Thank you, Philip K Dick!

Rating: 10/10 (24 May 2007)

I think I first saw this film on television when I was about 12 or 13 years old. The VERY NEXT DAY I bought it on VHS tape and watched it over and over and over again for about 3 days...why? It's a great interpretation of a sci-fi novel, an interpretation which (I believe) Philip K Dick himself approved of, shortly before he sadly died. At least, he did say that the environments (as realised by Sid Mead) were "exactly as how I'd imagined it!" High praise indeed. Thanks to Moebius and Heavy Metal also.
Personally, I saw Blade Runner before I read the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" I love them both, they both have a very strong atmospheric feel, which I think may have been why Dick was so impressed with the visualisations in the movie. Ridley Scott has created some VERY strong images in his directing career, Alien being another good example, but this movie has had such a strong effect upon so many other movies that it does warrant a special mention.
It can be reduced in description to being an updated Film Noir, but that does not do it justice. A lot of Dick's themes of dehumanisation, alienation, globalisation and the struggle of individuals to exist in a increasingly inhuman world have endured and still echo in films to this day. In fact, Dick's writing (although partly inspired by his prodigious drug intake) was very humane and concerned for humanity. This theme is realised by the main protagonists and antagonists throughout the movie, resulting in a fascinating climax and, in the director's cut at least, a powerful and beautifully ambiguous ending.
Well, it's just great. Some people pan it for being a triumph of style over content. To me, that's a bit like accusing Churchill of being 'a touch bombastic' or Hendrix of being too fond of 'freeform playing'. You have to admire the film for what it is, a pioneering and strong vision with some brilliant moments that rival anything that world cinema has shown us. Hollywood may never make another film as special as this, and even if it was by an accident or happy coincidence of Director, Producer, Casting, Script and Design, who cares? It's magic! If I ever meet Ridley Scott I'm going to say one thing to him; "You've done a man's job, Sir!"