Blade Runner

I am uncertain whether Ridley's grotesque picture of Los Angeles, as the American Nightmare of the future, has ever been compared to Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein, or the New Prometheus" or Fritz Lang's expressionist "Metropolis." But the title, "Blade Runner, " deserves to be investigated since it has no connection with Philip K. Dick's novel, "Do Androids Dream, etc." The movie dwells on images of women dehumanized and brutalized with gratuitous savagery by "law and order" forces represented by Deckard. There are also hints throughout stereotyping woman being responsible for loss of innocence due to Eve in Paradise. This is only reversed by the disputed ending of Deckard's flight with Rachel (Sean Young) Possibly Ridley was subject to conflicting influences. Whatever the truth, Ridley does address the danger of "superman" ideas and the ruinous inhumanity of modern industrial society. His philosophically noble theme is freedom from evil institutions. (10/10)