Whether you loved it or hated it, there is no denying the fact that Ridley Scott's Blade Runner had a lasting impact on the world of science fiction. The book it was based upon, Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" is a respected novel which many say was superior to the film. What is it that people love and hate about the film though?
It's a dystopian future, everything is dark and bleak. There is a grit to the place that emanates from it's core. There are no animals, as we have long since driven them to extinction and have polluted our planet until it is a sick shell of it's former self. The characters feel human and believable, but they're not all human - some are replicants, and they are the ones Deckard (Harrison Ford) is sent to hunt down and "retire". There is no happy ending.
The general outline of the story is that a retired Blade Runner, a bounty hunter whom hunts down and "retires" replicants, is brought back after a fellow blade runner is shot whilst testing a suspected replicant. The reason behind this is that replicants were once created to look like their makers and were used on off-world menial tasks that were deemed too dangerous for humans. The replicants revolted though and their presence on Earth became illegal - any who were reported were hunted down and retired in fear of what they might do. His investigations eventually lead him to where the replicants are hiding out, and he learns that their 4 year life span is coming to and end, and had been looking for a way to extend this time.
This film features one of my favourite movie quotes and is acted out by Rutger Hauer on a rooftop at the end of the film after he saves the life of Deckard and realises his own simulated life is about to come to an end due to the short life span of the Nexus 6 androids.
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness at Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die
It seems a silly thing to say, yet also seems incredibly deep and meaningful at the same time. It shows some humanity even from an android who had previously been homicidal in his attempts to find a way to extend his own life (which is something we've seen humans do in movies to) as he becomes introspective and reflects back on his own life, and how it is now coming to an end as if it was all for nothing. It seems deep down he's trying to validate his life, and find meaning to it's end after he's failed to find someone to prolong it. After all the wrong he did during this film it seems like he is almost feeling remorse for what he's done.
It was long speculated whether or not Deckard was in fact a replicant - there were signs laid out for the audience to see, though they were ambiguous and could have had different meanings. The most obvious of these signs was when he dreams about a unicorn, something which was supposed to be imprinted into the minds of replicants.
The original release of this movie was quite different to what the director originally intended and featured a voice over from Harrison Ford which gave the film a similar vibe to that of 1920's detective stories. The most recent release of this movie in 2007 celebrated it's 25th anniversary with a new special Director's Cut which was available in several different options. In the UK the best option you could go for was the one in the steel tin that included each version of the film, an original slide and a rare art folio. The versions included are:
1. The Final Cut (2007)
2. US Theatrical Cut (1982)
3. International Theatrical Cut (1982)
4. Director's Cut (1992)
5. Workprint
There are also 2 DVD's worth of special features including various documentaries and deleted scenes. In the US there was also a special edition that came in a briefcase that included a miniature origami unicorn, a miniature replica spinner car and some photographs. As soon as the UK version was released I got rid of my existing Director's cut and went for the new edition to see what Ridley Scott had done to the film for the Final Cut. If you get the chance I highly recommend watching one of the earlier releases and then directly follow it with the Final Cut and you'll notice that for once, a film has actually been improved by meddling with it (Mr. Lucas should take note of that).
At the same time as this new release they also brought out a special 3 disc edition of the soundtrack by Vangelis. This new version was a 3 disc version which includes the original 1994 release of the soundtrack album, previously unreleased pieces of music, and a brand new album by Vangelis of Blade Runner inspired music. Personally I think the best of the CDs is actually the original 1994 release as tracks such as "Rachel's Song", "Love Theme", "Blade Runner Blues" and "Memories of Green" are absolutely brilliant.
If you enjoy this film I would recommend also trying the original "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" which it was based upon as you're likely to enjoy it also. If you're not one to read many novels then you can also get this book as a graphic novel by Boom Studios now.
Every time I watch this film I can help but be taken in by the amazing visuals of the cityscape and how different the world envisioned in it looks to our world, and how different it is to other movies of it's time. A truly classic science fiction movie.
