What do you think of this line from the movie Blade Runner: 'It's too bad she won't live, but then again who does'?

Question

CONTEXT: In the movie there are these beings... androids referred to as 'replicants' and they only live for four years. Deckard here played by Harrison Ford is a blade runner who hunts down replicants that are supposed to be 'retired' but flee and attempt to live among the general population. so towards the end after Deckard has hunted down all the replicants he was tasked to, his friend compliments him on a job well done and utters the enigmatic words 'It's too bad she won't live, but then again who does'? The she, that he is referring to is the girl he's dating who happens to be a replicant herself... then asks 'then again who does?' which i read as he's asking how many of us really live in our time on this planet? philosophical question of the ages.

so anyways... your thoughts?

bademoxy · Accepted Answer

arguably the most meaningful monologue in cinematic history was the Roy Batty's Tears in the rain scene just before this scene you presented, where human consciousness itself is questioned and this is becoming a very real issue now as we near the ability to create completely new life forms (not just clone or reengineer) including transhumans like Star Trek's Borg or chimeras like Ripley's in Alien resurrection. I fear we're probably heading for incredibly dark times where most people would chose the Soylent Green pill to end the dystopic nightmare which was planned for us before we were born. We were never alone , which i concluded is the reason for over 7 decades of official secrecy and now the woke corruption of science,
so reality of our GENETIC IDENTITY, our true origins and our purpose becomes obscured, keeping humans governable and away from a nuclear poison pill self destruction. They want now want human civilization wiped out, but peacefully, so our Ai slave replacements can continue resource extraction of an intact planet.
It may be that the only reason our world hasn't been overtly invaded -at least by Alien built machines -is because we have a soul and there exists a universal consciousness or a higher civilization Westphalian in nature, deterring that.

RolandCuthbert · Accepted Answer

Blade Runner is a classic. Because it was one of these first movies to talk about computer AI and the possibility of a new species. Since then the topic has been done a billion different ways.

I think the comment need to be put into context of the movie and thought about when considering the movie's climax. Where Rutger Hauer decides to save Harrison Ford's life. He does so after reaching the conclusion that life is precious. And one of the reasons why is because it is so fragile and fleeting.

CrazyGirl2 · Accepted Answer

I know I’ve seen the move, but I don’t remember that specific line. Im blessed that my parents both were film lovers from the 80’s, and encouraged us to watch the best of the 80’s films especially John Hughes’ films and the amazing sci-fi films of the 80’s. I take that line to mean that none of us truly life life to the fullest, until it’s too late! Youth is wasted on the young is an excellent statement that reinforces this philosophical belief. The young waste our youth thinking about the future, and the old waste what time they have left reminiscing about their youth… Nobody just lives in the “now”! Im sure I do this too, but at least I am cognizant of it and make a concerted attempt to live in the now. I certainly LOVE being 19, although I will admit, when I started on GaG I was 17, and now I am close to being 20, and that time has just flown by! I am also extremely aware of just how quickly my freshman year shot by. Life move very quickly, and if you blink, you’ll miss it. So live in the now, take the time to enjoy each and every moment, look around, appreciate life and “take time to smell the roses” as the saying goes. I believe THAT was what was meant by the line “but then again, who does?”

menina · Accepted Answer

I've never watched this movie but the quote is interesting. It makes me think of how short and fragile life is. I guess many people are not living their lives either because they're more concerned about other people's businesses or they're living for others not for themselves.
Honestly I don't think I'm living my life to the fullest but I'm willing to change that.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

I'm instantly reminded of this quote from my favorite of the Stoic philosophers: All great things seem to pass with due time. I hate it, but they live on in our memories as I see them.

LovingLoverReturned · Answer

Ahh, nostalgia... I love old movie and music choice... I think the line is very deep and is better left pondering in silence... I agree with our interpretation... 1982 orrrrrrrrr? lol

Kiss_Me · Answer

I love this movie.

When William Gibson, the Grand Father of the Cyberpunk genre, first saw this movie he stated this is exactly how he envisions the world in which his books are written.

Fabulous quote. Life is short. Live in the moment and enjoy.

Redhead999 · Answer

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 the TannhÃ¤user Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

TheorionMage · Answer

Your insight is correct.
WHAT might YOU have done, if you KNEW you COULD engage in ANY imagined behavior without incurring undesirable consequences?
The crucial difference between personal 'freedom' and societal 'license'.

OddBeMe · Answer

I saw it as “live forever”.  did you like the sequel? I had to watch it twice, but I loved it.

DonkeyDan · Answer

I took that as commentary on how short life is for everyone, and you need to make the most of it.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

To me that sounds like the equivalent of “oh no, anyways”

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

I think that is something else 👍

Chaddi · Answer

I'll tell you about my mother...

LilyByte · Answer

🤔 🧐

What do you think of this line from the movie Blade Runner: 'It's too bad she won't live, but then again who does'?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What do you think of this line from the movie Blade Runner: 'It's too bad she won't live, but then again who does'?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.