I’ve already given my thoughts on “Blade Runner,” along with my experiences with the movie, and what has changed about my opinion since I first viewed it. I still believe the film is overrated, but I do have a stronger appreciation for it, considering it’s a film that has gotten people talking about it to this day. And with The Final Cut, it really allows you to soak in the true meanings behind the film and be engulfed in this world that has so much to learn about it. It is a film that does stand the test of time, regardless of flaws.
Word of a sequel being made first
popped up in 1999, but nothing was getting off the ground until 2014, when
Ridley Scott confirmed it was being made. It not only had Scott returning to
produce the film, but it had Hampton Fancher returning to write the script,
with help from Michael Green. Green also worked with Scott earlier in the year
on “Alien: Covenant,” but also had “Logan” under his belt, as well as the
upcoming “Murder on the Orient Express” film. Harrison Ford also
agreed to reprise his role of Rick Deckard as well, much like with what he did
with “Han Solo” a couple years prior, and the film was set to star Ryan Gosling
as a new Blade Runner.
Only
burning question left was, who was going to direct the movie, and the answer we
got was Denis Villeneuve. At the time, Villeneuve was already best known for
“Prisoners” and “Enemy,” and had just wrapped “Sicario” at the time of his
attachment. It left me a bit cautious, as I wasn’t too big a fan of “Sicario,”
but last year had my worries put to rest, after witnessing Villeneuve’s last
movie: “Arrival.” If you haven’t seen “Arrival,” then by all means, stop
reading and go watch it. “Arrival” was not only a true modern sci-fi
masterpiece, but it really had the kind of intellectual flare that very few
sci-fi movies have. Seeing that movie allowed a sense of comfort to be brought,
knowing that a film maker with the kind of tenacity and ambition as Villeneuve,
was going to be handling a project such as this. And from what I was seeing, it
got me invested in revisiting the original again.
I
saw the film at a double feature with the first at one of my local Regal theatres,
because apparently only one Regal per city was allowed to do it or something,
and I’ve given this film a good amount of time to think on. So now the question
everybody wants to know is this: what are my thoughts on the movie? Do I join
the crowd of critics and cinephiles that are astounded by it, or am I in the
minority that thinks it’s a long, bloated, overrated mess, seeking attention
for people to listen? Well, let me say that “Blade Runner 2049” is not only
good, but I would dare even put it among other legacy sequels. “The Godfather
Part 2”; “Aliens”; “Silence of the Lambs”; “Terminator 2”; “The Dark Knight”;
“Mad Max: Fury Road”; now “Blade Runner 2049.”
But
what exactly makes me put it up at that level of praise? Because it does one
thing that many sequels tend to have trouble doing, and that’s expand the
future it created. Almost all of the advertising and technology that you saw in
“Blade Runner” is kept in continuity for the sequel, like Atari and Cocoa-Cola
reigning supreme in the gaming and soda wars. They never showcase any current
trends or politics, no social media is present, and doesn’t feature any of the
tech we got later on, like smart phones. It wasn’t a film that was being made
for the same reason as any other sequel like “Kingsman The Golden Circle,”
“Spiderman: Homecoming,” or “Transformers The Last Knight” were commissioned.
It felt like this was a film that was purely made to introduce more to this
world, in a way that feels like it was important. And all the new tech that
they do showcase does feel in tune with how this world would evolve in its own
version of 2019 to 2049. It really is spectacular to see Hampton Fancher write
this world as if it was just the very next day, but especially to see Dennis
Villeneuve both surpass and honor it like it was just now being created.
What
also makes this especially important to go see on a big screen is the
cinematography and score. Roger Deakins has had such a keen eye with a camera,
and out of all the movies that he’s worked on as director of photography, I
would most definitely say this is his best work yet. The look of this film is
practically orgasmic to witness, it looks so beautiful. Every shot and frame of
this movie has such a rich and captivating aura to it, really feeling like
you’re looking into a world that’s both familiar and not…if that makes any
sense. And the score by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch is similar in that
familiarity I talked about, but it really emphasizes just how majestic and epic
this film is.
Ryan
Gosling is absolutely spectacular as the new Blade Runner; with him being a
replicant, you have a whole new wave of possibilities to work off of,
considering he’s not lucky like Deckard to have a Rachael in his life, and his
involvement with this case has much more secrets to it than he had hoped. His
arc really does go into themes about life and what our true purpose is, and if
we really have a destiny of our own set to happen. Gosling carries those ideals
with a great deal of strength, and I don’t know anyone else who could have done
it better. After this, “The Big Short,” “La La Land,” and “The Nice Guys,”
seems like Gosling is having quite the winning streak.
Harrison
Ford return as Deckard is especially welcome, and it was actually nice to see him
in a sequel role that he’s actually invested in. While he doesn’t really appear
until much later in the film, you definitely feel his presence throughout the
film, especially in the beginning. And when he does show up, it feels
rewarding, and the scenes that he and Gosling share really showcase some of the
best acting that Ford has given in a long time. Now a big question people have
is, do they confirm Deckard is a replicant? Thankfully, they don’t, and I’m
really glad for that. This tells me that the people behind this more than
respect their audience, by keeping that mystery a secret, as opposed to
confirming a side and disappointing the others. And it also adds onto more
questions about replicants than we thought, wouldn’t you say?
As
for any problems I had with the film, there were two big problems I used to
have with the film. For a runtime almost at 3-hours, I questioned why it needed
to be as long as it did, but after going into it again, I almost didn’t want it
to end, because I was just so captivated by what was on screen; maybe I was
just tired when I first saw it. The other problem I used to have with the film
was Jared Leto; he wasn’t bad, but much like with “Suicide Squad,” he was so
hyped up, but barely has twenty minutes of screen time. At first, I asked why
would they even bother getting Leto for the part, but it could be just on the
part of mis-marketing, which is why I don’t like watching trailers anymore. I’ll
even admit, I have not watched the new “Star Wars” trailer, so I don’t know
what people are pissed about in it.
So
with this big resurgence for the “Blade Runner” story, should there be third one? Well, I think it is possible to make it a trilogy, but there’s no need to
rush it. I feel like if they did want to do a third one, they would play
this smart and give it a few years to get the correct story going for it. That,
and you would have to make sure everyone is fully dedicated to it; this film
would not have been as good if you didn’t have people who cared about it like
they did. So keep it in mind: plan it out, don’t go rushing it.
With
that said, “Blade Runner 2049” is an absolute masterpiece, and I’m so happy to
have seen it when I did. If you love the first film, I guarantee you that
you’ll fall in love with “2049.” From its cinematography, to its writing, the
scope of the world, the lead performances, the new possibilities to theorize
and talk about…it’s a film that I’ve been pining to see come alive for so long.
If there is one sci-fi epic that you must absolutely see this year, it’s this
film. Much like with “Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Martian,” “Gravity,” and
Villeneuve’s last film “Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049” is the next modern sci-fi
classic of the year.
Rating: A+
And with another month of October done, so passes another Halloween. Thank you all for joining me on our fourth year of Halloween reviews for the month, and I hope to do this again next year, for our 5th celebration. I know I kind of cheated a little bit, re-talking about a couple horror films I talked about in previous vlogs, but you never exactly know when someone's mind does change after a while. That, and I was aware about half of the reviews were more sci-fi related than horror, but don't worry. I'll change that next year. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to finish up "Stranger Things" season 2.
Happy Halloween, everypony!
No comments:
Post a Comment