Monday, October 9, 2017

Evanston: BLADE RUNNER 2049 and others



        Yesterday Carol and I walked to scenic downtown Evanston to view BLADE RUNNER 2049.  The original BLADE RUNNER has been one of my favorite movies ever since I first saw it during its initial release in 1982.  I have subsequently seen it in various revisions, including the Director’s Cut and the Final Cut.
        I deliberately did not read any reviews before we  went to 2049.  If you want to see reviews, here are two just ones, one from the NY TIMES, one from the GUARDIAN.  I particularly agree with the one in the NY TIMES. 
        2049 has many incredible images, imaginative effects, good acting, several beautiful woman, and the same mood and tone as the original.  I enjoyed it and consider it a worthy successor, which is high praise.  In time I will watch it again.
        Until the release of 2049, I had forgotten we are only two years away from the dystopian future portrayed in the original BLADE RUNNER, which was set in the then distant 2019.  Things are bad, but not that bad. 
        We made the mistake of paying a few extra dollars to watch 2049 in XD.   XD has slightly more comfortable seats, a bigger screen, and painfully loud sound.  In XD the movie registers on seismographs.  I turned my hearing aids down.  Carol said she wished she had hearing aids she could turn down, too. 

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  From Chris comes a link to an obituary of solo sailor Edward Allcard, who died earlier this year at age 102 of complications following a leg broken while skiing.  I admire Edward Allcard for staying active so long and I thank Chris for the link.   I have always thought skiing more dangerous than sailing oceans alone.
I knew of Edward Allcard and Peter Tangveld as well.
‘Dean of loners’ ?  ‘Last survivor of the Ulysses Generation’?  Figments of journalists’ too fervid imaginations.  As we all know, Ulysses is alive and well in Evanston, Illinois.

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Speaking of which, Eric’s hard drive failed which caused him to ask if I had a copy of a poem he once wrote.  I could not find it, but he did in a post from March 2015.  That’s long enough ago to warrant running it again.  It still brings a smile.

Now you are alone and the ocean waits
When your eyes will study the sky far away
Alone with yourself and sinking into yourself
When the salty mist burns your skin and fills your lungs
And when you feel all your limbs numb
Time will stop and begin your destiny
You will leave like gannets plunge into the sea
You will see the pilot of the Pinta flying like an elf
And you’ll drink Laphroaig with Slocum on Spray
On the ocean veil sailing with your new mates

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From Sid comes a quote from Sir Francis Chichester, “The ocean was never meant to be a place where you could call for help.”  I did not know Sir Francis said that.  Obviously I agree.  Even in this always connected social media world.  I thank Sid for bringing it to my attention.

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The above photo was taken by Steve Earley during his just completed fall cruise in his almost Drascombe Lugger, SPARTINA.
  I think the composition is perfect and not by chance.  The bow exactly on the horizon.  The horizon slightly tilted.  The triangles of hull, water, sky sails.  Beautiful.  The man has talent.