A stunning visual and emotional masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (16 July 2003)

This has been my all-time favorite film for 6 or 7 years now; there have been few challenges (like Tiger Wood's reign, I suppose). I am still in awe every time i sit down to watch this film (every six months or so). To me, what makes Blade Runner so effective is the way Ridley Scott juxtaposes his technological vision of the future, as seen through the architecture, flying cars, and replicants, with the vulnerable and fragile human condition of today, as seen through Deckard and J.F.Sebastian. Harrison Ford is at his best here, playing a lonely and introspective character that is a far cry from the banal roles he played in Star Wars and Air Force One (among others). The tone of the entire film is somber (it is always raining), and this is what allow us to be so thoroughly absorbed by the fascinating characters (my favorite is Tyrell) and subtle plot development. The visuals are stunning. I can't stand today's computer-generated stuff because most of it looks fake. Ok, if you look closely you can see the models here, but when sitting back and absorbing the movie as a whole one doesn't really notice. I can't imagine that this film would do well today given its deliberate pace, but i think that this is what sets it apart from from your standard explosion-laced sci-fi fare. I like the slow pace, just as i did with the original "Alien" film; it gives you time to absorb the characters and study the visual component. The Vangelis score is superb. For any true BR fans, you need to get your hands on the score released abroad by Gongo Records (check ebay periodically). It has the full score: 17 tracks and 70 minutes, unedited Vangelis. Now, time to...