Visual Ballet

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2003)

A lot of comments suggest that this is a boring movie, or even just terrible. They mention lack of action, dialogue, or even character development.
I think that these people go to a ballet and find it really boring as well.
This movie is a ballet of visual arts. The character development happens within the incredible cinematography, designs, sets, and everything else around. It is one of those movies you can call "artsy" in that respect, where a person doesn't have to answer each question with a "yes" or "no", but simply with the appropriate look, gesture, or even silence. To those of us who understand what subtlety is, it speaks volumes. To those who rely on effects simply to enhance the story, you're in for a boring ride: go and rent T2 or something.
Blade Runner is beautiful. Like 2001, it has very little dialogue, and like 2001, some people just don't "get it". That's fine, but then try to understand what it is you're tearing apart before you do so. Not all visionary things have to have tons of explosions and non stop action. Some of them are very slow paced and force you to think and read between the lines. Like 2001, it doesn't give you the answers, but merely guides you into thinking about them. It creates an entire future to set the appropriate questions so that you can think about them more clearly. Some people think that this might be "boring" and really need their hands held a little more often, which is why the overlay dialogue was originally put in. But if you want to see a masterpiece, look at the director's cut.
It becomes less of a movie than a meditation. Yes, it's slow, but it's meant to be slow. I don't see anyone saying that Swan Lake should be performed "faster" and that more explanation should be used instead of visual arts. Some people are critical of the ambiguity of Ford's character, but that was meant to be that way for a very good reason. You just have to watch and think carefully about it.
In so many ways, this movie is like a dream about ourselves and our future; if you fidget and try to wake up too soon, you'll miss the entire point.