This Is Not a Scene From Blade Runner

[n2doc]

Jesus Diaz
You probably have seen the extreme smog in Beijing, so bad that you can observe it from space. But this shot blew my mind just because it looks like a frame from Blade Runner. So awesome—if you don't live there.

http://gizmodo.com/5977395/this-is-not-a-scene-from-blade-runner

[seabeyond]

1. The most polluted cities of the world's largest economies

BEIJING is frequently shrouded in dense, yellowish smog so thick that the other side of the road is obscured. But the deadly smog that enveloped the city over the past weekend was so bad that air-quality readings from a monitor on the roof of the American Embassy said simply: "Beyond Index". The embassy uses the US Environmental Protection Agency's air-quality index (AQI), which measures the concentration of PM 2.5 (total mass of particulate matter of 2.5-micron diameter or smaller per cubic metre). Such particles are small enough to be inhaled and can damage lungs. The AQI range ends at 500; at one point a reading of 886 was recorded. A reading above 100 is deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and anything above 400 is rated “hazardous” for all. These independent readings have put pressure on the authorities to release more detailed data of their own. A year ago Beijing's municipal officials bowed to public pressure and started reporting data on PM 2.5 for the first time. But Beijing is not even the most polluted city in China. Using a different but more widely used measure collated by the World Health Organisation of larger particulate matter called PM 10 (total mass of particles of 10-micron diameter or smaller per cubic metre), which allows cross-country comparisons, that dubious honour is bestowed on Lanzhou in the north-western province of Gansu (and the city of Ludhiana in India is more polluted still). Better data may soon be available. This month China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that 74 cities were to begin monitoring and reporting the levels of multiple pollutants, including PM 2.5, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/01/daily-chart-11?fsrc=rss

i lived in bakersfield. i understand why they are on the list, kinda. it sits in a valley and la smog blows over the mountains and will sit in the valley where bakersfield is.

BUT... it has never been this.

[alittlelark]

8. I drive through Bakersfield 8 or so times a year....

Ugliest city I know of. It's depressing coming down from the Tehachapi pass into a grey/brown cloud of smog.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

23. Tell me about it.

I went to high school there. The smog wasn't like that in the 70s. It was just ugly.

[Tikki]

33. Plus they get that severe tule fog in and around Bakersfield...

I can't stand driving in fog...


Tikki

[alittlelark]

37. I've driven through that fog on a few occasions....

... creepy and disturbing.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Bakersfield outranks LA in particulate pollution even on US lists (Bakersfield is #1, LA #3)

It's the oil and natural gas production, agriculture and mining along with the natural geography that holds the local pollution in. Their smog does not blow over the mountains from LA, LA could vanish and Bakersfield would still be polluted.

[kimbutgar]

2. If republicans ever get back in control of the 3 branches again this is their dream to get rid

Of the EPA and get rid of our environmental laws. Ridding those poor corporations of any pollution control regulations are their wet dream.

[kimbutgar]

28. Obviously the people in you community did nothing to stop this.

Blaming the EPA for your communities negligence and lack of civic outrage is a different story. Where I live in California we work with EPA to advocate for clean air, water and skies. We currently have spare the air days where you can't burn anything outside or use your fireplace. Sorry blaming the EPA is wrong. Obviously republicans controlled your community. If the people don't fight back you get screwed over by the polluters.

[Flashmann]

3. Free,unrestrained and unregulated industry and capitalism run amok

Scarey....

It's what the teabaggers keep voting for......They're just too damn stupid to grasp it.....

[patrice]

6. +1 - Teapublicans have NO idea what inertia is.

[uponit7771]

4. Don't know the movie, can't relate to post but would love to know how it relates to movie tia

[n2doc]

5. Blade runner was a science fiction mvie set in a dystopian future

The set design and imagery are considered to be some of the most influential of any SF movie.

However, Even BR didn't have this bad a smog level.

[Bosonic]

7. Screenshot of cityscape from Bladerunner

[Fumesucker]

9. Here's a shot from the film

Hazy atmosphere, giant video screen with woman, building lights.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. Bladerunner smog looks clearer than the photo in the OP

[kentauros]

19. I think a better science-fiction movie-example would be Soylet Green

[Orrex]

11. Deckard was not a Replicant

I don't care what Ridley Scott has to say about it.

Q: "But Scott was the director; he must know what's going on in the film."

A: "Oh yeah? Prometheus."

[Codeine]

12. While there was an obvious point to be made from this post,

the real upshot is that it just makes me want to watch Blade Runner again.

edited for spelling

[Gregorian]

13. Just for the sound track alone.

[NoMoreWarNow]

16. I watched it recently after many years

it is so-so.

Harrison Ford is pretty hammy, almost bad at times.

[Codeine]

21. His voiceovers were atrocious.

He didn't feel they were necessary and detracted from the mystery of the story so he really phoned them in.

[Fire Walk With Me]

39. The 25th Anniversary edition does not include the voice overs. Significant improvement.

[NoMoreWarNow]

44. yes-- that's what it sounds like!

[dkf]

29. Too bad it's not on Netflix.

But I'm not surprised.

[Hissyspit]

40. ?

I just did a search and found:

Blade Runner: The Final Cut 1982 R 117 minutes

Blade Runner: Theatrical & Director's Cut 1982 R 234 minutes

Not available is: Blade Runner: Workprint 1982 NR

Is that what you are referring to?

[dkf]

41. Streaming?

I got a no results found.

[Hissyspit]

42. Oh, o.k. Yes...

No streaming. Only DVD.

The second one is the one you want: "This version includes the theatrical cut and director Ridley Scott's cut, which comes with a different ending and the omission of Ford's narration, giving the film a different tone."

[dkf]

43. Hmm sounds interesting.

I saw it earlier but was too young to appreciate it.

[ReRe]

15. Pollution and Advertising....

...depicting life. Eerily beautiful.

[upi402]

18. Agree. Bangkok always reminds me of Bladerunner

Surprised it's not on the list of 'most polluted' above.
It is eerily beautiful as well.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

20. Anybody know what time it was when this was taken?

Obviously this is pretty bad, but it's a lot worse if it was 1:00 in the afternoon.

[triplepoint]

22. It Almost Is...

.
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.

.
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Then, there's Los Angeles' Smog:
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.
.

[ElboRuum]

24. But if they ever decide to make a sequel...

...this location would save on a lot of special effects costs. The degree to which this evokes that movie is precisely amazing.

[derby378]

26. And the scariest part?

There are cities that are dirtier than Beijing. Even today. Blows my mind.

[RedCappedBandit]

25. Ah, capitalism.

[Duckhunter935]

27. El Paso

in the 80's was very bad. Still can get bad at times but near as bad as back then.

[Kalidurga]

30. I could almost see the picture before I clicked on the thread...

and I only saw parts of the movie years and years ago.

[kenny blankenship]

32. But the Off-Worlds are still nice, in places

You should give them a go before condemning our whole system. Of course you will have to pay for quality, but considering what you gain it's a bargain!

[madrchsod]

34. all of that crap is blowing across america....

[n2doc]

35. Pacific catches the vast majority of it, fortunately for us. n/t

[theKed]

38. "fortunately"

[Science Geek]

36. Modeled in Google Earth

To go directly to the building, enter these coordinates into Google Earth's search box, use cut and paste:

39.988305, 116.380473

It is very near the Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium.