Visually Stunning, languidly paced

Rating: 8/10 (7 October 2017)

I'm gonna get right to it - BLADE RUNNER 2049 is a visually and audibly stunning film, re-immersing the viewer into the fantastic world that was introduced in Ridley Scott's 1982 film, BLADE RUNNER. Director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) takes Scott's original vision in the first film and - using the technology available to him in this day and age - deepens and grows the world building to fantastical, heretofore never seen heights. Every frame of this film is like looking at an Art Masterpiece. This film will win just about every major technical and design awards come Oscar time.
But...is it a good film?
Picking up 28 years after the original, Blade Runner agent "K" (Ryan Gosling) is hunting down "older model" replicants for extermination. In the course of his investigations, he uncovers some evidence that will "change the course of civilization as we know it".
If only that were true.
Calling the pacing of this film "deliberate" is doing an injustice to the word "deliberate". Villeneuve, for obvious reasons, chooses to focus his cameras on the world and the effects - plot, character and plot developments be damned.
Gosling is the perfect choice to headline this film. He isn't flashy, doesn't call attention to himself and services the goals of the filmmakers (the effects) well. Is he good? Well...he's good enough. It's not a spoiler to say that Harrison Ford shows up, reprising his role as Deckard from the original film. He has the requisite "world weariness" required for his character in this time (much the same way his Han Solo in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS was world weary). Joining Ford in reprising his role from the original is the great Edward James Olmos as GAFF (in a cameo). All are welcome faces on the screen.
Joining them is Robin Wright as "K"'s boss (I would have liked to see more of her and her character), Jared Leto in his usual "unusual" turn as mega-billionaire Niander Wallace and Mackenzie Davis as "hooker with a heart of gold" Mariette and Sylvia Hooks as the "bad guy's henchman", Luv. Like Gosling, all are "fine" they service the plot and the effects well. Only newcomer (at least to me) Ana de Armas as "K"'s girlfriend, Joi rises above and is someone to look at - and be interested in - on screen against all of the magnificent visual and audible artistry.
The sound, music, editing and cinematography of this film brilliantly match the vision that Villeneuve has for this world, making it a magical, immersive and fascinating place to go. Just make sure you take a nap before you go to the theater. Based on the amount of snoring I heard during the quiet moments of this film, the languid pace and pretty pictures could lure you to slumbertown.
Letter Grade A- (knocked down from an "A" because of the "so-so" plot and slow pace)
8 (out of 10) stars - SEE THIS FILM IN A MOVIE THEATER with the largest screen and best sound you can find - it will be worth it!
And you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)