What A Great Film Concept

Rating: Null/10 (27 February 2005)

Extraterrestrial robots return to earth in search of their "maker", in an effort to extend their preset four-year life span. Lots to think about and ponder. Can robots achieve self-awareness? Are humans merely self-aware robots? Are thoughts and feelings programmable?
But "Blade Runner", to me, is only partially satisfying. So much of the film, which is generally fast paced, is saturated with unnecessary objects and images that are almost constantly in motion. All of which translates into a kaleidoscope of hubbub and visual overload that I found irritating. Also, the violence, especially in the Rutger Hauer character, is off-putting. Given the film's clever premise, I would have thought the screenwriters could have devised a more futuristic way to express conflict.
On the other hand, the film does a good job of describing a future that is truly bleak. In the year 2019, the rich and powerful have fled earth, leaving only the poor and oppressed to endure a post-apocalyptic urban wasteland of gritty neon, dense atmospheric smog, and constant rain. The film's noirish lighting, combined with its cultural ambiguity, and strange sound effects (especially the use of echoes), effectively convey a mood of despair and helplessness. And the music by Vangelis is both beautiful and chilling, and adds to the overall bleakness.
"Blade Runner" is based on a really good premise. And some of the dialogue is fairly profound. But the over emphasis on special effects, cinematography, and sets dilutes the film's philosophical import. While most viewers probably prefer the razzle-dazzle visuals, I would have preferred some restraint in production, with a corresponding expansion of the implications inherent in the underlying concept.