Movie of the decade

Rating: 10/10 (31 October 2019)

This is easily one of the best sci-fi movies (or any genre really) that I've ever seen and Denis Villeneuve is possibly my new favourite director since David Lynch. Everything from the direction, cinematography, acting to the soundtrack, screenplay etc is great. It stays true to the original yet is its own thing, and does it so sublimely that it is the type of rare sequel that enriches the original.
The only complaint one could possibly have is with the slow pace and that it's not easy viewing like the average popcorn flick, though that has more to do with one's expectations. It is an intense and long film and not really suited for anyone with a short attention span or made for instant gratification. Other than that though, one doesn't get to see such outstanding and beautifully made movies too often. There are many movies that undeservedly earn the 'masterpiece' tag (the best current example in 2019 being the highly overrated Joker film), but a couple of years before that came this bonafide masterpiece that comparatively speaking slipped under the radar and didn't get as much attention. Villeneuve gives a masterclass in what a character study actually should be, and It's difficult to imagine how much worse BR2049 would have been in the hands of a hack like Todd Phillips or vice versa.
This is easily the best movie of the decade for me and definitely up there with the best I've ever seen, apart from also being possibly the best sequel ever.