Review for Blade Runner: 2049

Rating: 7/10 (11 October 2017)

Blade Runner: 2049
Even though I haven't seen the first Blade Runner, I was able to enjoy this film and learn the world as it went on. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie, which takes place 30 years after the first film. The main character "K" played by Ryan Gosling, uncovers a mystery that could change the game for androids (aka replicants) in this universe. Speaking of Ryan Gosling, he does a great job acting in this movie despite playing a serious character.
At around 2 hours and 45 minutes, this movie sounds long but is actually well paced. The first 2/3rds of the movie move along well, while also having several scenes that hold on a shot. It's the mystery plot that really moves the story along and unfolds in an interesting way. The last third of the movie feels a bit rushed to wrap up the story and I found the ending to be a bit anti-climatic.
A big reason why I enjoyed this movie, not only do I like a good mystery, is the cinematography. The visuals, the sets, the landscapes, this movie looks gorgeous! All of the sets look real and gives a great sense of what life is like in this future world. The sound is also well done, with a few moments that I found out of place. The soft notes in the background worked really well and contrasted the moments of booming synthesizers. The music really compliments the noir setting of this world.
Without spoiling too much of the movie, there is one story line that I thought was intriguing and emotional. There is a love story between a replicant and a hologram. I find it fascinating that two forms of artificial intelligence seek companionship with other, one without a physical form. It raises this question: of do these replicants to have feeling and emotions? Can they be programmed to simulate feelings? While these questions, and several others, are not answered, it is still thought-provoking.
There are a lot of things this movie nails, and a few that don't hit, such as the ending, and the unanswered questions. Overall this is a movie that looks great on the big screen with an engaging plot that will have you questioning what is actually going on. It is a dense story with a lot of callbacks to the first movie. Eventually I might watch the original Blade Runner, but for now, I'd rather watch 2049 a second time.