#3 Blade Runner

3. Blade Runner

Another ground breaking film in science fiction. Harrison Ford

is an ex-Blade Runner which is a police detective that is specially

trained to track down and destroy renegade Replicants (types of

androids) which have escaped into the human population. In this

future society androids have been engineered to perform those

tasks which are too boring, dangerous, or repetitive for the human

population (like deep space colonization/exploration and military

uses). Replicants are advanced androids which have skin and

flesh, paraphysical abilities, and the capability of self perpetuating

thought. However, Replicants have limited emotional capacities

so Blade Runners test minute emotional functions through a careful

interview to root them out. Some of the new models have

implanted memories and greater emotional depth so that not even

the Replicant can tell he or she isn't a human.

Because of the danger that Replicants pose to the human

population they are designed to have a lifespan of only four years

so they may not become too aware. Replicants are banned on

Earth so Blade Runners are sent to retire renegades (it is not

considered killing).

In this film-noir Deckard (Ford) is sent to retire four renegade

Replicants. In the course of his investigation Deckard is asked to

run a test on a new model Replicant (Rachel) who has never been

told that she is not human. Deckard feels pity and falls in love

with her after he callously tells her that she is not real. Deckard

has killed Replicants his entire life and is now faced with a new

problem. Some make a pretty good argument that Deckard

himself may be a Replicant. See the movie first before you go to

this page that talks about that theory.

"Blade Runner" is based on the book "Do Androids Dream

of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick but the title "Blade Runner"

was purchased from the author of a book of the same name.

Six versions of this film exist and all reflect key elements of the

story in significantly different ways. A fairly complete Blade

Runner FAQ can be found here and cited throughout this review.

Since seeing this movie I have become a fan of Philip K. Dick

and his writings. Dick likes to explore sci-fi from the stand point

of what it is that makes us human. Rather than writing grand space

adventures or large futuristic armageddon type stories Dick likes to

write about a world that is like that of today but slightly different.

Whatever this difference is, it is not the focus of the story, rather it

is an element on which a story of the human condition unfolds.

One of Dick's favorite topics is that of simulacra (what he called

androids) and what makes them any less or more human than a

person made of flesh and blood. The characters who interact with

these simulacra, much like Deckard in "Do Androids Dream of

Electric Sheep", often find themselves examing their own soul and

the juxtaposition of mind and machine.

back to the list

Another ground breaking film in science fiction. Harrison Ford
is an ex-Blade Runner which is a police detective that is specially
trained to track down and destroy renegade Replicants (types of
androids) which have escaped into the human population. In this
future society androids have been engineered to perform those
tasks which are too boring, dangerous, or repetitive for the human
population (like deep space colonization/exploration and military
uses). Replicants are advanced androids which have skin and
flesh, paraphysical abilities, and the capability of self perpetuating
thought. However, Replicants have limited emotional capacities
so Blade Runners test minute emotional functions through a careful
interview to root them out. Some of the new models have
implanted memories and greater emotional depth so that not even
the Replicant can tell he or she isn't a human.

Because of the danger that Replicants pose to the human
population they are designed to have a lifespan of only four years
so they may not become too aware. Replicants are banned on
Earth so Blade Runners are sent to retire renegades (it is not
considered killing).

In this film-noir Deckard (Ford) is sent to retire four renegade
Replicants. In the course of his investigation Deckard is asked to
run a test on a new model Replicant (Rachel) who has never been
told that she is not human. Deckard feels pity and falls in love
with her after he callously tells her that she is not real. Deckard
has killed Replicants his entire life and is now faced with a new
problem. Some make a pretty good argument that Deckard
himself may be a Replicant. See the movie first before you go to
this page that talks about that theory.

"Blade Runner" is based on the book "Do Androids Dream
of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick but the title "Blade Runner"
was purchased from the author of a book of the same name.
Six versions of this film exist and all reflect key elements of the
story in significantly different ways. A fairly complete Blade
Runner FAQ can be found here and cited throughout this review.

Since seeing this movie I have become a fan of Philip K. Dick
and his writings. Dick likes to explore sci-fi from the stand point
of what it is that makes us human. Rather than writing grand space
adventures or large futuristic armageddon type stories Dick likes to
write about a world that is like that of today but slightly different.
Whatever this difference is, it is not the focus of the story, rather it
is an element on which a story of the human condition unfolds.
One of Dick's favorite topics is that of simulacra (what he called
androids) and what makes them any less or more human than a
person made of flesh and blood. The characters who interact with
these simulacra, much like Deckard in "Do Androids Dream of
Electric Sheep", often find themselves examing their own soul and
the juxtaposition of mind and machine.