Big Screen Favorites: Blade Runner 2049

The original Blade Runner is a film that has spawned a legion of loyal fans, and intense debate from all sides regarding its themes and plot. I, for one, have never been a huge fan of it--it is a film with interesting ideas and great performances, but the majority of it feels dull and sluggish to me. However, I resolved to go into the sequel with an open mind, largely due to the fantastic director Denis Villenueve (Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival) being at the helm. And unfortunately, while there was plenty to marvel at in this movie, I ultimately left feeling rather cold about the story.

To get the biggest positive out of the way first--this film is a technical masterpiece, perhaps one of the best-looking films to ever be released. I found myself glued to the screen whenever wide shots were given a chance to showcase the beautiful world that Villenueve has expanded on from the original. This is a universe that feels lived in and organic, unlike many other film universes that have been created over the years, and for that I would say the film is worth the price of admission in spite of its other flaws. While action scenes are sparse, the few that are there feel intense and unlike anything seen before--one particular scene near the end might qualify as one of my favorite fight sequences of the past few years.

It's a shame that the story could not match the astounding visuals for me. There are some good twists and emotional moments, along with great performances from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, but there were so many portions of the film that I felt simply stagnated--and I am someone who enjoys a "slow burn" type of film. This sluggish pacing is the exact same problem that I felt the original suffered from, and it holds me back from regarding the film as the masterpiece I believe it could have been.

In spite of this, this movie is worth seeing if you simply want to feel awe-inspired by some of the best visual effects work to ever be created. In that area it truly is a masterpiece, but I wish I could have felt more enthralled by the script than I was. I would award this film 3.5/5 stars.