A timeless, incredible and hugely influential sci-fi classic.

Rating: 10/10 (12 January 2008)

I hadn't seen Blade Runner for quite a while, so after getting my sweaty hands on the new 5 disc final cut special edition box-set, I had to watch what director Ridley Scott sees as the definitive version of the film.
First of all this film is over 25 years old, it came out the year after I was born. What is most striking to me is the fact this films aged so well, this is in some parts down to the 'final cuts' visual tweaks, but it's also thanks to the way the film is shot. The futuristic elements in Blade Runner never becomes the main showcase of the film, they're kept in the background or in the dark and you only ever see a glimpse of this and a glance of that. Unlike some sci-fi films that show everything clear as day all the time, to get the 'AAAH' factor and then a few years down the line they look dated. The atmosphere sets the mood and feel of the film, it's dark and gloomy, forever raining, with glints of light and an urban Japanese look. It's a believable future and it doesn't seem so far away. The story follows Deckard (Harrison Ford) who is the Blade Runner of the title, a cop who specialises in retiring (terminating) replicants, human clones now deemed dangerous and declared illegal. His expertise are needed when 6 replicants are loose on the streets after escaping from an off-world colony to Earth. There's a lot more to it, but I wont spoil anything. The story to me isn't the heart of the film anyway, it's about the desire to live, human emotions, philosophy and memories. The acting is kept mostly subtle, like Ridley's vision of the future they never really become powerhouse performances, but it's masterful subtlety. Then there's Rutger Hauer as the main replicant, the standout performance for me and it is easily his finest hour, he is remarkable here. Evidence that he had a great ability that's been shamefully overlooked somewhat in his career.
Blade Runner is a timeless, incredible and hugely influential sci-fi classic.