I always thought this movie came out in 1981 but then again, that was the year Raiders of the Lost Ark appeared and Harrison Ford couldn’t make movies so quickly then. Despite this guy overanalyzing it, especially why there aren’t any Black people in it, I felt the urge to check it out again. It took about a month to getting around to renting it due to other distractions in my life. Thankfully the local rental place had the Director’s Cut. Removing the voiceover was an obvious decision. People who need the story telegraphed to them shouldn’t be in the theater.
It still holds up after all these years. It’s probably too slow for today’s audiences thus, it couldn’t have been made now. I don’t recommend watching it when one is tired, I fell asleep during Deckard’s sleuthing around. The special effects of the distopian Los Angeles, the flying police cars, the pervasive advertising (about the only thing that came true) and monolithic Tyrell Corporate HQ continue to look convincing unlike its contemporaries. Heck, I recently rewatched the 1998 version of Lost in Space and its CG stuff looked pretty sloppy now. We’re nowhere near the achievements in genetic engineering the story illustrates (much could happen in 12 years) and I don’t think Ridley Scott was concerned about “accuracy.” He focused on the characters’ interaction and emotions which is why Roy’s death appeared tragic; one of the movie’s best scenes. It’s pretty hard to make a dangerous and murderous character gain the audience’s sympathy. That is why after 25 years Blade Runner lacks a dated feel.
As for it being the best Science Fiction movie of all time, I don’t agree. I would put it in my personal top 10 or 20 because it doesn’t quite hit on those societal nerves as the above link’s originator states. I would vote for Strange Days as the best and the movie version of Starship Troopers has a more relevant warning about militarism and propaganda. Those are arguments for another day.