Review of Blade Runner (1982) by Javier F — 24 Oct 2013

Talk about a dark movie. A little slow for my taste but a well-crafted and well-shot movie. The visual effects and set decoration are amazing. Reminded me of Minority Report and I later found that both movies are based off the work of Phillip K. Dick.

Edit:

Alright, this has been on my re-watch list for quite some time now and with this last viewing I feel I have grasped the essence of this film. The narrative does not follow the traditional storytelling methods that most films do and instead relies on visuals and mesmerizing performances to tell the majority of the story.

And if I applaud Blade Runner for one thing (or two) it's just that: its visuals and the cast of characters in this dystopian city. By visuals I don't just mean the graphics - I'm also talking about the cinematography, the unicorn, the rain etc.

Honestly, Blade Runner is quite dull and boring on the surface. It has pacing problems for a movie that's not quite 2 hours long, but it has a good deal of redeeming factors which are mainly its underlying themes of artificial realities and consciousness and the ethics and emotions involved.

Spoiler Alert:

It's interesting that Deckard is supposedly a replicant, but the ending in that case is unsatisfying because we never get to see what knowing that does to him. We're given a since that it doesn't matter - he's witnessed what knowing and not knowing certain unalterable truths can do to someone - given that Deckard doesn't really show any other emotion than acceptance (he just nods his head as he remembers what Edward James Olmos' character said to him "It's too bad she won't live, but then again who does").

Somethings I just don't fully comprehend certain scenes and regardless it just doesn't sit well with me for whatever reason. It's as if Deckard goes through this entire mission and comes out sympathizing with replicants and the last scene just sort of throws an incredibly subtle twist in there that explains he was even more ignorant that he or the viewer thought he was and now he's not only identified with the replicants, but he is one. It's a full understanding for the character - but what of it if we don't see how that then affects his character. Ridley Scott left it all up in the air and ended it so abruptly I think, but I still find Blade Runner to be an incredibly unique picture and worthy of discussion.