A suitable follow-up that stands on its own

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2017)

Following up on a cult sci fi classic is not quite impossible. But it is close. Villeneuve's task is Herculean, and he basically nails it. From the visual scope to the sonic experience to the slowly evolving mystery, this movie returns to the world of Blade Runner...while also offering something new that stands on its own. It is cinematic and emotional and stunning. That said, a lot has changed since 1983. This film is great, but it is hard to impress me with visuals now, and stories about noir near futures are not novel anymore. I'm not sure we needed another Blade Runner, and I could have re-watched "Her" to get the same themes. But if we were gonna do another one, I'm glad this director was around to make it happen.