Come for the meta existential crises; stay for the holographic giantesses! One of the year's best films.

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2017)

BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017) **** Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, And a de Armas, Robin Wright, Jared Leto, Syliva Hoeks, Hiam Abbass, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Edward James Olmos, Sean Young, Barkhad Abdi, Wood Harris, David Dastmalchian. Superior and epic sequel to the sci-fi noir classic Blade Runner set 30 years after the original with rookie future cop Gosling (well-played in stoic low-key turn) who is tasked to find the hybrid offspring of a replicant and a human in the fear of a new spawn of mankind being overtaken in the process in the ever-raining post-apocalyptic dystopia of Los Angeles and discovering that things are not as they appear to be. Ford reprises his ever-disgruntled Rick Deckard providing some insight to the journey into fear with a still-waters-run-deep performance of genuine pathos and poignancy. A superlative screenplay by Michael Green and original scribe Hampton Fancher interweave a tapestry of genuine dread and ultimate redemption while gleaning touchstones from the source of Ridley Scott's (who executive produced) masterpiece and a largely female ensemble cast to keep things lively including avatar Joie (ethereal de Armas); linchpin memory scientist Juri and icily scary android with a touch of homicidal loyalty Hoeks. Director Denis Villeneuve's Herculean task to appease the purists and evoke a new audience dovetails splendidly with some truly stunning visuals (a must to see in IMAX), a Vengelisean score by veteran composer/genius Hans Zimmer and Banjamin Wallfisch and gorgeous cinematography by ace dp Roger Deakins. Come for the meta existential crises; stay for the holographic giantesses! One of the year's best films.