Coty Geek
I’ve never felt the need to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick. I’m not saying it isn’t a good book, in fact everything I’ve heard about it says it’s brilliant. But I don’t feel the need to read it. One of my favorite films is Blade Runner, which is said to be based on the book. But somehow or another the film has always sparked more conversation than the book. In a way, it transcends the themes of the book, even though it took out some subplots.
I think the first and immediate thing that makes Blade Runner different from the book, and what ultimately makes me think it stands alone from the book, is that Harrison Ford’s character, Rick Deckard, is a replicant. Now, to those who haven’t really looked too deeply into the movie, there has been a large group of fans who have analyzed the movie over and over and believe the character to be an android, just like the ones he has been hunting throughout the rest of the movie. This, of course, was just fan speculation up until and interview with both Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford confirmed that it was true. That, in of itself, seperates the film drastically from the book, where Deckard was simply human. I feel that the fact that Deckard is a replicant adds a whole new level of depth to the story. When I read about the book, I feel like I’m reading about an entirely seperate story with entirely seperate charactgers, even though the stories are very similar.
Another thing I love about this film is the strong imagery. I usually don’t go for gritty, dark design, but Blade Runner brought a beauty to that sort of landscape I don’t thik has ever been successfully replicated.
And finally, the performances need to be brought up. The biggest scene stealers are Daryl Hannah as Pris, and Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty. Throughout the film I find myself heavily interested in Roy, finding him a character equally as interesting as Deckard. The thing about the performances that I really love is the fact that, at least in the director’s cut as there are many different versions of the film, you never know what is going on inside the character’s heads, but you understand completely how they are feeling. It’s all written on their faces, and in their words. This film doesn’t beat you over the head with details and challenges you to think it through along with the characters.
I heavily, heavily recommend Blade Runner to any sci-fi, detective, action, or movie fans of any kind. If you want to pick it up, then here you go!
Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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Hmmm… I didn’t know Harrison Ford was in this. I’ll definitely be wanting to see the film now.