An unappealing, but realistic view of the future.

Rating: Null/10 (2 January 2000)

The opening sequence of Blade Runner still haunts me every time. The eye, gazed upon the skyline of a futuristic L.A., views erupting fireballs from factories, a hazy, clouded horizon, and structures of cathedral-like architecture. To me, this summarizes the idea of the film: a future where technology has gotten the best of us and our future is muddled with uncertainty. Perhaps we are approaching such a time when images like this will be commonplace.
I saw Blade Runner years ago on television, and I must have been nine or ten. It moved pretty slow, and I figured that because it had Harrison Ford in it, that I was in for a roller coaster ride. Not quite. I was asleep in minutes. However, in 1996 I read a captivating article about it in Entertainment Weekly, and I drove to the mall to get it. Since I love the widescreen format, I purchased that particular version. I pumped it in the VCR and was HYPNOTIZED. The very idea of technology going out of control, like creating artificial beings in our likeness to perform hazardous and undesirable tasks, and having it backfire in our faces was unique. A vision of American society, 37 years hence (from 1982, when the movie was created), with hovercars, architecture having evolved to unreasonable limits, androids working alongside humans, distant space colonies, videophones, with hairstyles, clothes, weapons, and television sets of the 20th century creates a strangely beautiful depiction of where we just might be headed. I apologize for the extremely long sentence! However, the sometimes dated special effects, corny looking cars, the stoic, robotic delivery of some dialogue ("It's too bad she won't live... but then again, who does?") notwithstanding, this all works in favor of the film. This is why Blade Runner is a noir-ish sci-fi film, like The Matrix and Demolition Man are, that not everyone will enjoy. Is it exciting to watch? Not neccesarily. Will you be glued to the chair, pulse pounding? Probably not. The underlying idea runs much deeper than the average future-based flick (like Freejack!) and correctly earns its cult status.
The soundtrack and score is entrancing, particularly the opening "eye" scene and the credits music. You can order it from any music store. It is typical of most Ridley Scott movies to incorporate a memorable, ear pleasing score, like Alien or Legend.
The stark, sad view of 2019, in all likelyhood, may not be what this century will digress into. But it makes a good film!