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.

I've watched it only once, but that was like a month ago -- so it's still pretty fresh in my mind. But I hear you, watching Inception is much the same for me.

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.

Well, I meant that having Deckard as a human sorta provides hope for humanity; it implies that as shitty as their society is, there is still hope, there is still a chance that perhaps someday, atrocities like what we see with the Replicants will be ended. Having humans and Replicants as two distinct sides doesn't really bode well for that. It's mainly a symbolic thing to me.

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.

Fair point, can't really argue much about this.

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.

I'd rather forget Prometheus tbqh. In my opinion, Alien > Blade Runner >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Prometheus. God I can't believe I wasted money on that.