Based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by the oft-cinematically-adapted Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner has become a classic in its own right since its theatrical release in the early 1980s. Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) has succeeded in creating a vision of the future that is so astounding that it has stood the test of time incredibly well, spawning more than a few imitators and homages over the years (not to mention all the related books, games, making-of's and such).

The world of Blade Runner is one of lonely figures amidst a sprawling landscape of dark shadows and bright lights, of flying cars and street urchins, of crammed streets and abandoned buildings. In short, Blade Runner is at once a masterful, classic, hard-boiled noir detective story and a science fiction techno-thriller all rolled into one, having done no less than become a primary force in defining the cyberpunk genre. It's perhaps one of the most stylish and atmospheric movies ever made (with more than a little help from an amazing soundtrack by Vangelis), and contains some marvelous, rich and complex acting performances to boot.

Viewers these days have the option of seeing Blade Runner in a couple of different incarnations, since a director's cut of the film was released back in the early 1990s. Most notably missing from the director's cut (which is actually a couple minutes shorter than the original) are the voice-over narration that Deckard provides and the original ending sequence. Most notably added are some moments that further develop the relationship between Deckard and Rachael and a "vision" sequence that makes much more evident the possibility that Deckard himself might be a Replicant.

In both versions, however, as in all great science fiction, moral and philosophical questions abound--having retained these rich, compelling elements from the original novel. What does it mean to be human? What is it that makes a life a life? What is love? What price freedom? What's it all about? And the great thing is, if these questions get too heavy, there's always the mind-blowing cityscapes to get lost in.