With Blade Runner 2049 arriving this year, and our most anticipated film in the second half of this year, we knew we wanted to revisit the original before seeing it. The first film released way back in 1982 was considered a box office disaster yet luckily over the years audiences and filmmakers have helped it find success.
The film has, in fact, got so popular, we have had the directors cut & a definitive final cut, in fact when we upgraded from video to DVD a few years back, it came as a box set with no less than 5 different versions within.
Based on the book, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ written by Philip K Dick. Set in 2019 we learn of the Tyrell Corporation, who make Replicants, human-like androids tasked for building off world.
After 4 of these Replicants attack effectively cause mutiny they escape to Earth. The call is quickly put out for a ‘Blade Runner’ to terminate them. Reluctantly Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) agrees to do this as one last job.
Heading to see Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel) to find any information, he agrees to interrogate Rachael (Sean Young) to see what he is up against. She has been implanted with memories of Tyrell’s daughter and truly believes in the company motto, that she is more human than human.
Rachael desperate to prove she is human follows Deckard, and they clearly have a connection, she also helps him defeat a Replicant Leon (Brion James)
The first time we see Deckard in action is when he comes across Replicant Zhora (Joanna Cassidy) in a thrilling chase through the futuristic world with a dramatic conclusion.
The other 2 Replicants; Pris (Daryl Hannah) & Roy (Rutger Hauer) have used J.F.Sebastian (William Sanderson) a genetic designer who they believe can get them to Tyrell as they believe he maybe able to extend their 4 year life warranty.
The film ends with a dramatic face off between Deckard & Batty but quite frankly all you need to do is if not already, is watch this film now.
We actually thinks this gets better on every viewing, everything about the film is excellent, the visuals, the incredible score by Vangelis. Ridley Scott does an excellent job as the director and we would be hard pushed to chose between this and Alien as his best film. It is a Thriller, Sci-Fi, Drama and even Romance so has something for everyone!
The film also can cause great conversations between people as it also seems to be an age old question, is Deckard a Replicant as well. The Director’s cut has dreams of unicorns for him so when Gaff (Edward James Olmos) leaves an origami unicorn at his door, it almost implies yes
But would a Replicant want to kill fellow Replicants? You can also argue the case he isn’t just as much. We are literally chomping at the bit to see this film’s sequel and earlier reviews are it will be just as breathtaking?
So settle down and watch Blade Runner and get ready for the sequel =)
Are you a fan of Blade Runner? We would love to hear from you here at Barking Mad About Films
You can find Blade Runner at Amazon here:
You can find the original novel at Amazon here:
Blade Runner, the 30th anniversary Trailer:
Blade Runner 2049 Trailer:
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