Review: Blade Runner 2049
(MA15) Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright
Ridley Scott’s science fiction classic has confounded audiences since its 1982 release and has produced reactions over the years that range from admiration to frustration. Philip K. Dick’s vision of replicants trying to extend their lives in a dystopian Los Angeles was unlike anything in cinemas prior and continues to be a template for writers and directors. The two questions that most will ask about the new Blade Runner 2049 are if viewing the original is necessary before experiencing the sequel and more importantly if Villeneuve’s creation comparable to Ridley Scott’s original? But then again, how could anyone not have seen Blade Runner? It should be on anyone’s must-see list of classic films and it is essential to see before embarking on the 163-minute journey that comes with seeing the sequel.
To answer the second question, this film builds on the strengths of its predecessor but evolves into something more. It is hard not to compare the two, but once audiences see the first film and then see this latest version, audiences will realize that this is like viewing bookends of cinematic brilliance.