I think I should start this by saying that I'm a huge science fiction fan.
I love to read science fiction novels by authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Philip K Dick and a whole host of others.
Source: Imdb.com
I love all things science fiction. I'm constantly watching a new science fiction movie. They're not all great, but many of them are true masterpieces. In my opinion, a bad science fiction movie is much better than a good movie in any other genre.
Some of my very favorite movies are Blade Runner, The Matrix, Event Horizon, Aliens, Terminator, Close Encounters, The Thing, Donnie Darko, Mad Max.... pretty much anything that makes you think and is awesome.
Needless to say, I've seen the original Blade Runner movie probably about 100 times. I used to leave it on while I would lay in bed to help me get to sleep.
Do you like our owl?
It's artificial?
Of course it is.
and we're off to dreamland accompanied by the brilliant music of Vangelis.
It’s too bad she won’t live! But then again, who does?
There are so many amazing quotes in the original Blade Runner that I can't even begin to get started talking about them. Of course there is the line about Tears in Rain spoken by Rutger Howard which everyone knows too well.... but the truth is the entire movie is a treasure trove of brilliance.
Source: Giphy.com
So how can a movie that comes out 35 years later maintain the same level of amazement as it's predecessor?
Well, the first answer to that is really surprising to me.
Make it a direct sequel.
That's right, Bladerunner 2049 is a direct sequel to the original Blade Runner. It is not just a movie that takes place in the same world. In fact, the things that are going on in this movie are absolutely tied to the end of the first Blade Runner movie and revolve completely around Deckard and Rachel.
That's pretty cool for any diehard Bladerunner fan. However, for the casual viewer.... they will probably get lost in a world that they don't care much about because they haven't seen it before.
The argument is that this movie is very much too long. I never thought I would say that about any science fiction movie, but at 2 hours and 44 minutes I would have to agree on that point.
There is also very little action in this movie. Sure, there are a few brief fights.... and a couple of gunshots, but the reality is that nobody runs down a long corridor and gets chased while grabbing a stripper and smashing through a giant glass window..... nothing of great consequence that makes you go Oh hell yeah! happens either.
It is true that the first Blade Runner was not an action movie by any stretch of the imagination. However, it definitely had very clear points of interest. This movie is sort of like a mosaic that is lacking the brilliant music and also the beautiful scenery.
Source: Giphy.com
That's not to say there aren't beautiful parts to it....like walking through the bright orange desert.... however, I feel it could have been done in a way that would have drawn a lot more people in. Even die hard fans like myself were leaving the theaters wondering why we sat there for so long watching something that only barely resembles our beloved masterpiece.
Blade Runner 2049 is a very good movie.
It just doesn't seem to have what it takes to capture that same cult status as the original.
I really like the plot and I love the idea of what happens at the end of the last movie being tied into this one. It works really well in a lot of ways.
It also really misses the mark though. Harrison Ford's character doesn't seem much like Deckard to me. He's too bright eyed. Deckard was more of a badass. He would have been wearing a long flowing cloak. He would have been smoking a cigarette with a whiskey in his left hand the whole time. He would have been on top of everything.
Let's consider the fact that Sean Young is still alive. Why did she play no part in this movie? Is it because her character would not have aged? Well you know what.... they could have used CGI to make her look younger couldn't they?
Why did they not get another group that is of the same type as Vangelis to create a rocking soundtrack?
Source: Pixabay.com
The music is about half of enjoyment of the original movie. We're definitely missing something by not having a musical masterpiece playing in the background of this film.
Once again I will say that I like this movie, and I agree with its rating of 8.1 on IMDb. However, I think the original is the heck of a lot better because there were many missed opportunities in this sequel.
The acting by Ryan Gosling was quite good, and as a matter of fact he did seem very much like a Blade Runner.
Almost everyone else was forgettable though....as much as I hate to say it even though I really did like this movie it's not something that I will probably be thinking of in a couple of years. When it comes to watching something every night.... I'll stick with the original.
Bladerunner 2049 - TL; DR
