"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?"
Do any of us really live? Does it really matter in the end? All that matters is what we leave behind because most of our memories are lost like tears in the rain.
I can't wait for 2049. Denis Villeneuve has been one of the best directors of the past decade and I have complete faith he will make another masterpiece.
So, this is it - THE UNDISPUTED SCI-FI CLASSIC!
Well, that's really up to what you as the viewer prefer. Do you like scares and a creepy atmosphere? Go for Alien or Predator. Do you like high flying action and exhilarating chases? Then maybe Star Wars is better suited for you. Blade Runner is not a horror movie, nor is it particularly exciting (even if action was the genre Harrison Ford mostly worked in during the 80s). This is a creepy, dark and gritty science fiction tale set in a post-apocalyptic world not farm from Tim Burton's Gotham City. It has a slow, dreamy tone and its script focuses on long moments of contemplative silence. The incredible visual style still holds up today, and it's made even more iconic by Vangelis' electronic score.
The movie has real depth but the story isn't hard to follow. It's more of an manifest really, a bit like another great slow sci-fi, Arrival. And because this i not a thriller or an action movie, it requires a specific mindset to really be enjoyed. And even if you haven't got that mindset you can't but marvel at Ford's minimalist, flat but utterly brilliant performance. This, ladies and gentlemen, is Ford's greatest performance yet.
But its not a flawless movie, mind you. The story never really sets of properly and we barely even see the replicants Ford is chasing. A shame really, cause Rutger Hauer's replicant baddie is probably one of the greatest in all of cinema history. His acting can be compared with Arnie's, only creepier. Some of the quieter moments feel out of place in the story and barely bring anything else than more length to the story. The second act of the movie is the slowest, and weakest. After a promising start, impressively setting up the world and the story, the movie almost totally freezes before entering the memorably surreal third act.
All of the above being said, Blade Runner is a remarkably memorable and original piece of cinema. It's gritty, violent and disturbing. It's surreal, slow and contemplative. Its few actions scenes are stylish, its performances are top notch. It's a type of moving art that they just don't make anymore.
THE BETTER: ‘BLADE RUNNER’
WRITING: 90
ACTING: 100
LOOK: 100
SOUND: 100
FEEL: 90
NOVELTY: 100
ENJOYMENT: 95
RE-WATCHABILITY: 100
INTRIGUE: 85
EXPECTATIONS: 100
THE GOOD:
Vangelis is the perfect choice for composing music for a film such as Blade Runner. The unnerving, futuristic synth score is not only characteristically 80s, but also recognizably sci-fi.
I love the almost Burton’s Gotham-esque futuristic production design, a mix of the dark and gritty and the technologically advanced and flashy. Ridley Scott brings the rain, the smoke and the grime alive just as well, as he does in Alien and combines that with a sci-fi look quite unlike anything we’ve seen before or since.
A testament to just how much talent has been poured over the visual effects comes from the facts that they look amazing even today. The flying cars, the flashing lights, and the vast city landscape - they all look incredible.
What sets Blade Runner apart from most other great (and less great) science fiction film is the slow pace, the contemplative tone and the philosophical dialogue, that delves deep into questions of humanity, primal emotions and the value of memories and experiences. Friends of booming explosions and exhilarating action will be bored, but those craving for deeper layers of storytelling will find loads to love.
Rutger Hauer might very well be one of the best science fiction baddies of all time. In many ways, he is just a version of the very typical 80s film baddie (think Hans Gruber or the Terminator) but in other ways, he is a fascinating, compelling and haunting character who deserves to be credited for the chilling performance alone.
The tension in the plot is underlying and comes from the fact that we cannot know for sure who is a replicant and who is not, even though there is a test to find that out. However, what if the test isn’t completely reliable? What if the replicants are advanced enough to pass?
There are many similarities in direction and style between Blade Runner and Scott’s previous blockbuster Alien. He allows his vision to fully play out in both instances, even if the claustrophobic and actively tense from Alien has been switched out for the slower, flashier and more layered tone in Blade Runner.
Even the action scenes, which appear sparingly, have a strangely dreamy and philosophical quality to them, which goes together with the rest of the film neatly.
Isn’t it inherently creepy, how in certain situations, the replicants’ eyes glow ominously? They are the creepiest androids ever.
All performances are restricted, but surprisingly nuanced. There is a subtlety in Harrison Ford’s performance not usually seen from him, while Sean Young and Daryl Hannah bring sexual tension to the mix. This might very well be Ford’s all-time greatest performance, even if it’s not his most iconic one.
The climactic chase between Deckard might not be the most exciting chase sequence put to film, but it feels like a natural continuation to the long build-up that precedes it and it’s marvellously acted and directed. It’s one of these sequences that will remain legendary purely thanks to its different elements working so well in tandem. The last sequence is almost a horror show, which stands in stark contrast with the rest of the film while feeling like a natural part of it.
THE BAD:
There’s a long build-up that mostly seems to move the plot nowhere and barely adds to the wider backstory of the characters involved in the story. That makes the middle part of the film slightly less compelling as the opening and the third act.
I would have wished for more replicant-scenes, actually, and slightly swifter plot development. However, these are minor faults, mind you.
THE UGLY:
It would have been frustrating to work with such inefficient computers back in 2019 as this film suggests, don’t you think?
VERDICT:
Ridley Scott’s philosophical science fiction film is a refreshing piece of contemplative cinema that has stood the test of time better than most of its peers.
96% = = :white_check_mark::white_check_mark: = BETTER
So many modern sci-fi movies owe their look partially to this movie, it still holds up incredibly well. Gorgeous cinematography and worldbuilding, it’s a true piece of art. The score is also incredible. I typically don’t listen to a lot of film scores because they’re often written specifically with the visuals of the film in mind, however this score is so atmospheric, detailed and jazzy that it works without the context of the film. The story is good, but I think that Blade Runner 2049 showed that you could delve into these concepts a little deeper on an emotional and intellectual level. Not that it’s surface level, it certainly isn’t, but I think it could’ve filled its runtime more interestingly when you have a scene where Harrison Ford talks to his television for 3 minutes. Ford’s performance is excellent, I think they found the right balance where you feel invested in his character while maintaining some of the secrecy that he’s shrouded in. All of the performances are excellent, in fact. It’s just the pacing and lack of more depth that keeps me from calling it a masterpiece.
7.5/10
A classic from a time when they actually made movies. It's art, deep and amazing. Real special effects. Great cast. Masterpiece. 1982 had some of the best films ever released.
Like others here, I'm late to the Blade Runner party. Except, I've tried to watch this movie 2-4 times in the past, and couldn't get past the first hour or so. Tonight, I resolved to watch the film in its entirety.
The beginning is pretty good. It's an over-the-top cyberpunk film, and as a gamer, I can see where Deus Ex, and to a lesser extent Fallout got some of their inspiration. Then it becomes a Rutger Hauer thriller. Which isn't a bad thing, it's a staple of 1980s film, but I don't think it lives up to the hype.
It's probably something that was better in its time that hasn't aged well. It might be time to remake this one, to bring a fresher perspective to the story.
It's very rare, but the movie is better than the book in my opinion. Sure it doesn't talk about the religious aspects and doesn't lasts long on the animals' rarity and its social impact. But still, the atmosphere, the image, the characters, are all great and supported by an excellent OST. One of the few Ridley Scott's real masterpieces.
Blade Runner" is a masterpiece that merges exceptional cinematography and intricate art direction to craft a visual marvel. This film brings to life a future Los Angeles with such richness and detail that it feels palpably real. The use of light and shadow in each frame not only serves the narrative but also transforms every scene into a work of art, pulling viewers into its dystopian embrace.
"Blade Runner" stands out for more than its striking visual narrative; it plunges into the philosophical depths of our existence. The film intricately explores the nuances of creation and our complex relationship with it. Imagine confronting your creator, questioning the fabric of your existence, challenging the very nature of your design. It ponders profound ethical dilemmas: If given the chance, would we seek enhancements from our maker, or would we confront them with resentment for our perceived flaws? These questions simmer beneath the surface of the narrative, inviting viewers to reflect on the essence of humanity and the moral complexities of playing god, all while cleverly avoiding definitive answers. Something that becomes increasingly relevant in our time with the galloping developments in AI.
The soundtrack by Vangelis is an integral part of the movie, enhancing the narrative with its haunting melodies. It's not merely background music but a crucial element that complements the film’s philosophical depth and visual splendor, enriching the overall experience.
For those seeking to fully appreciate the nuances of this film, watching the final cut in 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos sound is highly recommended. This version elevates the viewing experience, highlighting the meticulous details of the movie's design and its immersive soundscape.
"Blade Runner" transcends the confines of its genre, offering a rich exploration of futuristic themes while engaging with fundamental human questions. It is a film that not only captivates the senses but also challenges the intellect and stirs the imagination, making it a compelling cinematic journey.
Rating 2024: 9 out of 10.
Watched tonight on the big screen for the first time, and it really didn't let me down. Big ideas that make you think, great performances and visuals. A classic in every sense.
i forgot how creepy that scene is...
... now I understand why so many philosophers mention this film. Awesome film.
recommend watching it 2 times to get the full experience
There is a reason this movie has inspired so many others over the years. It is a genius piece of sci-fi that holds up after decades of its first release. It took many tries but once the final cut was released it settled Blade Runner in as one of the best created in the genre.
Not as good as people says, but it's a cool movie to watch when have nothing to do.
The only good thing of this flick is the clear influence it had in Westword.
One of the worst and most hyped films I've ever seen. I absolutely don't get what this flick wants to tell me.
Besides that, it is neither thrilling nor entertaining, so I can only hope that there is a message and deeper meaning to it that I just don't get... However, I would recommend to stay away from it if you expect a SciFi thriller because I know for sure that Blade Runner is not thrilling at all.
Blade Runner is one of the more gaping holes in the list of films I haven’t seen (or at least, don’t remember well enough to talk about). Yesterday’s viewing of The Martian got me thinking about Ridley Scott’s past work so here I am.
I really should have done this sooner.
L.A. 2019, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a ‘Blade Runner’ - a policeman whose sole purpose is to hunt and kill replicants; machines almost indistinguishable from humans, yet banned from Earth. Four have been detected on the planet so he is called up to hunt and kill them.
Scott’s dystopian LA draws you in and holds you captive for 2 hours. This is a masterfully shot, timeless, beautiful piece of work. Every single frame is a work of art. The visual effects are not only highly effective, but incredibly creative and unique; never has anything like this been made before or since.
The plot is simple, one man chases another. However it’s driven almost entirely by its central themes; what is it to be human? Who deserves to live or die? Are we responsible for the things we create? What happens when our creations surpass us? All of these questions go unanswered, yet Scott somehow revels in the ambiguity.
Decker is a blank canvas of a character. The replicants he is chasing are complex, unique individuals. It’s no accident that Rutger Hauer plays the most human character in the film. His is the stand-out performance here, if only for the closing monologue.
Still fresh & still relevant, Blade Runner is indeed a modern masterpiece.
http://benoliver999.com/film/2015/10/31/bladerunner/
After all these years, i finally take time to see that movie... Boring till the end :-(
A true science fiction story or film is about ideas, not spaceship battles, futuristic gadgets, or weird creatures. "Blade Runner" fully qualifies as this in its examination of the impact of technology on human society, existence, and the very nature of humanity itself. These themes are set in a fairly basic detective story that moves slowly but gradually builds power as the viewer is immersed in a dystopian futuristic Los Angeles.
Harrison Ford fans accustomed to the normally dynamic roles that he plays may be dissatisfied with the seemingly lifeless lead character that he portrays here as the replicant-hunting detective known as a "blade runner". They should be, for this dissatisfaction is part of the film experience, part of the dehumanized existence in the story's setting. However, as the story unfolds, we see Ford's character, Rick Deckard, slowly come alive again and recover some humanity while pursing four escaped replicants.
The replicants, genetically-engineered human cyborgs, that Deckard must hunt down and kill are in many ways more alive than Deckard himself initially. Their escape from an off-world colony has an explicit self-directed purpose, whereas Deckard's life appears to have none other than his job, one that he has tried to give up. By some standards, Deckard and the replicants have thin character development. However, this is a deeply thematic and philosophical film, and as such the characters are the tools of the story's themes. Each character reflects some aspect of humanity or human existence, but they lack others, for each is broken in ways that reflect the broken society in which they live and were conceived/created.
There are several dramatic moments involving life-and-death struggles, but most of these are more subdued than in a normal detective story plot. The film's power is chiefly derived through its stunning visual imagery of a dark futuristic cityscape and its philosophical themes.
Among the themes explored are the following: - The dehumanization of people through a society shaped by technological and capitalistic excess. - The roles of creator and creation, their mutual enslavement, and their role reversal, i.e., the creation's triumph over its creator. - The nature of humanity itself: emotions, memory, purpose, desire, cruelty, technological mastery of environment and universe, mortality, death, and more. - Personal identity and self-awareness. - The meaning of existence.
As excited to rewatch this the night before the sequel drops as I am the sequel itself...this sci-fi Gold is a small piece of my childhood...and besides...my ol'lady loves this movie too which means I get to throw a couple C beams across her Tannhauser gate after haaaaa
Considering there are 66 people watching "Blade Runner" on the opening weekend of "Blade Runner 2049", and only 14 people marked as watching the new film. I wonder how many people have checked in to the wrong film on this site.
For those that find it boring, yes it's a slower pace of storytelling, there aren't fifty cuts in a ten second action sequence. The story is a journey and one that is meant to be savored, right from the beginning of Vangelis' music to Roy Batty's death and the origami unicorn, it's a discovery.
This is a breakdown that is worth reading. http://dramatica.com/analysis/blade-runner
This is truly one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, one that requires a thinking viewer in order to understand and appreciate it.
One of the earlier film that started cyberpunk genre in Hollywood cinemas. Considering the time it is made, the panorama of cyberpunk L.A. is impressive - it doesn't look old/fake, and you can see the way it influences the depiction of "high tech, low life" setting in later years, with tall and dark skyscrapers looming over the meagers' life of its citizens, police almost omnipresence appearing instantly as if they had eyes everywhere in the city. In the same time it is also indeed a film of its age: with ceiling fans, analogue devices, and low-res screens contrasting with its futuristic setting. Still, it is understandable how the atmosphere alone can leave a remarkable footprint on modern cinema.
However, the movie suffers from a terrible pacing. It is inconsistently slow, with ups and downs in a very sharp turns. There are moments you wished the movie can explore more, especially on exploring the fantastic atmosphere and the existential crisis of the Replicants. Meanwhile, there are other moments that you wished could've been cut short. For being a neo-noir thriller the movie hits the spot in maintaining its dark, mysterious atmosphere, but misses a lot in keeping the thrill high.
The final confrontation especially leaves a lot to be desired - as Deckard (the main character) just ran mindlessly, or, borrowing Roy's (the antagonist) line, just "being irrational", until the climax of the film. Which, again, leaves a gaping hole. The movie presents us the existential problem, the supposedly main theme of the movie, right there at Roy's dialogue. But minutes later after the monumental speech, the credits already rolled.
It's still a cult classic though. The setting was great. Worthy to be watched at least once.
A movie that inspired so many, the Replicants instantly screamed Westworld to me. Visually stunning, fascinating world building, nice costumes, the city looks amazing, atmospheric as hell, unique score, the special effects still look neat and the lighting is perfection. The only things that didn't age well are some of the tech within the movie (picture zoom-in on TV, public phone booth) but they have a certain charm to them. It started real strong in the first act but kinda lost me in the second, could have used more action or just more happening in the story cause I was getting bored. The few instances of action are very short-lived and a bit weird. I didn't really feel challenged on an intellectual level either. Sadly a prime example of style over substance, and it sure excels in the style department.
simple detective story in an amazing and detailed future world, with Harrison at his coolest
Whatever you're imagining this movie is going to be like, it's going to be different:
It's like hearing car based action movie and you're expecting Fast and Furious and are getting Mad Max Fury Road. Or space exploration expecting Star Trek (series) and getting Interstellar. War movie expecting Saving Private Ryan and getting Dunkirk. Or tragic romance expecting Titanic and getting Her.
So whatever you're expecting to see when you think about cult classic sci fi thriller: Blade Runner is going to be different.
Blade Runner, without a doubt a visual masterpiece with one of the best cinematography I have seen in a movie ever clearly ahead of it's time. The score is also terrific, combined with the atmosphere it immerses the viewer into this dystopian world with intricate world building and our main characters. The movie itself looks so cool and elegant, but besides all of the beauty it barely manages to pack a powerful punch in terms of storytelling. The movie tackles some important topics such as the mere existence of humanity and our future. Ridley Scott tries to immerse the user with some deep quotes such as Roy's "Tears in Rain" hypothesis. Although a really deep and a thought provoking quote it was and how subtly well it was, it should have had more development. Personally I liked Deckard's character and wished to see more of Roy. I think Deckard, brilliantly played by Harrison Ford was plain blank and boring. There's zero backstory that makes you care about him as a character despise the stellar performance by Harrison Ford. Throughout the runtime we see him going through the "generic cop solving crime". The pacing was also handled pretty okay, its not terrible nor it is amazing. Some parts were so slow and had no intention of hooking me, I wish they would have given Deckard more backstory and development during the runtime. The movie also tries to play with the viewer's mind by adding the mystery to see if Deckard is a replicant or not, but it failed to intrigue me to even the slightest due to the lack of context and development. Blade Runner is much like Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" which I thought was a huge bore-fest. I might need to rewatch both those movies to appreciate them or even understand the hype they get. You might say I haven't watched enough movies but I really do not understand the hype any of these 2 movies get. Overall "Blade Runner" got stunning visuals and a great score which deserves all the praise it gets. However, it tries too hard on establishing deep themes which ends up being more of a style over substance movie. The movie as a whole is in the middle of Great and Meh. I might improve my rating in the future after watching 2049 thus for now I give it a solid 6/10 rating.
DISCLAIMER: I did not see this movie in its original language(English), but in a dubbed version(Italian). I may have missed some nuances.
Blade Runner had been on my watchlist since forever. Now that I've seen it, I wish that I could have been born to watch it when it came out in 1982. I would have loved it then; but today, having seen the many movies Blade Runner itself inspired, it's just not that exciting.
World building is definitely the best part of the movie. It is the starting of cyberpunk in movies. Los Angeles in Blade Runner is shiny from above, but when you get down in the streets it's filthy and chaotic. There is a lot of neon lights everywhere. The buildings are all run-down with wires added and not hidden in the structure.
While the idea of the main plot is definitely interesting and thought provoking, I felt that the length of the movie is detrimental to its enjoyment. With that I don't mean that the movie is too slow, but rather that a lot of scenes felt useless to me. Almost pretentious, almost like they were put in just to be analyzed in film school or something.
The cast is impressive. While many say that Ford's character was bland, I felt that that was what his role was about and he played it pretty well. Obviously, a great deal of praise should be given to Rutger Hauer, if only for that last monologue.
The soundtrack was on point. The use of the synthesizer was brilliant.
In the end, I enjoyed Blade Runner far less than I had hoped. While its contributions to the sci-fi genre are undeniable, I can't really recommend it to a lot of people. But I can say that if you've enjoyed 2001:ASO, you'll definitely like Blade Runner.
Still, it left me wanting to see Blade Runner 2049, so it must have done something right.
6.5/10
As a whole movie, it is quite disappointing and boring to watch here in 2018, but the visuals and the world is really cool and masterpiece .... Especially when the creator asked the same questions we started to ask again nowadays, what is creation, and what if our creations surpass us... Genius! And timeless!
Watched this for the first time in the 80s. Didn't really get the meaning. What the heck, I was probably 14 years old. Watched it again sometime in the past. Understood it but still not impressed. I think it´s a tad overdone. It is that one scene that everyone praises that defines this movie. Those couple of line of dialogue at the end. The rest is a rather boring story about a guy hunting down those replicants and then (how original) falling in love with one. Soundtrack is great, though.
Now I watched it again in preparation for 2049 and I am seriously considering not to watch it.
Looks amazing. The dialogue delivery is mellow and together with the atmosphere it puts you in a slight a trance, which can make you miss things. I think this is why some get bored.
I dont don't see why people can't see a messsage in the movie. The replicants are basically a class of slaves, and the escaped ones wants to stop more being made to cease an existance they see as empty and cruel. Is it cruel to give human feelings to a replicant? They're just a company robot after all. The human design has consequences, but who cares? It's the basic morality twist of who is right and who is wrong. Then how does the blade runner character fit into all of this. I watched the final cut. I liked the ending. You're even left like the characters at the end questioning what's important in life.
So it's a commentary on technology and human society. In the end you can draw simularities on human exploitation and class systems, especially concerning corporations and business which is probably why big billboards appear throughout the movie. In the end its a sad movie. It's a slow movie but luckily its very escapist in atmosphere when viewing. If you come into this movie expecting a robot action movie you'll be disappointed.
"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 dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears...in...rain. Time to die."
One of my all time favourite scenes from any movie ever. I've watched the "Tears in Rain" monologue about a billion times by now. It's a scene where Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) leans humanity from someone who isn't human.
Rutger Hauer, I love you man.
A masterpiece!
First I gave it a 9 out of 10 rating just out of pure enjoyment of the world and characters portayed in this film, but then it made me think, like all my other "10 out of 10"s. I realised what an even greater artpiece this is!
(Btw I have only watched the Directors cut. I have heard of all the different versions of this movie, but i don't know the story behind this, I just know mine ended with a origami unicorn ;-) )
Image and sound 4.75 / 5. To see this masterpiece is a delight, to see it in Cinema Paco is the milk, as seen and heard. We saw the last version, no voice-over, different ending and unicorn scene
Great dystopian future with steampunk themes with great messages, dialogue and line delivery
what a graphic to be seen.enough to have their own trademark.
Great every time I watch it!
What an extremely boring movie that got even more awful with that scene between Deckard and Rachael which was nothing else, but a rape. And Deckard was supposed to be a good guy, yeah right. I was so disgusted with it. There's nothing fun and thrilling about this Sci-Fi. Makes me wonder if it's worth to watch the sequel. Probably not.
Never saw this one until today (planning on watching 2049 tomorrow), but tbh, i was expecting something else. I got bored. A lot. It has that carateristic slow pace of the 80's movies, almost 0 action, and a plot that is really meh. Maybe is just me, but didn't like it. Lets see tomorrow if the modern version is a little better.
As with several others, Blade Runner is one of those well-hyped movies that I'm late to the dance with. I suppose when it launched in 1997 it was pretty cutting-edge but I have to admit that watching this in 2022, with the opening scene touting "Los Angeles 2019", it kind of lost something in the way of momentum. 2019 has come and gone, and we don't have futuristic cities that are perpetually dark and it rains 24/7, nor do we have flying cop vehicle...or Replicants. By today's standards, certainly, this one is lacking and I just don't see what the big deal was: it's a futuristic movie about cyborgs. Just wasn't enough going in it for me and while I'm glad I went ahead and watched it (so I can at least say I've seen it) I still don't get all the hype about it. At best, it was mediocre and the ending was completely lost on me. No idea what that was all about. There are much better movies to watch than this one...unless you're like me and just have this urge to add it to your "I've seen that one" list.
Even though it's one of the most visually stunning movies ever produced, Blade Runner does not do as much for me as it obviously does for a lot of people. There's little in the way of character development (we know as little about Deckard at the end as we did in the beginning of the movie), and very few can answer me what they think this movie is about other than the obvious existential question. However...when you consider the visuals, the acting, and the sound, I tend to forget to nitpick.
So...I DO like Blade Runner, but saying it's one of the absolute best movies ever? That's quite a stretch...
Wonderfull movie but spoilt to some extent by the unnecessarily long fight at the end
I've heard great things about this movie, but it didn't click with me at all.
Overrated period, Rutger Howard good performance as usual
A moody and atmospheric masterpiece. The ambiguity of it all is what elevates it even further. Classic sci-fi.
This felt like the Avatar of its time. Impressive visuals, but just painfully boring and slow to watch. Pretty overrated, but I think most of its legacy is its influence on better 80s movies.
4/10
I like the first 50 minutes until the whacky shit takes over, then it even falls into the trash category. Harrison Ford's voice over is terrible.
The script is good and some parts are pretty advanced for its time but overall I didn't like Blade Runner very much
I've been reading a lot of lists including this movie as one of the greatest of all time, and I have no idea why. Visually it is absolutely amazing, Ridley Scott's direction is amazing and it is incredibly stylish. The score is perfect for the movie as well. Harrison Ford's performance was just not good, I have no idea how no one criticizes just how incredibly wooden he was. The entire movie I was expecting him to say "Hey guess what I'm a robot, that's why I've been acting like an exhausted teenager this whole time".
I watched the movie without the director's cut and it included his awful narration. That was a big mistake, Ford sounds like he got called in to the studio on his vacation and just wants to get it over with. Ford isn't the only issue though, the main idea is kind of creative but the execution is just confusing. I have no idea what leads Ford's character from one clue to the next, and his jumps are incredibly convenient. The story itself just seems like a glorified twilight zone episode. It's not a bad movie, but it just seems so basic. ultimately I give it 5/10, If you look at style alone it is a masterpiece, and I can see just how influential it is, but the pacing is far to slow and the plot seems to basic for it to be much more than a stylish bag of tricks with nothing else.
Roy Batty is a genius!! (Ridley Scott too, of course...)
Can somebody explain to me why is this movie so famous. ??? I'm a true scifi lover and i have red the book that inspired the movie. So I believe I understand the story clearly enough. And still I could not say that i liked it. It is slow and overly dramatic with a dull ending. Am i right? or am I missing something?
One of my all time fav.
«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 dark near the Tannhauser Gate.
All those moments will be lost in time like tears in the rain...»
I adore retrofuturism and this is obviously full to the brim and overflowing with it. The themes and what the film tries to convey have been discussed to death so I won't rehash all that. I think the movie was superb and definitely will be due for rewatches in the future.
As an adapatation is very bad, did not even shows de message of the book.
As JUST a movie , i like how is trated the ciberpunk and policial and the noir aura. even thought this makes more difficult to digest it, and the voice in off narrative from Deckart, make me yawn more than one time.
Blade Runner has undeniably made great contributions to the science fiction genre. However, I found the plot to be rather uninteresting, and the film's deeper philosophical meaning was unimpactful—maybe I missed a lot of the subtleties throughout the film. Perhaps, as a younger person, I have been spoiled by modern-day visual effects, which make it difficult for me to appreciate how ground-breaking this film must've been in the 80s.
While the aesthetic and cultural impacts of Blade Runner cannot be denied (and I admire heavily) - there are simply too many things about every single version of this film that make it painfully unwatchable for me.
I liked the set decoration, it is very depressing, perfect for the ambience. But I think the plot is more interesting than the script. The story could have been better dialogued to evidence the background of human identity, the desire of belonging, and love. On a side note, this is one of those movies that were very optimistic about the future.
I love the aesthetics and acting, but not the plot execution. The design elements (set, cinematography, sound, costume, hair, and make-up) are the true appeal of this film. The concept is brilliant, but it is badly directed and pacing is sleep inducing.
5/10 - for being a successful art film of its time.
It’s not that great and I don’t get why this movie is loved so much. I think it’s a bit boring and was glad that it was over. That’s never a good sign.
Boring and slow. This film have that high marks because is a futuristic film in 1980...
In the far-off landscape of 2019, the Earth has advanced to a technological zenith. Now truly masters of their domain, humanity has reshaped the world in its own self-centered image. Overburdened and sullied with waste, the landscape flickers in neon hues and fluorescent glare. As gas-powered fireballs spit on the horizon and acid rain drips steadily in the streets, our mutual rush to conquer has rendered former essentials like daylight and animal life virtually extinct. Mere victims in the name of progress. That same callous attitude is applied to the artificial workers we employ for physically demanding off-planet work. Dubbed replicants, these synthetic beings are sent to fight our wars and pave the way for new interstellar colonies, but are also hamstrung with an extremely short lifespan and a strict prohibition from visiting Earth. Crucial failsafes, lest they harbor any undesirable thoughts about throwing the yoke.
Fresh off the success of 1979’s Alien, director Ridley Scott dips a toe in similar waters for this gloomy, epic, long-simmering Philip K. Dick adaptation. Set in an equally dark, lived-in future society, Blade Runner provides a strong tonal match while exploring a very different set of themes and ideas. In this case, we’re concerned with the very fabric of conscious thought. Now that the human race has effectively opened Pandora’s box and created a manner of life (the replicants), where do we draw the line between their brand of being and our own? Why are their lives considered so much more disposable? It’s a rich question, later mirrored in films such as Ghost in the Shell and Ex Machina, and one for which there’s no easy answer. Especially when the subjects react so emotionally, resorting to murder, deception and violence when their pleas for emancipation fall on deaf ears. These rebellious replicants don’t make for objectively good people, but then, neither does a majority of the human race.
Blade Runner is the best kind of science fiction. Morally thoughtful and conceptually ambitious, it puts the audience in a mixed state of awe and discomfort, then leaves us to grapple with the consequences. We’re dazzled by the atmosphere of this foreign-yet-familiar scene, but repulsed by the effect it’s had on our collective nature. Strip away the enveloping scenery and immense soundscapes (an outstanding contribution by the composer Vangelis) and we’re left with a series of timeless human debates... plus one incredible closing monologue. This gets better with every viewing.
Had to watch this movie for one of my politics class.
Honestly, the only part that I enjoyed of this movie is the new materialism theory.
Other than that, it's full of stereotypes which I know is normal for the time, but ouff not my vibe
Good movie, but some shots are way too long.
This movie was very slow, which I think lent well to the dystopian theme, but the plot wasn't exciting enough to keep me hooked and interested. Like more recent dark, dystopian movies that are slow paced, I think this just wasn't for me.
The best science fiction movie in the history of cinema.
Blade Runner left an undeniable mark on pop culture. There's no way I can say the movie is not good. The set design still cackles with ambition and vision, and holds up perfectly to this day. And yet, so many other things about the film left me cold. Harrison Ford is said to have been bored and frustrated on set, and that boredom bleeds into his performance. He only seems to buy into the world around him when a certain other actor drags it out of him, but you can hardly blame him with a character as bland as Deckard. This may very well be intentional, to highlight the humanity of the replicants in contrast, but that does not make the scenes focused solely on Deckard any less of a drag to sit through. His romance with with Sean Young's Rachel is awkward, lifeless, utterly lacking in chemistry, and a bit disturbing in one scene. I cannot blame Scott for trying to shoehorn in a certain infamous theory- it's the only thing that makes Deckard halfway interesting in of himself.
Olmos makes the most out of every second he has, and Daryl Hannah does stellar work with a character that starts out strong but sadly falls into the one sexy but mentally unhinged evil girlfriend archetype, and neither are enough to elevate the film. If it weren't for one aspect, a light in the dark, I'd say the film had more value historically than artistically, something to watch only to see how media took influence from it and did things better.
But oh, what a light Rutger Hauer was. When he's on screen as Roy Batty, the film burns bright. You can't take your eyes off the screen. A terrifying killer one moment, bloodlust in his wild eyes. The next, he's a morose teen, dying far too soon, wanting more time with his love, friends, and life itself, his hangdog, lost expressions wringing sympathy. He walks a fine line and the man walked it with the grace of an acrobat. If there's one theme that comes through on the first viewing, it's the humanity of Batty versus Deckard. Hauer had to sell that this machine was more of a man than Deckard ever was. He had to sell that Roy was the man, the ideal of humanity in all its beauty and flaws, its glory and its excesses, and he achieves it with aplomb.
Every second he's away you wait for his return, and in his presence everything comes together. The swooning synthesizer soundtrack, representing his machinery and his romanticism. Ford, who only seems to bring his A game in the big climax, both he and Hauer cat and mouse at the same time, an invigorating comparison and contrast. And of course, his final scene, one of the most iconic soliloquies in all of cinema, that Hauer himself altered to perfection. This film lives and breathes on Hauer. If everything around him feels a bit sterile, it only makes Roy Batty feel all the more alive. Even setting aside the inspired set design and the cultural impact, Hauer alone would make the film worth watching in a performance that will never be lost to time.
“Blade Runner” might have its flaws, but it is still the quintessential cyberpunk blockbuster. The undercooked love story and the goofy action sequences are the inevitable product of its time, but aesthetically it was miles ahead. I recently watched the director’s cut 4K remaster and, hairstyles and old TV sets aside, it could almost pass as a fairly recent film. Ridley Scott goes for a neo-noir kind of investigation and paints the dystopian streets of Los Angeles in a decadent, almost gothic tone that reminds of his rainy London.
Thematically, the plot raises questions about what it means to be human in a time where there is no perceivable difference between man and machine, to the point that even the nature of memories is to be questioned. These are pretty common reflections in sci-fi literature, and I always thought that “Blade Runner” limited itself to giving some cues without digging too deep into the mind of its characters for the sake of the few moments of action (the critics basically did the rest writing pages and pages of overanalyzing). Rick Deckard’s motivation for what he does is never fully explored, and so is his rather forced relationship with Rachael. He walks around and defeats one replicant after another like in an arcade fighting game. The film makes a point to show how the androids are more united and human than the morally decayed men of 2019, but little screen time is devoted to exploring their nature.
An impressive film for its time and solid cyberpunk neo-noir, but definitely not what I would call an all-time masterpiece.
I watched it for the first time today but I don’t get it why is it became such a cult movie. Of couse the mood and this cyberpunk style is great but the story for me was lame.
Extremely overrated piece of work.
8 - Great
Okay so I don't know what to say about this movie, sometimes it's not clear what's happening but I did enjoy it.
Ridley Scott’s cult classic Blade Runner is a groundbreaking science-fiction thriller based on the work of celebrated author Philip K. Dick. The story follows Rick Deckard, a special investigator that’s charged with tracking down and eliminating four rogue synthetic androids that look human. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Daryl Hannah, the film has a solid cast that gives good performances. And, the visual style of the film is quite captivating and stunning. Yet, the storytelling is poor, and Scott doesn’t capture the themes and concepts of Dick’s original story very effectively. Still, Blade Runner is a fascinating film that explores some intriguing issues.
On the one hand there is nothing special about this movie, I have seen "twists"(if that's what we can call the end scene - talking about 1997 version) like this countless times.
On the other hand it has many great quotes and focuses on important concepts instead of dumb flashy fights.
Genre-defining and influential as it may be, Blade Runner's incredible plot and themes are done a disservice by the film's almost-cursory treatment of them. In particular, Harrison Ford's inability to flesh out his morally-dubious gumshoe detective character's personal struggle—about what it means to be human—makes Blade Runner little more than a visual treat, regardless of which cut you watch. Perhaps a film too early for its time?
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.
I've seen this film now for the first time in 2018. Don't know why it took me that long as I usually watch all Ridley Scott movies. I have to say the story is a bit underwhelming but there is no question that the setting, the world and the visuals are brilliant. So I definitely get why it's a Sci-Fi classic.
Majestic.
In view of looking at Blade Runner 2049, he finally decided to watch the original version (shame on me for not having done it). From the great Ridley Scott. The level design is superb, the music beautiful. Two hours of incredible cinema.
Hoping that the new version is of the same caliber.
Blade Runner
A very moody film, with an intriguing story.
Fantastic visual direction.
Sometimes some stiff acting.
7.5/10
#NicksMiniReview
I saw Blade Runner a couple of years ago, but I forgot most of the parts, so it was time to rewatch this. I feel very ambivalent, because although it has so much value, I could notice its flaws as well.
I think many people don't connect with Blade Runner, because it's visually a nightmare, not as spectacular as blockbusters nowadays and considered as boring. In my opinion, it carries its quality inside. However, the fact that it's always raining and the sun's never shining could be a sign of a depressed or woeful point of view that the future will be depraved and full of sins.
Furthermore, I don't feel Rick Decard has been in the centre of the story, although everyone - who is not familiar with Blade Runner - identifies the film with him or at least with Harrison Ford. I couldn't get to know him better during its runtime, simply becuase it didn't show me a single detail about him besides his profession and task.
I rather could emphatize with the enemy (according to the film), a gang of Nexus 6 replicants, who start a rebellion because of their role of the society and suppression. That fascinates me the most, the Nexus 6 replicants become self-aware, and realize they have a life, which is more controlled than humans', because their life is exactly estimated, they are living for the same amount of time nothing more, nothing less. This brings up questions. How come don't the older versions know who they are, just the new Nexus 6s? Why would Tyrell Company make much more developed versions if they wanted to utilize them as slaves?
Certainly, they don't feel it right, and the rebellious gang's leader Roy Betty is the one, who wants to be equivalent to humans. So I think his death - although it's not shown onscreen - the nail in his palm and the white pigeon refer to he is a similar kind of figure to replicants as Jesus was to the mankind.
If this dark distopy could become reality it would mean the end of mankind. Hopefully Philip K. Dick's fiction won't come true neither in 2019, when the events take place, nor ever.
I know it is a classic, but nowadays, it has not really the same impact that at the time. And the visual is really outdated.. I wish I will have see it Day one ! At least I have seen it and I will be ready for Blade Runner 2049 :)
Very symbolic but totally totally weird.
Seeing "Blade Runner" for the first time left me under whelmed. The future Los Angeles cityscape is certainly visionary but the overcrowded rain-soaked streets made me claustrophobic. I can appreciate the technology and fatalistic viewpoint expressed in the story, but the characters are thin and the acting is ordinary at best.
Still dont get the hype. Visually amazing for its time but other than that…meh.
Mmmm... This is delicious cheese...
Shout by TehwillVIP 2BlockedParent2014-10-15T09:14:00Z
My favorite SF movie, I've watched it so many times.
"I don't know why he saved my life. Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life - anybody's life; my life. All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die."