The version I watched was the Final Cut (which according to a lot of folks online is the best version). I'd never seen this before and well....I'm going to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what to think after watching this movie. I think I'm another victim of "I see people giving it so much praise so that made me expect an epic flawless masterpiece".
I really liked the setting of the world, the cyberpunk LA was very impressive and it is definitely easy to see how it inspired future films such as The Fifth Element or The Matrix. This film's score is actually amazing, combining synthesizers and classical instruments which goes extrememly well with the film's settings. It has a bit of a slow pace and not a whole lot of action but that's because this is a film that wants to make you think. I think that the majority of the praise the film gets comes from the message it is trying to convey and Rutger Hauer's last speech in the film. You really should not go into this expecting it to be like the sci-fi movies you've gotten used to since this is probably what set the bar for modern day sci-fi.
I can't say I was a fan of Harrison Ford's performance here, I found his character to be a blank canvas from beginning to end. The actors that play the Replicants are the ones that shine, especially Rutger Hauer and Brion James. As a matter of fact I would even argue that perhaps the Replicants are the real protagonists. Also did anyone else think that the love between Rachel and Deckard felt rather shoehorned in?
Overall I think it is a pretty decent film but if you go into it expecting a hardcore sci-fi thriller you will be disappointed, it is more of a sci-fi noir film than a sci-fi thriller. These days you may find it boring or overhyped but try to watch it while keeping in mind that it is a product of its time. It actually just might be one of those films you need to watch more than once to truly appreciate it.
Review by MisterX867BlockedParent2019-03-30T16:00:59Z— updated 2019-05-06T17:37:24Z
The version I watched was the Final Cut (which according to a lot of folks online is the best version). I'd never seen this before and well....I'm going to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what to think after watching this movie. I think I'm another victim of "I see people giving it so much praise so that made me expect an epic flawless masterpiece".
I really liked the setting of the world, the cyberpunk LA was very impressive and it is definitely easy to see how it inspired future films such as The Fifth Element or The Matrix. This film's score is actually amazing, combining synthesizers and classical instruments which goes extrememly well with the film's settings. It has a bit of a slow pace and not a whole lot of action but that's because this is a film that wants to make you think. I think that the majority of the praise the film gets comes from the message it is trying to convey and Rutger Hauer's last speech in the film. You really should not go into this expecting it to be like the sci-fi movies you've gotten used to since this is probably what set the bar for modern day sci-fi.
I can't say I was a fan of Harrison Ford's performance here, I found his character to be a blank canvas from beginning to end. The actors that play the Replicants are the ones that shine, especially Rutger Hauer and Brion James. As a matter of fact I would even argue that perhaps the Replicants are the real protagonists. Also did anyone else think that the love between Rachel and Deckard felt rather shoehorned in?
Overall I think it is a pretty decent film but if you go into it expecting a hardcore sci-fi thriller you will be disappointed, it is more of a sci-fi noir film than a sci-fi thriller. These days you may find it boring or overhyped but try to watch it while keeping in mind that it is a product of its time. It actually just might be one of those films you need to watch more than once to truly appreciate it.