Near flawless sci-fi/noir.

Rating: 9/10 (28 July 2010)

"It's too bad she won't live. But then again, who does?"
(This review is for the Final Cut version of Blade Runner.) It took me two viewings to really appreciate Blade Runner, but once it hit me, it me hit me like a ton of bricks.
Out of all the movies that Ridley Scott has done, this is the one that proves without a doubt that he deserves his place as one of the great directors. This is one of the most fully-realized and technically and artistically impressive worlds that I've ever seen created on film. The backgrounds and sets are wonderful. The cinematography is outstanding. Nearly every single shot is visually striking in some manner. Blade Runner's setting is a wildly imaginative glimpse of the future, yet grounded in a gritty reality that's appealing and fits the tone of the movie perfectly. As does the music.
As for the story, it's intelligent, engrossing, and perfectly paced. One that you don't have to be a huge fan of sci-fi or noir to enjoy. In broad terms, it's about an ex-police officer who specializes in eliminating artificial humans (replicants), and his efforts to track down four who have illegally come to earth. There's more to it than that, of course, but watching the story unfold and letting it draw you into this alternate future is a pleasure that I wouldn't want to rob from anyone reading this. Just trust me, there are deep themes that are explored here, but the movie is thoroughly entertaining even if you aim to enjoy it on only its most superficial levels.
As you may have guessed, this is my favorite Scott film, as well as my favorite Harrison Ford role. It stands out for its memorable and three dimensional characters like the elegant and haunting replicant Rachael and the kind (but creepy) Sebastian. The use of light and shadows throughout the movie gives it a timeless, classic quality. Sci-fi (heck, movies in general) doesn't get much better than this one. Beyond it's own undeniable quality, the genre as a whole has benefited from Blade Runner's influence.