Blade Runner 2049 First Reaction

​Let us set the stage first.

​The original Blade Runner film was released 1982 to low box office numbers and mixed critical reviews across the board. Time, however, has a way of weeding things out and letting only the best continue to stand, and over the course of 35 years and seven different cuts of the film, Blade Runner proved to be one of the best science fiction movies ever and the greatest cyberpunk movie of all time.

So, of course, the bar was set extremely high for director Denis Villeneuve, who himself is a huge Blade Runner fan, who knew that fans like him would watch the sequel with a high attention to detail and scrutiny. 

And just looking at the cast and crew, you can tell the studio knew that too, hence them bringing together the best team they could for this project. Stretching from one of the original writers for the first movie, Hampton Fancher, to bringing on one of this generation's greatest actors, Ryan Gosling, in the leading role.

The pieces were set, but, did they pull it off?

In short, yes.

I knew I was going in overhyped for this film and because of that in the few minutes walking out of the movie theater I was the tiniest bit let down. But given time, I saw myself continual thinking over the film just like the first one, and, though, with a few flaws, this was the best sequel Denis Villeneuve could deliver.

The small flaws I had trouble with are tied to spoilers so I will refrain from discussing them. They don't hurt the overall plot, and it makes sense, but it seemed to just fall into similar unoriginal tropes that haunt blockbuster movies. However, even seconds after it happens the film quickly refocuses and still lands the ending beautifully.

Beyond that and too much nudity for my taste, the rest of the film is fantastic!

Before going into the good stuff, I should point out something that some people will notice if they watch it and may be turned off by and that is the pacing. Like the movie it follows, this isn't an action pack film. It takes its time, which I love but I know some won't, which I may talk about in another blog, but for now, on to the good stuff about the film.

Ryan Gosling does another Oscar-worthy performance; the man knows how to act with his eyes. Harison Ford also gives the best performance of his career and all the supporting cast, known and unknown, blow it away. Jered Leto's performance is strange but fits the character.

Han Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch do an incredible job with the score. Creating a unique sound but paying homage to the original theme at the perfect moments.

The cinematography, done by Roger Deakins, is his greatest work and his most Oscar deserving yet. You know this within the first minute of the movie and the brilliance he puts into it. It's beautiful!

Along with the rest of the talented crew, Denis Villeneuve was able to pull off a proper sequel to a sci-fi classic. Continuing and expanding the thought-provoking themes while leaving questions from the first one ambiguous. Broadening and advancing the scope of the world we left but keeping it, for the most part, focused on a single character and themes that made the original Blade Runner stand the test.

If you love the original, you will definitely enjoy this movie that I believe will hold up like its predecessor did when time starts to weed on it.

Thanks for reading!

Blade Runner

Blade Runner 2049