Spot on about that scene with Zhora. It is so mesmerizing yet brutal at the same time. I love how Ford is nauseous after shooting her. He hates what he does, but is dragged back into the job because he is good at it.
Blade Runner is the most cyberpunk movie ever because of that gloomy, depressing, high-tech aesthetics, while also encompassing deep and profound ideas. Without holograms and flashing neon signs all over the place, no adrenaline-rushing scenes every 5min, only deep and raw cyberpunk, as it should be. Thanks for reviewing this one. :)
A lot of people hate Blade Runner, but I’ve always loved it. I used to rent it on VHS all the time as a kid in the 80s just because I loved the world so much.
People hated it it the 80s. Then the director’s cut was released in 1992 and more liked it. Now that the final cut has been released, everyone loves it. Each cut gets better and better
@@linkbiff1054 Yes, the Director's Cut put it on the map. It was on TV frequently in the 90s when I first discovered it. There's a later Final Cut too which has a few subtle differences vis a vis the Director's Cut.
@@MichaelFlynn0 Rutget Hauer didn't write that line, but it was transplanted to his character from the previous fight scene with Leon. Leon was left with 'Quite an experience to live in fear' without the follow up, which is then delivered at the end by Roy.
Fun fact: Philip K. Dick, who wrote the novel this was based on, hated the script when he first read it. Science fiction authors at the time were generally very disappointed with a lot of movie adaptations because it would typically simplify and dumb down the books very much... and Philip K. Dick thought the script for Blade Runner had the same problem (the script really left out a lot from the novel and changed a lot). Eventually, before the movie was finished, they asked Philip K. Dick to come over to a screening room and see a 20 min. montage of clips projected on a big screen, a lot of the footage featuring the cityscape, visual effects a big sets in is. He watched it and was blown away and completely got what they were doing. Turning his novel into a mindblowing sensorial trip and mood piece. Unfortunately he never got to see the finished movie, he died before is was released.
Blade runner's special effects and art direction have stood the test of time.Still quite stunning even when you compare it to the cgi effects laden movies of today.
"It's too bad she won't live. Then again, who does?" For all those of you who maybe haven't watched the movie, be sure to watch director's cut, not the original version
You should consider doing a podcast if that is something that interests you. You always have intelligent takes on film, and I’d definitely listen to a longer form discussion (podcast) with you on it.
And Moebius too. The work often credited as the blueprint of the cyberpunk aesthetic - by William Gibson and others - was "The long tomorrow" (1977) drawn by Moebius and written by Dan O'Bannon - both linked to Alien. But if you compare the comics to the movie itself you can see Scott was a true artist in his own right.
Summer of 1982 had a large amount of movies 🎥 3 films suffered at the phenomenon known as ET. Bladerunner , The Thing and Tron. But particularly The Thing and Bladerunner which found its audience on home video and both movies are now classics !
I'm a big fan of the Theatrical/International Cut. It keeps that noir narration that everybody hates, but I feel like it enhances the gumshoe aspects. I know it's not loved by fans of the film or even new fans for that matter. The Final Cut is good. A true definitive version if there was one but I'll always reach for that narration cut whenever I rewatch it. Good movie! Good review as well :)
Always like the scene in which Batty kills Tyrell, his maker. For me this has parallels to modern man's relation to God. Batty has developed so much he realizes he has done "questionable things" indicating he has developed a moral sense which Tyrell crudely dodges by telling him he is an "amazing creation" which has done "extraordinary things". Realizing that Tyrell neither can give him the answers he is looking for nor can extend his life he kills his maker/God. I also liked the important plot element in which replicants are designed to be physically perfect but lack the necessary experience from a long life and therefore are emotionally inexperienced and struggling to find themselves (hence the four year lifespan to prevent them going out of control). People probably don't think much about the opening scene with Holden using the Voight-Kampff test on Leon and in which it's clear that Leon is incapable of picking up cues and takes everything literally like a child. The concept of hypothetical scenarios seems lost on him. The whole scene serves as an introduction to how Leon is obviously a replicant. Later in the film he retains his childlike demeanor. There are so many great lines that say so much. Chew:"You're a Nexus huh? I designed your eyes." Batty:"If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes, Chew." As for the reason it wasn't an immediate hit back in 1982. I'm fairly certain the movie going audience believed they would see another Star Wars with laser guns, space battles and a very clear story of who the heroes and villains are. I also own Vangelis' expanded score for the film which includes all the music he made for it, some of which never made the finished film but truly expands on the feel of the movie.
I feel this is the most emotionally resonant sci fi movie I've seen. The love scene between Dekker and Sean Young is one of my favorites a bit crime noir. The character of Rutger Haur the guy with all the animatronics and Darryl Hanna. What it means to be human. And of course visually and musically wow. I used to put this on almost every night after a bowl and that first scene would just take me in. Absolutely beautiful, and not message or morally heavy handed. Just love it
I love this movie (my favorite ever) because it cherishes life at the same time that it tempts hatred of the excellence of the villains/heroes, the enslaved replicants. There's a scene with J.F. Sebastian where Pris and Roy are so in love, not just with each other, but with life, it's rhapsodic with the heart-rending score. We are tempted to hate them because they are "so perfect." What a bold moral challenge! Most fell for it and hated them. "Aren't you supposed to be the good man?" Roy asks Deckard. I knew I'd never see a movie like this again as soon as I saw it and wondered how it could ever have been made. Thanks, as usual, for your really sensitive impressions of this film. I hesitated to watch your take because of how I feel about it, but as usual yours are comments that are worthwhile. I thought I'd trade some of mine.
If you want to see where one of the inspirations of Blade Runner come from, then watch Fritz Langs Metropolis (which is briefly mentioned here, but not as the influence which it was). You can clearly see a lot of inspirations (even some shots). For me, Metropolis is the first Cyberpunk movie (visually and thematically).
that other day, I was searching for your review of blade runner thinking that you've definitely made one. It was so surprising that I didn't find it, so I'm really glad that you've done this video. I have super mixed feelings on it, Some aspects I really love, others not as much. Would really love to know your opinion on Incendies.
It's fascinating to me how each of the replicants response to their actual death is different: Leon (disbelief), Zhora (fear), Pris (rage), and Roy (acceptance). To me, mortality is the central underlying theme (which probably says more about me than the film, but there you go!).
Not really. Ridley Scott has said that his much loved older brother was dying from cancer as the film was being made, and the poignant sadness around that impregnated the film.
Blade Runner come out a year after High School for me. I have like 5 different copy's and 2049. Plus I have the game too. I may like the movie a little.
@Catharsis BR-2049 also stole some from Ex-Machina's soundtrack. Just listen to how 'Rain' theme is pretty much the 'Ava' theme. I love Hans Zimmer's TTRL soundtrack though which is in my top 3 favorite soundtracks of all time.
Don't miss the movie, I didn't care for much on first watch but as I get older that theme of personal desolation hits closer. Amazing dialogue, animation, and soundtrack-- ask DNA.
I'm not much of an Anime guy besides Studio Ghibli stuff. But Cowboy Bebop i really really love. There is another fantastic series from the same creator called "Samurai Champloo".
@@moomcmoosson1992 one of my favs as well. Those two and akira are why I’m so picky about anime. A lot of it is garbage, but the good ones transcend time.
This is a movie that's very close to my heart and I just rewatched it today - only to see a few hours later that you posted this review! Some timing - great to hear your thoughts on it. This movie always gets to me emotionally; I find the replicants' struggles in this movie to be quite moving. Also, the sensory effect of the visuals and the music is so hypnotic, and I love the way it really immerses you in the filthy, dark, depressing world of 2019 LA. Another thing that keeps this movie among my favorites is the fact that my dad introduced it to me and my brother many years ago, because he really loved it. He died almost 5 years ago, and every time I watch it i remember him, which greatly amplifies the movie's emotional effect for me.
"A bit trippy sometimes ...." I was waiting for the psychedelic reference Maggie. I originally saw Bladerunner on one of the biggest screens in New York City when it came out. I felt that version of it had many flaws, yet I saw it twice just to inhabit the world Ridley Scott created. Seeing those images fifty feet tall in a pristine print was quite the experience. Later versions of the film resolved some of the flaws of the release version. But I agree, while I really like the film it doesn't in anyway make my pantheon. But there are astounding visual moments that really stick with me.
Saw the movie in a theater the first week it came out. About half full if I remember correctly. Really enjoyed most of the movie but remember hating the ending which was just tonally off compared to what came before. So glad there was a directors cut to fix this wrong. One thing to remember is Blade Runner was not too far removed from Star Wars. After Star Wars it seemed almost all Sci-fi movies were in the Saturday afternoon serial mode so it was refreshing to see a sci-fi pic with more cerebral adult themes. Agree that world building and music are standouts. In retrospect, Harrison Ford's acting is stiff but given this is a pseudo noir film it did not detract. I remember getting a crush on Sean Young from this movie. She looked stunning.
If you like cyberpunk that much, you just might enjoy *"Immortal" (2004)* with *Linda Hardy (Miss France 1992) and Thomas Kretschmann.* But like "2046", you might find it much more style over substance and pseudo-intellectual, like a mediocre novel. But everything and everyone looks beautiful; I recall seeing it at the cinema I used to go to for foreign and art films.
The film was a GAME CHANGER, as it has influenced today's sci-fi films in the visual and technical aspects MORE than any at the time, even the ones made by the Spielbergs and Lucases at the time. It also predates such cyberpunk Japanese anime classics like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, and no doubt influenced them too. Roger Ebert (and other critics) hated it when it first came out, but he eventually recognized it as a classic and included Blade Runner in his "Great Movies" series.
This is one of those films that I really didn't like when I first saw it. But multiple viewings helped me to see why it's a great film. I definitely agree with deepfocuslens that it's less about the emotion and more about the experience.
Lovely insights but can't believe you don't mention Rutger Hauer's acting, with his blue eyes expressing humor with an underlying cruelty, menacing twisting smiles, ..."That hurt!" ; "I thought you were the good man." Vangelis's music was out of this world!
Great review! I have never heard you discuss any Michael Haneke films on your channel before. I would love to hear your thoughts about him and his films. I love your channel!! :)
y'all might have missed the whole point of 'Blade Runner'........ y'all should focus on the sub-text rather than the surface appearances.... its theme is, basically, Promethean....
I think I feel similarly. I love living in the world of the movie even if I have little emotional investment in it save for Rutger Hauer's final moment which I always find moving. That's one thing I do think 2049 really improved upon was investment in the narrative as well as the universe. That said, I do think I ultimately slightly prefer the world of the original just cause it's a bit grimier. I like to wallow in that filth whereas 2049 had a bit more sleakness too it.
It was only Scott's second film. All of his experience as a commercial director and as an artist funneled into Bladerunner. The early 1980s was a brave time for film artists in that they were not subject to the commercial censorship they are today. The were fewer corporate overlords dictating what could or could not be said or done onscreen. There are uncomfortable moments in Bladerunner (like the non-consensual 'love scene' between Deckard and Rachel or the moment when Batty dips his fingers into Pris' abdominal wound and tastes her blood ) that ultimately elevate it.
Bookmarked for later. I started this movie a few months ago but wasn't in the mood; I'll be watching it soon. I just started playing cyberpunk so it's sort the perfect juxtapostion.
I have watched Blade Runner many times over the years, mainly because I was never able to find myself loving it as much as other people do. I kept rewatching it, hoping one day it would just click for me, but it never did, and in the end, like you said, I just learnt to appreciate it as it is. I love the characters, the visuals and the whole dirty grim world that its set in. I guess my main issue with Blade Runner (if you can call it that) was that I never felt satisfied once I finished watching. It goes for 2 hours, yet it only feels like 45 minutes. I wish it was 3 hours long... but then again that still might not be long enough for me. I just found a lot of the scenes were over too quickly, and just didn't have the impact they should have, and because of that I guess I have always considered Blade Runner to be a minimalist style of film, and as you also said, its more visual and emotionally designed then going into great details explaining every little thing. Ridley Scott only shows us what he wants us to see.... Will you be reviewing Blade runner 2049 ? I have watched it 4 or 5 times now, and to be perfectly honest I think its rather average. but I know I'm definitely in the minority on that. But anyway.. I enjoyed hearing your thought on Blade Runner.
I definitely have found myself enjoying the anime it's influenced more than the movie itself though I do still love it quite a bit. really looking forward to the Shinichirō Watanabe produced BR: Black Lotus series finally coming out.
If you want to watch an excellent anime series that was HEAVILY inspired by Blade Runner, give all 8 episodes of Bubblegum Crisis a try (the original series, not the 2040 remake). Unfortunately, BgC is becoming less and less known as time goes by, which is tragic. RIP Syd Mead, one of the best visual futurists to've ever lived.
What did you think of Blade Runner 2049? I personally thought it was better than the 1980's movie. Harris Ford's "Noir" type character was benign to me... It seemed like it was just a movie used to petition against technological advancements... I heard you say (in another video) that nostalgia isn't so great in, in a few words- what's great about Blade Runner's nostalgic message...?
Which version are you reviewing? If it's the "theatrical cut", then you should view the "Final Cut" version to fully appreciate Scott's TRUE vision for what he intended the film to be. It's a "next level" and much more immersive experience!
I am curious what you think of The Duellists?... I am not really a Ridley Scott fan anymore, but I still enjoy his earlier films. Honestly, I think the writing in a lot of his newer movies has just been flawed.
I love Blade Runner. What makes it work for me is the incredible worldbuilding. It feels like a real lived-in world. And I think the messy (-ish) way the story is told really helps with that. You just follow this man through some tough days through impressions, and moods and moments. Coherence is implied. Much like real life :) No clean story explanations, Deckard keeps almost everything to himself, you don't hear his thoughts, you just experience the whole thing with him, leaving a lot of space for your own experience, your own questions and feelings and thoughts. That's why the voice-over version doesn't work for me at all. Blade Runner 2049 misses that depth of texture for me. Too slick, too stylized to be in the same world as the original. Still a good movie, though.
what do you think of the film "Cloud Atlas" (2012)? It has 6 stories: a 19th century enlightenment slave maritime journey in the South Pacific shown in a diary, a 1930s romanticist period drama about musical composers and homophobia told as letters in England and Scotland, a 1970s modernist geopolitical nuclear threat film noir thriller involving sexism told as an airport novel set in California, a 2000s postmodern elderly slapstick farce involving escape and ageism told as a UK film, a 22nd century electronic cyberpunk dystopian action science fiction clone interview with genoism (genetic discrimination) set in a corporcratic Korea, and a 24th century tribalist post-apocalyptic fantasy set in Hawaii. Each character of the next story is reading or viewing the story set previously. And it involves actors playing multiple parts, changing age, gender and ethnicity and is directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer.
Why the completely unnecessary added green tilt colour and way less menacing 'I want more life' dialogue change in the final cut though? I prefer the 1992 director's cut :-)
although the visuals and style of Blade Runner have contributed to its lasting appeal(deservedly so)the ideas it tackles are also universal themes that still have relevance(probably more so in the current political climates of the world),dehumanization,bigotry,living in fear. in fact with your mentioning of the clash of styles,not knowing where the old world ends and the new one begins illustrates these themes perfectly,the fact that mankind has all of this wonderful technology at hand but still continues to mess up is extremely poignant,the fact that replicants have turned against them is no surprise(have none of them read Frankenstein,though i daresay in their arrogance they probably thought well that won't apply to me). on a happier note a friend and myself are,hopefully going to a screening of Blade Runner with a live orchestra later this year,its been delayed twice due to current world events so here's hoping it will be third time lucky
It was a spectacle when it came out, but it ain't all that. In fact, I'd say it's something to reference, but not a film to watch over and over again. Really depressing flick. And it has the earmarks of an intelligence agency project, so it feels too propaganda-ish. I will say that Vangelis' soundtrack is sick. That might be the only reason I'd watch it again. Side-note: they have the Tyrell Building model at a museum in my hood (The Museum of The Moving Image). That is really quite cool to see.
I always find myself appreciating the beauty of Blade Runner without ever really loving the film. Same with the new Blade Runner. Beautiful but did not connect with it emotionally.
Director Christopher Nolan once said in a interview that you should always watch the original theatrical cut of any movie, and I have to agree. For better or for worse, there is a reason for the theatrical cut to become so popular. New cuts would never exist if the theatrical cut didn't become popular in the first place. But any subsequent new cut is just a cash grab for the studios. New versions are not necessarily better than the theatrical cut, and often they are actually worse. From Star Wars to E.T. to Blade Runner to Close Encounters and The Terminator you should always watch the theatrical cut. Especially the ending of the new version of the Terminator is completely different from the theatrical cut, and in my opinion it is worse. The newer versions are usually worse than the theatrical cut, unless the theatrical cut is bad to begin with. It is very easy to create a better version of a bad film, but it is almost impossible to create a better version of an already good movie. The biggest problem about the new cuts is that people who have never seen the original film may end up watching the new cut and being disappointed and never bother to watch the original cut, which is very sad. I am seeing this happening again and again, especially with movies like Blade Runner. Most reactors here on RUclips are watching the newer cuts instead of the theatrical cut, and pretty much nobody is enjoying the film. As a huge fan of Blade Runner I think this is very sad. I wonder what people would think if they watched the theatrical cut instead. The theatrical cut is the version that became a cult classic. That is the version that Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve love. The theatrical cut with the horrible voiceover is the one that garnered fans all over the world. Without the theatrical cut, all other cuts like the director's cut or the final cut would never exist. The theatrical cut provides a much needed explanation. It gives a satisfactory and rewarding conclusion. It has a conclusion, a resolution, an explanation. It is not a perfect film, and yet, in spite of all its flaws, the theatrical cut is still better than the newer cuts. Younger generations are watching the newer cuts and getting confused, disappointed, dissatisfied. The newer cuts have no conclusion, no resolution, no explanation. They are worse than the theatrical cut. Blade Runner as a franchise is dying, exactly because of the unnecessary newer cuts. Older generations are disappointed because they want to see the theatrical cut. Younger generations are disappointed because they watch the newer cuts and don't like it. So the fan base is shrinking instead of growing. Look at films like Casablanca, 12 Angry Men, The Godfather. Younger generations are watching those films and loving them. The fan base just keeps growing. There is only one version for those films. There is no director's cut, no special edition, no final cut. There is only version, the theatrical version. Nobody cares about Blade Runner anymore, exactly because of these stupid, unnecessary, horrible newer cuts. A new cut is nothing more than a cash grab for the studios. It is just a way to squeeze more money out of a popular film. But such a strategy backfires, because it pisses off the existing fan base and confuses the younger generations, who will not become fans. That is why the sequel Blade Runner 2049 failed at the box office. Younger generations don't want to support it, because they don't like the first Blade Runner because they watched the horrible final cut. The guys at RedLetterMedia mince no words, they describe Blade Runner as "fucking boring" ruclips.net/video/adjfTktpIzg/видео.html Popcorn in Bed didn't like it either: ruclips.net/video/_0IMyu1fogE/видео.html TBR Schmitt was trying to be kind, but I am not sure if they really liked it. After watching the film, they seem very confused. ruclips.net/video/bgsFHMzfRFQ/видео.html In the theatrical cut of Blade Runner we see clearly what happens to Rachel. Rachel is the very first replicant in history to have a chance for happiness. The replicants are the real protagonists of the story. We see the story from the point of view of Deckard, but he is not the protagonist. The entire film is about the replicants. At the beginning of the film the replicants are displayed as villains. But as the film progresses, we see the replicants's point of view. The replicants have no human rights, they are just slaves forced to work as prostitutes or mine laborers. They only have 4 years to live, they are treated as garbage by the humans. Humans, including Deckard, view the replicants simply as malfunctioning machines that need to be destroyed. But the replicants are conscious and self-aware, they want to be free, they want to live longer, they want a chance for happiness. And the replicants are more human than the humans. Most of the human characters in the film are rude, cold, aggressive, distant. Even Deckard treats Rachel like a whore, with no consideration or kindness, because that is exactly what the female replicants are for, nothing more than sex toys or prostitutes. The replicants on the other hand are more compassionate and kind and considerate and emotional. And the film culminates with Rachel. Rachel is the first replicant in history to be free, to be able to live longer, to have a chance for happiness. The original ending makes it clear. It is highly satisfying and emotional and impactful. The deaths of the other replicants was not in vain. But the newer cuts completely butcher Rachel's storyline. We don't know what happens to Rachel. Rachel is just an annoying side character with no function or purpose. The film itself loses its message, its impact. And the proof is in the fact that the younger generations are not liking this film, exactly because they are watching the newer cuts. Blade Runner will quickly slip into oblivion as it fails to garner new fans. And the fault is in the newer cuts who fail to show what happens to Rachel.
I'm 20M and I just watched the final cut for the first time. Haven't seen any of the others. Cried twice. Once when Rachel cried because she realized she was a Replicant. The second during Roy's death monolgoue. Makes you question what it truly means to be human. I don't think the movie (at least the final cut) is for everybody. It's slow and doesn't have a lot of action. I haven't seen the theatrical cut but from what I've heard Ford is just phoning in a narration during the movie and the ending is different. My guess as to what happens to Rachel in the Theatrical cut is she eventually dies or something. Would you recommend seeing the theatrical even though I enjoyed the Final cut?
@@austincarlson9270 Yes, if you can find the original version. The studio seems to be determined to destroy any copy of the original version. "My guess as to what happens to Rachel in the Theatrical cut is she eventually dies or something." Everybody dies eventually, regardless of being human or replicant. The only point is about having the chance of finding happiness. Replicants are slaves with only 4 years to live, which makes very difficult to be happy. Rachel, on the other hand is the very first replicant to be free and have no expiration date, the first replicant to have an opportunity for happiness, and the original theatrical cut makes that very clear.
@@hcm9999the theatrical cut is crap, because the narration is awful. You're welcome to like what you like, but the narration and happy ending are ridiculous.
I've always thought that Blade Runner's biggest strength is the art and feel. I love the movie but I find overall it's not as good as people think it is in every area. I find it a bit boring to be honest. But damn, is it a beautiful movie.
I know you mainly do movies, but have you ever considered reviewing shows like The Leftovers or Man in the High Castle. Some shows I consider on another level. As well as the Philip K dick and Ridley Scott connection with High Castle. Idk why but this made me think of this
Didn't even make the connection between "Blade Runner" and anime until you mentioned it. But it's so obvious now. Some weird part of me always pairs this film with "Raging Bull" (which also underperformed) and for a while I've always viewed them back-to-back. Scorsese and Scott delved into two VERY separate worlds but they give off the same vibe .... something about the two stories evokes the genuine pain of living.
I saw this at the theater and I understand what you are saying because it was great to experience that world and look at and I enjoy watching Deckard eating noodles and the billboards ships flying above and Joanne Cassidy running like a badass the film didn’t really bring out any emotional response for myself just cool to look at, the first episode of season 1 of the Rifleman was more tense exciting and heart warming but anyway still a good film just kind of a Leo DiCaprio response from myself after watching his movies which is mmmmkaaaay that was nice
I think we can all agree that Ford's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm sure Ridley Scott wanted Ford to believe his character was human or else Ford would have totally botched his performance trying to "act like a replicant." Rutger Hauer can pull that off, not Ford. But the screenplay and the final film, with its unicorn dream/vision sequence, tells us that Deckard is, indeed, a replicant. That's the final, and most important, reveal of the movie, and what gives the movie its deepest resonance and also gives the script its greatest coherence. Gaff is telling Deckard the truth about himself just as Deckard told Rachel earlier. (Olmos does a great job with Gaff, btw, creating a memorable character with few lines and only a few minutes on screen.) And it's the main reason why Scott made "The Final Director's Cut."
I find it a movie drenched with pathos. From Rachel's existential collapse when Deckard shows her her memories are a construct, to Roy's tragic indignation towards his fate - it's all extremely operatic to me. a quality totally absent in the sequel
Maybe people don't know when Blade Runner first came out it bombed at the box office. Movie goers did not like it. By now the 80s movie goer had been spoilt by high action movies like Empire Strikes Back. Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones Raiders to name a few. Seeing Harrison Ford do a melancholy character in slow meandering film on the surface did not endear movie to the pop corn movie going crowd. Plus Americans especially and Los Angelenos in particular did not like the LA in this movie. Where they thought the English director was trying to make their beloved sunny LA climate upbeat positive city a lot like the climate in England rain constant and heavy clouds and cold drafts the directors home country. That English climate look of a future LA did not also go down well with audiences back then as well as Harrison Ford character being in depression and miserable throughout the movie (this is Indiana Jones and Han Solo remember) and most characters in the movie. Its only late in re runs in the late 1980s in theatres and on Video cassette did a more mature going audience appreciate the movie and many hailed it as one of the best movies of the 1980s and one of the best scifi movies ever made. But when it initially ran audiences worldwide but especially in America hated it for some of the reasons given here. Its only later did audiences appreciate the great craftmanship thought and artistry and set design that went into this movie and new appraisal for Ford's performance as a serious actor.
I appreciate and most of your perspective, but like every other Ridley Scott film, this is a misunderstanding of science, be it physics and engineering or even history and sociology. Nevertheless, he is a very competent director, but just shit at having any grasp at reality, which makes his end products laughable, when our first neuron fires... and hello from sunny, finally, London :D
Blade runner and John Carpenter’s The Thing came out in the summer of 82 and both bombed in the box office. Now they’re both considered classics haha
Both murdered by a dwarf extra-terrestrial.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
I love this. what a poetic moment. that's what ii love
'Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for.'
That scene makes me cry every time. Beautiful moment
The most overrated speech in cinema. Nothing profound about it.
@@richardsantanna5398 The most under thought comment I’ve read on RUclips. Nothing profound about it
Rutger Hauer is soo fantastic in Blade Runner, worth the watch just for his performance alone.
Rip Hauer
Great in Ladyhawke, Blind Samurai and orhers, he is dearly missed.
And the hitcher
Spot on about that scene with Zhora. It is so mesmerizing yet brutal at the same time. I love how Ford is nauseous after shooting her. He hates what he does, but is dragged back into the job because he is good at it.
Blade Runner is the most cyberpunk movie ever because of that gloomy, depressing, high-tech aesthetics, while also encompassing deep and profound ideas. Without holograms and flashing neon signs all over the place, no adrenaline-rushing scenes every 5min, only deep and raw cyberpunk, as it should be.
Thanks for reviewing this one. :)
A lot of people hate Blade Runner, but I’ve always loved it. I used to rent it on VHS all the time as a kid in the 80s just because I loved the world so much.
People hated it it the 80s. Then the director’s cut was released in 1992 and more liked it. Now that the final cut has been released, everyone loves it. Each cut gets better and better
@@linkbiff1054 Yes, the Director's Cut put it on the map. It was on TV frequently in the 90s when I first discovered it. There's a later Final Cut too which has a few subtle differences vis a vis the Director's Cut.
Love the atmosphere and aesthetics of this film. And the score, my goodness the score. Vangelis was a beast.
"Quite an experience to live in fear isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave".
Apparently Rutger wrote a lot of his own lines for the movie.
Greatest movie character of all time.
@@MichaelFlynn0 Rutget Hauer didn't write that line, but it was transplanted to his character from the previous fight scene with Leon. Leon was left with 'Quite an experience to live in fear' without the follow up, which is then delivered at the end by Roy.
Fun fact: Philip K. Dick, who wrote the novel this was based on, hated the script when he first read it. Science fiction authors at the time were generally very disappointed with a lot of movie adaptations because it would typically simplify and dumb down the books very much... and Philip K. Dick thought the script for Blade Runner had the same problem (the script really left out a lot from the novel and changed a lot).
Eventually, before the movie was finished, they asked Philip K. Dick to come over to a screening room and see a 20 min. montage of clips projected on a big screen, a lot of the footage featuring the cityscape, visual effects a big sets in is. He watched it and was blown away and completely got what they were doing. Turning his novel into a mindblowing sensorial trip and mood piece.
Unfortunately he never got to see the finished movie, he died before is was released.
He saw a rough cut of a lot of the footage and was completely blown away how what he saw in his mind was on the screen
Blade runner's special effects and art direction have stood the test of time.Still quite stunning even when you compare it to the cgi effects laden movies of today.
"It's too bad she won't live. Then again, who does?"
For all those of you who maybe haven't watched the movie, be sure to watch director's cut, not the original version
The final cut!
You should consider doing a podcast if that is something that interests you. You always have intelligent takes on film, and I’d definitely listen to a longer form discussion (podcast) with you on it.
The Cinematography is amazing. A fascinating vision of the future.
The genius of Ridley Scott was that he was able to tap into what Philip K Dick was envisioning. Dick recognised it when he first saw it.
Yeah, and Scott also was heavily influenced by Bilal's comic books.
And Moebius too. The work often credited as the blueprint of the cyberpunk aesthetic - by William Gibson and others - was "The long tomorrow" (1977) drawn by Moebius and written by Dan O'Bannon - both linked to Alien. But if you compare the comics to the movie itself you can see Scott was a true artist in his own right.
Summer of 1982 had a large amount of movies 🎥 3 films suffered at the phenomenon known as ET. Bladerunner , The Thing and Tron. But particularly The Thing and Bladerunner which found its audience on home video and both movies are now classics !
I think Wrath of Khan stole some thunder as well. Quite a summer for movie goers.
@@phish66 yep but mainly ET.
I'm a big fan of the Theatrical/International Cut. It keeps that noir narration that everybody hates, but I feel like it enhances the gumshoe aspects. I know it's not loved by fans of the film or even new fans for that matter. The Final Cut is good. A true definitive version if there was one but I'll always reach for that narration cut whenever I rewatch it. Good movie! Good review as well :)
Always like the scene in which Batty kills Tyrell, his maker. For me this has parallels to modern man's relation to God. Batty has developed so much he realizes he has done "questionable things" indicating he has developed a moral sense which Tyrell crudely dodges by telling him he is an "amazing creation" which has done "extraordinary things". Realizing that Tyrell neither can give him the answers he is looking for nor can extend his life he kills his maker/God.
I also liked the important plot element in which replicants are designed to be physically perfect but lack the necessary experience from a long life and therefore are emotionally inexperienced and struggling to find themselves (hence the four year lifespan to prevent them going out of control). People probably don't think much about the opening scene with Holden using the Voight-Kampff test on Leon and in which it's clear that Leon is incapable of picking up cues and takes everything literally like a child. The concept of hypothetical scenarios seems lost on him. The whole scene serves as an introduction to how Leon is obviously a replicant. Later in the film he retains his childlike demeanor.
There are so many great lines that say so much.
Chew:"You're a Nexus huh? I designed your eyes."
Batty:"If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes, Chew."
As for the reason it wasn't an immediate hit back in 1982. I'm fairly certain the movie going audience believed they would see another Star Wars with laser guns, space battles and a very clear story of who the heroes and villains are.
I also own Vangelis' expanded score for the film which includes all the music he made for it, some of which never made the finished film but truly expands on the feel of the movie.
I feel this is the most emotionally resonant sci fi movie I've seen. The love scene between Dekker and Sean Young is one of my favorites a bit crime noir. The character of Rutger Haur the guy with all the animatronics and Darryl Hanna. What it means to be human. And of course visually and musically wow. I used to put this on almost every night after a bowl and that first scene would just take me in. Absolutely beautiful, and not message or morally heavy handed. Just love it
I love this movie (my favorite ever) because it cherishes life at the same time that it tempts hatred of the excellence of the villains/heroes, the enslaved replicants. There's a scene with J.F. Sebastian where Pris and Roy are so in love, not just with each other, but with life, it's rhapsodic with the heart-rending score. We are tempted to hate them because they are "so perfect." What a bold moral challenge! Most fell for it and hated them. "Aren't you supposed to be the good man?" Roy asks Deckard. I knew I'd never see a movie like this again as soon as I saw it and wondered how it could ever have been made. Thanks, as usual, for your really sensitive impressions of this film. I hesitated to watch your take because of how I feel about it, but as usual yours are comments that are worthwhile. I thought I'd trade some of mine.
If you want to see where one of the inspirations of Blade Runner come from, then watch Fritz Langs Metropolis (which is briefly mentioned here, but not as the influence which it was).
You can clearly see a lot of inspirations (even some shots). For me, Metropolis is the first Cyberpunk movie (visually and thematically).
that other day, I was searching for your review of blade runner thinking that you've definitely made one. It was so surprising that I didn't find it, so I'm really glad that you've done this video. I have super mixed feelings on it, Some aspects I really love, others not as much. Would really love to know your opinion on Incendies.
It's fascinating to me how each of the replicants response to their actual death is different: Leon (disbelief), Zhora (fear), Pris (rage), and Roy (acceptance). To me, mortality is the central underlying theme (which probably says more about me than the film, but there you go!).
Not really. Ridley Scott has said that his much loved older brother was dying from cancer as the film was being made, and the poignant sadness around that impregnated the film.
Blade Runner come out a year after High School for me. I have like 5 different copy's and 2049. Plus I have the game too.
I may like the movie a little.
All these comments and nothing about the music??? Vangelis ❤️ and also the CS80 huge part of this movie
@Catharsis BR-2049 also stole some from Ex-Machina's soundtrack. Just listen to how 'Rain' theme is pretty much the 'Ava' theme. I love Hans Zimmer's TTRL soundtrack though which is in my top 3 favorite soundtracks of all time.
You praising Cowboy Bebop in a previous vid prompted me to watch it, and I have to say thank you ❤️
One of the best animes ever. Still have the music on a playlist.
Don't miss the movie, I didn't care for much on first watch but as I get older that theme of personal desolation hits closer. Amazing dialogue, animation, and soundtrack-- ask DNA.
I'm not much of an Anime guy besides Studio Ghibli stuff. But Cowboy Bebop i really really love. There is another fantastic series from the same creator called "Samurai Champloo".
@@moomcmoosson1992 "Do you remember?"
ruclips.net/video/hMBLcy8e_OU/видео.html
@@moomcmoosson1992 one of my favs as well. Those two and akira are why I’m so picky about anime. A lot of it is garbage, but the good ones transcend time.
This is a movie that's very close to my heart and I just rewatched it today - only to see a few hours later that you posted this review! Some timing - great to hear your thoughts on it. This movie always gets to me emotionally; I find the replicants' struggles in this movie to be quite moving. Also, the sensory effect of the visuals and the music is so hypnotic, and I love the way it really immerses you in the filthy, dark, depressing world of 2019 LA. Another thing that keeps this movie among my favorites is the fact that my dad introduced it to me and my brother many years ago, because he really loved it. He died almost 5 years ago, and every time I watch it i remember him, which greatly amplifies the movie's emotional effect for me.
DFC is such a talented reviewer. I sincerely appreciate her content. Thanks again!!
"A bit trippy sometimes ...." I was waiting for the psychedelic reference Maggie. I originally saw Bladerunner on one of the biggest screens in New York City when it came out. I felt that version of it had many flaws, yet I saw it twice just to inhabit the world Ridley Scott created. Seeing those images fifty feet tall in a pristine print was quite the experience. Later versions of the film resolved some of the flaws of the release version. But I agree, while I really like the film it doesn't in anyway make my pantheon. But there are astounding visual moments that really stick with me.
Literally was just watching your blade runner 2017 review from last year and I just saw you dropped this one right now!
Saw the movie in a theater the first week it came out. About half full if I remember correctly. Really enjoyed most of the movie but remember hating the ending which was just tonally off compared to what came before. So glad there was a directors cut to fix this wrong. One thing to remember is Blade Runner was not too far removed from Star Wars. After Star Wars it seemed almost all Sci-fi movies were in the Saturday afternoon serial mode so it was refreshing to see a sci-fi pic with more cerebral adult themes. Agree that world building and music are standouts. In retrospect, Harrison Ford's acting is stiff but given this is a pseudo noir film it did not detract. I remember getting a crush on Sean Young from this movie. She looked stunning.
If you like cyberpunk that much, you just might enjoy *"Immortal" (2004)* with *Linda Hardy (Miss France 1992) and Thomas Kretschmann.*
But like "2046", you might find it much more style over substance and pseudo-intellectual, like a mediocre novel.
But everything and everyone looks beautiful; I recall seeing it at the cinema I used to go to for foreign and art films.
The film was a GAME CHANGER, as it has influenced today's sci-fi films in the visual and technical aspects MORE than any at the time, even the ones made by the Spielbergs and Lucases at the time. It also predates such cyberpunk Japanese anime classics like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, and no doubt influenced them too. Roger Ebert (and other critics) hated it when it first came out, but he eventually recognized it as a classic and included Blade Runner in his "Great Movies" series.
Blade Runner is proof that a story told ain’t a chain and in the end can be stronger than its weakest link.
The thing that makes this movie stand out the most is the score. Period. Vangelis brought this film to an entirely different level.
This is one of those films that I really didn't like when I first saw it. But multiple viewings helped me to see why it's a great film. I definitely agree with deepfocuslens that it's less about the emotion and more about the experience.
Love blade runner.
Lovely insights but can't believe you don't mention Rutger Hauer's acting, with his blue eyes expressing humor with an underlying cruelty, menacing twisting smiles, ..."That hurt!" ; "I thought you were the good man." Vangelis's music was out of this world!
Good evening from Tokyo where now the Olympic is held. I love this film esp. the Director’s Cut.
Great review! I have never heard you discuss any Michael Haneke films on your channel before. I would love to hear your thoughts about him and his films. I love your channel!! :)
y'all might have missed the whole point of 'Blade Runner'........
y'all should focus on the sub-text rather than the surface appearances....
its theme is, basically, Promethean....
Excellent overview of a classic, thanks~
I think I feel similarly. I love living in the world of the movie even if I have little emotional investment in it save for Rutger Hauer's final moment which I always find moving. That's one thing I do think 2049 really improved upon was investment in the narrative as well as the universe. That said, I do think I ultimately slightly prefer the world of the original just cause it's a bit grimier. I like to wallow in that filth whereas 2049 had a bit more sleakness too it.
I discovered your channel through your Blade Runner 2049 review and have enjoyed your content since.
Ive been waiting for this review since I subbed. The sequel is my favorite film it just entices me. Im hopeful for Dune in october
It was only Scott's second film. All of his experience as a commercial director and as an artist funneled into Bladerunner. The early 1980s was a brave time for film artists in that they were not subject to the commercial censorship they are today. The were fewer corporate overlords dictating what could or could not be said or done onscreen. There are uncomfortable moments in Bladerunner (like the non-consensual 'love scene' between Deckard and Rachel or the moment when Batty dips his fingers into Pris' abdominal wound and tastes her blood ) that ultimately elevate it.
It was Scott's third film. His first film was The Duelists and his second was Alien.
Bookmarked for later. I started this movie a few months ago but wasn't in the mood; I'll be watching it soon. I just started playing cyberpunk so it's sort the perfect juxtapostion.
I agree with you about Akira. It is an incredibly visceral sensory experience.
I'd love to hear/see you review George A. Romero's _Day of the Dead_ (1985).
I have watched Blade Runner many times over the years, mainly because I was never able to find myself loving it as much as other people do. I kept rewatching it, hoping one day it would just click for me, but it never did, and in the end, like you said, I just learnt to appreciate it as it is. I love the characters, the visuals and the whole dirty grim world that its set in. I guess my main issue with Blade Runner (if you can call it that) was that I never felt satisfied once I finished watching. It goes for 2 hours, yet it only feels like 45 minutes. I wish it was 3 hours long... but then again that still might not be long enough for me. I just found a lot of the scenes were over too quickly, and just didn't have the impact they should have, and because of that I guess I have always considered Blade Runner to be a minimalist style of film, and as you also said, its more visual and emotionally designed then going into great details explaining every little thing. Ridley Scott only shows us what he wants us to see.... Will you be reviewing Blade runner 2049 ? I have watched it 4 or 5 times now, and to be perfectly honest I think its rather average. but I know I'm definitely in the minority on that. But anyway.. I enjoyed hearing your thought on Blade Runner.
Yeah, Blade Runner is something else. Also, the 4K UHD release is absolutely gorgeous.
One of my favourite films. I'm surprised you haven't reviewed it already !
My favourite Ridley Scott film is ‘Black Rain’ starring Michael Douglas
Awesome video! I also loved hearing you talk about Cowboy Bebop, one of my favorite shows ever.
Loved the movie, seen it maybe half a dozen times. You do very good reviews Deepfocus.
The theme score by Vangelis is memorable.
That is one of the themes of cyberpunk: so much is going on in the texhnology of the city but the people are suspicious and avoid each other.
Absolute masterpiece
I definitely have found myself enjoying the anime it's influenced more than the movie itself though I do still love it quite a bit. really looking forward to the Shinichirō Watanabe produced BR: Black Lotus series finally coming out.
Blade Runner is my favorite movie of all time. Much better than 2049
If you want to watch an excellent anime series that was HEAVILY inspired by Blade Runner, give all 8 episodes of Bubblegum Crisis a try (the original series, not the 2040 remake). Unfortunately, BgC is becoming less and less known as time goes by, which is tragic.
RIP Syd Mead, one of the best visual futurists to've ever lived.
It would be funny to do a special review on April fools day fawning over Cats or Titanic or something like that
I prefer BR 2049 for the story, but I do love Rutger Hauer in BR and the original soundtrack of BR is a masterpiece.
Industrial design-wise it influenced just about everything.
What did you think of Blade Runner 2049? I personally thought it was better than the 1980's movie. Harris Ford's "Noir" type character was benign to me... It seemed like it was just a movie used to petition against technological advancements... I heard you say (in another video) that nostalgia isn't so great in, in a few words- what's great about Blade Runner's nostalgic message...?
Which version are you reviewing? If it's the "theatrical cut", then you should view the "Final Cut" version to fully appreciate Scott's TRUE vision for what he intended the film to be. It's a "next level" and much more immersive experience!
I am curious what you think of The Duellists?... I am not really a Ridley Scott fan anymore, but I still enjoy his earlier films. Honestly, I think the writing in a lot of his newer movies has just been flawed.
It's interesting - every girl I've ever been close to, didn't like Blade Runner. I have my theories as to why, but I'm not the critic, you are.
it takes a few viewings to enjoy. i am inspired by it.
Rutger hauer best work role next to the hitcher
Good review
Though clearly a silly movie I enjoyed him in Blind Fury as well.
I love Blade Runner.
What makes it work for me is the incredible worldbuilding. It feels like a real lived-in world.
And I think the messy (-ish) way the story is told really helps with that. You just follow this man through some tough days through impressions, and moods and moments. Coherence is implied. Much like real life :)
No clean story explanations, Deckard keeps almost everything to himself, you don't hear his thoughts, you just experience the whole thing with him, leaving a lot of space for your own experience, your own questions and feelings and thoughts.
That's why the voice-over version doesn't work for me at all.
Blade Runner 2049 misses that depth of texture for me. Too slick, too stylized to be in the same world as the original.
Still a good movie, though.
So, would you care to share some of those thoughts and feelings of yours regards Deckards' life, thanks
0:50 what are examples of ones that did?
I like BR82 a lot, but that "The Confidential Committee on Moral Abuses" scene sucks.
Could you prefer carpenters the thing?it came out at the same time as blade runner
Thank you, love. You know.
what do you think of the film "Cloud Atlas" (2012)? It has 6 stories:
a 19th century enlightenment slave maritime journey in the South Pacific shown in a diary,
a 1930s romanticist period drama about musical composers and homophobia told as letters in England and Scotland,
a 1970s modernist geopolitical nuclear threat film noir thriller involving sexism told as an airport novel set in California,
a 2000s postmodern elderly slapstick farce involving escape and ageism told as a UK film,
a 22nd century electronic cyberpunk dystopian action science fiction clone interview with genoism (genetic discrimination) set in a corporcratic Korea,
and a 24th century tribalist post-apocalyptic fantasy set in Hawaii.
Each character of the next story is reading or viewing the story set previously.
And it involves actors playing multiple parts, changing age, gender and ethnicity and is directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer.
Why the completely unnecessary added green tilt colour and way less menacing 'I want more life' dialogue change in the final cut though? I prefer the 1992 director's cut :-)
What are your thoughts on Blade Runner 2049? I consider it to be the superior film on every level
although the visuals and style of Blade Runner have contributed to its lasting appeal(deservedly so)the ideas it tackles are also universal themes that still have relevance(probably more so in the current political climates of the world),dehumanization,bigotry,living in fear. in fact with your mentioning of the clash of styles,not knowing where the old world ends and the new one begins illustrates these themes perfectly,the fact that mankind has all of this wonderful technology at hand but still continues to mess up is extremely poignant,the fact that replicants have turned against them is no surprise(have none of them read Frankenstein,though i daresay in their arrogance they probably thought well that won't apply to me).
on a happier note a friend and myself are,hopefully going to a screening of Blade Runner with a live orchestra later this year,its been delayed twice due to current world events so here's hoping it will be third time lucky
It was a spectacle when it came out, but it ain't all that. In fact, I'd say it's something to reference, but not a film to watch over and over again. Really depressing flick. And it has the earmarks of an intelligence agency project, so it feels too propaganda-ish. I will say that Vangelis' soundtrack is sick. That might be the only reason I'd watch it again. Side-note: they have the Tyrell Building model at a museum in my hood (The Museum of The Moving Image). That is really quite cool to see.
I always find myself appreciating the beauty of Blade Runner without ever really loving the film. Same with the new Blade Runner. Beautiful but did not connect with it emotionally.
Great Review, Bravo 👏👏👍🏻
Director Christopher Nolan once said in a interview that you should always watch the original theatrical cut of any movie, and I have to agree.
For better or for worse, there is a reason for the theatrical cut to become so popular.
New cuts would never exist if the theatrical cut didn't become popular in the first place. But any subsequent new cut is just a cash grab for the studios. New versions are not necessarily better than the theatrical cut, and often they are actually worse.
From Star Wars to E.T. to Blade Runner to Close Encounters and The Terminator you should always watch the theatrical cut. Especially the ending of the new version of the Terminator is completely different from the theatrical cut, and in my opinion it is worse. The newer versions are usually worse than the theatrical cut, unless the theatrical cut is bad to begin with.
It is very easy to create a better version of a bad film, but it is almost impossible to create a better version of an already good movie.
The biggest problem about the new cuts is that people who have never seen the original film may end up watching the new cut and being disappointed and never bother to watch the original cut, which is very sad.
I am seeing this happening again and again, especially with movies like Blade Runner.
Most reactors here on RUclips are watching the newer cuts instead of the theatrical cut, and pretty much nobody is enjoying the film.
As a huge fan of Blade Runner I think this is very sad. I wonder what people would think if they watched the theatrical cut instead.
The theatrical cut is the version that became a cult classic.
That is the version that Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve love.
The theatrical cut with the horrible voiceover is the one that garnered fans all over the world.
Without the theatrical cut, all other cuts like the director's cut or the final cut would never exist.
The theatrical cut provides a much needed explanation. It gives a satisfactory and rewarding conclusion. It has a conclusion, a resolution, an explanation. It is not a perfect film, and yet, in spite of all its flaws, the theatrical cut is still better than the newer cuts.
Younger generations are watching the newer cuts and getting confused, disappointed, dissatisfied.
The newer cuts have no conclusion, no resolution, no explanation. They are worse than the theatrical cut.
Blade Runner as a franchise is dying, exactly because of the unnecessary newer cuts.
Older generations are disappointed because they want to see the theatrical cut.
Younger generations are disappointed because they watch the newer cuts and don't like it.
So the fan base is shrinking instead of growing.
Look at films like Casablanca, 12 Angry Men, The Godfather. Younger generations are watching those films and loving them. The fan base just keeps growing. There is only one version for those films. There is no director's cut, no special edition, no final cut. There is only version, the theatrical version.
Nobody cares about Blade Runner anymore, exactly because of these stupid, unnecessary, horrible newer cuts. A new cut is nothing more than a cash grab for the studios. It is just a way to squeeze more money out of a popular film. But such a strategy backfires, because it pisses off the existing fan base and confuses the younger generations, who will not become fans.
That is why the sequel Blade Runner 2049 failed at the box office. Younger generations don't want to support it, because they don't like the first Blade Runner because they watched the horrible final cut.
The guys at RedLetterMedia mince no words, they describe Blade Runner as "fucking boring"
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Popcorn in Bed didn't like it either:
ruclips.net/video/_0IMyu1fogE/видео.html
TBR Schmitt was trying to be kind, but I am not sure if they really liked it. After watching the film, they seem very confused.
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In the theatrical cut of Blade Runner we see clearly what happens to Rachel.
Rachel is the very first replicant in history to have a chance for happiness.
The replicants are the real protagonists of the story.
We see the story from the point of view of Deckard, but he is not the protagonist.
The entire film is about the replicants.
At the beginning of the film the replicants are displayed as villains.
But as the film progresses, we see the replicants's point of view.
The replicants have no human rights, they are just slaves forced to work as prostitutes or mine laborers.
They only have 4 years to live, they are treated as garbage by the humans.
Humans, including Deckard, view the replicants simply as malfunctioning machines that need to be destroyed.
But the replicants are conscious and self-aware, they want to be free, they want to live longer, they want a chance for happiness.
And the replicants are more human than the humans. Most of the human characters in the film are rude, cold, aggressive, distant. Even Deckard treats Rachel like a whore, with no consideration or kindness, because that is exactly what the female replicants are for, nothing more than sex toys or prostitutes.
The replicants on the other hand are more compassionate and kind and considerate and emotional.
And the film culminates with Rachel. Rachel is the first replicant in history to be free, to be able to live longer, to have a chance for happiness.
The original ending makes it clear. It is highly satisfying and emotional and impactful. The deaths of the other replicants was not in vain.
But the newer cuts completely butcher Rachel's storyline.
We don't know what happens to Rachel.
Rachel is just an annoying side character with no function or purpose.
The film itself loses its message, its impact.
And the proof is in the fact that the younger generations are not liking this film, exactly because they are watching the newer cuts.
Blade Runner will quickly slip into oblivion as it fails to garner new fans.
And the fault is in the newer cuts who fail to show what happens to Rachel.
I'm 20M and I just watched the final cut for the first time. Haven't seen any of the others. Cried twice. Once when Rachel cried because she realized she was a Replicant. The second during Roy's death monolgoue. Makes you question what it truly means to be human.
I don't think the movie (at least the final cut) is for everybody. It's slow and doesn't have a lot of action. I haven't seen the theatrical cut but from what I've heard Ford is just phoning in a narration during the movie and the ending is different.
My guess as to what happens to Rachel in the Theatrical cut is she eventually dies or something. Would you recommend seeing the theatrical even though I enjoyed the Final cut?
@@austincarlson9270 Yes, if you can find the original version.
The studio seems to be determined to destroy any copy of the original version.
"My guess as to what happens to Rachel in the Theatrical cut is she eventually dies
or something."
Everybody dies eventually, regardless of being human or replicant. The only point is about having the chance of finding happiness. Replicants are slaves with only 4 years to live, which makes very difficult to be happy.
Rachel, on the other hand is the very first replicant to be free and have no expiration date, the first replicant to have an opportunity for happiness, and the original theatrical cut makes that very clear.
@@hcm9999the theatrical cut is crap, because the narration is awful. You're welcome to like what you like, but the narration and happy ending are ridiculous.
A real real piece.
I've always thought that Blade Runner's biggest strength is the art and feel. I love the movie but I find overall it's not as good as people think it is in every area. I find it a bit boring to be honest. But damn, is it a beautiful movie.
I know you mainly do movies, but have you ever considered reviewing shows like The Leftovers or Man in the High Castle. Some shows I consider on another level. As well as the Philip K dick and Ridley Scott connection with High Castle. Idk why but this made me think of this
Have you seen pkds electric dreams? Thought it was awesome.
I love this movie.
Have you seen they live?
hey you should review 'The Hitcher' 1986
Didn't even make the connection between "Blade Runner" and anime until you mentioned it. But it's so obvious now.
Some weird part of me always pairs this film with "Raging Bull" (which also underperformed) and for a while I've always viewed them back-to-back. Scorsese and Scott delved into two VERY separate worlds but they give off the same vibe .... something about the two stories evokes the genuine pain of living.
I saw this at the theater and I understand what you are saying because it was great to experience that world and look at and I enjoy watching Deckard eating noodles and the billboards ships flying above and Joanne Cassidy running like a badass the film didn’t really bring out any emotional response for myself just cool to look at, the first episode of season 1 of the Rifleman was more tense exciting and heart warming but anyway still a good film just kind of a Leo DiCaprio response from myself after watching his movies which is mmmmkaaaay that was nice
No emotional response? You're an android.
Was Deckard himself a replicant? (No, according to Ford. Yes, according to Scott)
I think we can all agree that Ford's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm sure Ridley Scott wanted Ford to believe his character was human or else Ford would have totally botched his performance trying to "act like a replicant." Rutger Hauer can pull that off, not Ford. But the screenplay and the final film, with its unicorn dream/vision sequence, tells us that Deckard is, indeed, a replicant. That's the final, and most important, reveal of the movie, and what gives the movie its deepest resonance and also gives the script its greatest coherence. Gaff is telling Deckard the truth about himself just as Deckard told Rachel earlier. (Olmos does a great job with Gaff, btw, creating a memorable character with few lines and only a few minutes on screen.) And it's the main reason why Scott made "The Final Director's Cut."
I find it a movie drenched with pathos. From Rachel's existential collapse when Deckard shows her her memories are a construct, to Roy's tragic indignation towards his fate - it's all extremely operatic to me. a quality totally absent in the sequel
The sequel narrative argument was dissapointing,the idea of Rachel giving birth is a betrayal to the very cyberpunk concept.
Have u see enemy
I think you'd like it
The warrioirs next ....please ^-^
Blade Runner is "Cyber-Noir"
there's a popular belief that it was a hit? um//////////
Maybe people don't know when Blade Runner first came out it bombed at the box office. Movie goers did not like it. By now the 80s movie goer had been spoilt by high action movies like Empire Strikes Back. Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones Raiders to name a few. Seeing Harrison Ford do a melancholy character in slow meandering film on the surface did not endear movie to the pop corn movie going crowd. Plus Americans especially and Los Angelenos in particular did not like the LA in this movie. Where they thought the English director was trying to make their beloved sunny LA climate upbeat positive city a lot like the climate in England rain constant and heavy clouds and cold drafts the directors home country. That English climate look of a future LA did not also go down well with audiences back then as well as Harrison Ford character being in depression and miserable throughout the movie (this is Indiana Jones and Han Solo remember) and most characters in the movie. Its only late in re runs in the late 1980s in theatres and on Video cassette did a more mature going audience appreciate the movie and many hailed it as one of the best movies of the 1980s and one of the best scifi movies ever made. But when it initially ran audiences worldwide but especially in America hated it for some of the reasons given here. Its only later did audiences appreciate the great craftmanship thought and artistry and set design that went into this movie and new appraisal for Ford's performance as a serious actor.
1:11*
I appreciate and most of your perspective, but like every other Ridley Scott film, this is a misunderstanding of science, be it physics and engineering or even history and sociology. Nevertheless, he is a very competent director, but just shit at having any grasp at reality, which makes his end products laughable, when our first neuron fires... and hello from sunny, finally, London :D
Set in the far future 2019