Great Film, but perhaps a little too deep

Rating: 9/10 (28 April 2002)

I love a good sci-fi movie, and Blade Runner is one of my all-time favorites. I just watched it again a few minutes ago, and I thought I'd give another point of view to add to the ones already given.
Blade Runner is a visual feast that is a treat to watch even in our present day CG crazed world. The realism of the sets and the overall mood helps make the cyberpunk world come to life in a way no other movie has been able to duplicate. It's hard to believe that 20 years has passed.
But watching the Director's Cut again for the fourth time, I realize that I enjoy the original version better. Being a fan of old detective stories like the Maltese Falcon I really enjoyed the commentary by Deckard. His voice over actually adds something to his character that is needed. Strange that without it the movies "feels" entirely different. I only hope that in the future Warner Bros. releases the original version on DVD and allow the consumer to decide which version they prefer.
Even without the commentary, the story still stands on its own. The plight of Roy and Decard and their battle to define what it means to be "human" works well within the confines of the story. The monologue at the end when Roy is dying on the roof is probably one of my favorite scenes in the movie, but the added commentary by Deckard in the original makes the scene more powerful in my eyes, because we can relate to Deckard and how he feels about the whole thing. His actions afterwards makes more sense.
I've read lots of comments on this movie, and I guess no one is ever going to agree on the classic status. A shame really, because though it isn't perfect, Blade Runner is one of the best realizations of what cyberpunk really is all about. It should be viewed for that reason alone. Whether you like it or not, this is one of those movies that movie goers should view at least once.