Bladerunner

[Paige Turner]

I had to have someone point out the unicorn thing to me, after seeing the movie only about a half a dozen times. The thing that put the idea of Deckard's being a replicant into my head was his photographs. Rachel was very attached to—almost desparate about—her photo of "her" with her mother, and Leon went to great risk to try to recover the photos he had left behind. Deckard's place had a very conspicuous display of framed "family" photos. My feeling was that somewhere deep in the subconscious, replicants needed the photos to somehow validate their existence.

[Tau Zero]

I can see your point. I always felt that the replicant needed the pictures because it makes them feel human.

On the other hand, i too have pictures of my family all over place; there's nothing unusual about that.

[j. d. worthington]

Considering PKD's obssession with epistemology and memory, the nature of reality, etc., I think there's more than that basic level here. He frequently asked the question of how we know anything about anything ... even our own past, memories, and personality. That was something very much retained in the film, I think; and, like his books, it is made to reflect on our own experience and make us question some very basic things about being human that we take for granted....

[Tau Zero]

I agree entirely. That was one of the things i liked most about the film. The fact that the replicants were more "alive" and "human" and had more "lust for life" than the real humans who were tired, jaded, and bored.

This doesn't make Deckard a replicant and, in fact, goes against this particular argument.

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by Tau Zero

I agree entirely. That was one of the things i liked most about the film. The fact that the replicants were more "alive" and "human" and had more "lust for life" than the real humans who were tired, jaded, and bored.

This doesn't make Deckard a replicant and, in fact, goes against this particular argument.

I really believe that the director of the movie left this ambiguous on purpose. We're supposed to feel that he might be a replicant rather than know he is one.

[Cobolt]

The unicorn dream sequence in the film may have some significance to him being a replicant.....

[Tau Zero]

Originally Posted by Cobolt

The unicorn dream sequence in the film may have some significance to him being a replicant.....

You know, i've heard that, but i just don't see how. My own interpretation was that the unicorn was Rachel; unique and pure. When Deckard dreamed, he dreamed of a sybolic Rachel. When Deckard found the origami unicorn outside his door, it meant (to me) that Gaff had found Rachel, but wasn't going to kill her. Again, the unicorn is the symbol of Rachel.

But i don't see how it has anything to do with being a replicant.

[j. d. worthington]

Hmmm. For the longest time I would have agreed with you. Then, on viewing the film again a few years ago, something (I can't recall just what tiny detail) made me think this may have also been tied to his comment about "You've done a man's job"... and that Gaff was fully aware all along that Deckard was a replicant (set a thief to catch a thief, as it were), but for his own reasons chose to let them go ... perhaps he himself is one... It isn't stated, but it is a possibility to niggle at one; and fits very well with PKD's themes of confusion between who is and isn't "real", and the nature of reality, how it is defined, where the boundaries lie, etc.

[Paige Turner]

Originally Posted by Tau Zero

You know, i've heard that, (the unicorn dream) but i just don't see how.

I think the parallel is where Deckard proves to Rachel that she is a replicant by recounting a couple of her (implanted) childhood memories. Deckard dreams of the unicorn (and presumably doesn't tell anyone). Gaff makes an origami unicorn, indicating that he is aware of the implanted mental imagery.

As I said, I had all of this pointed out to me after I was convinced that Deckard was a replicant, anyway. This just seems more concrete than my photographs theory.

[Tau Zero]

Originally Posted by Paige Turner

I think the parallel is where Deckard proves to Rachel that she is a replicant by recounting a couple of her (implanted) childhood memories. Deckard dreams of the unicorn (and presumably doesn't tell anyone). Gaff makes an origami unicorn, indicating that he is aware of the implanted mental imagery.

OK, i can see the logic of that. But this is the problem i have. The "memory implant" is new technology as Tyrell tells Deckard about Rachel. If it's so new, how could Deckard already have it and be released (armed) into the general population where replicants aren't allowed? Why doesn't Deckard have the strength and invulnerability to extremes of heat and cold like the others? Why wouldn't Gaff kill them both? It's his job after all.

I don't know. A whole theory based on a dream and an origami figure seems, to me, like grasping at straws.

[ravenus]

I think it's one of those things that Scott came up with at the last moment. It's not IIRC a part of Dick's interpretation of Deckard.

[Paige Turner]

In the final analysis, the fact that people who saw (and loved) the movie can be having such a thoughtful discussion about Deckard's "status" so long after the fact is a good indication that the issue was handled perfectly. I think this conversation has moved Blade Runner from 5th to 2nd on my all-time list. Sorry, Driving Miss Daisy.

[star.torturer]

i watched both films, not realy but i decided that bladerunner (an all action boys film*sory for the steryotype it wasnt ment for here*) was beter, even if some guy murdered somone else in som ohter film

the titfield thundebolt is a beter film though, and so is the ladykillers and baron munchousen

[Paige Turner]

I just can't shake the feeling that you're trying to communicate. If there are thoughts behind all of this, I know many of us would like to know what they are. Do you think you could take the time to express one?

[star.torturer]

thoughts on what

bladerunner is a nice film to watch on a sunny afternoon when you should be outsied playing a sopring activitiy of some kind

ok im sory if thats not what you wanted but thats all i can say

becasuse as you say im rubish at posting anything of meaningfull value, so i will stop posting anything meaningless unless i say so