Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Dana F — 27 Mar 2018

I can see why this film did not do well at the box office. It's an art-house flick with a summer blockbuster budget. And while it definitely does not have mass-appeal, it is utterly sublime. My hat is off once again to director Denis Villeneuve, who must be some kind of mastermind to have duped a major studio into financing his artistic vision.

It was marketed as an action flick, and while there are a few short "action" sequences, it is anything but. I would call it a cross between sci-fi and old-school noir, brought into the modern age.

It's methodical, pensive, deliberate, and totally captivating. Villeneuve is a true auteur and in his capable hands, this film is more than just a movie, it's a work of art. The imagery is jaw-dropping (so help me god, if Roger Deakins does not FINALLY get an Oscar for his gorgeous cinematography, I'm going to totally lose my shit).

When I first heard they were making a sequel to Blade Runner, I was outraged and convinced I would hate it. I mean, come on, trying to replicate (heh) Blade Runner??? Heresy! But this film truly respects and even honors the original film.

And while it pays homage to the original in story, atmosphere, and style, it is also very much its own thing. The film is a direct sequel to the events of the original... and I will admit that I kind of wish it wasn't.

I think it would have been a better idea to take the world of Blade Runner and tell an entirely different story... but sadly, no one consulted me. The plot isn't without holes and is surprisingly not as cerebral as I would have liked - the story is very simple and is not thought-provoking in a way that I normally associate with good sci-fi.

But this movie is less about story than it is about being immersed in this rich, fantastically-rendered, futuristic world. This isn't a movie you just "watch", you experience it, and you have to be willing to commit to that experience to fully appreciate it.

That being said, most people will not like this movie for being too long and boring, but it's an incredible treat for us nerds.