Published at: July 10, 2000, 7:09 a.m. CST by staff
Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here. Just thought I'd bring something to your attention that the estimable Garth Franklin ran over on Dark Horizons this morning.
Seems Ridley Scott can't leave well enough alone. When BLADE RUNNER was released in 1982, the thing was a critical and financial disaster, and it's only been through constant rehab that the film has been accepted as a classic, an overlooked masterpiece. A big part of the film's restored appeal comes from the release of Ridley's directors cut of the film, with no voice-over by Harrison Ford. That version of the film also contained some material that strongly alluded to the fact that Harrison Ford's character, Rick Deckard, might be a replicant, just like those he is chasing.
Now, the new material in the film to me puts a pretty definite cap on the question, but it's handled with enough grace and a light enough touch that it is possible that Deckard is not a replicant. Unlikely, but possible. Either way, the ending left it free for fanboys to argue the point with the same vigor that you argue about what's in the briefcase in PULP FICTION. Point is, you don't know, and you shouldn't know. Not for sure.
And now Ridley Scott's gone and put an answer on it. Rotten pratt. The article that Garth quoted can be found here if you're interested. The Channel 4 documentary they're talking about with Ridley Scott sounds like something we'd better see when Warner Bros. does their giant DVD edition of the film later this year. I've talked to someone who's actually working on the restoration of the film, and they're just warming up for what should be a fairly complex process.
Too bad in his eagerness to go back and discuss his classic film, Scott felt the need to say, yes, Deckard is a replicant. I still say it's up for grabs, and I'm sure you'll say much the same in TALK BACK. Anyway... it's worth taking a look at for fans.
