"And blood-black nothingness began to spin"

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2019)

Being a sequel for an important movie is never an easy task. Blade Runner 2049, however, not only carried respectfully the legacy of the first movie it has also deepened it in many points. The moral dilemas shown in the first movie are even more exploited in this sequel. If at first we had a human as the protagonist, this time we have a replicant that also happens to be a blade runner. The various ethical questions brought by the original movie this time get overshadowed by nothing. Following through the steps of K (Ryan Gosling) we delve in the nature of replicants and their struggle for a right to exist. A lot has changed since the first movie, do not be fooled thinking it is just a repetition. As the title suggests, the movie is set in 2049; Los Angeles is still a dystopian city, it seems as if nothing has really changed since the past the first movie is set in. If the first movie left us questioning if replicants indeed were as similar as humans, this movie gives a direct answer. The replicants exist solely for the purpose of serving humans, something voiced loudly by Niander Wallace (Jared Leto), the ceo of Wallace Corporation - "Every leap of civilization was built off the back of a disposable work force. We lost our stomach for slaves, unless engineered. But I can only make so many".
The plot of this movie revolves around a single premise - A replicant gave birth to a human child, doesn't it mean they are as humans as their maker?
Needless to say the earth is a decadent place and every human effort is to upgrade off-world domains, but the process is only possible if we have someone to do it for us - that's why we make humans, but upon giving them a different name we can deprive them of their rights.
The replicants who are aware of the so called "miracle" , though, hope for a better future and through the years have made preparations for a possible clash. The one who pushes the plot forward is K as he delves into a case that is apparently impossible to solve. Upon finally discovering the truth of it all, K concludes his character arc in one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen. The huge plot twist in the end is gobsmacking, but it also seems like a prelude for another chapter. Rick Deckard gets back into the story, but in the end this story has always been about him - but it also goes beyond him and his personal reasons. The philosophical questions raised by this movie are deep, the execution is subtle and many questions are answered whilst many others surface. The visuals once again are mesmerizing, the cultural mix is still there and the world is very atmospheric. The soundtrack is very different from the fist movie, and although I prefer the soundtrack by Vangelis, Hans Zimmer did a very good job in creating a modern sound for a modern movie. There are many details that are impossible to include in their entirety in this small review - such as K's relationship with Joi, then again going into the replicant nature and how human they feel and act. Past characters are remembered and still relevant for the plot, new ones are introduced but not rushed. This movie is a masterpiece and despite the change in the direction, it's still up to par the original Blade Runner. Congratulations to Denis Villeneuve - I hope to see what the future shall bring, I'm excited.