A sumptuous sequel to Blade Runner that is in love with its own aesthetics but missing the soulfulness of its predecessor

Rating: 7/10 (21 October 2017)

I guess my expectation was a little too high for Blade Runner 2049. I enjoyed Sicario and Arrival, and was excited to see what director Denis Villeneuve would bring to the classic sci-fi world of Blade Runner.
My expectation was further built up after watching the three excellent short stories that the studio released on YouTube. They were wonderful short-films themselves. The narrative, the mood and the acting of the three shorts were nothing short of astounding.
Now I'd like to point out that Blade Runner 2049 is a really well made film. You can feel the passion and respect of the film crew and cast in revisiting the dystopian world first written by Philip K. Dick decades ago.
That story has been further expanded with intriguing new characters, both humans and replicants. However, at 47 minutes longer than the original movie, the film felt protracted. It seems Villeneuve is in love with his own storytelling as there were too many lingering shots over barren landscapes, the horse sculpture scenes and conversational points that felt somehow hollow.
Although the visual aesthetics is gorgeous and the production design is top notch, I feel that 2049 couldn't decide if it wants to be Blade Runner 2.0, or Ghost in the Shell. The first is an existential study of identity and memory wrapped in neo-noir detective story in a dystopian retro-future. While the latter is an existential study of soul/consciousness wrapped in an action hi-tech thriller.
Maybe Villeneuve or the screenwriters wanted 2049 to be both. Certainly, there are more and frenetic action sequences in this movie that for me, feels jarring when juxtaposed with the slow and contemplative sequences that almost drown the narrative flow of the second arc.
It didn't help that the soundtrack was heavily post-industrious with mechanical clanking screeching over nostalgic synthesizer of the original's. While, the overall cityscape and gears in 2049 are kept retro-futurist looking, this sequel has lost the neo-noir feel of the original. Contemplative scenes and longing gazes of the original are replaced by emotionless look and disconnection between the characters.
While the sense of mystery kept me engaged in the first half of the movie, the slow burn sequences in the middle and last part of the movie didn't really build up enough tension nor immersion in the story. So when the revelations of beloved characters showed up, they didn't feel so much as rewards but empty shells of their former selves.
I agree that both Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas are beautiful to look at, but there is something mundane about them that kept pulling me out of the futuristic world. Perhaps someone like Armie Hammer would have been a better choice than Gosling. There is also very little chemistry from K towards Joi, and I'm not sure if it was written to be that way. Because K's interaction with almost all the characters in the movie were cold and disconnected as well. He posed and fought well throughout the movie, but when it comes to the investigative or character building portion, he didn't feel natural.
I guess I found Detective K's character too stoic to sympathize with. More at home with his digital girlfriend than with humans, this blade runner does not exude enough emotion for me to understand his anguish outburst at the memories facility, neither did he hint at any stirring emotions that would make his character arc felt satisfying.
In the end Roy's tears in the rain was more poignant than K's tears in the snowfall. If Blade Runner was haunting and dark, 2049 is tragic and sleek. I do enjoy the plot twists and revelations, but wish they had substituted some (but not all) of the lingering shots with more character building, especially building up Bautista's Sapper and Leto's Wallace characters. I appreciate the nods to the original movies with a slightly updated Spinner design and cameos from both Gaff and Rachael.
In the end though, I'm glad they made this movie with such fervour and respect to its predecessor and to the original fans. It's just a pity that 2049 in my opinion lacks heart and soul of the original's. Who knows, perhaps like the original, I'll come to appreciate 2049 upon second or third viewing. Perhaps this movie is truly ahead of its time, much like Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.
One thing for sure, Blade Runner 2049 deserved to be experienced on the big screen. And it's a leap above Rupert Sanders' Ghost in the Shell.