCode End --><BR>I awoke thinking about replicants.Especially ones like Rachel who don't even realize what they are.<BR>For me...this was really a Blade Runn-ish experience.<BR>
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i get the sense that im in the blade runner world every time there is a storm out and im alone in the dark.hearing the rain fall and the clash of the thunders makes me feel that way.does anybody have any idea about when and if the world is going to be that way someday?<BR>
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I like to walk by the 7th Street here at Bogota, even at rainy nights there are lots of people. If there'd be only more neon...
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