What is a 'Replicant'?

A 'Replicant' is an android (robot with synthetic human features), designed by the Tyrell Corporation. 

Synthetic animals, known as 'Animoids' were made to be used as pets, notably Tyrell's owl and Deckard's sheep (in the novel). Later the synthetic human Replicants, derogatorily referred to as 'Skin- jobs', which were made for military purposes, were made and sent to the Off- World colonies on Mars to explore and colonize space. Tyrell's Nexus-6 model androids, were to be the ultimate synthetic human. They were stronger, faster and in the case of Roy Batty, more intelligent.

Pris, Zhora, Leon, and the fifth Replicant Mary (cut from the film)-all lead by Roy- escaped to Earth to find a way to extend their limited lifespan. The Nexus-6 model was given an even shorter lifespan than other androids, a failsafe to ensure they didn't develop their own human empathetic personalities, on account of them being used as slaves, and their only difference form humans being their lack of empathy. 

My first digital image c1997 by TK769 on deviantART

In the novel, the cause of the 'Andy's' escape to Earth is given as being a desire to live their own lives, free from oppression, and not because of a limited lifespan. They also totally lack the empathy of their counterparts in the film.

For the movie, Ridley Scott wanted a new term for the Androids (or 'Andy's' as  they were referred to in the novel). The term Replicant was supposedly created so that the viewer wouldn't know what to expect when first confronted with a Nexus-6.

So... What IS a 'Blade Runner'..?

A 'Blade Runner' is a nickname for special operative, employed by the Los Angeles Police Department to hunt and 'retire' (kill) any remaining Nexus-6 androids- also known as replicants- who have escaped to Earth from the Off-World colony.

Blade Runner [cinemarium] by inkjava on deviantART

The term 'Blade Runner' was coined for the movie, in the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, all 'Blade Runners' are simply bounty hunters employed by the San Francisco Police Department.

Movie Quote: Blade Runner 'Tears in rain soliloquy

"I've seen things, you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."

 One of the most beautiful monologues in cinema history, all made more magical by the fact that Rutger Hauer- the actor portraying Roy Batty- re-wrote and improvised the whole thing.


Rutger Hauer described the original script as having no bearing on the rest of the film and that by re-writing the monologue he could show that Batty wanted to "make his mark on existence... the robot in the final scene, by dying, shows Deckard what a real man is made of."

I couldn't imagine the scene done any other way, personally. Here is the original:

I've known adventures, seen places you people will never see, I've been Offworld and back... frontiers! I've stood on the back deck of a blinker bound for the Plutition Camps with sweat in my eyes watching the stars fight on the shoulder of Orion...I've felt wind in my hair, riding test boats off the black galaxies and seen an attack fleet burn like a match and disappear. I've seen it, felt it...!

Top 5 actors

Top 5 Actors

Based on the volume of their work I like. Not popular opinion.

Tom Hanks

He's probably the actor with the most films I own. Love his voice over work in films such as The Polar Express and Toy Story. Like his more serious work such as Philadelphia, and Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail are two movies I will NEVER tire of (even if rom-coms/ chick flicks are my least favourite genre). If I met him I would probably keel over =)

Bruce Lee

What can I say... This man put Martial Arts cinema on the map! I'm not sure if I know anybody who hasn't heard of Bruce Lee.

Bruce Willis

Another actor who's films I seem to own a lot of. The Fifth Element is up there as one of those movies I can recite the script from. Die Hard is oddly a Christmas Classic.

Christian Bale

Somebody give this man a cookie!!! Is there anything he can't do?!?! I would still wager that there's a lot of people who still don't know he's actually English (born in Wales). The machinist is one of the most powerful things I have seen.

Kevin Costner

I don't find he comes up on many lists as a favourite, but I always like to give his films a chance despite the mixed receptions,and you know what? They often end up being cracking films! I mean really, he was in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, Field of Dreams... Classics!!! If he wasn't that good they wouldn't have casted him in Man of Steel would they?!

Honorable Mention: Kevin Spacey, the man is amazing but there's a lot of his work I haven't seen.

Myself

My name is Heather, I am originally from Coventry, England but now live in t'north. I started this blog mainly because I had nothing better to do and was feeling inspired at the time. 

As you can tell, Blade Runner is my favourite movie. I first saw it in 1997, after being given a copy of Westwoods Blade Runner free with a PC that my parents bought.

My aim is to analyse the film and the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, compare them, give my opinion on them, and talk about anything related to or inspired by them. What I am basically saying is, I want to share the love.

Hit me up on pinterest if you please!!