A beautiful story, in every way

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2020)

The original 'Blade Runner' is a sci-fi classic, and I was concerned about whether the new installment in the franchise will be a worthy descendant. Fortunately, it exceeded all my expectations, and while my rating wasn't that high at first, I think I have to give it a 10.
It's definitely not a movie for action fans. It lasts almost 3 hours, and the pace is relatively slow. We meet K, a replicant, whose job at LAPD is to hunt and kill other replicants. After he discovers the remains of an artificial woman who was in some way able to birth a child, he embarks on a journey to discover his true self and hunt down the remaining memories of an unclear past.
A fair share of the movie's runtime is dedicated to character study. We are asked questions about what is human, and is K really that different from actual flesh-and-blood humans. The part that stole my heart was his relationship with Joi, an AI girlfriend. I constantly think about how much of their mutual affection was computer programming, and how much was true love that somehow managed to defeat the emotional limitations of machines.
For me, the most heartbreaking part was when K is brutally confronted with the truth that he's not really the chosen child, and is merely one of millions of regular replicants.
The story is strong, but there is one aspect of the movie that is even stronger - the visuals. There are two main settings throughout the movie - a neon urban jungle, and a red desert, with ruins scattered all over it. Both of these settings, as well as the minor ones, are so visually pleasing you could screenshot a random frame and make it your wallpaper.
All of these aspects add up to a truly amazing picture, and if someone can appreciate a movie that isn't packed with action and thrills, they will appreciate it