Blade Runner Movie Review: Thoughtful Entertainment

Rating: 7/10 (9 December 2016)

Blade Runner Movie Review: Thoughtful Entertainment
The announcement of a Blade Runner sequel set to come out in 2017 (directed by Denis Villeneuve, who is the perfect human for such a project) has more than a few people giddy with excitement. Seeing that it's been 35 years since the release of the original, let's do a quick walk down memory lane to remember what exactly made Blade Runner a Sci-fi classic.
Blade Runner (directed by Ridley Scott, the man responsible for Alien and the Martian) is a beautiful blend of movie genres: film noir, science fiction, and philosophical fiction, all of which combine for an incredibly memorable cinematic experience. The story takes place in a dystopian Los Angeles a couple decades in the future.The film's unique cinematography perfectly combines the neon and gadgets of the future with dark, looming architecture and lighting, making the marriage of sci-fi and noir feel natural where it could be cheesy. The dark yet futuristic score works hand-in-hand with the visuals creating just the right background for this unconventional story.
Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford, who was born to play the typical hard-nosed noir detective) is a retired Blade Runner, a futuristic detective. They're a special division of police specifically hired to track down fugitive replicants (scientifically engineered humans).Deckard, who is forced to come out of retirement, must track down four dangerous replicant fugitives.
While the movie would be great with just the first two ingredients of our cinematic blend (film noir and sci-fi), the third (philosophical fiction) is what makes it a true cinematic masterpiece. Believable performances from all cast members and great dialogue (some of which is completely improvised, hats off to Rutger Hauer) allow the movie's heavy themes to stand out where they could have been an afterthought. While Deckard hunts down replicants one by one, the definition of humanity becomes blurry to both Deckard and the audience. From beginning to end we are both entertained and provoked to thought.
So watch it if you're a Sci-Fi fan. Watch it if you're a noir fan. Watch it if you're a philosophy fan. It's the combination of the three that has given Blade Runner a spot in the annals of cinema and in the hearts of movie lovers everywhere.