In the summer of 1982, a science fiction movie that would revolutionize the genre was released. Blade Runner shocked audiences of the time with it’s grundy punk setting that would not only set the tone for the rest of the movie, but for Sci-fi for years to come. A sequel to this instant cult classic was recently released, but it is important to look back to the roots of one of the most influential Sci-fi movies of a generation.
The movie begins on the streets of Los Angeles as Rick Deckard, the protagonist, is eating at a ramen stand in the rain as he is being arrested. He is brought to his former supervisor from the police force, who informs Deckard several replicants–artificial humans–are running amok, and it’s Deckard’s job to kill them before they can do any damage.
While this plot seems simple on the surface, the movie delves deep and asks immeasurably important questions. “What I like about [Blade Runner] is that it tries to answer the questions that humans have been wondering about since the beginning of time: the meaning of life, what it means to be human, what is reality, to name a few.”” says James Bladel, who has studied this movie in depth. Blade Runner also has hard hitting motifs and themes, like religion and humanity.
The truly unique look of Blade Runner helped give such a dark tone that inspired other sci-fi movies. Blade Runner pioneered the idea of “used future.” Up until that point, most movies in the same genre proposed a clean, shiny future, seemingly untouched by humans. Blade Runner however, made a more realistic urban jungle, such as one would see in a heavily populated country like China. Smoke and dust are seen floating and swirling around in most, if not all, rooms, and in one shot trash can be seen on top of a roof. This dirty look helped inspire the look of the many dystopias to come. “Blade Runner” is a stunningly interesting visual achievement,” says Robert Ebert, an accredited movie reviewer.
Is the original Blade Runner worth watching? If interested in abstract story telling with extreme rewatchability and stunning visuals that still hold up today, then this movie is for you. The original Blade Runner is a must for any science fiction fan.
