An elaborate fan-fiction that somehow manages to completely miss the point.

Rating: 7/10 (8 January 2018)

The thing is, Blade Runner didn't need a sequel. And even if it did, this wouldn't be it. It's not a 'bad' film. It's actually very scenic. Beautiful to look at. And the story is interesting. It's just not good enough to be a continuation of Blade Runner. Like Omar sez, 'if you come at the King, you best not miss'. If you're going to follow up on a classic like BR, you'd better bring it. Blade Runner is a poem. BR 2049 is a lengthy essay with liner notes.
I've read a some people saying that BR had a complicated story line. No. The setting was complicated. The story is actually rather simple when you deconstruct it: (lite spoilers) Harrison Ford is a bounty hunter who wants to retire. He's forced in for one more job and meets a girl. For all the sci-fi it's still noir. Everything else is the setting BR 2049 however has a complicated and, imo, cumbersome storyline. I will not spoil it because, in spite of my criticism, I think it's actually worth a view. But the story is elaborate and there are twists and turns which provoke a lot of unnecessary and awkward exposition. In the original, except for the narration in the theatrical release (which was dropped in subsequent versions) the dialog did not get stuck in expositional meandering. But BR 2049 loads twists on top of complexity and misdirection and even after all that, it really never captures what was great about the first film. You will find nothing even close to Rutger Hauer's iconic death soliloquy in this new film. The dialog is borderline rote.
The real beauty of the original is Ridley's Scotts visual and sonic poetry. It has genuine and original atmosphere which is strange and familiar at the same time. Scott's use of light and shadow creates haunting scenes. It's so beautiful you could watch it with the sound off... (but then you 'd miss the wonderful Vangelis score, which produced a hit, "Love Theme from Blade Runner".) BR takes its future setting for granted, and instead spends its theatrical energy introducing you to the people who occupy the realm. BR 2049 looks good, but seems to be constantly reminding you 'this is the future! Look at all the cool gadgets." And that sets you outside the story.
Last note: the original Blade Runner has no villains. Everyone is caught up in the currents of their various situations. They're all doing what they think they need to do to survive. Rutger Hauer is a bad guy... until you really understand his back story. And there is a underlying tone of tragedy to all the violence. But BR 2049 features a psychotic villain who everybody wants to see die. There's no nuance to that character. There's no tragedy in any of the violence.
In a weird way, BR 2049 is itself a 'replicant'. It looks like a Blade Runner film, even has a couple of the original characters nestled into the storyline... but it doesn't feel real. Not awful by any means but doesn't have anything like the creative fire necessary to bear the title 'Blade Runner'. It was enjoyable but ... 'unnecessary'; continued the story in a way that was complex and clumsy and not needed. The fate of the original characters was better left to the imagination.
BR 2049 is like an elaborate fan-fiction that somehow manages to completely miss the point.