The entirety of males in the audience dashed for the toilet at the end before the credits had barely started rolling. yes it's a bladder-buster, and it would make little sense without watching the original, but it IS worth it. It's not as classic - the original is visually-stunning, poetic, atmospheric, haunting and cast-abulous - but it takes the premise and works in a very very good plot with a very good cast and suitably dystopian visuals and effects. I could nitpick a couple of plotholes, and one unanswered issue with errr no trees but everyone breathing quite happily, but overall a good 8 out of 10. It may be a grower (like the original) and end up 9 or 10/10.

 

The ending, of course, just screams "sequel"....

There's almost too many things I could say about this film, so I'll be brief. Blade Runner 2049 is a rare thing, especially from Hollywood these days, but occasionally, once in a while a Sci-Fi film treats it's audience as grown ups - it's usually comic book nonsense (Marvel/DC), explosions and dumbass giant robots (Mr Bay) or shallow space fantasy (Star Wars). - Even Star Trek has given up on any profundity. Don't get me wrong, all of these deserve their place in the world and have merit (except maybe Transformers) and I enjoy much of it but none of those offer much room for more than a fleeting thought, focusing on big action set pieces or pithy one-liners.

Far too few films treat the audience with the intelligence they deserve, and this film does that. It allows you time to think, it immerses you in a world that feels lived in and real and it doesn't feel the need to give you all the answers. Indeed, the nature of Deckard has been much discussed for over 30 years and will continue to be so for many more. BR2049 avoids all the obvious pitfalls with skill and an understanding of why the original endures so much to this day and respects that film's deeper textures.

The only recent Sci-Fi I can think of with a similar, thoughtful, philosophical approach are by Villenueve, Scott or Nolan (Scott's Covenant only barely qualifies here) and BR2049 feels like a genuine continuation of an acknowledged classic. It was always going to exist in the original's shadow but it steps out enough to warrant it's own existence. It is a great film in it's own right. Time will tell if the 'masterpiece' claims are a tad over enthusiastic, but for me it's a modern Sci-Fi classic that has thought and depth to it, and a clear love of the original.

It's central characters don't quite have the charisma of Ford or Hauer in their prime but not many do. It continues to ask all the right questions about what it means to be alive and it leaves all the right questions unanswered.

It reaches it's climax just as you begin to think this needs to end soon. It is also a feast for the senses throughout with stunning visuals and an impressive soundtrack.

 

The worst thing I can say about it is that it isn't as good as Blade Runner and yet very little is.

A great film. Definitely worth an watch. Finally got around to seeing it. Was quite a long film at times. It definitely help to watch the original. Was expecting more from the Wallace character.