MovieChat Forums > Blade Runner (1982) Discussion > Roy Batty's Motive

Roy Batty's Motive

posted 8 years ago by gbean2397
10 replies | jump to latest

I'm sure what I'm about to ask may be a really dumb question, but is it ever explained why Roy Batty wanted his life to be extended. Because when I watched this movie a couple times, and by watching his (beautifully crafted) 'Tears in the Rain' scene, I had assumed the reason he wanted to extend his life, is because, despite his being what is essentially a robot, he was afraid of death.

The fear of death is a very powerful feeling; I'm sure everyone has had that feeling, even I did once - the feeling of knowing that one day, your life will eventually come to an end. It's a very scary thing to think about, so I'd assumed that that was Batty's motivation, and I somewhat believed that, what with this movie showing that even the Replicants can sometimes feel emotion, Batty's fear of death makes him somewhat look/feel human.

Does that sound right? Please let me know. ;)

[–] Lucky_Man 8 years ago

If it wasn't the fear of death, it was the desire to understand the consciousness that was dawning on him. He was lost and wanted to discover his place in the world, like many humans.

Roy Batty, a replicant, was the most human character in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2uOzV4glRs

[–] edisonnosidE 8 years ago

I think he was starting to develop emotions. It's pretty obvious he had feelings for Pris - love?
With that change in his makeup it is reasonable he wanted his (their) lives to be extended so they could live out their lives together.

Impossible is illogical.
Lack of evidence is not proof.
 +  = 

[–] BB-15 8 years ago

by gbean2397;

"despite his being what is essentially a robot, he was afraid of death."

Sometimes what "Blade Runner" says can be contradicted by what the viewer sees.
Blade Runner’s opening crawl reads;

The Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase

So, replicants must be robots right? Like a metal machine?
Deckard calls replicants a "machine". So it must be true?
No, it's not.
Facts in the movie say otherwise.

* The replicants are artificially born humans who have some transplanted organs but physically they are very hard to tell from naturally born humans.
Replicant DNA has been changed so they only live 4 years and they can be physically gifted.
They are still a kind of human.

"The fear of death is a very powerful feeling; I'm sure everyone has had that feeling, even I did once - the feeling of knowing that one day, your life will eventually come to an end. It's a very scary thing to think about, so I'd assumed that that was Batty's motivation,"

Yes. Human beings almost always want more life.
And replicants are a kind of human even if they are artificially grown and genetically altered.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

[–] criztu 8 years ago

The Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase

So, replicants must be robots right? Like a metal machine?
Deckard calls replicants a "machine". So it must be true?
No, it's not.
Facts in the movie say otherwise.

Right after "Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase", the introduction text specifies -

"the NEXUS 6 Replicants were at leas equal in intelligence to the genetic engineers that created them"

So what we have here is a brilliant trap for the profane:
1. the juxtaposition of robot and evolution
2. the juxtaposition of genetic and engineers

For those who can see, the story of Blade Runner says: humans are robots, and evolution is engineering by their creators.

[–] BB-15 8 years ago

by criztu;

"Right after "Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase", the introduction text specifies -

"the NEXUS 6 Replicants were at leas equal in intelligence to the genetic engineers that created them"

So what we have here is a brilliant trap for the profane:
1. the juxtaposition of robot and evolution
2. the juxtaposition of genetic and engineers

For those who can see, the story of Blade Runner says: humans are robots, and evolution is engineering by their creators."

Nicely done, in showing the word play that "Blade Runner" engages it; which can easily mislead a viewer.
I've thought that "Blade Runner" itself is an example of Orwell's "1984" style of manipulation.
How the subtle use of language can show the viewer how propaganda can not only misinform the characters but also mislead the audience.

The question comes; what is the truth in "Blade Runner's" story? The viewer cannot always trust what they read or what someone says in BR.
To get closer to the truth requires looking at the whole story, putting together the clues and coming up with the most accurate answer.

Imo at least, BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

[–] criztu 8 years ago

The question comes; what is the truth in "Blade Runner's" story?

The truth in Blade Runner is:
Ridley Scott is representing how the freemasons see you. In their eyes, you are a robot, a machine, a commodity, an asset, a mean of production. In their eyes, they are God's chosen ones, because they know Him, and you don't, because you're not a member of their brotherhood. As God's chosen ones, they are to use you as they see fit.

[–] BB-15 8 years ago

criztu; thanks for the reply.
I realize I don't "know Him" in the way you mean.
But that's OK.



BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

[–] edisonnosidE 8 years ago

Don't you just love religious arrogance?

Impossible is illogical.
Lack of evidence is not proof.
 +  = 

[–] edisonnosidE 8 years ago

"Right after "Tyrell Corporation advanced robot evolution into the NEXUS phase", the introduction text specifies -
"the NEXUS 6 Replicants were at least equal in intelligence to the genetic engineers that created them"

Nicely done, in showing the word play that "Blade Runner" engages it; which can easily mislead a viewer.
I've thought that "Blade Runner" itself is an example of Orwell's "1984" style of manipulation.
How the subtle use of language can show the viewer how propaganda can not only misinform the characters but also mislead the audience.

The question comes; what is the truth in "Blade Runner's" story? The viewer cannot always trust what they read or what someone says in BR.
To get closer to the truth requires looking at the whole story, putting together the clues and coming up with the most accurate answer.

It seems to me that the designers (at Tyrell and maybe other places) started out with mechanical robots with A.I.
Then they graduated to part mechanical part biologic 'robots'

Finally, the NEXUS phase began, since they realized that biology (with hundreds of thousands of years of evolution) was superior to machines.

What is evident in the screenplay is that replicants are assembled from biologic parts according to their desired function. This, opposed to the idea that replicants were grown to adulthood then animated.

Chew: "You Nexus, huh? I design your eyes."

So robot evolution was mechanical (robots) to part biological (android) to biological (replicant).

Just a thought, my opinion back by evidence from the script.

Impossible is illogical.
Lack of evidence is not proof.
 +  = 

[–] BB-15 8 years ago

by edisonnosidE;

"It seems to me that the designers (at Tyrell and maybe other places) started out with mechanical robots with A.I.
Then they graduated to part mechanical part biologic 'robots'"

That makes sense for the history of the company.

"Finally, the NEXUS phase began, since they realized that biology (with hundreds of thousands of years of evolution) was superior to machines."

Sure, biological clones make much more sense when a company motto is;"more human than human".

"What is evident in the screenplay is that replicants are assembled from biologic parts according to their desired function. This, opposed to the idea that replicants were grown to adulthood then animated."

I have a similar idea considering the novel and the film.
Imo the main body of the replicants are grown as genetic clones. Tyrell described part of this process to Roy.
The main body would be grown quickly (compared with natural human growth) to speed up production.
The abilities of the main body would be determined by genetics.
- Then certain organs would be implanted into the main body similar to transplant surgery in our world.
That would include the replicant brain and eyes.

Chew: "You Nexus, huh? I design your eyes."

"So robot evolution was mechanical (robots) to part biological (android) to biological (replicant).

Just a thought, my opinion back by evidence from the script."

That works for me.
It just sometimes needs to be explained sometimes on IMDb that replicants are not mechanical because some people think that replicants are robots or machines because those words are mentioned in the dialogue.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈