"I did your job once - I was good at it." "Things were simpler then."

Blade Runner: 2049

Mini Review

[05th of October, 2017]

The reputation around the original Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is daunting at first when I only heard of it but soon fully understand the late cult hit after watching the Final Cut. With Harrison Ford's final tour of his most recognizable roles in his career started with Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise and while Indiana Jones is waiting on the sideline with Steven Spielberg tries to clean up his schedule, it is inevitable that Rick Deckard would be next in his itinery. While Ridley Scott began to venture back into his own other popular classics, he found the next best thing as his predecessor in Dennis Villeneuve to handle this delicate project. It is a nigh impossible task to flesh out the universe of the Blade Runner since the original was focused mainly on the main protagonist's journey through a lived-in and breathing universe, the former solely on the foreground and the latter lingering on the background.

Despite the insurmountable odds, they achieved the impossible by expanding the mythology and flesh out the concept with new inventions and characters without alienating and overshadowing the original's concepts. With the original director watching over as the producer, Denis' past works of criminal tension in Sicario and emotional tension in Prisoners for example colour him to be the best capable candidate to handle this delicate sequel with the original creator on the wings as helping guidance and perfect support. Besides his recognized skills directing behind the camera, it is his collaboration with a legend behind the lens that has been what fans are looking for, Roger Deakins. This third movie together after Sicario and Arrival showcased the genius cinematographer's capability by first understanding the distinct signature appearance and looks of the dystopian Los Angeles and then update it with this newer iteration while expanding the scope to the benefit of this expansion.

Blade Runner's world is beautifully realised by the production team and gorgeously captured by the cinematographer, it is a natural extension from the 1982 film with how everything looks and the inhabitants living in it. No words could have recapture the visuals faithfully (if you haven't figure out by now, I'm not that good in reviewing) but in this rare instance, it is the case of the more the better as the world feels believably larger yet does not suffer from the 'sequelitis'. As the first revolves around Rick's personal journey while questioning his position of authority and also his own identity, the second took the effort to do something new as K is stated straight away (!minor spoiler!) a replicant but then begins to question his identity in another intriguing aspect and then his position in the proceeding revelations. It mirrors the original to a tee as the focus is solely on the younger main protagonist while the retiree comes into view to add and enhance this brand new adventure in a beloved Ridley Scott invention, as prior watch of the original would definitely add to the viewing experience.

I apologize for this incoherent mess of a review. I have hard time to put my thoughts into writing that even after a week, the lingering feeling from the movie still leaves me contemplating on many aspects of the sequel in a good way. If you are not familiar with the property but interested on the premise alone, please do watch it as it is one of the most rewarding watch this year could offer so far. If you are hesitant of this longtime coming followup but trust or at least would take into account my perspective, please do not hesitate to watch 2049 as it is at least a worthy continuation of the legacy. Whether or not you would agree with the many online claim of "masterpiece", you would have to watch it for yourself and make your own opinion on it. Then let me know how you feel!

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That's is for now ... please tune in for my full review in the future. Until next time!