Blade Runner (1982) — A Review.

7th February, 2025: Blade Runner.

The Introduction.

Right … with dinner on the go — fish and chips, as it’s Friday — I have time to write an introduction.

To a movie review.

Yes: it’s a quiet Friday, with little to do.

But watch a film: the Ridley Scott directed, Harrison Ford vehicle, Blade Runner.

I’ve been meaning to catch up with the original cut for some time.

And, after a recent purchase?

I’ve finally got a copy of Blade Runner I feel I can watch.

By the time you read this — on or after Sunday, 9th February, if all goes well — I’ll be able to let you know what I think of the version I’ve seen.

~≈🤖≈~

7th February, 2025.

Part One: The Summary.

Blade Runner opens with white text on a black background: telling us that the year is an alternative 2019, that the Tyrell Corporation has made advanced robots called replicants, robots indistinguishable from humans, and that these replicants are not allowed on Earth.

We’re told any that do get here, aren’t executed … 

They’re retired.

The scene shifts: to a smoked filled office where a Blade Runner, a replicant hunting police officer, called Holden (Morgan Paull), is testing a new Tyrell employee called Leon (Brion James) … 

Only for Leon to shoot Holden, to stop his own imminent arrest.

The scene charges again … 

To show us retired Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), waiting to order food at a street restaurant … only to be cornered by Officer Gaff (Edward James Olmos), who orders Deckard back to the local police station.

Deckard’s old boss, Captain Bryant (M. Emmett Walsh), has found that a number of replicants have illegally landed on Earth, that one of them has seriously injured an officer … and that he, Deckard, is needed.

The remaining replicants need retiring …

~≈🤖≈~

8th February, 2025.

Part Two: Versions.

Now … 

What did I think about this version of Blade Runner?

Of cast, plot, set design, narration, Uncle Tom Cobbley an’ all?

And, more to the point, which version did I watch … ?

Let’s answer that last question, first, shall we?

Over the years, many films have had alternative cuts made.

I believe Close Encounters of the Third Kind started all that: with a special edition being issued in 1980: three years after its original release, and a Directors cut, later on.

The recently watched Breaking Glass, for example, has the original UK cut, and a US version: I caught the UK version, as I felt it was the better telling of the story.

Event Horizon could have had a director’s cut made, had extra footage survived.

Star Wars — the original film, rather than the whole franchise — has seen many different releases, with newer cuts replacing earlier ones: at one point, I’m told, the only way you can see the original cut is by buying a fan-made re-creation on Ebay.

Don’t quote me on that, though.

At any rate … ?

The Bluray version I got from Amazon included five different versions of the film: 

• The original US theatrical release.
• The original International theatrical release.
• The original work print, or rough cut.
• The Director’s Cut: a version done by an archivist, with minimal involvement from director, Ridley Scott.
• The Final Cut: Scott’s director’s cut, and the one he prefers.

Broadly speaking?

The theatrical releases have what’s called the happy ending — Deckard and Rachel (Sean Young) — driving off into the sunset: and a voice over from Deckard supplied by Harrison Ford.

The director’s cut, and Final Cut, don’t.

The version I caught, last night?

Was the International release: as that’s the version I saw on VHS, back in the late 1980s.

~≈🤖≈~

Part Three: Thoughts.

So … ?

Going into this version of Blade Runner, knowing there were other versions in the box set?

Including a director’s cut I’d seen, but not reviewed, a few years ago?

I have to say, I think I made the right choice, watching the theatrical cut.

For some, the voice-overs are an unwanted annoyance.

And granted, they don’t necessarily add anything to the film.

But Ford’s flat performance is something I found added a lot of atmosphere to an already atmospheric piece: the right shade of paint to an already gorgeous building.

Buildings are possibly another thing.

I don’t know quite who designed the city scapes of this alternative Los Angeles — I think that various sets, locations, and mattes were designed by a large group of people — but the place looked both used, grimy, gorgeous … 

And utterly real.

Something I found eye-catching, with an attention to detail that’s set the bar for later films … and complemented by the small sets used for the street level shops, and the people that inhabited them.

All that … ?

All that is complemented by the various minor characters — noodle sellers, eyeball designers, what have you — and by Vangelis’ magnificent sound track.

About my only issue?

Is that now — having seen the alternative cuts that lack the happy ending? — I’m not too sure if that fits.

It works, I feel: and, the first time I saw the director’s cut, its lack, jarred.

But … ?

I think I’d rather have kept the narration … but lost the happy ending.

~≈🤖≈~

Part Four: About the Versions.

About those versions … ?

You’ll’ve noticed I gave you a rough list of how many versions there are.

But should also note there’s a lot of different blu-ray offers, both on Amazon and other sites.

Some of the ones I’ve noticed on Amazon are similar box-sets to the one I bought: and eventually had to send back.

The five or so cuts, plus documentaries.

Apple’s TV store offers both a theatrical, and the Final, Cut: but not as a package deal.

Virgin’s media store, by contrast?

Only seems to offer the Final Cut version.

As far as I can tell … ?

The same applies to other services: they only seem to have the Final Cut version, as a minimum.

The reason I say this?

Is that the one other film I’ve thought to check on Amazon … ?

Was Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

And, again, that was available either as a boxed set with multiple cuts, or in individual multiple cuts on Amazon Prime.

That’s sort of lead me to a conclusion … 

~≈🤖≈~

9th February, 2025.

Part Five: A Small Conclusion.

All that has led me to a conclusion: albeit a small conclusion.

We’ve all seen how streaming services are getting more popular.

To the point where I’m the only person in my building who doesn’t have access to any: I can’t afford more than a basic internet service.

The same is true for many of my friends in the area.

They may — at most — be able to afford a basic internet connection: or a dumb bluray player, one that doesn’t connect to the ’net.

So, for us?

Whilst these two products, whilst these versions of Blade Runner and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, are expensive, they — or their cheaper cousins — are possibly the only we can enjoy them.

Whether we’ve been bought them as gifts, or bought them second hand.

There’s also going to be demand from those of us who have ‘bought’ a streamed copy, only to see it disappear from our collection when the streamer’s license expires.

Even though there’s a shift from disc to streaming, and even though at least one company has stopped making recordable blu-rays?

I believe there’s a need for films to be available on physical media.

~≈🤖≈~

Part Six: Conclusions.

So, with all that said?

What did I make of this theatrical cut of Blade Runner?

Yes: I may have my issues with the happy ending.

But, other than that … ?

I’ve seen what has to be one of science fictions’s finest movies: and been reminded of why it’s such a good film.

It has one of the most gloriously convincing settings, has an ensemble cast who are utterly gorgeous — I feel Joe Turkel’s Dr Tyrell was a direct influence on at least one William Gibson character —, has Harrison Ford in one of his stand out performances, and who’s narration adds more atmosphere than a carton of Gauloises …

And, in Rutger Hauer’s performance as Roy Batty?

A perfomance of one of the most sympathetic villains ever to grace the screen, a performance that reminds us that the best villains are heroes in their story … 

A perfomance, as Batty, of a hero in a search for something he can never have?

In Blade Runner, we have what has to be one of the films of the 20th Century: and something we must see.

~≈🤖≈~

Part Seven: Last Words.

That … ?

Is where I’m going to leave things.

I’ll be trying to catch another film, at some point.

But couldn’t tell you when.

I will be reviewing some TV 

As and when something crops up that I’m intent on telling you about.

Until then … ?

Feel free to bookmark my blog, and subscribe to my YouTube channel … 

And a good day.

Blade Runner (International Theatrical Cut)

★★★★⁺