A Flawed Classic

Rating: 6/10 (12 September 2011)

It's easy to see why "Blade Runner" is considered a classic of the Sci-Fi genre. This highly stylized film sports a pervasively dark and moody atmosphere that's second only to old German Expressionist films and its art direction is absolutely stunning (particularly Tyrell's Egyptian-esque office set above the bleak LA streets). Its influence is plainly evident in nearly any "Future Noir" film which followed it.
The problem with the film (or, at least, with the original theatrical cut) is the snail-paced editing of any non-action scene. I'm prone to agree with one critic who referred to the film as "Blade Crawler." Despite an admirable cast, gritty, stylized realism and otherwise admirable direction, the pacing stops the movie dead in its tracks. So many dramatic scenes run overly long (most notably the scene of pseudo-rape between Deckard and Rachael). I'm told that this problem is lessened (some say absent entirely) in later cuts of the movie; maybe I'll find one of those cuts more to my liking (I can only hope), as it's the biggest obstacle between itself and a genuine masterpiece.
Mr. Ford evidently shares my opinion on the obtrusive voice-over narration of the film. It really adds nothing to the end product aside from a stylistic nod to Film Noir. The actions described or elaborated on are obvious to an attentive viewer. The most glaring example is the climax of the film, when, after a desperate fight between Roy and Deckard in and on top of the skyscrapers of LA, Roy saves Deckard from falling off the roof before he himself dies. Instead of a terse, contemplative silence that could have added to the prevailing mood of the film, we're subjected to a overly-sappy analysis from Deckard about the value of life.
Fans of Science-Fiction will enjoy the film for its bleak view of the future. Fans of Film Noir will enjoy it for the stylistic nods to the genre (strong use of lighting, voice-over, hard-nosed protagonist, moody atmosphere, etc...). Fans of both Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford will enjoy it as an early example of both men's careers (it's Scott's third film and one of Ford's first with real dramatic depth).