Rated R for violence and brief nudity
117 Minutes
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Written By: Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples
Staring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmett Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, and Brion James
They don’t advertise for killers in the newspaper. That was my profession. Ex-cop. Ex-blade runner. Ex-killer. -Deckard
Synopsis
Deckard, a blade runner, has to track down and terminate 4 replicants who hijacked a ship in space and have returned to earth seeking their maker.
Review
This film is considered a cult classic, but it is truly ground breaking in both it’s science fiction persona and it’s imaginative futuristic effects. Ridley Scott, the adventurous director is once again not afraid of breaking ground in the science fiction or action category and tackles this genius dark script full of an impending world that even James Cameron didn’t predict.
The script by Fancher and Peoples is unchallenged in it’s originality and brings a fresh vision to science fiction dramas that had never before been contemplated. The complexity of the character’s and Scott’s unyielding attention to detail and darkly romantic perspective on Deckards journey is both intriguing and inventive. It’s strange euphoric theme emotes itself in a way that could define tragedy and despondence. It’s most central character, played by Harrison Ford, Deckard, the former Blade Runner, is the character that exemplifies complacency the most, but shows the uniform commission of humanity to rise to the occasion when confronted with adventure and love.
The dilemmas the characters face become twisted and difficult to identify a real villain with. The “bad guy” has understandable challenges to overcome and the story could easily be swapped to make him the protagonist if complied threw his perspective, but instead it’s shown threw the eyes of an alcoholic dried up officer of the law, who clearly worked under blurred lines and discrepancies. It’s these gray lines that make Deckard’s character grey, but also realistic in his flaws. When considering his character flaws it’s easy to sympathize with his choices even if they are entirely against the laws of good that the film clearly defines early on. By the end, the viewer has a clearer perspective by simply realizing that all things are more complicated than one could possibly assume, future, past, or present.
Blade Runner is not just a wild futuristic science fiction film with action that is memorable for it’s ground breaking effects and ideals, it’s also a very in depth psychological crime caper with massive levels of bewildering characterizations that are unpretentiously boggling. This is a tale of multi-levels of entertainment and intellectual challenges. It raises questions of unfathomable amounts about the nature of man, our dark future, while concurrently building a suspenseful fiction that can appeal to a superficial audience. It succeeds in every spectrum of entertainment and depth. Blade Runner is more than just a film. It’s an incredibly important piece of fiction and enjoyment.
This is my absolute favorite movie. Still to this day the effects surpass those of current films and they were all done with miniatures. But the age old question – Deckard – replicant or not?
I love that it’s so ambiguous. I’d say Deckard, not a replicant, but the implications certainly are there.
The special effects were insane, and some directors are spart enough to still use minatures. Peter Jackson did in Lord Of The Rings, and that is some of the most astounding special effects ever on film. Sometimes if it isn’t broke, we really need not fix it.
Interesting, I’ve always felt that he was. The signs are there for sure, but it wasn’t until seeing the film when I was older that I got it. I purchased the ultimate collectors edition and spent hours watching all the different cuts of the film along with the documentaries and special features. If you haven’t seen the doc, Dangerous Days, I suggest checking it out. It’s over 3 hours long and totally worth it for anyone who’s a big fan.
Some of your pictures aren’t here, but I’m loving the NEW website. It is amazing. There is so much to look at and interact with!
Blade Runner is probably in my top ten movies of all time. Excellent review.
That is something we are working on moviejunkie. Unfortunately, when we change templates sometimes things go a bit haywire. We appreciate your feedback.