Blade Runner 2049 might be to Blade Runner as Aliens is to Alien

Rating: 10/10 (8 October 2017)

And maybe to an extent Denis Villeneuve to James Cameron in achieving such a feat.
When it was announced that a sequel was planned, I was the least enthusiastic. I felt that it was unnecessary and a forced cash-in on the resurgence of science fiction franchises like Prometheus, Mad Max, and Star Wars. After seeing the movie, one could say that the movie still checks out on the points mentioned above but what Denis Villeneuve has created is something truly special.
The visuals are a wonder to behold especially in IMAX. The 3D employed here is subtle and immersive, appropriately so for a movie of this kind. The score is also superb, reminiscent of Vangelis score with a few touches from Hans Zimmer. I admired the amount of care given to the movie's established trademarks from the feel of the film down to the technical aspects.
With a story that intrigues while expanding the universe, Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy equal to its predecessor. Seeing the trailers back then, it was hard to imagine they could pull it off but they succeeded on all fronts. In my opinion, this is the best film of 2017 so far.