Replies (46)
Bladerunner movies never clicked for me. They deviate too far from the formula of the heroic journey.
It sure is pretty.
Haven’t watched it in some time (I should again) so can’t specifically comment on the issues you point out…but in general I really enjoyed it, and I can forgive some plot shortcuts for something so aesthetically pleasing.
I regard it as favorably as I do the original
I gave something like a B- or C+ but didn’t really think through why. But you’re right about the villains. I do remember them irritating me a bit.
Still haven’t seen it.
Agree. Flawed masterpiece maybe? I gotta rewatch it but there were aspects about the story I absolutely loved and aspects that were kinda ... not well threaded together.
I didn't enjoy it during my first watch in the cinema, if it wasn't for all the meme's I would have never given it a second chance.
One of my favorite movies of all time!
Masterpiece
Yes! there was some blog essay back in the day that encapsulated many of these perspectives (can't find it now). I felt like I was crazy at the time, because EVERYONE loved this, but I thought it was just sort of "mid."
A lot of it I think is because the original Blade Runner is just so thin of a text, and because that movie relies so much on a sort of "atmospheric" mood, that the result is that trying to flesh out the world into a 2 hr 44 min (!!) screenplay is stretching the concept past its breaking point.
So the "stitching" used stretch out this concept is a rogues gallery of 2010's tropes:
* The Jared Leto of it all
* Let's bring old and wizened Harrison Ford back to grouse and growl
* Uncanny valley Sean Young
* Action scenes going on way too long
* A Score of Pounding Noise by Hans Zimmer
There could have been a nice, tight 90-minute movie here if they just cut out more of this pseudo-spiritual stuff that doesn't really go anywhere
But overall loved the movie
Not perfect, still a modern classic to me
What I think is, I'm going to watched for a second time even harder
It’s been a while since I’ve watched it, but the original Blade Runner is in my top 5 sci-fi movies, so I went into 2049 pretty nervous. I really expected it to warp or cheapen the legacy, like we’ve seen happen to other beloved IP (Cowboy Bebop live action comes to mind).
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. To me, 2049 didn’t just avoid ruining the original, it expanded the world in a way that felt respectful, ambitious, and thematically consistent. I totally see what you’re saying about the melodramatic villain moments and some convenient plotting, but I think I was more forgiving of those because everything else (the atmosphere, score, pacing, visuals, emotional weight) landed for me.
So despite its imperfections, I came away feeling like it really added to the legacy. For me, it leans closer to masterpiece than missed opportunity.
Noderunners 2140. When will be on cinemas? 😉
its super pretty tho, every frame a painting
I rewatch it regularly. I think the reason I like it is a combination of the art direction, the picture it paints of tech capability in the not too distant future, as well as the starkness of the contrast between beauty and brutality, hope and despair. And I love the cast. Some examples of what draws me in are scenes like:
- Wallace’s assistant conducting orbital strikes on rebel positions with voice commands while getting her nails done
- the over-the-top initial fight scene
- the capability of K’s personal drone
- K’s efficiency in dealing with the armed pack of rebels that grapple his car out of the sky
- Wallace’s assistant’s bludgeoning of the lab manager and killing him with a single blow
- the perfect casting choice of Ana de Armas as Joi.
I think it’s a masterpiece. I was pleasantly surprised when I first watched it.
Thought it was boring. Fell asleep in the cinema. Love the aesthetic though.
Tbh I love villains giving melodramatic exposition monologues :)
The original Blade Runner and 2049 are exactly what the future will be like if we continue with fiat monies. Timeless cinema.
Agreed. For me, it was the visuals that stuck with me, really incredible. Especially when I saw it in the theater.
Hi-tech. Lowlife.
Didn't like it. It seemed to go nowhere slow. Didn't really like the Blade Runner either to be honest but still rate it better. Huge fan of Philip K Dick novels nonetheless.
As far as adaptations of his novels go, I thought A scanner darkly was on point.
A Scanner Darkly (film) - Wikipedia
Pretty good 🤗
Not for everyone but I'll always remember when I saw it with friends. Rain outside the entire time and about 3 other people in the theater on opening night. 🤌
As far as remakes of an original go, it's good.
For perspective, think Point Break.. 💀🔫
I appreciate a modern remake that doesn't disappoint the OG.
I had a hard time appreciating it. I don't know that I've given it a second watch though.
I recall it being eye candy and not much else that I particularly was taken in by.
I want to root for both villains and heroes. It’s hard to root for anyone who lacks reasoning skills. It lacks purpose. It’s lazy.
+ the existential quetions: can a non-human have a soul? do they deserve to live?
Also Wallace sees himself as saving humanity.
Bright side: we're blessed with an abundance of realistic villains in real life 🌤️
Never watched until now, just did..
Yeah I agree with you it could be a masterpiece but it's like they had to speed the writing and were in pressure to write it in time?
I imagine in a world like that, with that level of technology, a tech slave like the protagonist and his personal AI girl had too much "freedom" and self sovereignty. I believe now we have much more tech surveillance then what the protagonist had in his own house 😅
Lyn.. do a fork of it and make it more realistic.. something kinda BladeMandibles 2149.. nine years after the last block mined 👀🔥💜😁
One of my favorites just for the vibe. I watch it once a year.
I love it
Dave Bautista had a great appearance as a replicant
It’s one of my favorite films 🦅
Loved it but I'll need to rewatch it with that critical detail
It was *okay*.
The thing is that everything it tries to do, a different film or form of media has done it way better.
If they cut every scene with Jared Leto the movie would have been much better and shorter (it was too long as is)
Nice blend of blockbuster and arthouse in my opinion.
I loved it, more so than the original even. Felt the same with Tron: Legacy.
More importantly no Darryl Hannah which is a deal breaker
Exact same feeling. The cinematography was epic. I regularly think back to the scenes in the desert and next to the ocean.
I thought it was excellent the first time and less so the second time
It didn't stand out to me.
Its the studios medaling. Warner Bros is notorious for destroying story.
If you loved the movie, but felt like something was off... 9/10 it was the executives medaling.
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