THE FINAL CUT film debate

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2011)

Join the debate at filmdebate.wordpress.com THE UGLY: I had never seen Blade Runner before the "final cut" was released in 2007. As of now, it is the only version I myself have seen so I can't say too much about other versions at the moment (although I have seen enough tidbits of the theatrical version to know that the voice-over truly does suck). That being said, I think the Blade Runner version I've seen is one of the best sci-fi movies ever created: alongside others like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Empire Strikes Back, and Alien. The visuals of this movie are amazing; I could probably watch it just because of the visuals. Even compared with the sci-fi movies being made today (or especially compared with), this movie's dystopian future is highly believable: and all this without any use of computer graphics or animation! The future-streets of Los Angeles are probably the most fully-realized sci-fi set piece ever created and perhaps one of the most influential. The score is also pretty awesome.
What I'm curious about though, is what my fellow film-critics think about Harrison Ford's acting. I think his performance comes off a little half-hearted at times and I believe this was one of his least favorite times acting in a film. Also of interest to me, this movie almost seems atypical to Ford's usual characters. Deckard is an anti-hero who's morals are murky, isn't terribly adept at offing replicants, and who doesn't really overcome his enemies through sheer willpower and awesome flip-over-back fight scenes (aka: Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan, or President James Marshall).
THE PROFESSIONAL: Before I get into it, let me say first-off that this is the best film that Ridley Scott has ever made. And yes, perhaps it took SEVEN VERSIONS of the movie to actually get to that point. My first exposure to this film was a Director's Cut on VHS. I can't imagine to think what the movie would have been like with Harrison Ford giving voice-over-narration, as in some earlier studio-tampered versions. The Final Cut definitely deserves a spot in the hall of cinematic greatness for all time. Let me say it again with more emphasis, this is the best Ridley Scott film by leaps and bounds – and it makes me cast suspicious glances at some of his other films. How could the director who made THIS movie (albeit after seven attempts) make THOSE movies?
THE FUGITIVE: Come on! Are you telling me that Thelma and Louise is not the best film ever made!? Driving off a cliff for no real apparent reason is so poetic!
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