Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 cyberpunk, semi-proto biopunk science fiction Tech noir movie starring Harrison Ford. The movie is based on the book: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick.
Plot
Rick Deckard is a "blade runner", tasked to track down and "retire" (a euphemism for kill) cyborg "replicants" who have escaped from off-world colonies and returned to the Earth. The replicants are genetic inventions created by Tyrell Corporation, made in order to colonise and work on other "Off World" planets.
The replicants are only given a 4 year life span and it is believed that the 4 who have returned to Earth may be there to try to find a way extend their longevity.
Deckard is first tasked by Tyrell to test his assistant Rachel, a replicant with implanted memories that Tyrell says are used to give the replicants an emotional buffer. Rachel takes much longer for Deckard to test as replicant than usual and Tyrell says that is because she is designed to be "more than human".
Deckard sets off after testing Rachel to track down the 4 replicants. The first one is found working at a cabaret bar of some kind. Blade Runner tests her and she attacks him and flees the scene. Deckard scurries to his feet and goes after the replicant. After a chase, Deckard has the replicant in his sights and he shoots her twice, leaving her dead. This is witnessed by one of the others.
Transhumanist Themes
There are multiple transhumanist elements to the movie, the replicants themselves are examples of bio-augmentation, cloning, simulated consciousness, implanted memories (Rachel, and perhaps Blade Runner), AI, and genetic enhancements with one of the characters referring to himself as a "genetic designer".
The replicants could be argued advocates of life extension technology, given that they only have a 4 year life span.
Other futuristic elements include:
Future of Blade Runner
A sequel titled Blade Runner 2049, has an official release date for October 6th 2017, and will come to virtual reality.[1]
