An amazing look at the question, "What makes us human"?

Rating: Null/10 (28 May 2001)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** The Sci-Fi/Film Noir epic Blade Runner is based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep (a second edition of the book came out with the movie called Blade Runner: Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep, it's the same book).
Set in the near future of Los Angeles, the world is dark, amorality is rampant, and humanity is a foreign concept. The Tyrell Corp. manufactures replicants, artificial humans that are stronger, faster, smarter, and only live four years before their entire genetic code craps out on them.
Due to a violent replicant rebellion on one of the Off-World colonies, the replicants have been forbidden to ever come to earth under penalty of death or "retirement" as the act of killing a renegade replicant is called. The police department has its own unit that is assigned to the act of retiring these replicants. They are called Blade Runners. However, you, the viewer, never get to see Off-World. It really isn't so much an important location as it is a concept. It is a paradise. If you are physically fit and smart you can go. You don't have to work, you have replicant slaves to do it for you. It represents the elusive garden of Eden, however if you want to get in, you need to pass the standards.
The movie is about Deckard Cain (Harrison Ford) as he is charged with the job of hunting down five replicants. Batty "Roy" (Rutger Hauer) is the leader of this group and is enigmatic as he is violent. Is he really to blame for his struggle for the survival of his family? Is he really to blame for his violent actions? After all, he only has four years of experience for in which to mentally develop. A four year old with a body superior to most all humans. A body with the capability to easily crush bone. Is he in his own way, more human than the apathetic creatures walking down the L.A. sidewalks? Not even turning their heads when someone knocks them to the side while running after a fleeing women with a gun in their hands? Others in the group include Pris" the acrobat, "Zhora" the snake dancer, and "Leon" the simple one. The fifth replicant is only mentioned in the scene where Deckard is briefed on the aforementioned group. Even then, it is not said who it is. That is for the viewer to decide.
Sean Young plays Rachael. Rachael is a replicant. A prototype. A new idea in the testing phase. The concept? A problem needs fixing: the replicants have not got enough time to build up the necessary experiences to develop emotionally. This results in child-like behavior. The solution? Memory implants. But much like Roy, she is an passionate individual, she loves, longs to be loved, loves life, and works for Tyrell. Oh ya, and she doesn't know she is a replicant.
Then there is the tragic figure of J.F. Sebastion. Sebastion does genetic work for the Tyrell corporation. He is a lonely individual who lives in a very large building that would have been condemned by today's standards. His only friends are a few little robot things that bumble around his place. He is so desperate for a friend, he takes in a homeless girl from off the street to crash for a few days. He asks her what her name is. Her reply? "Pris."
These characters mingle on and off with others in a mighty game of cat-and-mouse. But who is the hunter? And who is really the hunted? And in the end is John Q. Public the real monster?