Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Blade Runner

Grade: E
Title: Blade Runner (1982)
Director: Ridley Scott
Notable Actors: Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer



I love a good post-apocalyptic tale (let me put in a quick disclaimer: I LOATHE The Road. I know, it's post-apocalyptic, but it also had NO beauty in it. Their lives were empty, pointless and why would anyone want to watch a story like that? People need beauty and anything that forgets this becomes quite useless to me. I didn't think that it had any redeeming quality in it), and Blade Runner is no exception. I loved it from the moment it started with its breathtaking cityscape and eye-locking lighted images.


This masterpiece of dark tones, intriguing artificial life (I am specifically thinking of all the fun creatures Sebastian created), and future prophecy is loosely based on (and it really might be better to say inspired by) Philip K. Dick's book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? that obviously looks into what makes androids androids and, more importantly, humans really humans. This theme is focused on less in the movie, which is a little bit of a loss. However, the most notable issue that Blade Runner has is the fact that there have been about seven (yes SEVEN) versions shown! I watched the most recent release: The Final Cut, but I am not sure is the best one. I like to think that it is partly because it is the one I had to watch and partly because it is the director, Ridley Scott,'s real cut.


One of the best aspects of Blade Runner is the characters. The main character is Rick Deckard, a man who works as a hunter of androids when they escape and come back to earth (they work as slaves on off planet colonies).


There are four of the most recent versions of androids who escape and the movie focuses on Deckard as he hunts them down. I especially found Pris and Roy Batty a fascinating couple. She acts almost doll like and is seemingly sweet with quite a dark side because she has to protect her life (she is the one with the tool covering her behind Deckard's poised gun).


Her counterpart Roy (got to love how he is just chilling with that bird) is dedicated to keeping her alive and takes charge of who he is as an android - a hero if he hadn't been an android, or if it was told from his perspective. The way he acts when Pris dies is quite touching. He even allows Deckard, right after he killed his love, some time to get away while he takes a few moments to say goodbye to Pris. It is a very gripping scene and the one that questions the difference between artificial life and real life in the most provocative ways.


Rachel is the love interest in Blade Runner. She believes herself to be a human, only to be proved an android, which causes her to question what she is supposed to do with her life. She betrays her kind in order to save Deckard, but the ending of the film is ambiguous to whether or not Deckard and Rachel are going to live happily ever after. Throughout the film the man who has been forcing Deckard to "retire" the androids has made a point of saying that he is going to have to kill Rachel as well. The final scene has Deckard and Rachel together, but Deckard holding a little silver unicorn (see below) left behind by this guy.

The imagery of a unicorn is especially interesting in light of the film. People have been able to create artificial life, but animals have become rare, often extinct, which reflects upon this mythical creatures origins. Perhaps, the people who live in the world of Blade Runner would imagine alligators to be mythical creatures. All in all, I loved this movie. It made me think, reflect on beauty and my fellow men, and appreciate the sublimity of love. Go see it right now!!! I would recommend that you simply cut to the chase and go buy it: http://http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Runner-Final-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B000UD0ESA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1282704244&sr=8-2. Until next time; go enjoy some art!





2 comments:

  1. Haven't seen this movie, but I did watch the newest Pride & Prejudice with my beloved and it follows that we had to see the entire 5 hour A&E. About as opposite as post apoc. as one could get! Loved this review. Wonder if I will like it as much. But you know me, my mind is wide open!?!

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  2. Hahaha. I really do think you would like it! Maybe next time I'm in town...

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