Blade Runner is a seminal science fiction film that was released in 1982, and directed by Ridley Scott. The film stars Harrison Ford as a Blade Runner on the trail of four escaped Replicants.
3 ½ stars
Movie review
Oh, boy. I'm getting myself into hot water with this one, but I'm hoping I have enough goodwill from warning you about pets in movies to get away with it.
I don't think Blade Runner is as good as everyone says it is.
There, I said it! Blade Runner is fine. It's good even, but is it an incredible cinematic experience that can't be missed? In some ways, yes. But also, no.
The good
Blade Runner excels in three distinct areas. The film is a textbook example of masterful filmmaking. Ridley Scott shoots and develops the world of Blade Runner beautifully.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut remasters the film making everything look great, even if you're watching it for the first time in 2024. (It also changes the ending somewhat to be more inline with the director's opinion.)
The exceptional worldbuilding, I think, is Blade Runner's greatest strength and a big reason why the film has stood the test of time. From history to economy to culture, the world is fleshed out and demonstrated at every moment of the film. It's possibly the first true cyberpunk film and is also a fantastic example of the neo-noir genre.
The performances, too, are excellent. Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer get the meatiest roles and while Ford delivers a nuanced tormented protagonist, Hauer is the standout with his crazed, desperate antagonist with a God complex. Everyone else does a fine job.
And lastly, Blade Runner is rife for film school discussion. From the philosophies present in the film, the question of what makes a human, to the true nature of Deckard, there's plenty to discuss here.
The not-so-good
What didn't I like about Blade Runner? Quite simply, the direct plot. While the worldbuilding, special effects, set design, are all incredible, the actual story and narrative of Blade Runner doesn't really offer all that much.
If anything the narrative is a little too simple (it's only level of complexity being a spoiler, but one that's so convoluted that everyone is still arguing about whether it's even there or if people are reading into something unnecessarily), and I think that makes the movie often feel somewhat sluggish.
I mean, I get it. Loneliness is practically a character by itself in this film. And a sparse plot serves to reflect that loneliness. But give me more than 'x is lonely', tell me why. Show me what that does to x.
And worse still? The overly simple narrative doesn't allow me to get close enough to Deckard and Rachael (or Roy and Pris) to care about their connections so once the film reveals its final scenes I'll be happy or sad. Instead, I was (mostly) indifferent.
Are there any animals in Blade Runner
Yes, sort of. Check Does the dove die in Blade Runner for more details.
Should you watch Blade Runner
I'm with the masses here. The answer is a resounding 'yes!'. Blade Runner is a seminal piece of filmmaking with an incredibly fleshed out future world. It has its flaws but even with them, Blade Runner is an enjoyable and memorable film. I don't think it's a perfect film with immense rewatch value, but value is certainly there. (And if nothing else, watch it so that you have the full backstory prior to watching Blade Runner: 2049 - the superior film. Don't at me...or rather, you can, just do it nicely in the comments section below.)
3 ½ stars.
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