I must apologise for this delayed review and the lack of content in general but I will continue to review and discuss movies on this blog.
Lets start by saying that Blade Runner is my favourite film and I do consider it to be one of the best ever made so this can tell you something about my anticipation and expectations for the sequel. When the first teaser dropped I was surprised by how much it felt like Blade Runner and you could say I was looking forward to the film. As time came closer to the release the marketing kept ramping up and the trailers and marketing started to put doubt in my mind and then seeing Alien: Covenant was when my worry for Blade Runner went into overdrive. I am so happy to say that all my worrying was for nothing because Blade Runner 2049 is the best film of 2017 so far but I am very confident in saying that it will not be topped.
As of the time of writing this review I have seen 2049 twice now which is a good sign because I enjoyed it both times. I can see people being very apprehensive of this film due to its run-time of 2 hours and 40 mins but personally I prefer films that break the 135 min barrier especially a film with a budget north of $120 million. Saying that the film does not feel its length, it can be considered slow but slow does not mean bad and 2049 has time to breathe and let the audience soak in the world and atmosphere of Blade Runner.
In terms of story I think that 2049 does provide a decent story and does not make the mistake of just retelling the same story but with different characters. It asks questions and does have the feel of a classic sci fi film rather than just a mindless action spectacle which most modern science fiction films have become. There are moments within the film that does reference the original in a slightly annoying fashion but they are few and far between and the average viewer wont be able to spot most of them although there is one big thing, which is a spoiler, that almost ruined the film for me but for the casual viewer this wont be the biggest issue in the world.
Its funny to think that we are now at a stage where special effects don't wow us anymore and I am so happy to say that 2049 was impressive visually which is a massive achievement, one thing that I would like to point out is the movement of the camera when moving around L.A and how it elegantly glides around the landscape allowing the audience to become immersed in the world. Colour is also a very important part of this film because everything pops and the film is lit very well and there was one instance where I was impressed with a set which to the average person would not be a big factor but for someone like me this really impressed.
Performances on the whole were rather good with Ryan Gosling making a perfect replicant and Harrison Ford looking like he gave a damn. Everyone else ranges from decent to good nothing really bad but it could have been better.
The score for this film is excellent, nowhere near as good or memorable as the original but this is something else and its so refreshing to have a score that wants to be noticed. The crashing electronica sounds on show are so mesmerising and elevates the film, its so distinct and immerses the viewer into the world. I love how the visuals and the score compliment each other so well.
Overall Blade Runner 2049 is one of the most impressive films of the past couple of years due to the care put into the film. Everything mixes well and provides an excellent viewing experience that does not disappoint especially for fans of the original. Definitely watch Blade Runner 2049.
8.5/10
Written By
Ashley Harvey
