a review of 银翼杀手2049

Being a long-time fan of the original Blade Runner, a classic piece of cinema that redefined science-fiction aesthetics, Blade Runner 2049 had to live up to almost impossible expectations. I had deliberately postponed watching Blade Runner 2049 because of this. But in 2023 I finally gave it a go, and it didn't disappoint. I guess you should view this as a tribute to the original, not as a successor. And Villeneuve managed to turn Blade Runner 2049 into a respectful tribute. I liked the sense of desolation and detachment throughout the film, reminiscent of Villeneuve's Enemy (2013), which I liked a lot. I also liked the subtle odes to the original Blade Runner's brilliant soundtrack by Vangelis, and the fact that both Blade Runners feature a Dutch actor in a prominent role. Despite the 2017-grade CGI, the effects of the original Blade Runner still feel more credible, because they didn't use CGI back then in 1982, but scale models. Blade Runner 2049 also includes scale models, but the majority of the effects was done with CGI, resulting in scenes that are a bit too slick. Also, the film could have been about half an hour less lengthy, but I guess Villeneuve needed the two and a half hours to establish the slow-burning fever dream he envisioned. All in all, Blade Runner 2049 was worth the watch, but the original Blade Runner is in a class of its own. Read my review of the original Blade Runner here: https://letterboxd.com/metinseven/film/blade-runner/1/