Blade Runner is now recognized as not just one of the cornerstones of Harrison Ford's filmography but as one of the most influential and endlessly discussable films of its era. But it wasn't always so. Released on June 25th, 1982 (apologies for getting the date wrong in the episode itself), Blade Runner debuted to mixed reviews and disappointing box office but soon picked up a cult following. That cult expanded considerably in 1992, when Ridley Scott released his director's cut, which removed the clarifying voiceover recorded late in the production process, lopped off the original cut's "happy" ending, and restored a few moments Scott had to trim.

Which version is better has since become a subject of much debate, as it is in this episode. Vulture and New York magazine critic Bilge Ebiri joins us to discuss the film's themes, its legacy, Ford's performance and a lot more.

Also, here are a few links to more info about the items we referenced.

• Marvel's Blade Runner adaptation, written by Archie Goodwin with art by Al Williamson.

• Jonathan Rinzler's The Making of Return of the Jedi

• The Blade Runner FAQ

Finally, if you like this podcast and want even more Ford Focus, please support us on Patreon, where we post bonus episodes and more.

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Harrison Ford joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe and hulks out in a big way as the President of the United States, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Ross is a man with a troubled history, as chronicled in previous MCU films like The Incredible Hulk and Avengers: Endgame, where he was played by William Hurt. (Like Jack Ryan, this is a role that Harrison Ford did not originate.) Does Ford fit into the MCU? Is Ross a Peloton enthusiast? We discuss all that and more with our special guest Germain Lussier, a reporter who covers entertainment news for Gizmodo and io9.

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A high-concept rom-com mostly set on a desert island, this 1998 film teams Harrison Ford with Anne Heche (and, to a lesser extent, David Schwimmer) for an unlikely love story. Heche plays a big-city magazine editor. Ford plays an easygoing tropical pilot. The two have nothing in common, but when Ford's plane crashes in the middle of nowhere, is it possible they might fall in love. (Answer: yes.)

ScreenCrush editor Matt Singer, author of Opposable Thumbs, a terrific dual biography of Siskel and Ebert, and the brand new (as of October 6), Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever joins us for a discussion of an Ivan Reitman comedy that did pretty well when it played theaters but undoubtedly reached an even bigger audience because it came free when you bought a DVD player in the late 1990s. Also discussed: the film career of David Schwimmer, which Ivan Reitman movies are actually good, and the film's poster, which doesn't exactly scream "here's a fun comedy."

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