How is a problem like Rick Deckard solved? The proverbial Schrodinger’s protagonist has been trapped in a quantum state, as both Replicant and real boy, since the origami-unicorn finale of Blade Runner. Any sequel must answer the largest question in sci-fi, and, you can rest assured that Blade Runner 2049 does exactly that -sort of. But it is a testament to Denis Villeneuve’s scintillating cyberpunk sequel that the director renders the question of Deckard’s identity as not that important. This film has far bigger artificial fish to fry!
Not Your Average Superhero Smackdown
In the same way that real money blackjack is nothing alike the pomp and artifice of slots games, Blade Runner 2049 is galaxies away from the quirky, quip-ridden superhero smash-ups that can be said to dominate modern blockbusters. This film is a deliberately paced one, with rich themes to tell its neo-noir detective story that proudly eschews the sugar-rush action we’ve come to expect. It muses instead on subjects as tender and far-reaching as identity, isolation, and humanity, and makes for a far better experience as a result.
The Premise Has Been Kept Under Wraps
Remarkably, the entire premise for Blade Runner 2049, revealed in the film’s first five minutes, has magically been kept completely secret, and for good reason. It is a mystery box of a movie that is constantly being reconfigured, and seismic secrets get drip-fed throughout the detailed, meticulously constructed script by Michael Green and Hampton Fancher.
The Less You Know the Better
Don’t read up too much about the movie or check too many reviews, but here are the essentials: Blade Runner 2049 takes place 30 years after the first film, and K finds a secret that could well destroy the world.
This puts him on a collision course with Rick Deckard, and what follows is a clever, unpredictable enigma that serves to force you to piece together the clues, with the film’s dream-logic eventually coming together to form a very satisfying finale.
Villeneuve is Proved a Master
Villeneuve has proved more than a match for Ridley Scott in terms of being a builder of worlds, and perfectly preserved the filthy, retrofitted design of the first film whilst moving its vision of a ravaged North America forward in a very thrilling manner. Blade Runner 2049 is big-screen spectacle that will melt your retinas thanks to the cinematography, costume, production, design, and VFX all being next-level.
The film has been specially formatted for IMAX, so go and see it on the biggest screen you can. Every inch of this colossal venture dazzles, from the smoggy skylines of the urban sprawl that is LA to the breathtaking burnt-out Las Vegas wastelands. Nothing is ever anything less than awe-inspiring!
A Possible Sequel Already in the Works
In October of this year, Villeneuve said that he was sure a third film would get made if this one was successful. Fancher, who wrote both of the films, has also said that he was thinking about reviving an old story idea, one which would see Deckard travelling to another country, and Harrison Ford has stated that, if he liked the script, he would be open to returning.
