Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Jared Leto.
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Release date: 5th October 2017
The year is 2049, and LAPD Detective K (Ryan Gosling) is on a mission to hunt down a rogue replicant (bio-engineered human). He tracks the guy down and a vicious and deadly fight ensues. While doing a search later, K discovers a mysterious box buried under a tree. Its contents begin a whole new line of enquiry, and K begins to question his whole ‘being’. It takes him on a perilous but enlightening journey. Where did he come from and how is he connected to all this mystery?
‘Blade Runner 2049’ is set 30 years after the original ‘Blade Runner’ movie, which starred a young Harrison Ford in the lead role, released back in 1982. The first movie was set in Los Angeles in 2019 and told the story of a future in which these ‘synthetic humans’ are created by a company called Tyrell Corp., to send to off-world colonies to work. A rebel group of ‘replicants’ manage to escape and flee to Earth, where a down-trodden LAPD Detective, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) accepts his final job, which is to track down the missing fugitives. While on his journey, he meets a female replicant who changes his whole perspective.
This new sequel is produced by the genius that is Ridley Scott (Alien, The Martian, American Gangster) and directed by the brilliant Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival). The movies are based on the novel, ‘Do Androids Dream’ by the American author, Philip K. Dick, which was first published back in 1968. The book though is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco instead of LA.
Being the sequel to a ‘cult’ and iconic movie, such as Blade Runner was never going to be easy but Blade Runner 2049 is absolutely fantastic. Visually stunning from start to finish, the movie takes you to a future that very few of us would probably want to exist in. Desolate, sparse and seemingly with constant rain and snow, the Earth of 2049 is one full of amazing technology and bizarre fashion statements. Ryan Gosling wouldn’t have probably been my first choice for the lead role, but he does a really great job as Detective K. I was really happy when Harrison Ford’s Rick Decker made his first appearance, with an added doggy sidekick. The story arc is very easy to follow, though I’m embarrassed to say that I struggled a tiny bit with the original movie’s plotline. Maybe I need to re-visit it again…
If like a few of people, you’re wondering if you should definitely have seen the first movie before you watch this new one, then the answer is probably yes. Things will make more sense if you know the original story so give it a watch.
Suspense, thrills, punch-ups, a dark, distant possible future and a constantly rain sodden Ryan Gosling makes this definitely one to watch. Quite a lot of nudity throughout the movie, but if you’re not too bothered about various bodily parts popping up on the screen, then all good.
Seriously… this film will leave you open-mouthed with wonder. Coming in at 2hrs 43mins, it’s a long old movie, but the story will keep you glued from start to finish. Make sure you see it on the Big Screen!
Overall: 9/10
