Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Tom M — 13 Oct 2017

Blade Runner 2049 captures the imagination of the original and moves at light speed to connect to the future. This film is in one word, a masterpiece in filmmaking, sound, and a visual of a future where destructive images cloud the reality of hope.

Rarely can a movie, that originally starred someone of the massive screen presence of Harrison Ford, been able to launch us to this "Brave New World". The haunting images of the ultimate price of destroying the earth and it's beauty to a somber, dark, lifeless cloud of despair. The robotics were not just the replicants, they were in those that survived, lost hope, sadness of a spirit that have lost its way.

It was an easy fit for me since I was blown away by the first movie in 1982 and it's image of a future of advertising, robotics, flying vehicles and computer animation far ahead of its time. They pushed the envelope and brought us into the world of blade runners in pursuit of replicants and the programs who set their objectives and kept you on the edge of your seat. Rick Deckard can only be played by an angry Harrison Ford 30 years later who has that old guy hard guy toughness. We all knew someone like this when we were growing up. Ryan Gosling, in a surprise for me, nails it with his emotionless Agent K who has uncovered secrets that could change the very existence of earth. They work well together. It is difficult to top the Ridley Scott original, this movie built on that foundation and Dennis Villeneuve took it to the next level of the apocalyptic vision of destruction.

Falling like snowflakes the toxic dust makes shadows of the surrounding daylight. The ash so densely fills the air snowplows keep the ravages of the horror in 2049 Los Angeles.

Food needs to be processed in lab like conditions for any chance at survival. The sadness the director captures is well seen in the eyes of Lt. Joshi, played by Robin Wright. She is key in this movie as she transforms from an uncaring, play by the rules Lt. to doing what is right to change the direction of the planet.

Imagine, like the one and only John Lennon, came to mind the next day after absorbing the opus I just witnessed. This movie is not for the short attention span crowd, you need to pay attention to the nuances and characters. I'd recommend watching the 1st film to give some backstory to what happened between the blade runners and replicants. Not mandatory just a fun watch. It takes us out of our comfort zone to that world of unbounded imagination. There is light at the end of the tunnel I hope you can see it in this movie. Enjoy! Well done.