Memorable Blade Runner quote featured in another film?

April 1, 2009 8:32 PM

"It's too bad she won't live. But then again, who does?" Where, other than from Blade Runner, have I heard this quote?

I was thinking it was in a Ben Stiller movie (maybe Zoolander?) , but I've searched for it and I haven't found anything. Another possibility is that I've heard it on the radio, but I can't think of a reason why they would play that, other than it being a popular quote. I've never seen Blade Runner before, but that quote instantly hit me, and I know I've heard it before. Thanks for any help.

posted by CliffDiving44 to media & arts (12 comments total)

Interestingly or amusingly enough, depending on how you look at it, this is what Edward James Olmos - who played Gaff in Blade Runner - as Admiral Adama says to his son Lee "Apollo" Adama (Jamie Bamber) in the series finale of Battlestar Galactica, regarding Laura Roslyn (Mary McDonnell).

Apollo: Will the two of you be all right?

Adama: You don't need to worry about us, son. I don't have much time.

Apollo: I know.

Adama: It's too bad she won't live-

Apollo: Dad...

Adama: -but then again, who does?

(This is a nod not only to Blade Runner but to events in the series, with the Cylons losing their Resurrection Ship and, accordingly, their capacity for "immortality".)
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:00 PM on April 1 [4 favorites has favorites]

I just watched Blade Runner tonight, and that's when I heard it and thought, "Where have I heard that before?!" I don't watch Battlestar Galactica, so I don't think that's it. I was thinking it was probably from a comedy.
posted by CliffDiving44 at 9:42 PM on April 1

It's a line that seems familiar. That's all. It was just very well-written.

I sound confident because I've just spent an hour going through all 592 google hits for the phrase that don't mention Blade Runner, and all of them were just signature quotes on message boards. There's no film or television show of any popularity from the last twenty years that has included that quote.
posted by koeselitz at 9:53 PM on April 1

Do you listen to mash-ups? That was sampled in the Kleptones' "Night at the Hip-Hopera," specifically the last track, "Question."
posted by Pronoiac at 9:53 PM on April 1

IMDb has no other hits for the quote.

I haven't seen the BSG finale (so I tried to read as little of turgid dahlia's comment as possible) , but it may also be a nod to Sagitarrius is Bleeding, a BSG novel by Peter David et al. The BR quote concludes the book.
posted by dhartung at 11:15 PM on April 1

I get this a lot with older movies I'm watching for the first time - you most probably heard someone say this line at some point in your life, probably several times, but since you didn't get the reference you forgot it. When you see the original, it suddenly jumps out at you, although you can't remember where you heard it before. Reading Shakespeare will give you this sensation every couple of lines.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 12:49 AM on April 2 [1 favorite has favorites]

Now we've dealt with that, let me tell you about my mother...
posted by Chairboy at 4:35 AM on April 2

This is probably way off, but in a way it kind of reminds me of this Willy Wonka quote: "Oh well. She's dead. Let's move on, shall we?"

posted by allkindsoftime at 4:55 AM on April 2

Not really close, but as far as Ben Stiller goes:

Ari: You told us he was already dead.
Chas: Yeah, well now he's really dying.
posted by Stylus Happenstance at 8:35 AM on April 2

I am a Blade Runner nut, and am unaware of any other instance of this line, except as an allusion to Blade Runner. I found this exhaustive and GIF-filled page that lists samples and references to the movie: http://fusionanomaly.net/bladerunner.html.

And this one, which is even harder to parse: http://brmovie.com/Downloads/Docs/BR_Related_Music_FAQ.txt
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:06 AM on April 2

Dittoing Pronoiac's comment re:Kleptones, also mc chris did a song with some Blade Runner audio samples - might have been in there as well?
posted by attercoppe at 10:18 AM on April 2

turgid dahlia--Adama says nothing of the sort! Which BSG finale did you watch?

SPOILERS AHEAD:

(watching the scene and transcribing):

(Adama steps out of the Raptor after settling Roslin in her seat)

Lee: Dad?

Adama: I don't have much time, son.

Lee: I understand.

(They hug)

Adama: What'ya hear, Starbuck?

Kara: Nothin' but the rain.

Adama: Grab your gun, and bring in the cat.

(They hug)

Kara: You should go.

(He kisses her forehead, climbs into the Raptor, flies away.)
posted by tzikeh at 6:56 PM on April 2