More than just a Sci-Fi classic

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2013)

It's hard to say just how much I love this film. After I first watched it, I found it a very confusing film that, to me, wasn't that good. But then, after thinking about it for a while, it all makes sense, and comes together. This is a film you having to watch twice - and films you have to watch twice are always good.
What Ridley Scott has created here is a believable, stunning and dark portrayal of the future. Keep in mind that the buildings in most of the film were not done with CGI, but were real models. For something that doesn't use CGI this is truly an achievement - and this was done in 1982.
The characters are, after a second viewing, easy to empathise with and develop incredibly well as the story goes on. While for some there isn't much character development, I would say that actually for the experience of the film it's not necessary. Most of these characters are replicants, by the way - they don't have much of a life anyway.
as for the story, this is where many give up. It's slow, basic, yet it works so well in the setting created. It gives the viewer time to think and work out everything, and for many (including me) you'll need that! Most Sci-Fi films of today's age are way to quick. They're certainly good, but few really have the power and emotion that this film delivers.
Talking of power and emotion, there is one big reason why this film is so good - it leaves you questioning. Films that literally have an affect on you (The Matrix or Inception are other good examples) are hard to pull off, but here it is done seemingly. You are blasted with subliminal messages throughout the film - don't worry, not bad ones. They are far, far more realistic, such us where the most common person is from (China, hint hint), who is advertising and how, who is living on the streets and who is booming, class gaps, wealth and so on. Ridley doesn't doesn't just produce an amazing film, he produces a stunning, realistic world that, in some parts of this world, doesn't actually seem hat far off. This film is more than just a story. It's incredible because in the space of 2 hours, we see a dark, grimy future and a retired cop, doing one last job, being put through a tough job in a huge city, that actually has a mental affect on you. What those affects are, is up to you - and that is another reason why this film is so good. It doesn't give opinions on itself, it generates individual ones. Compare the opinions of die-hard fans and they'll all come up with something different. In conclusion then, this is an incredible film that has really redefined it's genre, and redefined a whole sci-fi community with just how clever, realistic and powerful this film is. if you love sci-fi you have to watch this. Probably twice though.
10/10