Blade Runner

Wonderful atmosphere, great execution that makes it look a quarter of its age, excellent actors, several very intense scenes, but terribly boring at the same time. This is what the old cliché of form over substance looks like. Blade Runner failed to win me over, even after a recent second chance (2011). (15/01/2009)

A sci-fi cult-classic for true connoisseurs. I remember years ago when I was at the premiere of the Director's Cut, there were three of us sitting in the cinema. Enjoying the visual beauty of Blade Runner on the big screen back then was a completely different experience than a cropped image on TV. It's not easy viewing, it's not popcorn entertainment. The whole film follows an ambient mood that has to be felt. And if you see Blade Runner with perfect sound, you can really enjoy Vangelis' masterful soundtrack and catch the various sonic flourishes in some scenes, like all sorts of whispering or ambient sounds that add to the mood of the film. Ridley Scott created a fascinating, dark, futuristic world, and even if he hadn’t made anything else after that, he would still have been an immortal director. (26/05/2002)

Even after more than twenty years, this is still a young, fresh, and innovative sci-fi film that has lost none of its appeal. However, Scott's visual vision, supported by Vangelis' music, completely overwhelms the content, which is far too simple in its nature and I certainly wouldn't call it a philosophy. I also don't see much soulful romance in Deckard's relationship with Rachael. I was much more impressed by the demonic Roy Batty whose speeches about the experience of living in fear and tears in the rain resonated with me for the rest of the film. This is a film cult for connoisseurs and for me an extraordinary experience after a two-year hiatus from it, which probably won't be as long next time. (03/01/2007)

I think I already know why I didn’t think the Blade Runner was my cup of tea when I first saw it. It is a visual orgy without a hint of emotions. Harrison Ford, who usually plays a hundred percent lovable characters, is in this movie almost invisible. In his case, it is a completely different role, which the audience may not like, but it fits perfectly into the visually precisely sketched future, which really enchanted me. (09/10/2017)

A classic of the sci-fi genre, Philip K. Dick, always attracted filmmakers with his sophisticated stories, and there are now several film adaptations of his work. Blade Runner is probably the most famous, although I'm not sure how satisfied he would be with Scott's version. After the worldwide success of Alien, Ridley Scott was chosen to direct the film, thanks to his refined visual style. It is precisely the visual aspect that is the main strength of the film, which has become a classic of its genre and is part of the golden age of sci-fi cinema. Until then, no director had succeeded in portraying the idea of a futuristic megacity full of dehumanized technology and giant advertisements on the walls of houses so perfectly. The film now exists in two versions - the original with a happy ending of the main character flying off with the android Rachel to the idyllic countryside, and then in Scott's own director's cut, which is more complete and darker. The strong cast was led by Harrison Ford, and for his partner, Sean Young, it was a role she could never surpass. Daryl Hannah showcased a wonderful acrobatic performance as an android. Scott's Blade Runner is not strong in terms of plot but rather in visual stylization and atmosphere. Because of this, it is a good idea to watch it on a big screen. Overall impression: 90%. (18/01/2008)