Review of Blade Runner (1982) by Byron B — 18 May 2015

I saw the Final Cut version at a Cleveland Cinemas midnight screening this year (2015). This is the only cut of this sci-fi classic that I have seen. Visually stunning with its techy, neo noir style, but bizarre.

I didn't really enjoy the goofy love scenes between Harrison Ford and Sean Young. Daryl Hannah's escaped, surviving replicant, Pris, was full of surprises. But it was Rutger Hauer's Roy, the second of two surviving, escaped replicants that really stands out.

It is scary how persistent and unstoppable Roy is in chasing Deckard when Detective Deckard thinks he has the androids cornered. Roy is a bit of a Frankenstein's monster and I ended up feeling more for his plight than Ford's detective hero.

Roy is developing emotions, building memories, and fighting for survival against humans who find his existence too threatening. I haven't read Philip K. Dick's novel yet and I haven't read much about audience theories for this movie online, but I didn't find myself asking a lot of questions or wanting to know more about the symbols and twisty plot.

So, unless something or someone excites my interest for more Blade Runner, this may be truly the Final Cut for me.