Fair enough, it was a brilliant film but I guess it doesn't hit me the same way emotionally. Genuinely appreciate that you took the time to explain it though.

Out of interest, how many times have you watched it? The first time I watched it, it didn't do much for me either. But then I kept listening to the soundtrack and it really got under my skin, and in the 2nd and 3rd viewings I suddenly saw what the film as trying to say, and the philosophical themes and artistry that conveyed them all just 'clicked' for me.

but in my opinion the story goes better when you have him as a human rather than a depressing implication of how humans will never understand Replicants.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Surely Deckard's general stoicism would suggest that - if he is a human - he doesn't understand replicants. Could you rephrase your argument? I'm very unclear as to what you mean.

Personally, I see Deckard as a replicant. The clues are there: the unicorn implanted memory, the fact that he's the best replicant-hunter around and the police send him to do their dirty work. But also the story is more satisfying with him as a replicant. Consider Gaff's final line of dialogue to him. "Too bad she won't live. Then again, who does?" I take this to mean that Gaff (who knows he's a replicant - hence the unicorn) is hinting to Deckard that - like Rachael - he too may only have a few years left of his lifespan. This information gives us the perfect bittersweet ending, because now we know that though they don't have much time together, at least they will expire at around the same point, and Deckard won't spend the rest of his days mourning his fleeting romance with Rachael.

Of course I'm basing all this on the Final Cut version. Let's all just try to collectively forget that the original version with the sickeningly contrived ending never happened.