Wow. Normally I would have have a joke or funny little quip to start these off, but this time, I am speechless. “Blade Runner 2049” is a masterpiece. There is no doubt in my mind that it is one of the top five movies of the year. It is visually stunning and captivating until the end. I could just stop the review here — if not for the requirement of 400 words. So I am going to write around 300 more words about depth of plot, character arcs, incredible acting, and beautiful visuals. But you should just put the paper down now and go see the movie. Do it. Now.
Still here?
Alright, fine.
“Blade Runner 2049” has every bit of depth that the original “Blade Runner” had. When I refer to the “original ‘Blade Runner,’” I refer to the final cut of the film. The good one. The new film is filled with tense, mysterious moments that raise your heart rate and glue your eyes to the screen. It moves quite a bit quicker than the original film, which makes the almost three hour runtime bearable. Just remember to pee before you go in.
The film’s protagonist, LAPD Officer K, is intriguing from the get-go. He is quick, strong, and infinitely more charming than Deckard, the protagonist of the original. Ryan Gosling’s performance as K is fantastic. In my limited experience with Gosling, I had not considered him as a tough-guy action movie star, but he defied my expectations. Not to say Gosling’s performance was the only good one in the film. They were all fantastic — Jared Leto, Sylvia Hoeks, and above all, Harrison Ford, who only plays one type of character, but he does it so very well.
The original “Blade Runner” was known for special effects and visuals that were far ahead of its time. “Blade Runner 2049” lives up to that excellent legacy with its awe-inspiring display of future Los Angeles. The smog, the flying cars, the huge neon and holographic displays — they all help build a world that is both exciting and terrifying.
The movie’s one downside is the way it exploits the female body. A prominent example is a grotesque scene in which a female android is birthed, its body obsessed over by its male creator, promptly murdered, and then kissed in one of the most cold-blooded and disgusting displays I’ve seen for a while.
I would still recommend watching the original film before seeing the new one. As mentioned earlier, the film is a bit slow, but it is well worth the watch. Having the knowledge from the first film and understanding the mysteries of Deckard’s story made “Blade Runner 2049” so much more fulfilling than it would have been had I gone into the film without watching the original.
“Blade Runner 2049” expands on the classic “Blade Runner” universe and sustains much of the ambiguity and curiosity of the first film while creating mystery and a legacy of its own. I wish I could describe it better and go into more depth about how seriously awesome this film is, but I am simply not qualified. This film is far beyond my review skills. Now, seriously. Put the paper down and go to the theater. It speaks well enough for itself.
