Review of Blade Runner 2049 (2017) by Maxx B — 13 Mar 2018

I think I can sum up this movie with three words. Beautiful but disappointing.

I have always loved the original Blade Runner, in all of it's various cuts. They all work to some extent. I was so excited to hear that the sequel was being made.

I started having doubts when I heard that Denis Villeneuve and Ryan Gosling were attached to the project. But my fears were temporarily diminished when I saw the three featurettes made. They looked beautiful, the story looked intriguing and Jared Leto's quiet and menacing Niander Wallace seemed perfect. It's a shame that was the end of the love affair with this movie.

I felt no connection with K. No sympathy for the overplayed skinjob hate from his fellow officers. The only emotion the film managed to wring from me was when Joi's transportable Emanator was crushed. I had more connection to a holographic companion than any of the film's characters. Even Deckard had lost his charm.

The story seemed to go nowhere very slowly through a very beautifully crafted world. The plot was predictable and sedentary, and held none of the vagary that invited the speculation of the original.

I think the movie was made to make money before telling a Blade Runner story.