Rating of
4/4
I've Seen Things You People Wouldn't Believe
Drive-In Massacre - wrote on 05/05/09
Directed by genius film maker, Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, American Gangster), Blade Runner happens to be one of the top 10 best science-fiction films I've ever seen, and science-fiction is possibly my favorite genre of film.
Written by Philip K. Dick, (who's books would also be the basis for films such as:Minority Report (2002) & Total Recall (1990)), the film and story creates a future that is a realistic and plausible as, Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey and George Orwell's dystopic novel, 1984. The story is based in L.A. during the year 2019. The film follows Rick Deckard, who's job is to job track down and kill "replicants" (a replicant is a human clone that was used for slavery years before. By the time Blade Runner begins, replicants a considered ileagal and now must be destroyed). It is one of the most creative story ideas I've ever heard.
What really gives this film a 10/10 is the unbelievable, visual beauty that exists in Blade Runner. Over 25 years old, I can't find one thing in Blade Runner that looks the least bit dated. There was absolutely no computers used in the effects, and yet, the "Blade Runner" world looks completely authentic. Luckily, it's finally starting to be recognized as one of THE seminal special-effect films. I love how incredibly maticulus the details are. From Japan's influence in our country's future culture, to the neon umbrellas, it still looks like we're heading in that direction. Every building looks like it exists, every vehicle that flies passed the camera shines rings of light into the lense. It's film making at it's finest.
Perfectly fitting with the visuals of the film, is the musical score done by Vangelis. The unbeleivably beautiful use of synth music blended together with blues and jazz is something that truly makes Blade Runner what it is. The soundtrack for that film has got to be one of the best film scores I've ever heard.
As far as performances go, everyone does a fantastic job. Daryl Hannah,Edward James Olmos, Sean Young, and William Sanderson all created great memorable characters, but with out a doubt, the two people that really need the most mentioning are Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer. Both Ford's and Hauer's performances are really unique and exciting. Deckard is one of the best protaginists and Batty is one of the best antagonists. The way Hauer delivered some of his dialogue is truly mezmorizing, while Ford's performance is more physical, but equally engaging. They both should have been nominated for academy awards, but the academy never recognizes films like this as far as performances go.
Blade Runnner really is a director's film. This is Ridley Scott's movie, one can see him and his mind on every frame of film. Scott created things that no one else would have ever thought of, and that's why it's still remembered. It's still ahead of it's time, and it still makes people want to watch it over and over again. I wasn't a huge fan the first time a saw. The second time I watched I liked it just a bit more. The third time I watched it I liked a LOT more, and the fourth time I watched it I really fell in love with. Blade Runner is one of those films that, you not only like it more everytime you watch it, but you like it more by a substantial amount. As far as aI know there is pretty much only one other film inwhich I had that experience and that's '2001' and go figure it's now my all-time favorite film. Please, go out and buy the 4-Disc DVD and see all that went into the making of the film. See what the original cut looks like, I personally think it's is inferior to every cut afterwards, but you should still check it out. It's a great dvd and it's worth every penny.
