Haven't heard it said better than that. You're right, the climax of the film is Roy saving Deckard, and perhaps the biggest moment is Roy killing his "father", but we hardly know who this guy is. Seems like there should have been much more, as you say, to his story arc, who he was. The film kind of just makes him a monster villain the first 3/4 of the story, which just doesn't fit the main themes of the film.
Did you think the Ridley Director's Cut fixes the issues?
Minimally- but they could have done so much better.
It still felt like Deckard and his love interest were the sole focus and Batty just was just something to overcome.... which would have been fine if Batty was a static monster just there for danger and suspense.
BUT- at the end of the day, Batty is a christ figure.
The dove protected in one hand, the old school nail through the other.
Giving his life to be the savior of his people...
(Deckard hunts and kills his people, Battys actions ended that extermination.)
And they really dropped the ball on fleshing out the motivation.
They pretty much just flat out stated it at the end, which fell flat.
His speech, while awesome, was a shortcut.
It would have been cool to see him flash back to the first time he registered awe, wonder, love, loss, regret, and ultimately realize that all life is precious.
The Deckard question is a big one... but Batty is the redemption in the film.
So perhaps I am too focused on how Batty became the redemption...But that is the more interesting story to me.
Perhaps I was meant to accept Batty as the magical savior as a macguffin, and focus on Deckard as mankind and accept that as the story.
The entire story is biblical (snake, pyramid, nail, dove, immaculate creation, struggling to find the reason for being)... with a twist.
If Batty is Jesus, Tyrell is god, and Batty killed him. Batty also has no ressurection.
Is Deckard Peter or Judas?
Is it possible Batty is an old testament god? He saw thing that will be lost to time (miracles, creation, wonderous things) and we are to be left wondering if Deckard in his new path becomes jesus? Batty "creating" the new Deckard, setting him on his course?
I guess at the end of the day I still wonder if the story is incomplete or derailed. The directors cut nullified the lame happy ending and left it open ended... but I do have to wonder what other visions never made it to film at all.
I would love to see a really good pass made at the movie that gives Scott impunity to tell it like he wants.
