My earliest memories of Blade Runner go back to the Fall of 81. As a kid, I was a subscriber to Starlog Magazine. It was a popular sci-fi movie mag of the time. It featured an article on Harrison Ford's next film "Blade Runner". The article showed a few production shots of the Spinner and some of the overall aesthetic. Here I was, 12 years old, and my favorite actor was about to delve into yet another sci-fi/fantasy flick. I was thrilled!! I figured..here's Han/Indy playing a futuristic cop hunting killer androids in an environment of flying cars and neon. What more could a kid ask for???

Fast forward to June 1982...My best friend and I sneak into our first "R" rated movie together. Nearly thirteen years old...I watched the opening sequence with delight and wonder. It was an incredibly realized world. However...as the film progressed...I simply didn't get it. It felt too dark, depressing, and wrought with DIALOGUE instead of ACTION. In other words...it wasn't FUN. However, something struck a chord with me. I never could pinpoint what it was as a thirteen-year-old. It still befuddled me the following year when it made it's HBO debut, but I watched it religiously each time it aired.

Here we are now, some twenty-nine years after it's debut, and I am STILL finding new ways to view this film.

This is why Blade Runner remains, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most important films in cinematic history. The film CHALLENGES you on so many levels. On one side, it's a sci-fi thriller...on another, a deep and thought provoking look into the metaphysical dimensions of humanity. It questions what it means to be "human" and, by extension, what it means to BE. These philosophical questions are further challenged by the revelation that Rick Deckard may very well have been a Replicant as well. Granted, Ridley Scott has already stated (once and for all) that YES HE IS. However, I prefer the ambiguity and like being challenged with that notion with each viewing.

Lets face it...this is one of those rarest of films that provokes either a great LOVE for it...or a great HATRED for it. I have never known anyone that was a casual Blade Runner fan. No one says "Oh yeah...that was pretty good". I like being one of the devout fans out there.

It is, in my mind, as close to a perfect film as one could make. From the visuals, to the script, the performances, lighting...etc, it's a challenge to find any fault with it. It is paced well and doesn't dwell on excessive exposition. Not everything needs to be spelled out to the viewer and Scott does a fantastic job of letting the viewer think for themself. This is why the opening sequence is such a marvel, because it is literally carrying the viewer into that world.

As far as the Blu Ray set goes...it is worth every penny and MORE. As gorgeous as this film is...the transfer makes it nearly ethereal. I enjoy the fact that I can watch any one of five cuts of the film and will likely get something different each time. The bonus features are extensive and none of the usual "filler" features are present. It would seem that this is the DEFINITIVE release of Blade Runner. I can't imagine Warner Bros. adding anything else in future releases.
My earliest memories of Blade Runner go back to the Fall of 81. As a kid, I was a subscriber to Starlog Magazine. It was a popular sci-fi movie mag of the time. It featured an article on Harrison Ford's next film "Blade Runner". The article showed a few production shots of the Spinner and some of the overall aesthetic. Here I was, 12 years old, and my favorite actor was about to delve into yet another sci-fi/fantasy flick. I was thrilled!! I figured.. here's Han/Indy playing a futuristic cop hunting killer androids in an environment of flying cars and neon. What more could a kid ask for??? Fast forward to June 1982... My best friend and I sneak into our first "R" rated movie together. Nearly thirteen years old... I watched the opening sequence with delight and wonder. It was an incredibly realized world. However... as the film progressed... I simply didn't get it. It felt too dark, depressing, and wrought with DIALOGUE instead of ACTION. In other words... it wasn't FUN. However, something struck a chord with me. I never could pinpoint what it was as a thirteen-year-old. It still befuddled me the following year when it made it's HBO debut, but I watched it religiously each time it aired. Here we are now, some twenty-nine years after it's debut, and I am STILL finding new ways to view this film. This is why Blade Runner remains, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most important films in cinematic history. The film CHALLENGES you on so many levels. On one side, it's a sci-fi thriller... on another, a deep and thought provoking look into the metaphysical dimensions of humanity. It questions what it means to be "human" and, by extension, what it means to BE. These philosophical questions are further challenged by the revelation that Rick Deckard may very well have been a Replicant as well. Granted, Ridley Scott has already stated (once and for all) that YES HE IS. However, I prefer the ambiguity and like being challenged with that notion with each viewing. Lets face it... this is one of those rarest of films that provokes either a great LOVE for it... or a great HATRED for it. I have never known anyone that was a casual Blade Runner fan. No one says "Oh yeah... that was pretty good". I like being one of the devout fans out there. It is, in my mind, as close to a perfect film as one could make. From the visuals, to the script, the performances, lighting... etc, it's a challenge to find any fault with it. It is paced well and doesn't dwell on excessive exposition. Not everything needs to be spelled out to the viewer and Scott does a fantastic job of letting the viewer think for themself. This is why the opening sequence is such a marvel, because it is literally carrying the viewer into that world. As far as the Blu Ray set goes... it is worth every penny and MORE. As gorgeous as this film is... the transfer makes it nearly ethereal. I enjoy the fact that I can watch any one of five cuts of the film and will likely get something different each time. The bonus features are extensive and none of the usual "filler" features are present. It would seem that this is the DEFINITIVE release of Blade Runner. I can't imagine Warner Bros. adding anything else in future releases.