Blade Runner 2049 delivers a ripe sequel to the original
Touches of the dystopian and neo-noir genres mix well
This very ripe tomato achieves with giving homage to the classic, but lacks the authentic style it was so memorable for.
“Blade Runner 2049” is a science fiction movie starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. It is a hit with critics getting a very ripe 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. This film is the sequel to the famous cult-following “Blade Runner”.
Both films are based in future LA; the first movie took place in the year 2019 and the sequel in 2049. Both stories are based around the engineering of “replicants” who are equally as intelligent as humans. At first a very straightforward idea becomes very philosophical.
“Blade Runner 2049” is stunning. Every frame and scene is a visual piece of art. Each scene is well motivated and has its own color palette that is as interesting as the next. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the ability to modernize the original, while making the view feel at home in dystopian LA. It is as if the story got a facelift but remains in the same body.
The amount of homage to the first film is immense. The environment is almost identical to the original, large neon billboards the likes of Coca-Cola and Atari. For example, new Blade Runner Officer K (Gosling) brings a new generation and edginess to the series, while showing the same mannerisms that Deckard had in the original. “Blade Runner 2049” shows reminiscent quirks while giving fans a fresh narrative.
“Blade Runner “ was praised heavily for being an ideal example of neo-noir. This is a direct correlation to film noir, French for black film. The movie came off impressively modern for the early 80s, shocking young eyes excited to see what the future would really be like. But beyond this amazing technology and VFX, the film is rooted in the noir style. Narrative story telling style through voice over and every shot being drenched in lowlights is all the evidence you need.
Where “Blade Runner” exceeds, “Blade Runner 2049” fails. The new addition is reminiscent of its predecessor, but is not grounded in neo-noir. Most scenes are bright with a solid color and only hinting at shots that are examples of neo-noir. It is as if they wanted to trick the audience without putting the effort in production to execute the style.
Overall, “Blade Runner 2049” is fantastic. The narrative is original and visually you can’t get any cooler. Unfortunately with every pro there is often a con. This film is just too long. The editor could have cut out 60 minutes out of the 164. By doing this cut the narrative would make more sense. By being so long it is hard for even the most cunning to stay attentive throughout.
“Blade Runner 2049” is a must see if you are interested in the genre. Stick this movie out and it will make a mark. This story is rather confusing and loses focus, so I suggest a few viewings to really understand this complex film.
