Director: Ridley Scott.

Main Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James, Joe Turkel, Joanna Cassidy.

Writers: Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples, Philip K. Dick.

My Rating: 9/10.

“Blade Runner” is a science fiction movie, directed by Ridley Scott in 1982 and based on a novel by Philip K. Dick, 1968, “Do androids Dream of Electric Sheep.” Is undoubtedly a work very ahead of its time, that can now be considered a cult film, because upon its realization, it covered topics too little in vogue, as the theme of the humanoids, the evolution of technology, the past and future of civilization, and all its surrounding themes.

The film begins with an apocalyptic vision of Los Angeles in 2019, with huge skyscrapers and a very dark scenario. It is here that rolls the action of the film, which provides a uniform view of the vision of it, adding some mystery and bringing us to use our imagination.

In this beginning we are given an introduction about the Nexus 6 Replicants (Developed by Tyrel Corporation, a company of Genetic Engineer Dr. Eldon Tyrell), made following the image of man, but almost indistinguishable, even to exceed men in strength and agility, and matching them in intelligence. It is also explained their use as slaves for humans in dangerous tasks, and the definition of the special police officers “Blade Runner’s”. It is also emphasized the fact that removing a Replicant, is not defined as to kill him but to send him to “retirement” thus eliminating the assimilation of life among humans and Replicants, putting an ethical label to the extermination of the machine.

Then, we are placed on the plot of the movie, where Harrison Ford embodies the role of Rick Deckard, a Blade Runner seconded to retire 6 Replicants who fled to earth, in a kind of rebellion, led by a Nexus 6, Roy Batty. The purpose of this rebellion is the search for the origin of their identity, and an attempt to prolong their life, because even though in some subjects, they were beyond the man, the Replicants only had 4 years of life, a measure imposed by the Tyrell Corporation in order to limit and control their action.

During the film, we also realize that to control the Replicants, beyond their limit of existence, they were given pictures and experiences of an imaginary past, therefore they could have bases to build a conscience and develop it. The Nexus 6 Replicants were awarded with that past and a series of photographs, so they could do associations and remember the images that have been impregnated, giving the process some sustainability and veracity. With this, we noticed that throughout the film is given great importance to the visual sense, as in fact, part of the images were associated with memories. It is also given importance to the eye itself, perhaps to emphasize the symbolism of visual memories, because the film begins with what we see through the reflection of an eye, the Replicants make a visit to Chew, an eye creator, which “guides” them to J. F. Sebastian, and the use of eyes in the Voight-Kampff test, a test used to distinguish between men and Replicants through involuntary expressions of empathy.

This also leaves us in the reluctance on the true identity of Deckard and the question if he is human or a Replicant, throughout the movie we see some compromising situations, such as the fact that Deckard had a collection of photographs as the Replicants, the police officer that followed him knew about the existence of his memories about an unicorn (shown by the origami that he left him) and even his passion for Rachel, a Replicant so advanced that was almost impossible to distinguish, who was capable to show feelings, affection and concern to Deckard. However, when Rachel asks Deckard whether he had already been subjected to the Voight-Kampff test, he hesitated and ended up not responding.

This same advanced demonstration of learning and character building is shown in the final parts of the movie, by the Replicant Roy, at the time of the final persecution, because we see that despite of the conflict, he ultimately saves Deckard, while giving him a morality lesson, proffering the words: “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those … moments will be lost in time, like tears… in rain. Time to die.”

All of this, leads us to a path, with messages such as the problem of destruction of the environment and ecosystem, the possible consequences of policies such as capitalism and consumerism practiced today, which could lead to disproportionate enterprise power, the lack of freedom and an almost ubiquitous police presence to try to impose control in the population, the future and potential problems of genetic engineering, migration to foreign colonies as a way to start a new life (which can in some way remind the migration to the United States of America at the time of its colonization and occupation), all in a dark, mysterious, vague and distant environment.

Such an involvement created by the scenario and this whole mystery, leads us to reflect, and note that although the messages that are transmitted, the biggest mysteries are related to messages that are subliminally given during the film. What is an human being? What defines us as humans? What is reality? And who determines what reality is? What’s the limit of our perception? Undoubtedly an amalgam of philosophical questions that are gently released to our minds, making us reflect. As well as reflecting about the fact of living, quietly or with fear, with uncertainty of our origin, of where we came from and when will be our deadline.

Blade Runner is certainly a movie far ahead of its time, in large part by the speculation and questions that it raises, with a philosophical touch, which makes us even doubt of our own reality. In case you are a fan, or just plain curious about the movie after reading this analysis, view the trailer bellow or buy some Blade Runner related stuff like DVD’s, original sound track, T-Shirts, collectibles and so on!

Blade Runner: Movie Trailer.

(Final Cut version)

Daniel Pereira is an E-Marketer, Web Developer, Blogger and Web Artist, taking a Degree in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relationships and specializing in CRM and SEO. If you liked the article, you can follow the updates by RSS, E-Mail or Twitter and share it in your favorite places.