Blade Runner 2049: a visually stunning sci fi treat to run alongside the original

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2017)

Blade Runner 2049: Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Written by Hampton Francher and Michael Green.
The long awaited sequel to Blade Runner, an icon of science fiction cinema, has arrived for me to view. The director this time is the great Denis Villeneuve who made Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival, all terrific movies. I'm actually a big fan of this director. It started with Prisoners and Arrival really sealed the deal for me as far as this director is concerned. I was excited for this movie because of him. I'm also a fan of the original Blade Runner. I did see it, more than one version and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This movie is absolutely beautiful in its darkness. It is sumptious in the color scheme and the look of the movie. It is one of a kind. They spent a good chunk of money on this and it shows in every single frame of it. It is masterful in that regard.
It also brings some interesting questions about AI and what a world like that might be like. This is a fairly simple detective story shrouded in mythology, background information and existenial questions. The violence is brutal and intense but comes in short bursts. There is so much more to this world than just what we're seeing.
This is a marvelous movie but it has some issues. It's definitely too long. It feels it because it moves at a fairly slow pace. There are times where it feels like the movie is going nowhere. It is quiet and Ryan Gosling is so stoic that he's virtually silent as well. It does make you live in the moment. Live in the world with little to no light. It is a very good movie but if you don't have the patience to stay with this film, avoid. It is a very slow burn but worth it.
I give this movie a B.