(this post applies to the original 158 minute theatrical cut)
I can't describe what makes this film so unique. It just has a take-no-prisoners, all-stops-out, balls-to-the-wall kind of greatness. It is not a perfect film by any means, but it is impossible to forget.
Yeah the script is phenomenally good without being pretentious, and the footage is just awesome. I heard Hurt actually donated his up-front fee back to the movie so they could finish the shooting - he liked the script so much. I saw it in early 90s on VHS and repeated viewings doesn't make it look all that dated, and the story still works, it's still just futuristic enough. I just got the german released director's cut edition and really enjoyed the extra footage and story elements, but certainly sit through the American Theatrical release first, there are two district false endings because it was originally a trilogy and they very artfully made it into one movie (a long one, but it's great...). Definitely required viewing for all entry-level humans...