"Blade Runner" is regarded as both a famous and infamous film in the sci-fi genre. From its poor initial release to relapsed reputation to various editions and cuts, it's a film that has a history about as interesting as the film itself. I haven't watched the film until recently with the Blu-Ray release of the Final Cut, which is regarded as the best version of the film. The film is about Rick Deckard, a retired detective who is called back as a Blade Runner, a unit that tracks down and kills replicants, human-like androids that are illegal on Earth. As he reluctantly agrees, his mission leads him to the realization of the humanity behind the machines. This is not a standard action-packed joyride that one would expect from the posters and trailers. This is a slow-burn film that is constructed more like a neo-noir with the protagonist's job. It's tonally a dark, almost bleak film that matches the night aesthetic of the futuristic L.A. There's small levity at times, but it's not attempting to become "Star Wars" or "Indiana Jones" despite Harrison Ford's main role. The film doesn't have much action, but when it does, it feels brutal and gritty with some grisly kills. It goes in hand with the tone and complex themes of humanity, life, death, technology, and so much more.
Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard is well-cast as the chiseled detective questioning his own humanity. He's much more reserved and less charismatic than his more iconic roles, which is needed for the film. Deckard isn't an action hero, he's practically an everyman who is dealing with a lot of things. He's not the most engaging protagonist of the genre, but he's made to be the window for the themes. Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty is fantastic as the replicant who desires to live longer than the four years he's running out of. He has a villainous presence, but his motives are anything but. Roy Batty is the most intriguing character of the film due to his mission and the realization that nothing can be done to prolong his life and live normally like a human. Sean Young as Racheal is a replicant who believes she's human, who Deckard falls in love with. Racheal is a necessary, but uninteresting character in my opinion as she just felt like a typical love interest Deckard needs to have. I understand why the romance is included to add to Deckard's perception and thematic resolution of the replicants, but the chemistry between them is too weak and even makes Deckard look like a rapist as he forces Racheal to have sex due to her programming of emotions being abnormal. Side characters include Sebastian, a genetic designer who has an aging disorder that makes him look much older than he is, Pris, Roy's athletic girlfriend who befriends Sebastian, and Eldon Tyrell, the CEO behind the conception of replicants. There are other minor characters such as Deckard's employer and co-worker, as well as the other replicants, but they barely do much in the plot to mention them. The cast is generally well-acted and characterized to say the least, even the minor characters I haven't mention who are barely in the film. However, it is Ford and Hauer that stand out, with Hauer's performance being the best of the film and his career for the character of Roy.
Ridley Scott is a fantastic director and this might be the best film he has directed to date. What makes his directing so great is that he makes the futuristic city of L.A come to life magically. Not only are the set designs well-detailed, the lighting so beautifully dark and moody, and the world established with the vast Asian influences, air blimps, towers surrounding the streets, and ads all over the place, but the effects are fantastic. The miniatures and models are made extremely well that they look real or operable. The city is brought to life not only from these aespects, but helped by Jordan Cronenweth's brilliant cinematography that is slow, calculated, and brings more scale and depth to the sets and models that make them much grander than one would think. It's a film that spared no expense in its budget. Despite the fantastic filmmaking and world-building that would inspire other franchises in various media, there are some things that aren't on the same level. The original score by Vangelis is good and does fit the tone and film overall, but it's not extremely memorable in my opinion. I don't hate it, but I do find it a bit overrated. However, the only issue that can be agreed on is the editing. Perhaps other versions of the film have better edits, but the Final Cut does have some odd editing choices, particularly by the climax where Deckard is fighting Roy. Although the characters are fighting in Sebastian's apartment, there's no clear sense of space or continuity for where the characters inhabit. Roy eventually holds a dove in his hands to symbolize him holding onto life, but we never see him grab a dove in the first place, he's just holding it while Deckard is in pain out of nowhere. Outside of the choppy editing in some parts, the film is extremely well-made and not only holds up after nearly forty years, but is top-quality for its genre. Also as a side note, I don't understand why people still think Deckard is a replicant even after the sequel reveals that he is indeed human. The theory and hints are interesting as a viewing experience, but in retrospective, makes no sense with the sequel shutting the theory down.
"Blade Runner" is well-deserved for its reputation and unmatched legacy. It does have its faults as the romance between Deckard and Racheal being poorly developed, Racheal herself being perhaps the blandest character of the film, an overrated score and some awkward editing in the end, the film is still fantastic and can be considered a masterpiece if one chooses to ignore the shortcomings. From the complex themes, dark noir-esque tone, the main characters and their roles for the story, the viewer, and the themes, Scott's phenomenal direction, the set designs and realization of the world, the life-like and visually striking effects that is pure eye candy, and some of the best writing and dialogue on film. Some might have more issues than I have, or have none at all, but it's understandable why this is seen as an important film. Not only is it a visually stunning achievement, but the themes and characters are impactful that it's powerful to this day.
Verdict: 9/10. I would put it a 10/10 myself if it wasn't for Racheal and the romance, but it's still a masterpiece regardless of the imperfection.
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