Focus on Directors - Ridley Scott

Rodney Petrie

Rodney Petrie

Sir Ridley Scott has been an influential figure for filmmakers working in the science fiction genre just as Stanley Kubrick and George Lucas (watching Star Wars greatly influenced Ridley who a year from seeing it was offered to direct Alien) before him have been for filmmakers today.

The first film of his I had seen was Alien. Interestingly I had seen Aliens before watching the original but when I did get around to watching Alien I really liked it's atmosphere, acting, cinematography and effects utilised.

I must be honest and say that of Ridley Scott's historical epics I have only seen Gladiator. However I haven't overlooked his skill and talent as a director.

Prometheus is a film that I personally really enjoyed and I am looking forward to watching it once again when it is released on Blu-Ray. I have been listening to the soundtrack for Prometheus while driving for the past week or so and there are some really beautiful and suspenseful compositions, especially the second track titled "Going in", which is probably one of the best pieces of impending music I have heard in a film.

Recently I watched the documentary The Prophets of Science Fiction which Ridley Scott hosts, which is something I recommend people interested in science fiction that has become or will soon become reality.
 
I am a huge fan of the film Legend. Maybe I just saw it at the right age, maybe I'm just a sucker for fantasy (both of which are true), but it's my favorite film. The world created is so deep and lush and unearthly. Tim Curry, of course, is Tim Curry. But it's the atmosphere that does it for that film more than anything else. Wide shots of the forest with things floating in the air (that change, depending on the mood that Scott wanted for the scene). The film draws on familiar myths and fairy tales, but twists them into it's own shape. For me, it's a film that spurs the imagination.

Of course, I differ from Scott himself about the score. I love the Tangerine Dream score, and I feel it adds to the otherworldliness that, for me, defines the film. He like Goldsmith's score, which isn't bad...just sort of generic, and the dance scene (one of the highlights of the film) doesn't even try to match the action. I can say without hesitation that the TD score for Legend is what got me into film music in the first place (followed quickly by Goblin's Susperia score).

Between that and Blade Runner, even if Scott had done nothing else, he'd be one of my favorite directors.

Oh, and if you haven't seen The Duellists, you really need to. A great debut film, based on a Joseph Conrad story.
 
What I consider a great movie is the one that gets struck in mind for days after first watching it. Blade Runner has been struck in my mind for nearly 3 years and I haven't got out of it yet. It may be that these are the type of movies that are considered classic.
 
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