Blade Runner

I recently bought a 4k uhd player and Blade runner was one of the first 4ks I bought to go along with it. Unbeknownst to me, my Dad has a tradition that every time a new format of film has come out, he tests it by watching Blade runner - his absolute favourite film of all time. So because of this, me and my dad decided to sit down and watch Blade runner again, with him quoting pretty much every line 5 seconds before it was said. Whilst I had already reached the pinnacle of the Blade runner viewing experience (seeing it at the BFI imax), seeing this in 4k was nothing short of spectacular and amazed both me and my dad, solidifying this a strong contender for the best looking film of all time. The colour grading and sound design is just as good, all contributing to this watch being the best home viewing I’ve ever had. Blade runner is rich in themes and ideas, one of which I had never thought about, but that my dad pointed out to me whilst watching. He said “it’s all about the eyes” - with every character’s eyes having something to say, be it the red in the replicants eyes, Tyrell’s glasses, Sebastian’s eye bags, the owls fake eyes and of course the famous eye shot and the eye test. This recurring motif of eyes symbolises humanity’s obsession with observing, judging and defining what is “real,” while suggesting that sight alone cannot reveal the truth. My dad also expertly pointed out the meta element of the eyes, as the film draws attention to our own role as viewers; just as the characters scrutinise others through their eyes, we scrutinise them through the camera, making Blade Runner a reflection on cinema itself and the illusion that simply watching leads to understanding. The film also goes beyond the standard themes you’d expect of a tech neo-noir, delving deep into the capitalist greed of corporations but also exploring the religious nature of the film - showing Batty’s interaction with his maker and the nail through his hand strong referencing the crucifixion of Jesus, suggesting that Roy becomes a martyr for all replicants. Blade Runner of course has the best monologue of all time in the rain, Harrison Ford at his coolest and an ambiguous ending which I’m always a sucker for. 10/10 once again.