The night I saw "Blade Runner - The Final Cut" was, incidentally, also the night I ran into Neil Young (see archived post: "Star Sighting: The Godfather of Grunge"). Because of this I was somewhat distracted for most of the movie, not so distracted that it detracted from my movie-going experience, but distracting enough that I did not place 100% of my focus on the film.
I saw a trailer for "Blade Runner - The Final Cut" back in September when I was seeing a midnight screening of Peter Jackson's campy horror flick, "Dead Alive." I had never seen the original "Blade Runner" if you can believe it. Nor had I seen any clips or trailers anywhere, ever. So when the trailer for "Blade Runner - The Final Cut" came on I started thinking, 'What film is this? This looks awesome! Who is in it? How have I not seen a trailer for this yet?' And then I saw an extraordinarily young Harrison Ford, and I immediately understood. It was a breathtaking trailer. I could not believe that this was a film from 1982. I had heard it was digitally remastered, but I had no idea to what degree! Generally speaking, when a film is being marketed as digitally remastered, it is nothing more than a commercial ploy designed to lure avid fans of cult movies back to the theaters (the notable exception being the re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy). But this looked magnificent! I never, ever would have thought this was a film from 1982. The trailer was well-edited and did not seem dated in the slightest bit. So I knew that when "Blade Runner - The Final Cut" hit theaters I had to go!
The film opens with pertinent information concerning the plot, and what ensues is an incredibly thrilling and beautifully shot ride through an apocalyptic view of the future. Throughout the film I sat, mouth agape, marveling at the spectacular special effects and dazzling art direction. The film showcases Ridley Scott's completely original vision and his ability to operate outside the conventions of Hollywood cinema. For such a bleak depiction of the future this film has gloriously beautiful moments.
"Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a 'Blade Runner', a specially trained police officer whose duty it is to seek and 'retire' genetically engineered humans called Replicants (including actors Rutger Hauer and Daryl Hannah). Formerly retired, he is called back into service due to 6 Replicants who escaped from an off-world colony," (Niko Ovenden, http://www.eufs.org.uk/films/blade_runner.html).
Much of the film takes place in the nearly unrecognizable Chinatown district of Los Angeles. The purpose of which I assume is to further alienate the audience, or confound the viewer. Scott obviously wants his audience to engage in the experience, but by setting the film in Chinatown he makes this futuristic world infinitely more foreign and makes it the actors' responsibilities to connect with the audience. With a setting that the audience is familiar with and comfortable with, it is easier to identify and connect with the characters, but in Chinatown the audience is always on edge because of the district's inherent strangeness and unfamiliarity. The Chinatown setting also emphasizes the isolation and emotional detachment Deckard seems to be experiencing. Of course this is all theoretical, perhaps setting the film (which is based on a novel) in Chinatown just seemed interesting to Scott (or Phillip K. Dick, the author).
The film is terrifying in its depiction of the future. It is not such a far fetched illustration of the world in the years to come. Rarely can a director create an atmosphere that transports his audience to the world he has created. This world seems so incredibly real that one need not suspend his belief like in other science fiction films. The perpetual precipitation and the morose metropolis set the tone for this film. From the first frame up until the final shot the audience is confronted with the frightful apparitions of intense pollution and dangerously advanced technology.
The acting is terrific, except for Harrison Ford. His performance is not necessarily bad, it is just largely uninspired. It's nothing particularly special. His acting is solid but it has little dimension. Fortunately, his character is very well-written and he is supported by an outstanding ensemble of lesser-knowns. Rutger Hauer does an exceptional job portraying a malignant replicant desperate for more life than that which was allotted to him by his creators. Joe Turkel plays the eccentric genius who designed the replicants. Turkel convinces us that his character is either ethically ignorant, or completely devoid of scientific ethics and unfamiliar or unconcerned with the consequences of challenging said ethics.
The story is terribly interesting and engaging. The film is perfectly paced, emphasizing uninhibited violence and depravity, while simultaneously showcasing sequences of simple tranquility and beauty. The film is mind-blowing. Seeing it on a big screen with digital projection is an outstanding adventure! It is phenomenal how well this film has stood the test of time. Even contemporary films struggle with creating such realistic renderings of the future. I really cannot say enough good things about this film. I cannot wait to purchase the 5-disc Collector's Set in December and I anticipate this will be one of these films that will continue to improve upon each additional viewing. "Blade Runner - The Final Cut" is a towering achievement, a science fiction masterpiece of epic proportions.
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