Chris Stuckmann, one of YouTube’s
most popular movie critics, asked the question “How many times do you need to
watch a movie before you decide whether you like it or not?” This was something
that was asked during his talk about the original “Blade Runner” and his experiences
with the movie, along with its numerous cuts.
If I was to make a list of directors
that I think are overrated, one of the first names you will always hear me say
is Ridley Scott. And I know what some of you might be asking why I think this,
and they go on to list some of Scott’s most acclaimed accomplishments, such as
“Alien” and “Thelma & Louise.” But I do agree that those are good films,
but they’re only a few of the ones that I actually liked from Ridley Scott’s
filmography. The one that has left my friends upset with the most was when I
said that I wasn’t a fan of “Blade Runner.”
It had been a while, but I remember
flipping through channels one day, and finding that AMC or TNT was playing
“Blade Runner.” I don’t remember which version it was, but considering it had
the narration in it, I’m probably guessing it was the theatrical cut, or at
least the tv broadcast of it. A lot of fans have discussed that the versions of
the film that have the narration and or the “happy ending” for our
protagonists, is the version that people really hate.
When
I had discovered the different cuts of the film, I made the decision to not
check it out. Why you may ask? Because I’ve grown this distrust with film
makers and studios that release a different cut of a movie that is different
from what we saw in theatres. That to me is a sign telling me that the people
behind the film are not proud of what they gave audiences. And it’s either the
excuse of studio meddling, clashes with the director, or maybe because they had
the completely wrong test audience to view it. Ridley Scott isn’t the only
director who’s known for this, as other film makes like Spielberg, Coppola,
Snyder, and especially Lucas are guilty of similar actions. Sometimes, they
even will go out of their way to personally HIDE the original film for the
latest cut that they released, that has a few extra shots of some other
irrelevant plot point. To me, unless you’re satisfied to show the original cut
we know of, or at the very least give us the option of choosing which version
to watch without having to do research on which has what, I’m really not one to
always approve of a director’s cut.
This
brings us to today, with the recent release of “Blade Runner 2049,” a lot of
people are curious about which version of the original film the sequel will
connect to, and if it keeps any of the answers we’ve pondered about for over
thirty years. AMC and Regal Theatres gave us the opportunity to catch the 4K
re-release of “Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” as a way for fans to freshen up as
they watch this new film. At first, I was hesitant on the idea, but I decided
to be optimistic and give this film another chance, catching the double feature
at only ONE of the Regal Theatres in my town…weird.
So
what are my current impressions of “Blade Runner,” now that I’ve witnessed
what’s considered the DEFINITIVE version to watch? Probably a lot of you are
going to be delighted to hear this, but I did enjoy this cut of “Blade Runner,”
and thus, I do think it’s a good movie. However, you’re going to be a little
upset to hear, that I still believe this film is overrated and hasn’t exactly
aged as well as they would believe.
For
example, the first act of this film feels incredibly slow. That’s not to say
the rest of the film’s pacing is better, because it isn’t, but the first act in
particular feels like a giant slog to get through. I wasn’t instantly grabbed
by the characters as we’re introduced to them, and the romance between Rick
Deckard and Rachael wasn’t as riveting as the movie would think. That, and I
didn’t really see much use out of the Sebastian character. He feels like he was
there, just to be a play thing for Daryl Hannah and then die.
Aside
from that, just about everything else of the film is still pretty impressive. The
visuals of this movie are awe-inspiring, like we’re seeing a new interpretation
of the movie, “Metropolis.” The foggy and metallic look of Los Angeles in 2019
has such a vibrant presence to it, and the rain you see adds onto the unsettling
mood that it creates in just about every scene. And while the film is dated,
showing that Cocoa Cola and Atari are the big advertised kings, you still feel
yourself grounded in this reality that you’ve been taken to. And with the
narration taken out of the film, the audience is now free to soak in the
striking cinematography that just feels, for lack of a better term,
captivating. Even if the film took place in the future, turning it black and
white still allows you to feel like you’re watching a film noir. It still feels
like something you would see from Warner Bros. in the late 30’s.
While
I may not have been immediately grabbed by the characters, they do start to
grow on you as the film progresses. You can’t help but listen in on Deckard and
Rachael’s conversations, and have yourself pulled in by how deep and meaningful
their dialogue is with one another. What does it mean to be human in a world of
cybernetics? Can replicants be just as fulfilling as humans are now? Could we
still be happy without knowing whether or not we are human? But the main
question that you may now be curious about is, “did I think Deckard was a
replicant?” Well…I don’t know. Considering this is a film that has had people
talking about the philosophy and ambiguity of it all, I’m certain it could be
either one or the other. Sure, there’s the eyes subtly changing and the origami
unicorn at the end, signifying that the dream could have been implanted, even
the police chief using the term “blade runner” like an insult, but I can’t
really decide for myself. However, I’m okay with that. I like that a film can
still have me questioning a lot that has to do with this reality, in a way that
makes me interested and wanting to study more of it.
There’s
not much else to add that everybody else hasn’t said. I guess what I needed
with “Blade Runner” was a little bit of time to mature and have the proper
mindset to go in. While I do still think the film is overrated, with issues
involving the pacing and first act, it still manages to leave a significant
impact on you after you’ve left. If you do want to watch the original “Blade
Runner,” put yourself in the right mindset for it, and experience one of the
most inspiring films of the 1980’s. Oh, and I’d suggest “The Final Cut.”
Rating: 8/10
Now, what are my
thoughts on “Blade Runner 2049?” Well…we’ll get to that, when we get to that.
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