Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Htgamer — 05 Oct 2017

Blade Runner 2049 is a great neo-noir science fiction epic.

Story is set some 30 years after the first movie, with Deckard (Harrison Ford) having disappeared. Replicant "K" (Ryan Gosling) is working as a Blade Runner for the LAPD and hunts down older Replicant models to "retire" them because they are viewed as a threat to humanity. "K" later discovers a truth that might shake the world's foundations, and investigates out of duty and curiosity.

The plot is full of surprises and twists. Ford's appearance in the final 3rd of the film is great, but Gosling is the protagonist, his character (even if artificial) is well expanded upon. Blade Runner isn't a film about a hero saving the world, but it tells a human story.

The film is also a masterful audiovisual experience no one should miss out on.

However not everything is perfect. The ambient soundtrack is mostly majestic but there were times when it was a cacophony and made me mad. The offworld colonies are mentioned in both Blade Runner films but we didn't see anything of them again. Finally there are some minor plot holes and nonsense moments (like in every film), but also a big one with the Revolution.

In the end, Blade Runner 2049 is a great sequel. The first Blade Runner, though unique and intriguing, was somewhat underwhelming and it only had the great "tears in the rain" monologue in the very end that made it a cult hit. Blade Runner 2049 has no such monumental moment, but it's an overall better (if not perfect) film than the first one.

There are talks about a sequel, I'd gladly see more Blade Runner films.