Blade Runner 2049

Let´s travel back in time, to the year of 1992. The year when Ugly Kid Joe´s album Americas Least Wanted, was a big thing in my school. I was around 14 years old, and i remember the first time i got to experience the 80´s cult classic film Blade Runner. My paint teacher actually played this film in class, on VHS. We were not supposed to watch violence films in school, but obviously she wanted us to experience something unique. Since i was pretty young at that time, i may not have taken Blade Runner under my arms completely. But after watching the film again, a couple of years later, i knew that this science fiction film from 1982 was something special. Director Ridley Scott have made a film, that looked completely different from anything i have ever seen before. It was not only the cinematography that looked amazing, but the characters, and the storyboard was also something unique. Harrison Ford as Detective Deckard became one of the most Iconic police officers of the 80´s, and Rutger Hauer as the replicant Roy Batty, had some of the best dialogue scenes in a futuristic science fiction film ever. There is no doubt that Blade Runner is still today, one of the all time classics in the sci fi genre, and is still loved by all ages and nationalities. I think that one of the reasons, why this film still works so well, is because we can relate to many humanitarian issues in the film. I also feel that the film managed to portrait the future in a very mysterious way. Even if it is not very realistic, you could tell that director Ridley Scott wanted to make sure that the film would look original. You might think that Blade Runner was a big box office success, back in the 80´s. It actually did not do well in box office numbers, but became a cult hit on VHS instead. So when a Director´s Cut was released in cinemas, people got a chance to see the film again, with some smaller changes from the original release. I have the Final Cut edition, a 5 dvd release, that includes different versions of the film, including a lot of special features. After many years from the original film´s release, there have been speculations if a sequel was going to be made. It seemed that it would not happen for a while, not until i heard rumors in early 2017, that a sequel was on the way. Everytime you hear a classic film is getting a sequel, you always start to wonder if this is a good idea. But when a trailer was finally released, i could not help sitting down bedazzled. The film looked amazing, by the few scenes you got to see from the film. And the cast of Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, and Harrison Ford coming back as Deckard, seemed too good to be true. When this sequel finally landed in cinemas, i had to experience the film. Do we have a sequel better than the original cult film, or is this a sequel that never should have been allowed to be released ?

In the year 2049, bioengineered humans called replicants have been integrated into society, as servants and slaves. Officer " Joe " K ( Ryan Gosling ), a newer replicant model, created to obey. He works as a blade runner for LAPD, hunting down, and retire older replican models. In Officer Joe´s home, he lives with his holpgraphic girlfriend Joi ( Ana de Armas ), an artificial intelligence product of the Wallace Corporation. Officer Joe´s investigation on a growing replicant federation, leads him to a farm, where here retires rouge replicant Slapper Morton ( Dave Bautista ). Here he finds a buried box. Forensic analysis reveal that the box contains the remains of a female replicant who died as the result of complications from an caesarean section. Officer Joe did not think it was possible for replicants to be pregnant. He is ordered to destroy all the evidence related to the case by his superior, Lieutenant Joshi ( Robin Wright ), and retire the child. She fears that is this information comes out, this could start a war between humans and replicants. Joe is disturbed by the idea of destroying the evidence, so he decides to dig deeper into the truth, by visiting the headquarters of Wallace Corporation. He finds out from Wallace Corporation Founder Niander Wallace ( Jared Leto ), who identify the body ( the evidence Joe found ) as Rachel, an experimental replicant. He also finds out about the romance between Rachel and former veteran blade runner Rick Deckard ( Harrison Ford ). While the investigation keeps going, Joe is about to find out something about himself, that will change his life completely.

When i first heard that a sequel to Blade Runner, was going to be made. I was very skeptical, because some films should be left alone. Remember the sequel to Escape From New York, simply called Escape From L.A. ? Yes, it is so bad, i can´t really describe what that film was. However, after having seen Blade Runner 2049, i think i can honestly say that i don´t feel sad. In fact, i am very impressed about this sequel. It looks gorgeous, and the tone of the film fits really well with the classic cult film, with a much bigger budget of course. Also, the acting is really good as well. Ryan Gosling in the lead role, as Officer Joe, is a perfect choice for the character. We already know that Ryan Gosling is one of the best actors, so he knows exactly how to make his character feel interesting. Harrison Ford is also back as Rick Deckard, and i have to say, he does one of his best perfomances in many years, here in Blade Runner 2049. To see him on screen, so many years since the original film, is a pure delightful moment. Jared Leto as the odd Niander Wallace, match perfect with the story, and the characters. He also deliver a very solid performance. One of the most important details of this film, is how beautiful the cinematography is by Roger Deakins. He really knows how to capture the essence of the world of Blade Runner, and i think he found a way to also surprise us with some unexpected details ( i won´t reveal anything here ). Director Denis Villeneuve have directed a lot of really good films over recent years, including Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival. He continues to deliver once again, and i can honestly say that Blade Runner 2049 is his most ambitious work so far as an director. The details that he manage to capture on camera, with this amazing futuristic world, is simply outstanding. I might have to say that this is his best film so far, as an director. I can´t remember the last time i watched a science fiction film, that is so well made as Blade Runner 2049. Is it better than the original film ? This is a tricky question, because i love the original film. But i will say this, technically, and story wise, this sequel delivers on a whole different quality level than the first film. I have no doubt saying this, Blade Runner 2049 is one of the biggest highlights of this year in cinema, and everyone should go and see this film. You won´t see any film as gorgeous looking as this film, that also deliver really solid acting. I think i might actually see it in a cinema again, since this is such an amazing film. Blade Runner in 1982 changed the world, i hope Blade Runner 2049 will be able to do the same, this is a film you can´t avoid.

Rating: DDDD