Film Review: Blade Runner 2049 (5 out of 5)

As a science fiction fan, the 1982 film Blade Runner has been my all-time favourite movie since I first saw the original in the cinema and then was even more impressed with the director's cut.
Blade Runner 2049Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049

So, along with many others, I was very keen to see, but a bit worried about, a sequel all these years later.

Inevitably, there’s going to be a comparison with the original which was pre-CGI, had incredible sets and also revelled in an impressive score from Vangelis.

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Thankfully, director Denis Villeneuve has a good pedigree, particularly with the excellent Sicario (2015).

And he’s come up trumps with this follow-up film.

It’s set 30 years later and we meet a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling).

On a regular mission to track down an old model replicant, K discovers a buried secret that threatens to disrupt what’s left of civilisation.

There’s many a nod to the 1982 movie, and the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch is very much in keeping with Vangelis’ concept.

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Earth hasn’t really moved on in the intervening 30 years, with pollution, rain and grime the order of the day. The rich have moved off-world leaving the planet to decay.

At 163 minutes, this film is getting on for an hour longer than the first movie, but we are on a journey of discovery with K, with the same kind of questions raised about life and existence that were a vital part of director Ridley Scott’s movie.

It’s no real spoiler to say that Harrison Ford is back as blade runner Rick Deckard in a vital role to the plot.

There’s great performances by everyone involved, with Robin Wright, Ana de Armas and Jared Leto and Gosling in top form.

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I’m still happy to have the 1982 Blade Runner as my favourite film but this is a very worthy sequel.

Film details: Blade Runner 2049 (15) 163mins

Directors: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas

Screening courtesy of Horsham Capitol