Review of Blade Runner (1982) by John M — 04 Oct 2017

Beautiful science fiction. So in the year 2019, the pinnacle of robot technology has been reached where it is almost impossible to tell who is a human and who is a replicant, or robot (think Westworld).

After a violent robot uprising on an off-world colony, replicants have all become illegal on Earth, and it is up to a blade runner by the name of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) to retire rouge cases, meaning that he is essentially both hunter and executioner.

What can I say about this movie that hasn't been said before? Blade Runner is a brilliant film that was before its time, and audiences weren't ready for it when it came out. It is notorious in that it wasn't well-received in its theatrical run, but showing that you can't keep a masterpiece down, it has bounced back in spectacular fashion, joining the ranks of the most iconic science fiction stories ever put to film.

Now with Blade Runner 2049 right around the corner, I figured I would give this an overdue revisitation, not because it is homework, but because it is one of my favorite films. It may not be the fastest movie out there, but this is something that doesn't really bother me.

This is beautiful art, and I just like letting this story wash over me. Ridley Scott is a pioneer in world building with Blade Runner, and he puts all the attention into the small details. Furthermore, this is all done with practical effects.

CG just wasn't there yet (1982 was the same year that TRON came out if you want a frame of reference), so its not that Scott had much a choice in the matter, but that is not to take away from what an accomplishment this is.

I love how this is science fiction that respects your intelligence and doesn't spell everything out for you. For half the movie (minor spoilers if you haven't seen a movie that is 35 years old), you are wondering if Deckard is a replicant hunting other replicants, and instead of making him sit down and take the Voight-Kampff test, it gives you the answer to your question, but only if you are paying attention.

To put a perfect cherry on top of it all at the ending, Blade Runner features one of my very favorite monologues of all time delivered by Rutger Hauer, and to even further impress, it was almost entirely improvised.

I haven't seen every cut of this movie, only the final cut (I've heard the theatrical cut has some jarring narration voice-over). This will continue to be considered to be one of the very best science fiction movies ever made, as it fully deserves to be.