One of the very best.

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2007)

I first viewed BR years ago with a relative and some mutual friends. We writhed over the barbarity of Replicant Roy Batty and his 'fellow travelers.' What a dreadful killing machine he was! A perfect excuse for Supercop Rick Deckard's comparably barbarous actions, eh? After all, somebody had to do it. Deckard seemed to be spiritually dead, anyway. The ending filled me with sadness. I had seen life/love flow out of the dying Roy. My companions were surprised at my response.
Now, years later, the Director's Cut, which I just viewed, has left me with still more disturbing questions about who is, isn't or might be, what it is to be a sentient machine, evil and so on. I offer my thanks to the many thoughtful, insightful ideas set forth in the 772 other Viewers' Comments. Whew! I prefer to limit the scope of my Comments.
The truly tragic scene in the film is Roy Batty's death. Desperate to prolong his life, he rages "against the dying of the light." Confronting his creator, Eldon Tyrell, he learns that his life is NOT extendible. Only at the end does he accept his fate; head bowed, he finally lets go. His life ebbs away as Deckard, the implacable enemy whose life he spared, looks on.
"ALL THOSE MOMENTS WILL BE LOST IN TIME, LIKE TEARS IN RAIN."
I am reminded of the universally evocative ancient Hellenistic statue, THE DYING GAUL (230-220 B.C.), which depicts the final agonals of a wounded warrior whose army has been vanquished. Over the centuries, this statue has elicited great sadness and sympathy for the fallen warrior.
Are there any Tragic Heroes in Blade Runner? Who comes closest is Roy Batty, endowed by his creator with superhuman beauty, intelligence, strength and will (Milton, anyone?). His tragic flaws were either flukes or intentionally built into him by his creator; his short life span was a precautionary measure, we are told. Tragically, his humanity developed too late.
BLADE RUNNER is, in my opinion, also a work of art for the ages.
Milton? you say. After seeing it in the mid-70's. I concluded that Star Wars was inspired by John Milton's PARADISE LOST. The ancient questions and verities will be with us always.