Brisbane’s pop-punk upstarts Two Times Shy are soaring lofty heights as they let loose their …
Films like Tron: Legacy and Jurassic World offered dreary re-entries into a once fun world. As fun as Star Wars: The Force Awakens was, it was basically a rehash of the first film.
The chances of a sequel to cult classic Blade Runner didn’t look good, especially with the number of recuts made available due to director Ridley Scott’s dislike of the ones available. But Blade Runner 2049 is an impressive feat of filmmaking transcending the original film.
It’s 30 years since Deckard (Harrison Ford) abandoned his job hunting down replicants, falling in love with one. During that time, Earth suffered a 10 day blackout, wiping all digital records, and the Tyrell Corporation went bankrupt and released replicants with indefinite lifespans. Deckard’s job has been taken over by K (Ryan Gosling), a newer model of replicant who hunts down older ones and retires them. On a mission to retire Sapper Morton (Dave Bautista), K discovers a box of bones, revealing a secret that could put the world in jeopardy. K is tasked with destroying all evidence related to the bones, including Deckard.
Blade Runner 2049 is a spectacular feat in filmmaking. It takes the strongest elements of the original, heightens them, and delivers perfection, surpassing the original.
Much like the original, Blade Runner 2049 offers deep questions about what humanity is. It makes sense Denis Vellenuve directed, especially after his work on the Academy Award-nominated Arrival, which also asked complex questions. Where the film exceeds is in its noir storytelling. The film twists and turns in unexpected directions, with each reveal a shock. There is nothing predictable about this film, keeping audiences captivated throughout and making its nearly three hour runtime go by quick.
Everything about Blade Runner 2049 is thoughtful and powerful. The visuals are stunning; rain-soaked and grey with hints of neon peeping through. The sound design is immersive, especially with Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch’s replication of Vangelis’ original score. And the acting is superb: Gosling can’t scowl, but the torture and curiosity he expresses are stirring; and Sylvia Hoeks is brilliantly threatening as the antagonistic replicant Luv.
Blade Runner 2049 is a spectacular feat in filmmaking. It takes the strongest elements of the original, heightens them, and delivers perfection, surpassing the original. Blade Runner 2049 will no doubt go down as a classic. See it in cinemas now to get the best experience of a great film.
Stick This Next To: Blade Runner, Arrival, Chinatown
Rating: 9/10
