Blade Runner/continuation of Cyberpunk

Blade Runner is a 1982 film directed by Ridley Scott. It is a film that explores the Cyberpunk vision of the future where humans have developed the technology to create replicants (artificial humans). These replicants were created to serve as fighters in colonies on other worlds, with a fixed life span of four years. These replicants become a problem after a mutany in an off world colony and all are declared illegal and are to be terminated upon detection. This movie portrays the problem with man trying to create his equal.

Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a blade runner, a policeman who's job it is to hunt down and kill the replicants. He searches out these replicants in the bleak, dark existence which is the future state of the Planet. He is succesful in termination of the four escapee replicants, but begins a love affain with Rachel (a test replicant, unaware that she is a replicant). For replicants life spans are four years so he must enjoy what little time he can have with her. The other replicants fight for their survival determined to seek answers on the possibility of life extension.

Roy the last replicant Deckard fights is dying as his four years are almost up. He could have easily let Deckard die (when he is falling off the building) but through Roy's appreciation for life, realising that his is almost is heroic in saving Deckard from his fall and giving him a second chance at life. This film questions what it is to be human and why life is so precious.

Reading:Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' is a novel by Phillip K. Dick, basing the story structure of 'Blade Runner' film. The reading discusses the similarity of the humans and the replicants and how the androids are an example of what it is to be human, as they a have an innate desire to survive, just as humans do (even though they only have a limited lifespan). Roy's desire to live is so great that, just as Deckard hunts the other replicants Roy in return hunts Deckard.