Vortices of Extelligence

"Have you ever retired a human by mistake?"

Blade Runner. Dark. Ominous. Depressing. Brooding. Haunting. Yet still - brilliant.

Yes, I ought to have watched this one a long, long time ago. I'd seen the "like tears in the rain" monologue in a dozen different versions in about a hundred e-mail signatures. I'd seen it top various charts, including 'best of the 20th century' and stuff. I'd read maybe a thousand reviews that mentioned it. I rented the director's cut with an uneasy feeling - would it be just another case of a hyped-up movie which turns out not to be quite all that great?

Last night, a couple of minutes after midnight, I slipped the DVD into the player. Two hours later, after the last copyright message had scrolled off the screen, it was *very* difficult to turn away from the TV set long enough to reach for the remote. Another hour later I'd pretty much seen half the movie again, in various bits and pieces - and the neighbors had probably learned the monologue in question and the "but then who does?" finale by heart by then.

So... If you are looking for a flick to give you two hours of mindless action, then Blade Runner is not, repeat not what you want - try droppping the "Runner" part ;) If you want to see Harrison Ford as a dashing beau, or Darryl Hannah and Sean Farrel as empty-headed bimbos sporting their charms - again, you've got the wrong movie. If, on the other hand, you are in the mood for a serious questioning of most of your judgements, maybe a sleepless night or three, and a couple of days of pensive moods, then run, don't walk, to the nearest DVD store, and pay homage to Ridley Scott and Philip K. Dick - you won't regret it.

Posted by roam at February 24, 2005 05:52 PM