Blade Runner, the acceptance of death

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2004)

"Blade Runner", based on Philip k.Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" is not only a sci-fi movie. Ridley Scott, its director, has achieved to bring together the settings, the characters and the screenplay to create a thrilling and interesting world, in one of his greatest works.
In 2019, life on Earth has become a claustrophobic and nightmarish experience, and hi-tech has been developed in dirty and congested streets. The action is set in Los Angeles and Harrison Ford plays the "Blade Runner" detective Deckard, an android hunter, who after his retirement is assigned to hunt down a group of androids, also known as replicants. This group, who have just rebelled against humans, arrive in Los Angeles from outer space with the purpose of finding out the reason why they all must die as well as to look for Tyrell, the owner of their manufacturer.
In contrast with loads of futuristic films that are produced with a strong artificial flavour, the characters are completely believable and the dialogue is witty and natural. Furthermore, an important aspect to mention, which is one of the most striking qualities of the films, is the soundtrack. Scott has certainly scored his audience with the collaboration of Vangelis, the talented electronic music composer. But, over and above that, what is indisputable is that the aesthetics of the film are breathtaking. It is quite likely that the audience will get the feeling of reality with the dark and unique settings.
However, as I see it, what puts this film in a class of its own, is its philosophical meaning. Replicants can be compared to humans, as both are looking for immortality. But, what differentiates replicants from humans is that replicants are lucky, in a certain way, to be able to demand an explanation from their creator. So, for those who not only enjoy sci-fi movies but also a good storyline, Blade Runner is not to be missed!