B L A D E R U N N E R

B L A D E  R U N N E R

   Let me start off by saying this was EXTREMELY difficult for me. Movies are my life. I'm going into film in college, it means everything to me. It's an understatement to say I've seen a shat-load of movies. My list of favorite films generally stays the same, though my numero uno favorite film changes from day to day based on my mood.
   Now with that out of the way, let's get on with it, shall we? Blade Runner. Ridley Scott gave us a film ahead of it's time in 1982, heck, it's ahead of it's time for 2012. If you haven't seen it, stop reading RIGHT NOW and go fricking rent it-no-BUY IT. It's too good a film to be merely rented then stored back on the shelves of oppression. Go buy it and watch it, then watch it again. Why are you still reading? Stop. I'm about to spoil the whole thing for you. Sorry to those of you who have seen it, they just wouldn't flippin' leave. Phew, okay.

   This movie really resonates with one of the topics we've discussed in this class; what does it mean to be human? That's the underlying message of this film. Set in a dystopian, future Los Angeles, Deckard (played by the brilliant, subtle Harrison Ford) is an ex-Blade Runner, or in other words, a killer of replicants. He's brought back into the business however, when four replicants escape from an off-world colony and come back to Earth.
   Behind all of the futuristic cityscapes lies a deeply articulated story and many philosophical themes. Among these themes are the following: - The dehumanization of people through a society shaped by technological excess. - The roles of creator and creation, their mutual enslavement, and their role reversal, i.e., the creation's triumph over its creator. - The nature of humanity itself: emotions, memory, purpose, desire, cruelty, technological mastery of environment and universe, mortality, death, and more. - Personal identity and self-awareness. - And the meaning of existence.
   If you're a person who loves mindless action, hot girls-a-plenty, and explosions, this film most likely will not be for you. However, if you're a person who really loves to think, and to be puzzled, Blade Runner is the film for you. Once you reach the climax you'll be going "Holy nards!" and by the time the credits roll you'll be like "Oh. My. Goodness..." Or maybe you'll just hate it and hate me for telling you to watch it. Whatever.