Review of Blade Runner (1982) by Akshay H — 12 Nov 2014

A beautiful and meaningful masterpiece.

Blade Runner is not your day-to-day science-fiction movie filled with action sequences or aliens. Its a slow burning nightmarish depiction of what we may encounter in future on our path of technological advancement. Frankly speaking, I felt totally bored by its first half where nothing much happens. But the same was build up to the one best endings I have ever seen for any movie(talking about the final cut of the film).The message it tries to convey is very deep and philosophical which sometimes may not be understood in one viewing. The second time you see it, you are well aware of the pacing so you can indulge in the beauty of the film(more or less like viewing 2001: A Space Odyssey).

Harrison Ford plays Deckard who is a Blade Runner. Blade Runner is a guy who hunts Replicants. Now Replicants which were clones created for working as slaves by a conglomerate called Tyrell Corporation. But later they outlawed on Earth due to their tendency towards violence. Now some 4 replicants have made it to LA in pursuit of their creator and its Deckard's task to 'retire' them.

Well the best thing about the movie is not its plot or story but the visuals. The dark and gloomy portrayal of the LA city is quite haunting. Makes you immediately think of our imminent future.The cinematography is top-notch. Also the questions it raise about humanity are golden, such as the meaning being a human , our resistance to our imminent death, can we be so technologically advanced that we can defy the laws of nature and so on.This is what pure sci-fi movies should be about generating thoughts and questions in our minds.The music by Vangelis adds remarkably to the haunting experience the film gives. Among the performances Harrison Ford does justice to his role of Blade Runner a character who slowly starts to understand what it is like to be replicant. The best performance is by Rutger Hauer playing Roy Batty the leader of the escaped replicants. A scene involving him and Deckard towards the end is on most heart-touching moments ever portrayed in movies.

If you do not like the movie on your first view better suggest watch it again knowing what the movie is about and is trying to say. Also I would recommend the final cut of the film. Right now, this is my favorite science-fiction movie till date (yes, I prefer it more over the ambiguous and long 2001). If you are expecting some action- oriented sci-fi flick I suggest you stay away from this one.

RATING:[5/5].