Author of adventure/thriller and horror fiction

  • Home
  • The Blog
  • Email List/Contact
  • Interviews
  • Apocalyptic
  • Horror
  • Military Thriller
  • Sci-fi/Fantasy
  • All books

BLADE RUNNER 2049

January 20, 2018 by Craig DiLouie Leave a Comment

2049-4

BLADE RUNNER 2049 took me back to one of my favorite dystopias and a movie I absolutely loved back in the 80s and have rewatched every few years since. 2049 does thorough justice to the original, continuing its story, atmosphere, and sense of tragedy, while creating something new. With BLADE RUNNER 2049, ARRIVAL, and SICARIO under his belt, Denis Villeneuve is now one of my favorite Hollywood directors.

2049-3

In 2049, the Tyrell Corporation has failed, but a new corporation has taken over to build replicants (Wallace Corporation, headed by a creepy Jared Leto, who has a terrific replicant assistant who does his dirty work). These replicants do the dangerous jobs nobody else can or will do, resulting in a slave class. K, a replicant (Ryan Gossling, who does a great job in the role despite my fears) is a “blade runner” agent, a police officer who tracks and terminates rogue androids. He uncovers evidence that a child was born to a replicant and human parent. For both humanity and replicants, this is a game-changing event that could trigger a replicant uprising. K’s investigation puts him in the crosshairs of the police, replicants, and Wallace Corporation, and leads him to Agent Deckard and the truth about himself and his reality.

I loved how they made this prostitute replicant look like Pris (Darryl Hannah) from the original.
I loved how they made this prostitute replicant look like Pris (Darryl Hannah) from the original.

2049 is as moody/atmospheric, filled with eye-candy, and powerful in its ideas as the original. Like Deckard, K is a tragic figure doomed to question his reality and everything he assumes is real. Future technology such as personal digital assistants designed as loving companions is perfectly weaved into the storytelling. The ending is as satisfying as it is tragic, as K embraces his reality and a cause bigger than himself, finding his humanity and authentic connection in the process. I particularly liked that Harrison Ford wasn’t expected to phone it in like he did in his reprisal of Han Solo; he cared and worked hard for the role, and unlike STAR WARS, there’s real meat and purpose to his character.

This priceless scene perfectly brings everything together and punches the theme of questioning reality and lack of love and connection for K.
This priceless scene perfectly brings everything together and punches the theme of questioning reality and lack of love and connection for K.

No criticisms, I clearly loved it. It’s a long movie, but I enjoyed the way the run time allowed the story to breathe and build gravitas through the incredible sets, effects, music, and atmosphere.

Filed Under: Movies & TV, The Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • APOCALYPTIC/HORROR
    • Apocalyptic
    • Art
    • Film Shorts/TV
    • Movies
    • Music Videos
    • Reviews of Other Books
    • Weird/Funny
    • Zombies
  • COMICS
    • Comic Books
  • CRAIG'S WORK
    • Armor Series
    • Aviator Series
    • Crash Dive Series
    • Djinn
    • Episode Thirteen
    • How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive
    • One of Us
    • Our War
    • Q.R.F.
    • Strike
    • Suffer the Children
    • The Alchemists
    • The Children of Red Peak
    • The End of the Road
    • The Final Cut
    • The Front
    • The Infection
    • The Killing Floor
    • The Retreat Series
    • The Thin White Line
    • Tooth and Nail
  • GAMES
    • Video & Board Games
  • HISTORY
    • Other History
    • Submarines & WW2
  • MEDIA YOU MIGHT LIKE
    • Books
    • Film Shorts
    • Interesting Art
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
  • POLITICAL
    • Politics
  • SCIENCE
    • Cool Science
  • The Blog
  • WRITING LIFE
    • Craig at Work
    • Interviews with Craig
    • Reader Mail
    • Writing/Publishing

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in